Topics will vary from semester to semester. Additional screening time may be required for film topics. See departmental announcement for offerings.

Overshadowed by British and French Imperialism, Scandinavian colonialism has often been downplayed or gone unnoticed – both outside of and within Scandinavia. This ignorance stands in stark contrast to the fact that the history of Danish, Norwegian and Swedish colonialism and imperialism spans a time period of more than 400 years and ties Scandinavia to former overseas colonies in the Arctic, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Scandinavian colonial history has had, and still has, significant impact on Scandinavian societies and social imaginaries. Drawing on works of literature, film, ethnography, history and anthropology, this course explores Scandinavian colonialism in a historical and contemporary light. The course will discuss Scandinavian colonialism, imperialism and participation in the Atlantic slave trade (17th and 18th century), colonial legacies ingrained in the development of the nation state and welfare state (19th and 20th century), and contemporary (post-)colonial questions and matters (21st century). The course aims at a dual learning outcome: To provide students with an understanding of the history of Scandinavian colonialism, and to enable students to analyze, critically discuss and draw insightful conclusions about the portrayal of colonialism in Scandinavian literary culture. The class is taught in a seminar format, emphasizing discussion and curiosity-driven inquiry.

Small class, no prerequisite, meets L&S Arts & Literature.

Repeat Rules

Requirements class fulfills