Course Syllabus

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Course Description

This course explores the intersections of culture, environment, and policy in shaping our food systems, broadly, and our relationships with foods and food cultures, specifically. Using methods such as systems thinking, ethnography, critical discourse analysis, experiential learning, and personal reflection, we will investigate these intersecting forces in relation to sustainability and resilience in an age of ongoing climate change. Through our excursions close to home and further afield, we will engage with topics such as food sovereignty, security, and justice; the significance of heritage foods, indigenous knowledge, and traditional techniques; and the impact of local and national policies on public and environmental health. Given our location in Stockholm, much of our work will have a Swedish and/or Scandinavian focus, and our long study tour to northern Italy will offer insights into a southern European approach to sustainable and resilient food systems.

 

Students approaching this course with curiosity and enthusiasm can expect to emerge from it with sophisticated understandings of the interconnectedness of environment, culture, and policy on everything from our individual bodies, to the availability of our favorite foods in the grocery store, to global water quality, soil health, and climate change mitigation. Indeed, food “touches” every one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in some way, and in our work this term, we will begin to unpack the significant impacts of food systems locally, regionally, and globally.

Learning Objectives

Students approaching this course with curiosity and attention can expect to . . .

• Think complexly about the intersections of culture, politics, and environment in shaping our food systems broadly and our relationships with foods and food cultures specifically;
• Explain concepts such as “resilience” and “sustainability,” particularly in Swedish and European contexts;
• Discuss the impact of food policy on public and environmental health; food security; and environmental justice;
• Think critically and deeply about your own relationship to food systems and food cultures;
• Hone your professionalization skills, particularly in asking questions and respectfully engaging with people from backgrounds different from your own;
• Creatively and collaboratively design a collective final project for the DIS Festival;
• Share your insights and analyses in oral presentations and reflective personal writing.

Faculty

I'm an American Swede, so I know first-hand how fun--and difficult--it can be to move to a new place and find your footing. I have a deep love for Swedish culture and a sense of humor about its shortcomings. I am looking forward to hearing your reflections as newcomers in this beautiful land of extremes. At DIS I also teach Swedish Language and Culture, and I will most likely sneak some of that cultural content into our conversations this term!

My own background as a professor spans different fields, but most recently I have been working in Environmental Studies (specifically Environmental Humanities) at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. My PhD is in early American history, culture, and literature from the University of Michigan, and my research explores how scientific and lay people's ideas and knowledge about plants shaped racial ideology in 19th-century America. I also write creatively and am working on a series of lyrical essays about environment and seasonality in Sweden. 

Readings

All readings will be provided to you via Canvas. You will find them by navigating to "Files" and then the folder marked "Readings." I will likely sort these chronologically so that you can easily navigate to what is current for our class. 

Field Studies

Our class will have one field study trip and some additional cultural excursions during regular class time. Our purpose in undertaking these trips is to use the cultural resources of our beautiful host city as our extended classroom. These experiences will also be part of the official course content, such that information gathered during these trips may be included in assignments and classroom discussions. More information about these trips will follow, but for now, please note the dates and times on your calendar:

• Field study 1, Wednesday, 19 August, following our introductory class session at 10.15

 

Approach to Teaching

I see the classroom as a safe space for all of my students to experiment, get curious, ask questions, and grow. I care about you as people and as learners. In our sessions, you can expect me to always have too much planned for the time we actually have, and to go off on tangents in response to your questions. We will, I hope, laugh a lot, talk about important and deep things, and grow together as a community. 

DIS Accommodations Statement 

Your learning experience in this class is important to me.  If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter within two weeks from the start of classes. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk with me. I will handle your case with all the discretion and care it requires. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support at: acadsupport@disstockholm.se

Expectations of the Students

Students looking to succeed in this class should:

• Complete all reading prior to the start of class;
• Complete and submit all assignments on time;
• Attend all mandatory field study trips and participate actively in them by asking questions, taking notes, and engaging with the subject matter;
• Check Canvas often and activate notifications so as to stay current with any changes and announcements;
• Contact me regarding illness or other reasons for missing class;
• Participate actively, whether in partners, small groups, or whole-class activities;
• Study and explore course topics on your own;
• Take opportunities to explore Swedish (food) culture outside of class time.

 

Research shows that we all retain information better when we take notes by hand rather than on a laptop or other digital device. Please plan on leaving your laptop in your bag and using a notebook and pen or pencil to do your work in this class. At times we may use our computers, but for the most part we will be working old school with paper and pens! 

 

Out of courtesy to everyone, please silence your phone and turn off the vibration setting as well.

 

Course Requirements

Assignment	Points
Engaged Participation, including attendance in class and activities; and professionalism when engaging with guest speakers and hosts of academic visits	250 points
Group Presentations (2)	350 points (150 + 200 points)
DIS Festival Preparation and Participation	100 points
Journal	300 points

Grading

Points to Letter Grades
A          930-1000	B+        870-899	C+        770-799	D+        670-699	F          599 and lower
A-        900-929	B          830-869	C          730-769	D          630-669
	B-         800-829	C-         700-729	D-        600-629

Course Guidelines, aka The Rules

Readings

Please keep in mind that readings on the schedule are to be completed before you attend class. We will discuss in class the readings that appear for the schedule on that day. All readings may be found on Canvas.

Remember to bring a hard copy of the reading with you as well as any notes you may have taken on it.

 

Attendance

We are here to learn and grow together, and attendance in class is where that happens. I hope you will enjoy class and that attendance will be a highlight and not a chore. The below policies are necessary to outline clearly and somewhat legalistically so that we have no misunderstandings at the end of the term.

 

The only authorized absences are:

• DIS-sponsored activities and activities for another class
• Religious observance
• Illness with notification in advance via email

 

Students who miss more than two classes will lose points from your participation grade per missed absence. Students who miss 20% or more of class meetings (for unexcused reasons) may fail the course. Please note that for our course, 20% equates to 4 class sessions.

 

Lateness

Lateness of more than 10 minutes constitutes 1/3 of an absence. Three instances of lateness = 1 absence.

 

Participation

I consider classroom participation essential to our shared learning, and, accordingly, I assign it a high value in our course’s grading schema. In evaluating your individual participation, I will consider your attendance, your preparedness for class as demonstrated by your comments in class (and occasionally on Canvas discussions), and the quality of your engagement in these exchanges.

 

Late Work

Late work will be docked the equivalent of 1/3 of a letter grade for each day that it is late (i.e., from A to A- as a starting grade). Please do get in touch with me if you know your work will be late so we can keep communication open.

 

Collaboration

You are welcome, and in fact encouraged, to collaborate with one another in your preparations for this class. Talk about the readings together, share your journal reflections, attend events together, go out and taste things together! However, all work you turn in for a grade must reflect only your own efforts.

 

Plagiarism

Copying from any source, including Internet sources, AI-generated content, or even your own previously written work, constitutes plagiarism and is grounds for an automatic 0 on the assignment. Please come and see me if you have any questions—at any time!—about academic honesty in this course or if you are struggling meeting the course requirements for any reason.

 

Email

I aim to respond to student queries via e-mail within 48 hours during the work week. Response time can be longer during busy times of the semester such as the beginning and end, study tours, and "red days" (Swedish holidays). If you have a question that would be better addressed in person—such as specific questions or thoughts about readings, help with assignments, and so on—please make an appointment with me instead.

 

Illness

If you have symptoms of any illness and yet are well enough to attend class, please wear a mask to class and to office hours to limit our susceptibility and to protect vulnerable members of our community.