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Campus Borlänge

Welcome to GEN33S Cultural Texts & Contexts at Dalarna University

This course is both a campus course and a distance course, and you would have enrolled for either the campus or distance student.   This online platform is where you will find course material and instructions on preparing for seminars,  as well as assignment instructions.    This course is an undergraduate course with the requirement that you have at least 7.5 credits or equivalent credits of English literature studies.  In this  course, we examine literature in particular social, political, etc contexts/trends and analytically and critically discuss them using various literature and cultural theories.  You will be reading literary texts as well as watching film which are treated as texts.  These texts are chosen because they are considered "cultural texts" in that they inspired or strongly reflect cultural trends or ideologies. The genres of these texts are wide ranging as they deal with contemporary social issues and trends.     

Learning Outcomes of Course

  1. a critical approach to different types of cultural texts as well as an understanding of the various messages and possible interpretations that these texts give rise to in different social and cultural contexts
  2. a basic knowledge of central cultural and literary theories and concepts as well as an ability to apply these concepts in critical analyses of primarily literature and film
  3. orally and in writing communicate and argue for their own interpretation of cultural texts in light of various social and cultural contexts
  4. independently write an academic paper, based on the guidelines given, which uses formatting conventions.

ALL of the learning outcomes above successfully demonstrated to successfully complete the course.  

Seminar Format

The seminars are 90 minute long hybrid seminars which means that distance students will join the same session as the campus students.   The seminars are interactive in that the expectation is a high level of participation and discussion in order for you to demonstrated the first three learning outcomes above (with emphasis on the third).  Therefore, your ability to verbally express your ideas is an important element.

For Campus Students:

  • You applied for the campus course,  therefore you attend the campus seminars (as per your enrolment).   This is also the same for Erasmus students taking the course on campus.  As part of your university agreement with Dalarna University,  you applied as a campus student and, therefore, must attend the campus seminars.

For Distance Students:

  • You must have a computer with a reliable WIFI connection as well as working headphones/speakers and microphone.   
  • When you attend a distance seminar, turn on your camera.  Students cannot silently 'attend' a seminar without turning on cameras.  The only time cameras are turned off if requested by the lecturer due to technical reasons.   
  • As you are likely to have seminars within a personal environment, you must be in a location with no distractions and  from which you are not required to move or walk about.  You should NOT log into a distance seminar and listen while driving, sitting on a bus, etc. 
  • Basic etiquette is required as you are attending a formal university seminar with other students. 

Course Material

All relevant course material, seminar information and assignment details can be access through the left menu under the "Modules" option.   I provide supplementary material, but you must have access to the course literature and films.

The course literature and films are: 

  • Atwood, Margaret. (2017). The Handmaid's Tale.   (Book)  [you can use any edition of this novel as it has been reprinted several times as a classic]
  • Gibson, William. (2016). Neuromancer. London: Gollancz. ISBN: 9780143111603 (Book) [you can use any edition of this novel as it has been reprinted several times as a classic]
  • Robinson, Angela. (Director). (2017). Professor Marston and the Wonder Women [Film]. United States: Stage 6 Films. Released by Sony Pictures.
  • Wachowski, Lana., & Wachowski, Larry. (Directors). (1999). The Matrix [Film]. Australia, United States: Warner Bros, Village Roadshow Entertainment, Groucho II Film, Silver Pictures. )

All relevant course material, seminar information, and assignment details can be access through the left menu under the "Modules" option. 

CLICK LINK TO OPEN THE SCHEDULE UPDATED 12 SEPTEMBER 2024 12 Sept Updated Schedule .docx

 

Course Coordinator & Lecturer 

Dr. Anita Purcell-Sjölund, aps@du.se
Ph.D (Media, and Cultural Studies).  M.IndS (Masters of Indigenous Studies), M.A (History, major: Political Sociology), M.A. (English Literature),  Cert of Journalism.   

 

For application, registation, technical issues contact support@du.se 

 

 

 

Course summary:

Date Details Due