Archives and Cultural Memory
Marianne Stecher-Hansen, Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator, marianne@uw.edu
Seminar: Wednesdays: 1:30 – 4:20pm (MEB 102)
Course Description: This graduate seminar engages the interdisciplinary field of Scandinavian Studies, as it is currently practiced in North America and Europe. In particular, the seminar seeks to explore the notion of “archive” within the broader context of cultural memory studies and in relation to established scholarship and teaching of “the canon" in Scandinavian Studies. There are many applications of the term archive – conceptual (literary and cultural studies; critical theory); institutional/physical archives (libraries, museums, records offices, other institutional storage) as well as online digitized archives.
To lay a some critical foundation, we will read a few influential texts in cultural theory and criticism, such as selections by Aleida Assmann, Sara Ahmed, Stuart Hall, Fatima El-Tayeb, Gunlög Furr, Temi Odumosu and Hayden White as well as other selections suggested by students. Ideally, these theoretical readings will be put into conversation with texts (literary, media, or visual) from Nordic contexts.
In this manner, the seminar emphasizes the methods and practices of scholarly inquiry and some of the current predominant critical approaches to literary and cultural studies, cinema and media studies. The selected critical readings seek particular relevance to the “archive” and Cultural Memory studies. In addition, our study will likely demonstrate relations to (New) Historicism, Cultural Studies, Postcolonial and Race Studies, as well as Feminism. Finally, we will consider examples of current scholarship published in the journal of Scandinavian Studies and other peer-reviewed journals. As the seminar is designed to foster individual research projects (seminar papers or dissertation chapters); there are a number of possible “conceptual archives” (some of these might involve institutional archives) that we might explore collectively or individually.
Potential directions for research projects
- Archives/Cultural Memory
- “everyday life” (SASS 2023 conference theme)
- colonialism and empire
- feminism and women’s reproductive rights
- labor relations and the workplace
- migrations, the migrant and refugee
- slavery, serfdom and emancipations
- war, occupation, and deportations
During the quarter, you’ll continue to map out a path in the field, moving forward toward the MA or PhD degree by exploring these kinds of questions:
What are you contributing as a scholar to the field of Scandinavian Studies? Why is this currently important or relevant? How are you positioning yourself in the field? Where will this lead you?
What kinds of questions do Scandinavian Studies scholars ask? How do they go about researching, contextualizing and framing these questions? How do they disseminate their findings?
Recommended Reference works (available UW libraries):
Parker, Robert Dale. 2020. How to Interpret Literature : Critical Theory for Literary and Cultural Studies. Fourth edition. New York: Oxford University Press.
Semenza, Gregory Colón. 2010. Graduate Study for the 21st Century: How to Build an Academic Career in the Humanities. Palgave MacMillan. ISBN: 978-0-230-10033-6
Student Learning Objectives:
- Gain additional familiarity with relevant approaches in critical theory, that foreground literary and cultural studies. Identify current approaches and methods in Scandinavian Studies.
- Build intellectual community by gaining greater fluency in the “canon” of Scandinavian literary and cultural studies. Develop a greater familiarity with recent and current scholarship in Scandinavian Studies.
- Conceptualize and complete a scholarly research paper. This principle assignment will usually result in two of the following accomplishments by the end of the quarter:
- Produce an original 10-15 page “seminar paper” that will later form a part of the Master’s thesis or planned PhD dissertation.
- Submit an abstract for an academic conference paper (for SASS 2023 in Austin), including a title and 250-word “abstract” by the 1 December 2022 deadline.
- Complete a 20 – 30 page PhD dissertation chapter (as delineated in the PhC student’s approved dissertation prospectus)
- Submit a scholarly article for consideration by Scandinavian Studies (or another peer-reviewed journal, adhering to the journal’s submission guidelines.
Required reading: Selected texts are posted on CANVAS page, under MODULES, for each weekly seminar meeting. Students read in advance and are prepared to discuss the texts in the seminar.
Discussant: Each student volunteers to serve as a “discussant” (discussion leader) for 1 to 2 sessions of the weekly seminar. This role involves: a) preparing 2 – 3 key questions in advance about the readings that will facilitate our discussion b) proposing (at start of quarter) one reading that will be read by entire seminar.
Assignments and evaluation (papers are submitted on CANVAS on dates indicated in “Assignments”; each assignment will be “peer-reviewed” by the professor and two peers):
- “Abstract” (250-word] with annotated bibliography (20%)
- 2 short, critical response papers (ca. 500 words each) (20%)
- Seminar participation (including serving as “discussant”) (10%)
- EITHER: Final seminar research paper (10 – 15 pages) (50%)
OR: Completed draft of dissertation chapter (ca. 20 – 25 pages)
Research - Getting Started: Please familiarize yourself with the Scandinavian Studies research guide: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/scandinavianLinks to an external site.. Set up an appointment with our Nordic Collections Specialist, Dan Mandeville https://cal.lib.uw.edu/appointments/dcmanLinks to an external site. or (dcman@uw.edu), asap.
Abstract and annotated Bibliography: Drawing on research completed for the class, you should select 6 – 8 relevant articles or book chapters, and write a brief (1 – 3 sentences) summary or “annotation” of each. You should identify a problem or question that is addressed in the article or book chapter.
Seminar Paper: Students submit an original research or seminar paper (at least 10 to 15 pages of continuous, double-spaced narrative, 12-point font, 1” margins ) consisting of:
- Brief synopsis of any previous or relevant scholarship on topic.
- Explication of relevant critical/theoretical approach or method.
- Clear formulation of your research question and “thesis” (ie your ‘claim’)
- Close reading and analysis of supporting texts (literary, media, image).
- Updated bibliography of “works cited” (ie your references without annotations).
Academic Style and format: Citations and references should follow The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, using the in-text Author-Date citation style! Please see “Citation Style Guides & Tools” on UW Libraries page here: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/citations/chicago-adLinks to an external site.
Journal Submissions (Optional): Note that the journal of Scandinavian Studies employs the Chicago style: https://ojs.press.uillinois.edu/index.php/sass/about/submissions (Links to an external site.) “Manuscripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word only. The main text should be in Times New Roman 12 point. Only those papers based on material examined in the original language will be considered. Translations should be subjoined to quotations from the Scandinavian languages.” Submissions: 6,000 – 8,000 words.
Religious Accommodations Policy: Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..”