EUS4010 – Borders, bodies and memories: Textual and cultural representation of contemporary migration in Europe
Course content
The course offers a broad introduction to Migration into and within Europe and Scandinavia from 2015 to present times. The emphasis will be given to the study of the realities and cultural representations of both emigration and immigration and the economic, sociocultural and cognitive effects migration may have on migrants as well as on European citizens and national institutions.
Forced migration towards Europe has had a deep cognitive and emotional impact on the migrant subjects, shaping their economic situation and their individual and collective identity. It has even disrupted not only migrants’ own consciences, but also the way that national governments in Europe and worldwide have perceived what now is referred to in the media as the refugee crisis. The main influx of non-European migrants has been mainly through a) Greece and the Balkan countries, b) Libya and Italy, and c) the Spain’s African territories (Ceuta and Melilla) into Andalusia.
To the extent that it is relevant, the textual and cultural representations of both emigration and immigration in Europe and Scandinavia will be studied in relation to their historical and social background as well as from an interdisciplinary and an inter-national perspective.
Learning outcome
After completing this course students will:
- Have acquired an interdisciplinary, as well as a European, non-European and Scandinavian insight into major trends in contemporary forced migration into Europe and across its nation-state borders.
- Be able to critically analyze and write on various types of texts, ranging from EU legal texts to cultural representations of migration in contemporary literature, written and oral testimonies and media images of people across countries inside and outside Europe and Scandinavia;
- Be familiar with public discourse dealing with topics such as migration and government policies, as well as the relation of migration to body politics, semiotics, visual arts, traveling and border literature, and cultural translation;
- Be able to recognize through the analysis of contemporary cartography the transnational routes taken by many kinds of migrants across different borders of Europe and Scandinavia
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
The course assumes a good proficiency in oral and written English.
Teaching
Lecture, 1 hour for 10 weeks; and seminars, 1 hour per week for 10 weeks. 20 hours in all.
Students are expected to come prepared to each session and actively participate.
Required activity:
An essay is required as mandatory midterm activity. The essay can be written in English or Norwegian and should use information acquired during the course (required literature, notes, and class discussions) and other sources. The essay may be written jointly by two students.
Read more here about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for postponements. Information about guidelines for obligatory activities.
It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend 6 of 10 times. The requirement is absolute.
The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.
If the course has in-person teaching, and you are signed up for an in-person seminar group, you are to attend the teaching in the location found in the schedule.
If the course has digital teaching, and you are signed up for a digital seminar group, you must attend via Zoom with your camera on.
In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for special needs accomodations.
Approved teaching activity is valid in the current and the next two semesters the course will be given.
Examination
The exam form is an individually written term paper. The topic of the term paper is chosen in consultation with the teacher. The paper should be ten pages (2,300 characters without spaces). This does not include the references and cover page. The paper must cite sources and contain a works cited list.
Language of examination
English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish. If you wish to submit a term paper in the foreign language you study, you can apply to do so at the beginning of the semester. Contact the student adviser if you wish to do so.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.