A Companion to Spanish Cinema is a bold collection of newly commissioned essays written by top international scholars that thoroughly interrogates Spanish cinema from a variety of thematic, theoretical and historic perspectives. * Presents an insightful and provocative collection of newly commissioned essays and original research by top international scholars from a variety of theoretical, disciplinary and geographical perspectives * Offers a systematic historical, thematic, and theoretical approach to Spanish cinema, unique in the field * Combines a thorough and insightful study of a wide spectrum of topics and issues with in-depth textual analysis of specific films * Explores Spanish cinema s cultural, artistic, industrial, theoretical and commercial contexts pre- and post-1975 and the notion of a national cinema * Canonical directors and stars are examined alongside understudied directors, screenwriters, editors, and secondary actors * Presents original research on image and sound; genre; non-fiction film; institutions, audiences and industry; and relations to other media, as well as a theoretically-driven section designed to stimulate innovative research

The last five years have witnessed a surge in publications on Spanish cinema and Spanish cultural studies, but the subject of consumer culture in Spain has been neglected until now. "The Mobile Nation: Espana cambia de piel (1954-1964)" presents the first systematic treatment of this crucial period during Spain's transition to modernity and highlights the forces that converged during this dramatic decade to change the face of Spain. Drawing from the methodologies of literature, film studies, cultural studies, feminist theory, and history, "Espana cambia de piel" explores consumer culture in Spanish media, mass tourism, and the national automobile manufacturing industry from 1954 to 1964 and offers valuable insight to postmodern Spain's transformation and trends.

Focusing on Spanish culture and society in the second half of the Twentieth century, Despotic Bodies and Transgressive Bodies traverses a variety of disciplines: literature, film studies, cultural studies, feminist theory, and history, to examine crucial moments of cultural transition. Beginning with an analysis of the period of autarky -- Spain's economic, cultural, and ideological isolation under Francisco Franco's regime -- Pavlovic then explores the tumultuous passage to capitalism in the late 1950s and 1960s. She follows this by revisiting the complex political situation following Franco's death and points out the difficulties in Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy.