A Brief Archaeology of (some) Western Myths (Code:59091)

The course critically examines and discusses key concepts and values that have conformed the so-called Western world and are still operating in full force in our everyday life as individuals and members of a community: political, social and otherwise. Focusing on the study of  long-lived terms invested with honour and prestige through the centuries, such as republic (res publica), citizen (ciuis, polites), freedom (libertas), passion (pathos), love (eros), reason (logos), violence (hybris), order (cosmos), empire (imperium), beauty (forma), excellence (aristeia) etc., the course explores the circumstances of their birth in the Greco-Roman world, their original meaning and function, and what they have become as we perceive them today, when they are essential to our lives and to our ideals; that is, the way we think things should be. The topics are arranged around five traits that would easily be agreed upon to define what we call the Western values by a vast majority of people, but in itself this very arrangement will set the ground for reflection and discussion, from a synchronic and a diachronic perspective, encouraging critical analysis of both old and new.

Keywords: Western identity, Greco-Roman Literature, Ancient History, Ancient Thought, Cultural History

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Art and the Law: How Aesthetic Concepts Shape Legal Disputes about Arts (code: 59064)

Sometimes social, political and legal disputes require answers to questions such as “What is art?”, “How should it be interpreted?”, “What is artistic freedom?”, “Who is an author?”, “What is misappropriation?”, or “Is a particular work of art authentic?”. When authorities are involved in such disputes, answering such inquiries involve not only legal or public policy decisions, but also artistic judgments which are influenced by aesthetic theories. Besides, law and power may also influence artistic practices and the content of art works. Regulations on censorship, contract law, city planning and plagiarism, among others, and their enforcements by public authorities can impact the artists’ creative choices.

The course aims to provide an in-depth discussion of the interactions between aesthetics, art theory and art law. The legal notions of, among others, originality, authorship, plagiarism, copying, and transformation will be examined and confronted with these same concepts from the standpoints of aesthetics and art theory. In exploring these issues, specific contemporary art controversies that involve artists, such as Marina Abramović, Robert Mapplethorpe, Richard Prince or Joseph Beuys will be analyzed. Course participants are expected to write a final essay on a case study of their choice about the relation between the law (or society and politics) and a particular artist or a work of art.

Keywords: Copyright Law, intellectual property Law, art Law, images and the Law, civil Law, beyond disciplines

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Barcelona on Stage: Documentary Workshop (code: 59044)

The goal of this course is to provide students with an introduction to documentary film making. Special attention will be given to the renewal of the Spanish and the Catalan film scene in the last 15 years. 

The course consists of both theoretical and practical sessions. During lecture classes the professor will present the history of Spanish and Catalan Documentary and will set the theoretical basis for the production of a Documentary. 

During practical sessions students will develop a project of a documentary where they can express their particular way of seeing the Spanish reality. Students will work in small teams to produce a 15 minute film, from the conception of the idea to the final editing, including the writing of the script and the shooting.

IMPORTANT: An external hard device (at least 1Tb) is required for each student in order to preserve their recordings. Other necessary materials such as cameras, microphones, and cables will be provided. It should be noted that students are responsible for returning them in good condition and in due time at the end of the course. Any fault due to misuse and any missing unit will be charged proportionally to the members of the team which failed to comply with this requisite (More information at:https://guiesbibtic.upf.edu/prestec/audiovisual).

Keywords: Barcelona, film making, documentary, contemporary documentaries, global cities, applied thinking

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Brexit, EU and Global World: Current Challenges in European Politics and Society (code: 59039)

These last years have definitely helped in modifying the order of priorities in global agendas. Green and digital transitions, rising populisms and increasing inequalities, the recovery from Covid-19 pandemic are among the most urgent issues. The explosion of the COVID-19 in March 2020 - and its abrupt diffusion all across the globe – for example, demonstrated the urgent need for improving global governance mechanisms and coordination among governments. The opportunity is now upon policy-makers and stakeholders to make the aftermath of the pandemic a reformation and transformative moment for a new kind of public policies and politics. 

This course aims at providing a critical overview on the current challenges that national democracies will have to face in the next years. Social inequalities, global pandemic, gender equality, migrations, climate change and sustainability, the rise of nationalism(s) and populism(s) are some of these tremendous challenges. How can national governments (and cities) provide adequate answers and effective policies to citizens? How have Covid-19 crisis impacted on already existing strategies and global Agenda (Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, Habitat III and the New Urban Agenda)? How does globalization affect public policies and what can governments do? 

