Scandinavian and European Film Culture

Moving images have long been an important part of culture and society, but digitization and globalization are radically changing their creative, industrial, cultural and social forms and significance. In this course, four select perspectives will allow students both a varied and nuanced understanding of contemporary film cultures in Scandinavia and Europe. The first course focuses on the adaptation of European culture and history – and draw on both film and television. The second course changes the focus from cultural representations and their contemporary and historical contexts, to the sites where films are presented and discussed. Today’s film cultures see the growing importance of film festivals, but also new forums for conversations on film – two areas highlighted here. The third course has a more narrow focus, as it centers on migration and film. Migration is, however, a central concern in today’s Europe, and it has shaped both film production and representation, something this course will explore within different national and historical contexts. The last course has a more open content, as it grants the students a chance to explore an area within Scandinavian and European film culture that particularly interest them. Together, the four courses make clear how various forms of moving images are created and discussed, and how their representations are significant in our contemporary culture. Further, the dual focus on Scandinavia and Europe emphasizes the importance of national and regional film and television production, and its relevance for local communities within a globalized world.