General provisions

The course is an introductory course in the Master's Programme in environmental history, but is open to students from other Master programmes or students with a BA degree.

Course instruction is in English.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree in historical-philosophical subjects, social sciences or science/engineering

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

• Critically analyse central ideas, representations and stagings of humans and nature in a historical and global perspective
• Critically analyse how human-nature relations have been defined and problematised though art, media and literature
• Critically analyse how representations and stagings of human relationship to nature shape debates on art, heritage, landscape management and sustainability

Content

The course provides an understanding of how ideas, representations and stagings of humans and nature have shaped our relationship to nature opening up for new knowledge of history-present and future. The history of ideas of nature is introduced from a western perspective and contrasted with alternative worldviews, representations and stagings of nature. Examples of methods for critical analyses of art, visualization, and stagings of human-nature in a historical and global perspective are given. The course discusses a number of visualisations and stagings of nature-culture through art, cultural heritage, museums, media and landscapes and also bring up questions around the musealisation of nature. We also discuss and problematise the role of art in current debates of sustainability and climate change.

Instruction

The course is interdisciplinary, directed to students from different disciplines and area studies. Instruction consist of lectures, seminars and field excursions.

The course is aimed for students who plan to work with museums, cultural heritage, landscape planning and management. It is also suitable for students with an interest in exhibitions and fields such as media and communication.

Assessment

Students are examined continuously by means of seminar participation and written assignments. Active participation in seminars is required. Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system. The following grades will be used: Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

This course can not be included in an exam with a course whose content fully or partially overlaps with the contents of this course. If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.