Course Syllabus
Photo by Thorsten Altmann-Krueger
| Semester & Location: |
Summer 26 session 2 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Summer Course - 3 credits |
| Study Tours: |
France |
| Major Disciplines: |
Literature, History, Anthropology |
| Prerequisite(s): |
None |
| Faculty Members: |
Ditte Marie Egebjerg-Rantzau Canvas Inbox) |
| Time & Place: |
Classroom: F24-402 - Class times will vary, please see calendar |
Draft
Course Description
This course will explore European colonial narratives and investigate how they permeate current discourses and lived realities. A comparative approach in this course allows for a deconstruction of national narratives which have enabled European nations to marginalize and romanticize their colonial past, each in their own unique ways. Through interactions with decolonial storytellers, artists, and activists, students will be introduced to ways of knowing that challenge Western thought paradigms.
The course will offer students a space for contemplation and in-depth reflection: Our personal narratives are impacted by collective narratives, beliefs, and values in ways that we are often quite unconscious about. Through written reflections and storytelling circles, students will increase their awareness of the values and beliefs they want to embody and thus gain a stronger sense of personal agency. The stories we lean into, may constrain us, or they may offer powerful pathways to reimagine the futures, we want to see emerge.
Learning Objectives
- identify colonial structures in today's society
- identify colonial narratives via analysis of various cultural materials
- understand the interrelation between Europe's colonial past and current immigration issues
Faculty
Ditte Marie Egebjerg-Rantzau, cand. mag. in Nordic Literature and French, University of Copenhagen. BA studies in French Literature, Paul Valéry University, Montpellier, France. Vice Consul at the Royal Danish Consulate of Ethiopia (2000). Educator at Novo Nordisk and Mærsk (>2006). With DIS since 2006. Other courses taught by Ditte Marie Egebjerg-Rantzau: Social Change and Active Citizenship (SU1), Danish Language and Culture Through Personal Storytelling and Leadership for Social Change.
Readings
Andreassen, Rikke: “Race Science and Racial Hierarchies” in Andreassen, "Human Exhibitions, Race, Gender and Sexuality in Ethnic Displays", Ashgate 2015
Andreassen, Rikke “Humans on Display” in Andreassen, "Human Exhibitions, Race, Gender and Sexuality in Ethnic Displays", Ashgate 2015, Rowman & Littlefield, 2017
Bhambra, Gurminda K. “Postcolonial Europe: Afterword”, in Jensen et al. (eds), Postcolonial Europe: Comparative Reflections after the Empires, Rowman & Littlefield, 2017
Blanchard, Pascal and Thomas, Dominic: "Introduction: A Decade of Postcolonial Crisis: Fracture, Rupture and Apartheid (2005-2015). In: Bancel et al. "Colonial Legacy in France - Fracture, Rupture and Apartheid", Indiana University Press 2017.
Boëtsch, Gilles “From Cabinets of Curiosity to the ‘Hottentot Venus’” in Bancel et al. "The Invention of Race: Scientific and Popular Representations", Routledge 2014
Buettner, Elizabeth: "Europe and its entangled colonial pasts: Europeanizing "The "imperial turn". In: Knudsen, Britta Timm, Taylor and Francis 2022.
Jensen, Lars: “Danishness and Whiteness in Crisis”, in Loftsdottir et al. Whiteness and Postcolonialism in the Nordic Region. Exceptionalism, Migrant Others and National identities, Routledge 2012
Peabody, Rebecca et al.: "Visualizing Empire. Africa, Europe and the Politics of Representation, Getty Reseach Institute, 2021.
Said, Edward "Introduction" in Orientalism, Penguin, 2003.
Salami, Minna: "Sensuous Knowledge - A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone", Amistad, 2020.
Slimani, Leila: "The Country of Others, Faber & Faber, 2022 (French edition, 2020)
Approach to Teaching
We will co-create a learning environment rooted in mutual trust and inspired engagement. Students will be offered a space for in depth reflection and self-inquiry through journal writing and storytelling circles.
We will use Copenhagen and Marseille as our classroom as we visit exhibits, explore colonial traces in cities and when we engage in conversations with writers, artists and activists.
Expectations of the Students
Our joint learning outcome will rely on each student's readiness to engage wholeheartedly in class as well as on study tours. Our classes and field studies will be interactive and include small group discussions and peer-led assignments.
Evaluation
Active engagement
We are embarking on a collective learning journey, and from day one we will work on co-creating a strong class room community together. Active engagement is not only about raising your voice in class, but also about actively listening to guest speakers and not the least, the contributions of your peers. I will expect you to limit screen use in class, on field trips and during study tours to a minimum.
Personal narrative reflections (pass fail)
Our personal narratives are impacted by collective narratives, beliefs and values in ways that we are often quite unconscious about. Throughout the course, you will be asked to reflect on your core values and beliefs, and explore how you may increase your personal sense of agency through these personal reflections.
Peer led discussions
In groups, you will be responsible for exploring a topic in more depth and subsequently leading a class activity. The group project will offer you a chance to delve more elaborately into a topic that is relevant for your majors and / or you are passionate about. More info in class.
Final reflection paper
Your final paper will build upon the personal reflections, you have submitted throughout this course. You are expected to draw upon the insights gained in class, readings, and on study tour.
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
| Study tour reflections |
20% |
| Active Engagement in class, on field studies + study tour. |
20 % |
|
Personal narrative reflections (Pass fail) |
15 % |
|
Peer led discussions (in groups) |
20 % |
|
Final Reflection Paper (Pass fail) |
25% |
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|