By applying a plural and interdisciplinary approach, the course combines analytical tools and categories stemming from political science, international relations, economics, European Integration studies, public policies and development economics. The course focusses on the analysis and the understanding of how political and societal actors do play a role in the definition and implementation of public policies. By providing critical tools for understanding complex phenomena (such as the European integration process, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the challenges of global governance, etc…) the course aims at preparing students as informed citizens and lifelong learners who care and act for the future of the planet and humanity.
 

Keywords: Global governance, globalization, 2030 Agenda, Europe, Spain, society, governments, institutions, Covid-19

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Circular Economy (Code: 59104)

This course tackles issues pertinent for sustainable development through the prism of private business, along  with the challenges that current business poses for such development.under social norms. Starting with the international framework for sustainable development, the course explores the diverse channels in economic transactions and their necessary transformation in the order of relevance as to the impact they have for sustainable development. The analyisis is divided into three large subcategories: (1) sustainable public purchases, (2) sustainable corporate conduct under renewed corporate law rules and (3) last but not least, sustainable consumption and supporting environmental legislation at the international level. The course focuses on the newest developments in the EU law for each of the subgroups so defined. In order to offer to the students some hands-on experience on corporate practice under such new legal framework, we apply the legal knowledge obtained to the enterprises’ practical market functioning through an approach from Economics and the Law. A Problem Based Learning approach will be employed, enabling students to internalize the notions presented throughout the course.

Keywords: Sustainability, Corporations, Capitalism, Society, Welfare, Public Good, Collective Action

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Culture and Business: Spain’s Top Brands (code 59103)

The course analyses the historical, political, business, social and anthropological elements at work in the “import” and “export” of the Spain brand and its assets, as well as in the review of Spain’s main industries and businesses, leveraging the legacy and the opportunities that are at stake in recent and immediate contemporary contexts. The goal of the course is a descriptive and critical reflection on the notion of Spanish brands and their equity exploits across the globe; their distinctive traits, the diversity of mixed cultures, identities and realities the country portrays and how the communications world has shaped and can still shape the competitiveness of the potential and capabilities at hand. The course questions Spain’s unique attributes; moreover it aims at debating around the symbols and the strategic brand discourses of Spanish businesses and institutions. The course is best suitable for advertising, public relations and communications students, as well as for humanities, business and economics and political sciences majors.

Keywords: Spain, Spanish identity, "Spanish-ness", identities, historical and cultural processes, beyond disciplines

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Current Ethical and Legal Challenges in Sport (code: 59097)

Sport has acquired in the last decades of the last century and the early years of XXI an extraordinary importance. It can be said that sport has suffer a deep transformation from a merely marginal activity that it only interested fans and sports institutions, to a more than relevant presence in all media. Certainly sports news today occupy more than half the space of radio and television news programs around the world and its presence in written newspapers has increased significantly.

There are, however, several aspects of sport that lead us to exciting challenges and that urgently need to be examined and solved since they are not only of interest to the sports world itself, but also to society as a whole. In this sense, the course aims to address in a practical way such debated issues as doping, violence, racial discrimination, the impact of technology, the incardination of transgender athletes, the limitation of certain fundamental rights, sports nationalism, e-sports, match-fixing and legal and illegal bets or the transformation of sport due to big data.

Keywords: Ethics, Sport, Law, Philosophy, covid-19, Sociology, Beyond Disciplines

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Formas de ensayo audiovisual (code: 59066)

Formas del ensayo visual: el pensamiento a través de las imágenes, el gesto y la secuencia:

El curso se basa en un acercamiento dinámico a las metodologías del pensamiento en imágenes y el ensayo visual. En un momento de profunda transformación de las formas y motivos visuales que nos rodean, a causa de los efectos de la pandemia ocasionada por el virus SARS-CoV-2, la sensibilización ante el cambio climático, la rearticulación de las identidades de género, las transformaciones geopolíticas del planeta y las nuevas funcionalidades sociales de la Inteligencia Artificial, resulta fundamental pensar las formas fílmicas de manera dinámica. 

El curso pretende hacer del pensamiento en imágenes una forma transdisciplinar de abordar otros campos expresivos y formas de reflexión. Por una parte, se trata de acercarse a la creación de imágenes desde el gesto y en función de las lógicas del corte, el montaje y la yuxtaposición. Por otra, y de acuerdo con una metodología de proyecto, se trata de activar la idea de una imagen capaz de provocar choques sobre las otras imágenes para estimular una lógica creativa fundamentada en el control de las supervivencias de la imagen, en su dimensión gestual y en las fórmulas afectivas de pathos.

