1916.16 - New Narratives of the north-western Nordic countries

1916.16

New Narratives of the north-western Nordic countries

5

Bachelor degree with adequate components of literary, language and/or cultural studies.

The course will give the student an interdisciplinary introduction to the changes and renegotiations of the social, cultural, and political identities in the North Atlantic known as the North-Western Nordic countries (Útnorður). The changes are seen as consequences of three major trends: the independence processes (decolonisation process), climate change and globalization. The current geopolitical changes open up new perspectives in the Arctic and sub-Arctic area. Through literary and historic texts, film and pictures the course will provide the students with up-to date understanding of the situation in the area and prepare them to navigate in the New North Atlantic. This will qualify them to work in organisations managing the relations between the countries, to work in tourism, education etc. The course in an off-spring of the project Denmark and the New North Atlantic http://tors.ku.dk/forskning/forskningpaafagene/minoritetsstudier/denmarkandthenewnorthatlantic/

The current geopolitical development challenges the narratives communities have told about themselves so far. In the political and institutional life, in art and literature, in industry and tourism and in the public debate new narratives are developed to match the new geopolitical situation. During the course, the students will work with theories about cultural change, and analyse how independence processes, climate change and globalisation are reflected in history writing, literature, pictorial art, branding and fashion.

Reading before the course 60 hrs. Lectures 20 hrs. Presentation of a paper in a group during the course 15 hrs. Comment group paper 2 hr. Writing of paper 30 hrs. to deliver 2 weeks after the course Total approximately 125 hrs

At the end of the course the students is able to • present various theories about independence processes, globalisation and cultural change • analyze narratives about cultural and political changes in the Nort-Western Atlantic/Artic and Sub-Artic area • discuss how narratives, branding and works of art match the new geopolitical situation • present reflections about their own language and heritage relating them to the new narratives of the North Atlantic

Written 5-pages paper on a subject given by the teacher. Submitted 2 weeks after the end of the course.

Internal

7-

Research literature in Scandinavian languages and English. Literature in the original as well as in translation. Bibliography is presented 3 months ahead of the course.

Malan Marnersdóttir