Course Syllabus

Semester & Location:	Fall 2023 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:	Literature, Media Studies
Prerequisite(s):	None
Faculty Member:	Jan Aage Rasmussen, (current students please use the Canvas Inbox)
Time & Place:	Mondays & Thursdays 14:50-16:10 Classroom F24-203

Instructor: Jan Aage Rasmussen

Faculty Noir

Cand.phil. (Scandinavian Philology). assistant professor (Literary Theory and Literary Analysis, Philosophy of Science and Methodology, Metaphors, Semiotics and Cognition, Phenomenology of the Mind) since 1993 at Institut for Nordiske Studier og Sprogvidenskab, Departement of Nordic Studies and Linguistics, University of Copenhagen. Teacher of Danish to foreigners.

Office Hours will be scheduled with students individually

Acknowledgement

I would like to express my gratitude to professor Janis Granger, Ph.D. who kindly has allowed me to use her material and who has been and is the source of inspiration to this course.

Course Description

Why are TV series, movies and crime fiction from Scandinavia so appealing? Is it the Nordic landscape, the city panorama, the terse language of the novels and the stark realism of the TV series? Is it that the protagonists are anti-heroes, feminists, and outsiders? In the novels and on the screen, secrets are exposed and the postcard perfection of the Scandinavian Welfare States is revealed to have a dark side. We will study novels, films and TV series to encircle the phenomenon of Nordic Noir and discuss how these mirror Scandinavian society of today.

Course Format

The course will consist of close readings, viewings, discussion and analysis of  Scandinavian crime fiction novels, TV Series and movies. Class meetings will be, for the most part, divided into two sections. The first part of each class will be of lecture format where keywords and concepts are introduced. During the second part, we will discuss and analyze the novel/TV series assigned/viewed for the day and chapters of the textbooks and articles assigned relating it/them to the themes of the course.

We will be reading four crime fiction novels representing Nordic Noir and the different Scandinavian countries. There will be introductions to the genre of crime fiction, Nordic Noir and to the Scandinavian countries, the concept of the Welfare State as well as the themes of social identity and social realism, gender, nature, the environment, etc. We will read, from Sweden,  "Roseanna,"  from Sweden, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” from Iceland, “The Legacy,” and from Norway,  “The Snowman.”  For Denmark, we will be viewing award winning  Nordic Noir TV series. There will be theoretical readings to enhance our understanding of the genre.

Learning Objectives

• Identify and distinguish themes, types, styles and influences in Nordic Noir
• Acquire a vocabulary for analysis of crime fiction and Nordic Noir in particular, including literary as well as cultural terms
• Acquire a terminology for analysis and description of literature and film in general
• Develop critical skills: to think analytically, to voice criticism through argumentation
• Gain an understanding of  Scandinavian society today as mirrored in crime fiction, movies and TV series

Expectations of the Student

Engaged participation is an integrated part of class and will be a part of the course evaluation. Participating in class discussion requires a high level of preparation and a voluntary contribution of knowledge and ideas. Therefore you are expected to have done the reading for each class and to come with notes and questions for discussions. You should refer to the texts and readings, whenever possible, to support your queries and ideas. Students are expected to be engaged as much as possible. One cannot be engaged if one has not read the novels/articles.  Essential is also a sense of humour and irony (since that is what I suffer from)

Approach to Teaching

When I was a young teenager, I was fascinated by crime fiction, especially the classic English. I worshipped Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, I was entertained thouroughly by Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey and the cunning ironi that was characteristic to her novels. Of course, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his Sherlock Holmes was a favourit. Later I was absorbed in American hardboiled crime fiction: Dashiel Hammet, Raymond Chandler and others, far to many to list here. This course will open a new field to me: Nordic Noir. There will be some lecturing to give you background information and to provide with tools in order to analyse and describe the strucure of the narratives, but since the field is rather new to me, the idea is to explore the realm of Nordic crime fiction together. I want to learn from you, too.  I hope you will  bring your own ideas and concepts into the discussions and ask questions. The teaching style of this class is interactive. You are expected to actively participate in class discussions, to have done the readings and other homework, and come to class with notes, questions and relevant observations, as already mentioned. Any subject whatsoever related to the course topic could be discussed/debated in class. Discussions/debates will be conducted with openess, tolerance and respect. There will be an atmosphere of acceptance of all viewpoints no matter how much one as an individuel might disaggree. The ambition is to create a classroom culture in which everyone feels at ease and comfortable about contributing.

Practical Matters/Classroom Policies

Students are expected to be on time to class. If students miss multiple classes, it will affect their engagement grade. Allowances, of course, will be made in case of illness, but missing too many classes without cause may result in the student being referred to Director of Teaching & Learning and/or Director of Student Affairs.