Cada sesión del curso, conforme a un doble eje teórico y práctico, intenta proporcionar herramientas para explorar las posibilidades de escritura que ofrece el ensayo visual –ritmo, tensión, continuidad, yuxtaposición, utilización de la voz y del texto-, al mismo tiempo que invita a abordar otras formas visuales contemporáneas –cine, ficción televisiva, instalaciones artísticas, cómic, videoclip, redes-, de manera arqueológica: a través del pensar háptico que ofrece el montaje, el ensayo visual se convierte en un modo de explorar supervivencias pictóricas, escultóricas, literarias y coreográficas. El gesto, la danza, los ritmos del cuerpo, la temporalidad, el marco, la secuencia o las formas epistolares son algunos de los caminos a través de los que se trata de preguntarse ¿En qué piensan las imágenes contemporáneas? ¿Cómo nos piensan las imágenes que vemos? ¿Qué sucede en el observador? ¿Cómo nos podemos acercar a la vida en movimiento de las imágenes para tratar de desvelar otras maneras de pensar? 
 

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Health Inequalities: Understanding our Worse Epidemic (code: 59067)

Why do low-income countries, regions and neighborhoods have a much lower life expectancy than high-income areas? Why less favored social groups have worse health than better-off groups? Why some populations enjoy better health than others? How and why has been the impact of the covid-19 pandemic? What can be done to improve this situation? According to the hegemonic biomedical approach, the main reasons for the production of health are biology and genetics, unhealthy life-styles, and deficiencies in the access and use of health services. Available knowledge however shows that other factors play a significant role. First, because political and social determinants (e.g., power relations, social policies, poverty, work, housing, etc.) have a larger effect on health, and quality of life. And second, because these determinants are strongly related to axes of inequality such as social class, gender, ethnic origin, migration status and territory. Using a transdisciplinary integrated approach, this course introduces the student to the characteristics, causes, and potential solutions of health inequalities, which is a key indicator of justice and quality of life. 

Keywords: Public Health, health inequalities, covid-19, beyond disciplines

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Justicia global y desarrollo sostenible (code: 59047)

La crisis global actual originada por el nuevo coronavirus se une a una crisis ecológica que en los últimos meses ha llevado a declaraciones de emergencia climática desde diferentes gobiernos e instituciones. Las dos crisis tienen causas comunas y eso ha llevado a plantear ya análisis y reflexiones para superar el Covid-19 y sus consecuencias sin volver a una normalidad que es parte del problema. El objetivo de la sostenibilidad puede ser la respuesta a las dos crisis. En 2015 se aprobó la Agenda 2030 de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo Sostenible y los 17 Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) son los que guían su implementación. Las temáticas que abordan estos objetivos son muchas y diversas: la pobreza, el hambre, la paz, la salud, la educación, las desigualdades, la igualdad de género, la prosperidad económica, la protección del planeta, la lucha contra el cambio climático, las ciudades y los territorios, la energía, el consumo y la producción sostenibles... La universidad, desde la docencia, la investigación y la divulgación es un espacio decisivo para poder alcanzarlos y pensarlos críticamente activando las diferentes áreas de conocimiento implicadas. La crisis ecológica y social que vivimos, y la pandemia, son grandes desafíos que demandan respuestas justas y sostenibles. El curso se fundamenta en el conocimiento transversal que es necesario para enfrentar estos retos y la interdisciplinariedad para poder hacer posible el trabajo conjunto.

Keywords: ética, moral, justicia global, sostenibilidad, política, democracia, derecho, economía, medicina, comunicación, mercado laboral, global cities, covid-19, beyond disciplines

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Modern Statistical Computing (codes: 59094/59107/26465/26463)

Please note: Students at the UPF School of Economics and Business must register in this course as part of their regular degree plans with code 26465 for ECO/ADE/students and 26463 for IBE students (both 5 ECTS). The rest of the UPF students must register in this course with the code 59107(5 ECTS). Non UPF students must register with BISS code 59094(6 ECTS).

