The Department of Spanish and Portuguese is pleased to share a recent feature from UCSB’s Division of Humanities and Fine Arts: “Studying Soccer: A User-Friendly Approach to Cultural Studies”, an interview with Professor Eloi Grasset.
In this engaging profile, Professor Grasset discusses his innovative general education course Span 50: Soccer in the Hispanic World, taught in English and designed to introduce students from all majors to the rich cultural significance of soccer across Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula.
Drawing on materials from Argentina, Colombia, and Spain, the course explores how the global game reflects regional histories, politics, and identities. “To understand the particularities of the game, you have to take into account the context,” Grasset explains.
With a background in Catalan studies and Spanish cinema, and prior appointments at Harvard and the University of Barcelona, Professor Grasset brings deep expertise and a dynamic teaching style that makes cultural studies accessible and relevant to today’s students.