Culture and Society from 1920 until Today, 15 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Bachelor´s Programme in Humanities

Entry requirements

and passing grades in courses from the first and second semesters of Cultural Studies comprising at least 45 HE credits.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should have acquired
- knowledge of the development of western culture and its interactive relation to the other countries during the period from around 1920 until today,
- ability to analyse cultural and social phenomena and processes during the period from around 1920 until today,
- ability to analyse, interpret and evaluate fictional texts, images, objects of art and buildings in their historical and aesthetic context,
- understanding of what a critical and analytical approach means, and be able to apply this on interpretations and explanations relevant to the period from around 1920 until today,
- understanding of how choices of perspective based on class, gender and diversity, influence our understanding of an era.

Course content

Philosophy, 1.5 HE credits: This module contains an overview of central philosophic problems and method ideas during the 20th century until today.

History, 4.5 HE credits: This module contains a general study of events and social progress in a global perspective from about 1920 until today. Sweden and Scandinavia's role in the general development are reflected, as well as these countries' specific development during the period.

Art History and Visual Communication, 3 HE credits: This module covers the formation of ideas in visual art, architecture and other modes of expression from the 1920s and on. Concepts such as high modernism and post-modernism are discussed. Also included are perspectives on popular images, advertising, propaganda and mass media images of different kinds.

Literature, 6 credits: The module covers western literature history from modernism until today.

Teaching and working methods

The studies consist primarily of independent literature studies. The course also contains lectures, seminars and group work. The course also includes an assignment to place philosophy and philosophic questions in general cultural contexts in the form of a discussion contribution. Seminars and group work are prepared individually or in groups.

Examination

The course is examined through written examinations, take-home examinations and continuous written assignments and seminar presentations. The modules in philosophy, history, art history and visual communication as well as comparative literature are examined separately. In addition, active compulsory participation in the seminars is included in the examination of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department