MBIB4320 Sociology of Literature Course description

Sociology of literature looks at how people's lives and social conditions are reflected in literature, and how literature is read and evaluated across historical and cultural contexts. In this course, we look at both classical and contemporary questions regarding the sociology of literature. We examine how different criteria for literary quality emerge and grapple with each other in the public sphere, what happens when certain works are canonised, while others are forgotten; how the fascination for literature emerges in different parts of the public sphere, and what literature's social function is. We also discuss the relationship between players, institutions, organisations and informal networks in the literary public sphere (authors, publishing houses, bookshops, libraries, literature critics, readers, bloggers, fan fiction writers, the Norwegian Authors' Union, the Norwegian Library Association, etc.) Last, but not least, we will look at Norwegian literature politics, and at the power relations between the public and private book market and the relationship between literature politics and reading habits.

None.

Knowledge

The student has

• insight into theory and method of the sociology of literature
• in-depth knowledge of the circumstances in the literary public sphere, and about Norwegian literature and library policy
• in-depth knowledge of different theories concerning the evaluating of and fascination with literature and the social function of reading

Skills

The student is capable of

• analysing and participating in a quickly changing book and media society
• conducting studies of a qualitative and quantitative nature relating to the sociology of literature
• writing literary criticism, opinion pieces and articles 
• assessing the quality and relevance of prose and fiction in relation to different types of readers and different contexts

The course is organised as a series of three sessions over three days. The teaching methods are seminars, lectures, group work and student presentations. Students will work individually with assignments of their choice within the genres opinion pieces, articles and literary criticism.

In the last session, the students will present and discuss one or more of the assignments that have been prepared during previous sessions.

Coursework requirements must be completed by the set time and approved by the lecturer before the student can take the exam.

The form of assessment is a portfolio consisting of one article (approximately 13,000 characters including spaces), a debate article/ opinion piece (approx. 4,000 to 5,000 characters) and a literary critique/extensive book review (3,000 to 4,000 characters). Alongside assignments, the student must enclose a short note outlining the intended publication channel and target group. Individual grades are not given for the different parts of the portfolio, but rather an overall grade is awarded for the portfolio.

Candidates who fail the ordinary exam can take a resit/rescheduled exam. If a fail grade is awarded, all parts of the portfolio must be resubmitted.

In the exam, students can be tested on all subject matter taught. This also applies to subject matter not specifically covered by the course literature

A grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail is used.

The portfolios are graded by one internal and one external examiner.