Laptops may be used for note-taking. Please wait until the break or time before and after class to check email, Facebook and check and send text messages. If surfing the internet or text messaging becomes a problem, laptops and cell phones will be banned from the classroom.

No eating allowed in the classroom or in the DIS Film Room. Students are, of course, allowed to bring water, coffee or tea. Bathroom visits should also be limited to before or after class – or during the break.

Evaluation

In order to receive a passing grade, you must complete all the assignments.

Assignment	Percent
Quiz	15%
Engagement	15%
Midterm	20%
Short Analysis	20%
Final Exam	30%

Assignments:

Quiz: September 7

• Format, instructions and further information to be found under Assignments when quiz is available.

Midterm: Due October 6

• The take home midterm will be available on October 1.
• Format, instructions and further information to be found under Assignments.

Short Analysis: Due November 16

• Format, instructions and further information to be found under Assignments

Take-Home Final Exam: Due December 12

• Available December 4.
• Format, instructions and further information to be found under Assignments

Field Studies

1. Wednesday, October 18th, 8:30 - 12:00
2.  Wednesday, November 29th, 13:00 - 17:00

Primary Texts

Textbook and Novels

• Bergman, Kerstin, “Swedish Crime Fiction,” Mimesis International, 2014 on Canvas
• Larsson, Stieg, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” Maclehose Press, London, translated by Reg Keeland, 2008
• Messent, Peter, “The Crime Fiction Handbook,” London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013 on Canvas
• Nesbø, Jo, “The Snowman,” London: Vintage, translated by Don Bartlett, 2010
• Nestingen, Andrew and Paula Arvas (eds), “Scandinavian Crime Fiction,” University of Wales Press, 2011 on Canvas
• Sigurdardottir, Yrsa, "The Legacy," Hodder & Stoughton, London, 2017, translated by Victoria Cribb
• Sjöwall & Wahlöö, "Roseanna," London: HarperCollins Publishers, translated by Lois Roth, 4th edition, 2006
• Various articles, reviews, etc. on Canvas

Reference Reading

These books are on reserve in the DIS Library.

• Browder, Laura, “Dystopian Romance: True Crime and the Female Reader,” “The Journal of Popular Culture, 2009. 39.6. pp. 928-953
• Cawetti, John G., “Adventure, Mystery and Romance,” Chicago: “University of Chicago Press, 1976
• Chernaik, Swales, Martin, Vilain Robert (eds), “The Art of Detective Fiction,” London: St. Martin Press, 2000
• Erickson-Johnsen, Rosemary, “Contemporary Feminist Historical Crime Fiction,” London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006
• Forshaw, Barry, “Nordic Noir,” Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013
• Fulbrook, Mary, “Historical Theory,” London: Routledge, 2002, “Looking for Clues,” pp. 96-121
• Herbert, Rosemary et al. “The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery writing,” Oxford University Press, 1999 (chapter on crime fiction in Continental Europe: Nordic Countries)
• Knight, Stephen Thomas, “Crime Fiction 1800-2000: Detection, Death, Diversity,” New York: Palgrave Macmillian, 2004
• Munt, Sally Rowena, Murder by the Book: Feminism and the Crime Novel, London: Routledge, 1994
• Nestingen, Andrew, “Crime & Fantasy in Scandinavia,” Seattle, University of Washington Press, 2008
• Nordisk Litteratur/Nordic Literature (2001) bilingual articles on development of crime fiction in the Nordic Countries
• Plain, Gill, “Twentieth-century Crime Fiction,” Scotland: Edinburgh University Press, 2001
• Rosenberg, Robin S., O’Neill Shannon (eds), “The Psychology of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” Dallas:  BenBella Books, 2011
• Ruggiero, Vincenzo, “Crime in Literature:  Sociology of Deviance and Fiction, “London and New York, Verson, 2003
• Scaggs, John, “Crime Fiction,” London: Routledge, 2005
• Swedish Book Review (special issue: Swedish Crime Writers): http://www.swedishbookreview.com

• Tytti, Soila (ed), “The Cinema of Scandinavia,” Wallflower magazine, 2005
• Articles in English about specific Scandinavian Crime Fiction novels and the genre in general can been found in the journal “Scandinavian Studies” (published by Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies) which can be accessed online

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on: 

• Course Enrollment and Grading  
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code 

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org

Please note: There can be some changes to the following course summary due to different arrangements and unforeseen problems with availability of texts/DVD/movies used for this course. You will be informed on Canvas.