General entry requirements + Civics 1b / 1a1 +1a2. Or: Civics A, English B.

The aim of this course is that students acquire knowledge about and understanding of different forms of narration, as well as basic skills in analyzing and producing stories, in different media.

In this course we study narrative theory generally, and then narrative theory tied to specific media, such as literature, film, graphic novels, audio and interactive media. We study how different media express narrative structures differently and how a specific medium informs how the narrative is constructed. We also study how different media play with and problematize narration. The course furthermore looks at how stories travel across different media.

After completing the course, the student

The course’s pedagogy is based on active participation, and on combining theoretical study with practical exercises. The learning activities are lectures, seminars, workshops and independent work (individually and in groups).

The course is assessed through six assignments: one assessment for each medium and one assessment on adaptation. the five different media and adaption (four credits each). The form of the assessment is dependent on the medium that is assessed. Each assessment combines theoretical and practical processes.

The course ends with a take-home exam (6 credits).

All assessments test all the learning outcomes.

Aarseth, Espen. “Narrative Theory of Games,” 2012. http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2282365

Bechdel, Allison. Fun home: a family tragicomic. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007.

Boardwell, David. Narration in the Fiction Film. London: Methuen, 1985.

Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Any edition.

Fernandez-Vara, Clara. “Game Spaces Speak Volumes.” 2011. http://www.digra.org/wp-content/uploads/digital-library/Game-Spaces-Speak-Volumes.pdf

Frasca, Gonzalo. “Ludology Meets Narratology: Similitude and difference between (video)games and narrative” 1999. http:www.ludology.org/articles/ludology.htm

Greonsteen, Thierry Comics and Narration. Jackson, MS: UP of Mississippi, 2013.

Hero. Director Yimou Zhang. 2002.

Hutcheon, Linda. A Theory of Adaptation. London; New York: Routledge, 2006.

Jenkins, Henry. ”Game Design as Narrative Architecture.” First person. New media as story, performance, and game. Ed. Noah Wardrip-Fruin and Pat Harrigan. 2003. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2003.

http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/firstperson/lazzi-fair

Rear Window. Director Alfred Hitchcock. 1954.

Rimmon-Kenan, Shlomith. Narrative Fiction: Contemporary Poetics. London: Routledge, 2002 (or later).

Ryan, Marie-Laure (ed.). Narrative Across Media: The Language of Storytelling. Lincoln: Univ. of Nebraska Press 2004.

Singleton, John and Mary Luckhurst. The Creative Writing Handbook. Basinstoke: Palgrave 1999.

Other texts may be included.

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).

If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students will be offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the changes.

Language of instruction is English.