Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• critically analyse social-scientific, humanistic and historical writings regarding amorous and sexual practices in a particular historical context,
• evaluate potential sources of historical and ethnographic information,
• conduct interviews with individuals about how they make sense of their lived experience in a particular historical moment,
• speak and write, with attention to detail and incongruity, about individuals' amorous and sexual experience in the shadow of existential threats.

Content

The course investigates texts and testimonies relating to the diversity of contemporary romantic and sexual practices, from web dating to polyamory. The course also examines the effects of looming catastrophe. How do the threats of climate change, nuclear war and other dismal futures shape our thinking about pleasure, relationships, and whether to have children? The course builds upon in-class interviews with invited guests and students' own research projects.

Instruction

Teaching is given in the form of lectures and seminars. Participation in the seminars is compulsory. The course is taught in English. In case of a very small number of students, stated types of instruction may be changed to self-study.

Assessment

The course is assessed on the basis of active participation in compulsory seminars (0 credits), written assignments (4 credits) and an oral presentation (3,5 credits).

Grading scale for seminars: Fail-Pass (U-G). Grading scale for all other assessed components: Fail-Pass-Pass with distinction (U-G-VG).

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.

Other directives

Good reading and speaking skills in English are required. The student must be capable of working independently throughout the course.

Transitional provisions

Students retain the right to be examined on the course according to this syllabus for 3 semesters after their course instance has ended. Normally, instruction will be given according to the latest version of the course syllabus only.