The main focus in this course will be use of history, aesthetics, and cultural expressions as politically mobilising forces. Developments in different parts of 20th century Europe and certain other historical contexts are used as the basis for discussion of questions about how democracy, fascism, communism, populism and other political programmes and movements have affected, and been affected and challenged by, aesthetical values as well as use and mobilisation of the past. During the course, questions concerning nationalism, centre and periphery, and relations between politics, social movements and other societal processes, will also be of importance. The course contains elements of picture analysis and semiotics.

The course is divided into a number of sub-parts, each with its own examination.

• Part 1: Concept building, 2 credits, where the central concepts of the course will be studied and examined in a sit-in exam.
• Part 2: Breaking points and trauma in 20th century Europe – politics of memory, history culture and use of history, 4 credits. Here, concepts related to historical culture and uses of history are studied and tested on different kinds of source material and contexts. Part 2 is examined in a portfolio, containing an individual essay writing process and seminars.
• Part 3: Politics, culture and aesthetics in 20th century Europe, 6 credits, where a number of aspects related to Europe in the 20th century are studied and discussed through literature, art and film. This part is examined as a portfolio, containing seminar group assignments and an individual essay where a European novel is analysed applying the main course themes and concepts.
• Part 4: Poster presentation, 3 credits. In this part the students work in smaller groups to produce suggestions for a problem field that may serve as the basis for more concrete problem formulations to be used in the upcoming essay-work in the program. The result is presented at a seminar day, with poster exhibitions, feedback and seminar discussions.

Syllabus autumn 2021

The University provides students who participate in or who have completed a course with the opportunity to make known their experiences and viewpoints with regards to the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarize the results of course evaluations as well as informing participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures initiated in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).