Program Description

Examine the relation of art and activism in Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland while answering questions surrounding “high” vs. “low” art; art education in the Nordics; urban design and planning in Nordic cities and the place of [and reaction to] public art; the role of museums in curating, preserving, and presenting culturally important artifacts; and the changing roles of traditional and social media in communicating contemporary political, economic, and social ideas, especially in relation to international identities. We will use contemporary Swedish and Finnish film, music, and performance and visual art to learn about modern Swedish culture and society, and we will also examine pre-modern handicraft and local folk architecture as a window into the history of material culture and folk art expression in the Nordic region. Situating our program in Stockholm and Helsinki will provide opportunities for rich and unique experiential learning such as site visits, field trips, and guest lectures.

Honors credits: 12 credits

• HONORS 213 (A&H, DIV, W) – Art and Activism in the Nordic Region (5 credits)
• HONORS 384 (A&H/SSc, DIV, W) – History of Art and Activism in the Nordic Countries (5 credits)
• HONORS 213 (A&H) – Introduction to Nordic Languages (2 credits)