Course Syllabus
Scandinavian Crime Fiction |
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2020 - DIS Stockholm |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Literature |
| Faculty Member: |
Anna Cavallin |
| Program Director: |
Andreas Brøgger - abr@dis.dk |
| Academic Coordinator: |
Mark Peters - mpe@disstockholm.se |
| Time & Place: |
Mondays & Thursdays 10.05-11.25, 1E-509 |
Instructor: Anna Cavallin
PhD. (Comparative Literature and French Literature, Stockholm University) on Sweden in the late 19th century: gender, consumption and power (Department of Literature, Stockholm University). Current instructor and Academic Director at the Department of Gender Studies, Stockholm University. Taught courses on Swedish Crime fiction and also Swedish culture, Swedish literature, and gender studies with a special Swedish focus at The Swedish Program, a Study Abroad Program located in Stockholm, for more than eight years. Fields of research include a special focus on literary analysis with a contextualising gender perspective. With DIS since 2016.
E-mail: anna.cavallin@gender.su.se
Office Hours: by appointment
Course Description
In Scandinavian crime fiction, the most fantastic murders take place, families fall apart, their dark secrets are exposed, and the validity of the Scandinavian countries’ welfare system is questioned – all of this described in a distinctly Scandinavian tone and style.
Is this why Scandinavian crime fiction is so popular? What is it with the terse language, the Nordic landscape, and the protagonists as anti-heroes, feminists or outsiders that make these crime novels so appealing?
Course Format
The course will consist of close readings, discussions and written analyses of a number of Scandinavian crime novels in the group together, of screenings of adaptations of Scandinavian crime novels and/or original series of crime fiction, and also of a novel of your own choice.
Class meetings will be for the most part, though not always and strictly so, consist of one part in the lecture format where keywords and concepts are introduced. During the second part, we will discuss, in small groups or in the entire class and analyse the novel assigned for the day (and when relevant, chapters of the textbooks assigned) relating it/them to the themes of the course.
We will be reading a number of crime fiction novels representing at least three different Scandinavian/Nordic countries. There will be introductions to the genre of crime fiction, and also to aspects of sub-genres and/or genre-hybrids, to the Scandinavian countries and the concept of the Welfare State as well as the themes of Scandinavian crime fiction (social identity and social realism, gender, nature, the environment, etc.). As a class, we will read Maj Sjöwall's and Per Wahlöö's "Roseanna", Stieg Larsson’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s “The Legacy”, Anne Holt's ”Blind Goddess”, and Jussi Adler-Olsen's "The Hanging Girl".
Additionally, you will all choose another Scandinavian crime fiction novel (from the DIS Library). Further theoretical readings will also be available to enhance your understanding of the genre.
Learning Objectives
This course aims at increasing the abilities to think and work analytically. This includes developing the ability to read and analyse literary, and non-literary, texts, to voice criticism through coherent argumentation, to reason by analogy, to pose relevant questions and communicate your analytical reflections in written and oral form.
In this course, the aim is for you to become more perceptive readers of crime fiction and criticism. In this course, we will explore concepts such as national & cultural identity, race, ethnicity, the environment as place, space and location, gender-related isssues, power structures etc. in the context of modern Scandinavian crime fiction.
At the end of the course, you will have increased your abilities to:
- Identify and distinguish themes, genres, styles and influences in Scandinavian crime fiction
- An acquired vocabulary for analysis of crime fiction and Scandinavian crime fiction in particular, including literary as well as cultural terms
- Gain an understanding of Scandinavian society today as mirrored in crime fiction
- Develop critical skills: to think analytically, to voice criticism through argumentation
- Improve writing skills
Guest Lectures
February 10: Dr Kerstin Bergman, The concept of Scandinavian Noir
Field Studies
February 12, 13:00:00-17:00: Escape Room: Sherlock
April 22, 9:30-12:00: TBA
Expectations of the Student
I expect you 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. I expect you to be engaged as much as possible, and that possibility diminishing if readings for the class are not prepared accordingly.
Approach to Teaching
I am enthusiastic about crime fiction and will bring this enthusiasm to class. Although there will be lecturing in order to provide background information, my wish is that we may for the most part explore the realm of Scandinavian crime fiction together. I hope you will bring your concepts and pre-existing knowledge of and interest in crime fiction into the discussions, and also that you will ask a lot of questions. I hope to create a good atmosphere where you will all feel comfortable about contributing and discussing openly, while at the same time respect each other’s point of view.
