Spring 2005

E 322 • Contemporary Danish Culture

Course Description

Denmark has over the past decade experienced a change in cultural politics. Earlier, the role of the welfare state was to ensure artistic freedom and cultural democracy, but today the intrinsic value of culture and the arts is being challenged by more economic and management criteria. During this course, we will discuss the Scandinavian / Nordic model in cultural policy and include current discussions and hot topics in Danish cultural politics. Furthermore, the course reviews the cultural institutions in Denmark, their history, and their functions.

The course offers an overview of what is going on in cultural life in Denmark today. We will examine the state of Danish literature, film, theatre, and music; we will read, watch, and listen to excerpts from contemporary culture. We will, among other things, discuss the concept of Dogme and watch some of the successful movies of the past decade.

The reading in Contemporary Danish Culture mainly consists of cultural studies texts, but we'll also be examining a Danish novel (Ib Michael's "Prince" or Peter Høeg's "Miss Smilla's Sense of Snow"), a couple of short stories and poems.

Grading Policy

Three papers of 6-7 pages (at least one of the first two must be rewritten substantially) 80%
Class participation 20%

Texts

Peter Duelund (ed.): The Nordic Cultural Model
A reader will be available at the beginning of the course

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