Beth Blakemore (MScR, MA Hons)

Biography

Background

Beth is a current PhD student in Hispanic Studies. She completed both her undergraduate and master's degrees here at the University of Edinburgh, spending her year abroad at the Universidad de Granada. 

 

Qualifications

PhD student in Hispanic Studies, The University of Edinburgh (2020-present)

Research topic: The changing representation of Spanish moros and moriscos in sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century Spanish literature

MScR in Hispanic Studies, The University of Edinburgh (2017-18)

Dissertation title:  "La nación africana: The representation of the moriscos in Calderón's El Tuzaní de la Alpujarra / Amar después de la muerte."

MA Hons in Spanish and English Literature, The University of Edinburgh (2013-17)

Undergraduate teaching

2021/22

  • Literatures and Cultures of the Spanish Speaking World
  • Spanish 1A - Literature

2017/18

  • Spanish 1B - Literature
  • Spanish 1A - Literature 

Research summary

Beth's current research focuses on the changing representation of Spanish Muslims (moros) and moriscos in sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century Spanish literature, focusing on the characterisation of moros/moriscos through language and cultural practices. Previous research has also looked at Calderón's depiction of Islam in opposition to Christianity in his dramas.

She has an interest in the representation of women in early modern Spanish literature, and has previously explored gendered violence in the works of Cervantes and María de Zayas. She is keen to pursue this topic again in the future. 

Current research interests

Orientalism in Spanish literature; representations of "the Other"; the novela morisca; religion in early modern Spain; the moriscos; history of Islam in Spain; representations of women; War of the Alpujarras; gendered violence; Cervantes; María de Zayas; Lope de Vega

Project activity

Co-founder & Co-coordinator of Women's Voices in Hispanic and Lusophone fiction, an LLC reading group discussing contemporary Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American literature in translation.

Participant

“A Fluctuating Sea: People and Things in the Early Modern Mediterranean” (April 2022) (Collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and Università degli Studi di Firenze) Participated in roundtable discussion on research into the War of the Alpujarras chronicles.

Papers delivered

University College Cork - Golden Age Research Symposium (November 2021)

"An air of equality: Challenging the concept of maurophilia in the novela morisca."

 

LAHP & King's College London - Iberian (In)tolerance Symposium (November 2018)

“Christian constancy vs. the inferior infidel: Religious conflict within Calderón’s El príncipe constante."

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