Practical Matters/Classroom Policies
You are expected to be on time to class. If you miss multiple classes, it will affect your engagement grade. Allowances, of course, will be made in case of illness, but missing too many classes without cause may result in your being referred to the Director of Teaching & Learning and/or Director of Student Affairs.
Laptops may be used for note-taking, although I prefer that you do not use them in the classroom, if not absolutely necessary. Please wait until the break or time before and after class to check email, Facebook/other social media devices and check/send text messages. If surfing the internet or text messaging becomes a problem, laptops and phones will be banned from the classroom.
No eating in the classroom, please. You are, of course, allowed to bring water, coffee or tea but eating meals during class is not allowed. You may consume lunch or a snack at the break. 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 |
| Engagement |
20% |
|
Short Analysis I |
25% |
|
Short Analysis II |
25% |
|
Final Paper |
30% |
Description of Assignments & Due Dates
Engagement is your responsibility. You should consider how often you join in class discussions, make comments or ask questions. How many absences do you have over the course of the semester? Do you complete all the assigned readings on time? If you expect an “A” for the engagement grade, you should be making comments and asking questions in almost every class.
For the written assignments, I will provide you with guidelines as to what I expect, what is required and what is rewarded (see below). You don’t have to be an English major to write well. As long as you write clearly, support your ideas and thesis from the text(s) and/or reference material you will do well. If you don’t understand what is expected, please ask.
Written assignments should have a title, be double-spaced, 12 font with approximately 300 words per page. Students may refer to “The MLA Handbook” or a writing manual from their home universities. Just be consistent when using citations, footnoting, etc. Please e-mail me the final version of the written assignments before class on the due dates.
Short Analysis I: Due Tuesday 10/3
Write a short analysis on a topic or theme we have discussed, from the novels we have read so far. The analysis should be 3 to 4 pages in length, 12 font and approximately 300 words per page with one inch margins. Remember to give your analysis a title! You pick an issue or theme that interests you and pursue it. You can also write on “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”– but be sure you have a thesis. Please do not give a plot summary! You do not have to use outside sources for this paper. Always include a list of references, even if it just contains one single title.
Your analysis should include the following:
- Introduction: presentation of the topic to be investigated and a brief overview of what you will be doing in your paper, i.e. exploring a specific theme or using of specific theory for example the “10 Commandments” or expanding on one of the keywords in relation to the novel(s).
- Analysis: comments, discussions, comparisons, reflections, points of argument
- Summary & conclusion
- List of references
Short Analysis II: Your Own Crime Fiction Novel: Due Tuesday 7/4
Write a short analysis on the Scandinavian Crime Fiction novel of your choice (choice made in class), or, if you have not yet finished reading this novel, you could either expand on t, broaden and deepen the themes analysed in Short Analysis I, or you can choose to write about another novel we have read in class. The analysis should be 3 to 4 pages in length, 12 font and approximately 300 words per page with one inch margins. See details above in the instructions for Short Analysis I. You are allowed to use external sources.
Final Paper: Due Wednesday, 6/5
For this paper, you may choose to do one of the following:
- An academic paper (7-8 pages) on a theme of your choice (for example, applying one of the keywords/concepts to novel(s) we have read; using one or two of the 10 Commandments of Scandinavian crime fiction – exploring the murderer as a victim; the impact of the Social Welfare State; portrayal of female detectives; gender-roles/feminism; use of crime fiction formula, etc.) Other suggestions for paper topics will be provided. Follow the outline above. Your paper must have a title! 300 words per page, one inch margins, 12 font, and other detailed instructions regarding formal attributes as above.
- A re-writing of Analysis I or II, expanding on the original topic, taking into account comments given on the original paper. Must be 8-9 pages in length.
If you choose this option, you can extend your original paper by revising your thesis, broadening your comparisons and further qualifying your arguments by using outside sources.
For both options, follow the outline under the Short Analysis I but be sure to list your sources in either a separate bibliography or in footnotes.
Readings
Textbooks
"The Crime Fiction Handbook", Peter Messent
"Scandinavian Crime Fiction", eds. Andrew Nestingen & Paula Arvas
"Swedish Crime Fiction - the making of Nordic noir", Kerstin Bergman
Novels
Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö "Roseanna"
Stieg Larsson’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Yrsa Sirgurdardottir’s “The Legacy”
Anne Holt's ”Blind Goddess”
Jussi Adler-Olsen's "The Hanging Girl"
Novel of own choice
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:
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