Scandinavian Film and Media Culture

The course is a freestanding course.

The course provides a basic introduction to Scandinavian film cultures through an overview of central film directors, actors, genre traditions and contemporary trends. Concepts as national and regional are discussed in relation to Danish, Norwegian and Swedish cinema. The course offers knowledge about the ways media represent social and political issues. There will be an initiation in the aesthetic tools necessary for discussing these issues in a specific cultural context.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• account for central concepts, cultural perspectives and audiovisual examples in the history of Scandinavian cinema,
• account for stylistic, thematic, ideological, and industrial aspects that have formed Scandinavian film and media,
• analyse and critically assess concepts and perspectives central to contemporary Scandinavian cinemas,

Competence and skills

• in written and oral form critically discuss Scandinavian film cultures using relevant perspectives and concepts,
• in written and oral form analyse and contextualise debates about gender, diversity and age in contemporary Scandinavian film and media,

Judgement and approach

• critically assess the value of cinematic sources,
• reflect independently over questions that have been raised during the course,
• critically assess the usefulness of different theoretical perspectives.

Teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, seminars, and screenings of audiovisual material.

Language of instruction: English

The course is examined through an individual take-home exam and examination seminars. Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to obtain a higher grade.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

Aspects of gender equality and equal treatment will be considered in the content, the literature, the teaching, and the evaluations of the course.

This is a translated version of the Swedish original. In case of differences between the Swedish version and the English translation, the Swedish original shall prevail.