Intro to Contemporary Spanish Culture and Civilization: 1265764

Spain has seen considerable changes in their country’s socio political aspects, due to the increased migratory tendencies, in respect to the past 15 years. Spain was considered a traditional country supporting emigration and accepting immigrants from Europe, Latin America, as colonization was active in those countries. Due to the wave of immigrants in the country, it experienced significant changes in various aspects such as in political, socio-economic and geographical levels. The increased population encouraged illegal professions and accommodations. There were lack of rules and legislations to support the immigrants or provide them with legal professions.

According to Giles Tremlett, when Spain declared amnesty for 700,000 illegal immigrants, it was found that majority of the immigrants, approximately 80 to 90 percent of were victim of exploitation as they were exposed to businesses in black economy (Tremlett, Giles). The movie Buitiful directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, presents Spain to be a highly cosmopolitan society, but it hides the black economy and its corruption, and thousands of people struggling to earn money to eradicate their poverty (DiFrancesco, Maria.). The movie shows the struggle of the character Uxbal, and explores the activities of immigrants, especially pointing out the Chinese people who operate sweat factory, and African people selling cheap fashion clothing and products on streets.

 Therefore, the movies provides a picture about the tug of war between life and death, rich and poor, faith and doubt in western culture of Spain. The movies especially presents the value of an individual person, which is threatened due to social necessity, urge to earn money and eradication of poverty.

References

DiFrancesco, Maria. “Facing the Specter of Immigration in Biutiful.” Symposium: A Quarterly Journal in Modern Literatures. Vol. 69. No. 1. Routledge, 2015.

Tremlett, Giles. “Immigrants in Spain to lose right to public healthcare.” The Guardian (2012).