KULH2011 – The Cultural History of Nature
Course description
Course content
The most pressing societal challenges in the present have to do with climate change and the loss of biodiversity. In the age of the Anthropocene, nature has become a vital political concern.
This course offers cultural historical perspectives upon the present situation. The aim is to explore how humans have used, imagined and shaped animals and physical environments and, conversely, the role that nature and ideas of nature have played in social, cultural, political, economic and everyday life.
The course focuses on ways to describe and theorise the relations between humans and nature—from early modern natural histories and the modern distinction between nature and culture, to ongoing discussions about the Anthropocene. Central themes include the politics of landscape and of domestication, the rise of conservation and scientific ecology, nature and colonialism, nature and the nation-state, and the strange new hybrid natures that emerge with the Anthropocene.
Learning outcome
Upon successful completion of the course, students should
- be able to study textual and visual primary sources from the perspective of the cultural history of nature
- have basic knowledge of the development of ideas about nature and human relationships to nature
- have basic knowledge of how practices of nature affect societies and vice versa.
- have basic knowledge about the development of theories of nature and nature-culture relations in cultural history and the cultural sciences
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.
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with KULH4505 – The Cultural History of Nature.
Teaching
The course is taught through
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Practical exercises
Compulsory coursework
Four short papers ca. 2 pages (approximately?2300?characters?without?spaces,?including?references.?Bibliography?is not?included?in?the?page?count) related to the primary sources used in the teaching. One of these can form the basis for the exam term paper. Information about the papers and deadlines will be given in lectures and in Canvas. You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines?for?the?papers.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course but has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
More about compulsory?coursework at the University of Oslo:
Common guidelines relating to compulsory activities (uio.no)
Compulsory activities at HF (uio.no)?
Examination
Term paper.
The course final exam is a term paper of 6-8 pages (approximately?2300?characters?without?spaces,?including?references.?Bibliography?is not?included?in?the?page?count) You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
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.
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.