Statistical computing is a highly sought-after analytical data analysis skill both in professional and research environments. This course presents modern graphical displays and data manipulation methods, interactive and reproducible reporting, emphasizing statistical methods and computation related to regression and classification methods such as linear, generalized linear and non-linear models. The concepts are introduced in R (https://www.rproject.org) one of the leading programming languages for statistical computing. Knowledge of R is highly-valued by companies in many sectors for positions related to data science, quantitative analysis or finance. R is also an indispensable tool in most research fields, including Economics, Finance, Marketing, Biomedicine, etc. R provides a rich set of off-theshelf data analysis tools, and the possibility to design our own data processing and analyses. R runs in all operating systems (Windows, Mac, Unix-like) and is a free open-source language that is enhanced by an extensive list of user-contributed packages. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to statistical computing, including flexible regression data analysis methods, and to advanced R skills. The idea is that students learn by doing. Therefore, there is a strong applied emphasis, all concepts are driven by examples discussed in class, where students are given the code to reproduce them. Students will become skilled in applications of elementary statistical methods, with an emphasis on data exploration, graphics and programming. Focus will also be placed on opportunities to enhance the learning experience in other statistical courses.

Keywords: statistics, methodology, statistical computing, statistical methods, methods in action

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New standards for international taxation: Global cooperation for a Fair Tax Environment (Code: 59105)

Further to G20 countries’ mandate in 2013, the OECD has leaded a major project aimed at creating a consistent approach to international taxation. This project named BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) is still under development and implementation   under the so-called Inclusive Framework formed by over 135 countries. The BEPS scenario implies a globalization of international taxation aimed at tackling tax avoidance, improve the coherence of international tax rules and ensure a more transparent tax environment through the countries’ cooperation at a global international level. 

This course is aimed at providing the student an overall view of the BEPS project and the current international tax standards in the so-called post-BEPS era under which   avoidance of double taxation to preserve global economic exchanges and tackling tax fraud have become equally relevant.  
 

Keywords: BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting), international taxation, fair tax environment, international tax cooperation, developing countries

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Pantallas españolas: antología de relatos audiovisuales contemporáneos (code:59076)

El curso ofrece un estado de la cuestión del audiovisual español contemporáneo a través de una mirada pluridisciplinar a través de distintos media: cine, ficción televisiva, tele-realidad o videoclip, entre otros. Por un lado, se abordan aquellas propuestas audiovisuales que destacan por su valor artístico y por su capacidad de actualizar imágenes que forman parte del imaginario y la tradición españoles.

Por otro lado, se abordan aquellas propuestas que tienen la capacidad para reflejar los rasgos más destacables de la realidad y la cultura española contemporáneas. Las diferentes sesiones del curso exponen distintos estudios de caso donde el material audiovisual sirve de reflexión y análisis acerca de un tema determinado como: el cine de Pedro Almodóvar y las nuevas identidades de género, el cine de Álex de la Iglesia y las nuevas formas del esperpento español, Penélope Cruz y el diálogo entre lo nacional y transnacional, La casa de papel y los relatos de la crisis española, el documental de creación y los nuevos realismos o los videoclips de Rosalía y la nueva estética urbana.

Keywords: cine, cine español, cultura española, imaginario cultural, España, beyond disciplines, applied thinking

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Population Health and Well-Being consequences of Demographic Changes (Code: 59096)

Health and well-being consequences of demographic change are key challenges for research and innovation as they concern citizens’ health and have enormous economic implications and innovation opportunities (with equitable access to prevention, treatment and care throughout the life cycle).

Recent political and economic developments within Europe and global pressures related to population trends magnify the relevance of health and well-being and its impact on socioeconomic dynamics, as well as to the pressure that demographic changes such as population aging exert place on health systems and social safety nets.

This course examines population health and well-being consequences of demographic changes from an interdisciplinary approach, including sociological, demographic, economic and political science, particularly in developed countries. Professors will pay attention to the links between these demographic changes and social and public policies. 

This course provides a forum for students to explore contemporary issues in how demographic changes affect population health and well-being from both a theoretical and practical standpoint and using national and cross-national comparisons. Plus, the student will be involved in a novel discussion of ongoing controversies about the causes and effects of such demographic changes. The course will pay special attention to how health intersects with several sociodemographic (age, gender, …), economic (education, social class, …), and contextual (country, …) factors. Finally, the main demographic indicators will be deeply explained and discussed. 

Keywords: Health, Demography, Quality of Life, Social Determinants of Health, Aging, Cross-country perspective 

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Power and Passions: Barcelona through the Lens of History (code: 59071)

How did citizens work? What was the place of masters and apprentices within guilds? Who was in charge to supply wheat, meat or fish to town? Who was authorized to sell bread, vegetables and fruits? Were families organized in a strict or flexible way? What was happening if a wife was unloyal to her husband and vice versa? Which were the most popular parties and celebrations? Were Jews and Muslims religious ceremonies public and welcome? Who was allowed to prepare medicines? Drugs, tobacco, coffee, chocolate, were easily available or forbidden? Was it easy to play cards and other games? Even though Barcelona citizens were submitted to many legal, social and religious rules, did they manage to enjoy life?

