Syllabus, valid from 2023-01-16
Syllabus, valid from 2023-01-16
Title
Imagining Catastrophe
Swedish title
Föreställningar om katastrofer
Course code
KK165A
Credits
15 credits
Grading scale
UV / Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2022-09-06
Syllabus valid from
2023-01-16
Level
Basic level
Entry requirements
General entry requirements + Civics 1b or Civics 1a1 +1a2, English 6
No main field.
Progression level
G1N
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course can normally be included as a part of a general degree at basic level.
Course objectives
In this course the students learn about the role of speculative aesthetics in circumscribing the catastrophe; the narrative scenarios of events and tensions (causes and effects), the characterization of the subjects and agents involved (heroes, victims, bystanders, active and passive ones; human and non-human), the description of the social response (institutions, means, readiness, processes, resilience); the style of drawings and plans included. Participants can use the media they are familiar with (drawing, photo, fiction, film, or a combination of them) to work with “gestaltande” course assignments.
Course contents
Students learn some of the most prominent philosophical and critical framings of catastrophes, and practice how to analyse the subjects, agents, objects, and actions of catastrophes using multimodal forms of aesthetics.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary framings of catastrophes
2. Demonstrate skills in conceptualizing and communicating future scenarios using visual/audiovisual media and writing
3. Analyze the narrative and aesthetic forms in catastrophe scenarios
4. Analyze catastrophes using multimodal forms of aesthetics
Learning activities
The course consists of lectures, seminars, collaborative workshops, and independent study of course literature.
Assessment
Student are examined through two examinations:
1. A portfolio of catastrophe analysis course work (HP 12; LO 1, 2, 3)
2. A group presentation of selected course work (HP 3; LO 2, 3, 4)
Course literature
- Angus, Ian. Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Capitalism and the Crisis of the Earth System. New York Monthly Review Press, 2016. Print.
- Davies, Jeremy. Birth of the Anthropocene. Oakland, California: Univ of California Press, 2018. Print.
- Gil, Isabel Capeloa and Wulf, Christoph. Hazardous Future: Disaster, Representation and the Assessment of Risk. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2015.
- Keane, Stephen. Disaster Movies: The Cinema of Catastrophe. London: Wallflower, 2006. Print.
- Kingsolver, Barbara. Flight Behaviour: A Novel. London: Faber and Faber, 2013. Print.
- Reilly, Meg L. We Are Unprepared: A Novel. Don Mills, Ontario: MIRA, 2016. Print.
Supplementary articles, literature and film will be provided.
Course evaluation
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)
Interim rules
If a course ceases to be available or has undergone any major changes, the students are to be offered two opportunities to retake the examination during the year following the change for re-examination, based on the syllabus which applied at registration.