Entry requirements

120 credits including 90 credits in a subject in the humanities or the social sciences. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

A student who successfully completes the course will be able to:

• provide an overview and summarise the current state of research on consumption and material culture during the early modern period
• describe, compare, and apply different theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches used in the research
• use both written sources and visual sources/material objects to frame and critically discuss research questions regarding early modern consumption
• apply the basic analytical methodology to texts and images/objects as primary sources

Content

Early modern societies underwent fundamental changes regarding the consumption of goods, a process labelled as a consumer revolution. This course aims to provide a deeper understanding of consumer culture in early modern Europe, a period defined by hierarchies and social order. The topic is approached from socio-economic and cultural angles, including phenomena such as economic development, identity, and status manifestation. Throughout the course, attention will be paid to concepts of gender and class. In connection with the themes of the course, you will work with the main theoretical perspectives on early modern societies and with primary sources.

Instruction

The course will consist of seminars.

Assessment

Assessment will be based upon written and oral assignments. Students that have missed a small number of mandatory assignments may complete them by the end of the term at the latest. If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.