In order to better understand history, we may make a double comparison: on one side, we may compare what happened 400 or 500 years ago with present times; on another side, we may compare Barcelona with other European towns.

The course will be based on some readings, a lot of in-class discussion and a visit at the permanent exhibition of the Born Cultural and Memory Center, close to the UPF.

Keywords: Modern Era, History of Political Institutions, Social History, Global Cities, beyond disciplines

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Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (code: 59031)

The world is faced with serious and complex social and environmental problems that require a deep understanding of the systems where they occur in order to find innovative solutions.  This course introduces students to the concepts, strategies and processes of social innovation and social change. We will examine the state of the world from a social economic perspective and learn how social innovation can help solve existing and future problems.  We will explore social entrepreneurship as the vehicle for social innovation and learn about its challenges and opportunities. We will learn that innovation and entrepreneurship require a mentality that is not deterministic, in order to deal with the uncertainty and complexity. 

Keywords: innovation, systems thinking, complexity science, entrepreneurship, social development, covid-19, applied thinking, beyond disciplines

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Society and Politics in Contemporary Spain (code: 59106)

This course is designed to give an overview of fundamental issues in the study of Spanish politics. Its core is the study of the nature and functioning of the Spanish democratic system installed since the mid-seventies, paying special attention to its political processes, institutions, actors, political culture and electoral behavior. The course also introduces the previous Spanish democratic experience (2nd Republic, 1931-1936), its collapse (Civil War, 1936-1939), the dictatorial rule under by Franco, and the Spanish transition to democracy (1975-1978) which has strongly influenced the current features of the Spanish political system.

Keywords: Spain, Spanish politics, electoral behavior, political actors, institutions.

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The Artistic Brain: Biology and Computation behind Music (code: 59099)

Science and art are rooted in our perception of the world. The course is aimed at exploring the biology of perception and its implications on how we experience works of art. It is a discussion on beauty and the brain, a discussion on the history of breakthroughs in painting and on the nature of the irresistible attraction of music for humans. The course starts with a general overview of how our senses build up a representation of the world, with particular reference to the visual and auditory systems. We shall discuss the biology underlying great painters’ achievement of the conquest of space and movement on a canvas. Then we do a parallel exercise with music, looking at the biological and evolutionary roots

Keywords: neurosciences, computation, art, music, painting, creativity, aesthetics, applied thinking, beyond disciplines

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Time: Human Views on the Progress of Existence (code: 59027)

The concept of time is deeply ingrained within the human mind. We experience the passage of time innately, and feel a natural difference between the past, the present, and the future. Yet, some of the descriptions of the universe that science offers us provide no reasons for which the past and the future should be different, and in some others the need for the concept of time itself is not at all evident. This course aims to present an overview of how time is understood by different sciences, in particular physics and biology, and how it relates to the way in which we humans experience the progress of existence. We will discuss concepts such as the arrow of time, the multiverse, embryonic development, and aging. The discussions will also refer to the view of time from the perspective of the arts, including literature, painting, and music. Finally, we will explore how we humans measure time, both with artificial devices that we have built over the last centuries, and with our own genes.

Keywords: Our changing views on time, the arrow of time, relativity, quantum mechanics, clocks and timekeeping, aging and development, magical realism

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Understanding the Biology of Humans for Social Sciences and Humanities (Code: 59098)

The subject intends to give some basic knowledge to be able to understand the great debates that the present biology has generated in the society. Discussions that transcend the strict scientific field, but which require some basic knowledge and serious discussion platforms. It intends to be of wide interest in humanities, law, economics, and every student with a humanistic aspect that is interested in this biological facet of humans in a social context. Special emphasis will be given at genomics and evolutionary biology views of it to understand the biological bases of humanness.

Keywords: Biodiversity, primates, evolution, genetics, human diversity, human populations

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Venus on the Screen (code: 59061)

Venus on the screen aims to delve into the processes of influence of advertising discourse and the effects that these messages have on society.
Starting from the key concepts of advertising language, the course will review different audiences and the impact of advertising strategies on them. For this, the assessment of elements such as memory, persuasion and attitudes towards advertising and advertising campaigns in audiovisual format will be applied. The theoretical sessions will be combined with practical exercises for analyzing and developing advertising campaigns based on critical thinking around the topics covered in class.

Keywords: Advertising, psycho-social effects, specific audiences, consumers, beyond disciplines

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