PBIB9210 The Sociology of Literature - Basic Research Questions and Empirical Studies Course description

The course highlights empirical and theoretical problems in historical as well as contemporary contexts within the Scandinavian language area and the Nordic literary publications. It is oriented towards how humanistic perspectives can raise new issues and provide other insights into questions about the relationship between literature, reading and dissemination on the one hand, and democracy, participation and culture of culture on the other.

The course examines literature's social connections, what functions the literature has, how it is used in various social, political and cultural contexts. Democracy and citizenship, reading and empowerment, digitalization and new media as well as globalization and material leadership are some of the topics discussed. With an eye on how linguistic, technological and other socio-material conditions form a globalized reality, the course is particularly concerned on how the humanities contribute.

No prerequisites.

On completion of the course, the candidate has achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

¿ The candidate is in the forefront in questions regarding the sociology of literature, its methodological practice and fundamental questions including

¿ The candidate can discuss different perspectives in literature sociology and the relationship to library and information science.

Skills

The candidate can

¿ plan and carry out high-level research in the sociology of literature

¿ deal with and critically evaluate complex methodological and theoretical questions in the sociology of literature

¿ discuss, support and legitimate the relevance of problems in the sociology of literature including research in this field

¿ disseminate one's own research in academic as well as general fora

Through lectures and seminars, current empirical studies are presented and thematic literature sociological issues are discussed. The course is organized in two seminars that go over three respectively two days. The first session is based on lectures and seminars. Here are research projects presented by researchers from various Scandinavian research communities. In the second session, the participants present their projects and essay drafts. There the participants will act as opponents for each other.

No coursework requirements.

Candidates must write an essay of approx. 15 pages over a self-chosen theme. The topic of the essay must be approved by the course coordinator. The essay shall be handed in no later than 2 months after the subject is concluded.

All aids allowed as long as source reference and quotation technique requirements are applied.

Pass/Fail.

The essay will be assessed by the course coordinator.

Target group

This course is primarily aimed at PhD candidates admitted to the PhD programme in Library and Information Science at OsloMet, but is also open to other applicants who wish to be qualified for research in the field.

Admission requirements

This subject can be offered to candidates in addition to the university's own candidate, given enough places. It is primarily offered to those students admitted to the PhD programme at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University but will be open to other students who have completed either "hovedfag" or a master's degree (120 credits) within the same academic area.

Applicants for individual PhD-courses must submit a summary of about one page with information about their own PhD project or other project / field of interest, with a description of the topic, method, theoretical approach, and why this topic is considered relevant to the own project.