Space and Place in the Humanities: Theories and Applications, 7,5 ECTS
The course is offered within the Doctoral School in the Humanities by the Department of History, in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, the Department of Culture and Aesthetics, the Department of Ethnology, History of Religions and Gender Studies, and more. The course starts in spring semester 2023.
Space and Place in the Humanities: Theories and Applications, 7,5 ECTS
Course content
This course addresses the so-called ‘spatial turn’ in the humanities and offers PhD candidates theoretical and methodological tools to critically analyse space and its cultural significance from an interdisciplinary perspective and across time periods. The students acquaint themselves with a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches related to spatial aspects applied in humanistic research earlier and at present. This includes, for example, natural and culturally constructed spaces, urban and rural places, private, imaginary or sacred spaces, and the relation between different spatially defined communities such as ethnicities, digital communities, and exiled groups and individuals. Attention is also given to issues such as how spaces are constructed, how the organization of space interplays with social structures and questions of identity, as well as different practices. Also, how changes in the natural landscape – for instance elevation of land or climate changes – affect the perception and apprehension of space.
Multidisciplinarity and method exercises with teachers from different disciplines are integrated in the course. Thereby the course sponsors a critical understanding of space, how space and place work, how they are constructed and named, how they interplay with social relations and identities, how the concept of space has affected contemporary research in different research areas, and how it can be a tool for the participants’ own analysis and research.
Learning outcomes
For a grade pass on the course, students are expected to be able to:
- describe and in an analytical manner account for ways in which spatial perspectives and materials influenced and were applied within different fields in the humanities
- analyse and discuss, orally and in writing, how place and spatiality interplays with social phenomena such as memory and identity, and how this was used for political purposes under different physical and temporal contexts
- critically discuss key concepts in the field and reflect upon them in relation to their own and fellow students’ doctoral work
- independently apply theories, methods and empirical material related to the concepts ‘space’ and ‘place’ on their own doctoral work
Practical information
Mandatory elements
The course has the following obligatory elements: lectures, seminars, method exercises, field studies (excursion), and completion of written and oral presentations and peer assessment in connection with course assignments and the examination.
Examination
The course is examined through a written learning journal, an oral presentation, and completed seminar exercises.
Instruction
Instruction is given in the form of lectures, seminars, method exercises and field studies (excursion).
NB. The course is offered on campus and includes study visits in and around Stockholm.
Period: 2023-03-21 - 2023-06-04
Course dates: Weekly, Tuesday or Thursday.
Language of instruction: English
Course plan:
HI1SPAC Space and Place in the Humanities: Theories and Applications (465 Kb)
Apply to the course
Application
Applications for courses starting in the spring semester 2023 are received between November 15 and December 15. Letters of confirmation are sent out shortly afterwards.
All applications are sent by the supervisor to: doctoralschool@hum.su.se. Official transcript of records, or certificate of registration, verifying the applicant's status as doctoral student should be enclosed with the application.
All courses are free of charge, and they are open to all who are admitted to studies on PhD-level, regardless of faculty or university. Prerequisites and special admittance requirements may apply for some courses.
Application form for place in a joint faculty course (294 Kb)
How do I apply?
The application form (see above) is used to apply for a place in a course. The supervisor (or equivalent) must support the doctoral student’s application with a motivation as to why the doctoral student should participate in the course. The supervisor also submits the proposal to the following address: doctoralschool@hum.su.se.
Who can apply?
The Faculty of Humanities’ doctoral students have priority for places, and external doctoral students (from Stockholm University or another university) can be admitted to a course subject to availability. External doctoral students will be registered in Ladok in order to enable the Board to monitor all participants in a course.
Contact
Course director: professor Kurt Villads Jensen och docent Nanouschka Myrberg Burström
Course title in Swedish: Rumslighet och plats i modern humaniora: Teorier och tillämpningar
The course is offered by the Department of History in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, the Department of Culture and Aesthetics, the Department of Ethnology, History of Religions and Gender Studies, and more.
Last updated: December 21, 2022
Source: Humanistiska fakultetsnämnden