Spring 2007

E 322 • Creating Scandinavia

Course Description

In this course we will examine nation building and nationalism in Scandinavia in a historical and contemporary context. We will discuss how writers and artists interpret nationalism and national identity. We will look at how the different Scandinavian countries created a national history in the 19th century and how this history is used in contemporary Scandinavia. This will lead us to a discussion of Scandinavia and World War II, and current issues such as globalization, colonization, minorities, immigration, gender, and nationalism.

Grading Policy

Participation 10%
Three one-page argument/response papers 15%
Quizzes 10%
Midterm 15%
Two essays (one of which must be substantially revised) 30%
Final research paper 20%

Texts

Primary: Asbjornson & Moe, Norwegian Folk Tales; Hans Christian Andersen, Fairytales & National Hymns; Peter Hoeg, Smilla's Sense of Snow; Rolf Jakobsen, Poetry; Henrik Ibsen, A Doll's House

Secondary: Benedict Andersen, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism; Homi K. Bhabha, Introduction: Narrating the Nation; The Econonomist, A Survey of the Nordic Countries; Byron Nordstrom (from Scandinavia Since 1500): Nationalism, Scandinavia and World War II, The Contemporary Era, Norden Since 1945; Ulla V. Bondesen, An Introduction to the Nordic Countries; Nordic Landscape Painting, Introduction; Thomas Hylland Eriksen, Globalization and Goat Cheese: Defining the Norwegian Identity; Jïrgen Goul Andersen and Jens Hoff, Immigrants, Refugees and Citizenship in Scandinavia; Newpaper articles, etc.

Films: Jalla Jalla, 101 Reykjavik

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