Cultural Studies and English departments in Spain : margins and centres

Abstract

This article examines the situation of the culture subjects and of Cultural Studies in general in the departments of Filología Inglesa in Spain, considering why culture occupies such a marginal position in them in contrast to the central position occupied by culture in the Anglo-American study of the Literature in English. The article traces the origins of Cultural Studies, discusses diverse attempts to define this protean discipline and highlights the main achievements of Spanish Cultural Studies scholarship. Finally, a plea is made for 'Filología Inglesa' to teach students more about the cultures from which English language and Literature emerge.