Course Description

The subject material of the Master’s degree programme falls into two components: the Joint Theoretical Component and the individual practical-theoretical part: the Master’s Degree Project and Preliminary Project.

The Joint Theoretical Component covers 3 topics:

• Art theory and traditional arts
• Culture and identity
• Traditions, communication and scientific theory

The topics will to some extent overlap and influence each other.

Art theory and traditional arts: Students will be able to discuss the concept of art and have an overview of key issues in aesthetic research. Particular emphasis will be placed on folk art as a separate cultural form in a larger context. Students will also become familiar with some of the main features of the development of Norwegian folk music.

Culture and identity: Students should be able to discuss the concept of culture, and how culture has developed in the Western world. They must also be familiar with today’s cultural scene. An important topic will be the discussion of the various perspectives that lie behind the divisions between folk culture, mass culture and popular culture. Students will receive an introduction to the theoretical frameworks upon which these cultural approaches are based. Other important topics are class-consciousness and nationalism, and questions about how Norwegian identity became associated with folk culture and rural Norway.

Traditions, communication and scientific theory: Students will gain insight into the issues surrounding the concept of tradition as viewed from a hermeneutic perspective and gain a general introduction to communication theory. A particular theme is the presentation of traditional arts, with particular focus on how the conditions related to passing down traditions and dissemination change in relation to new media, globalisation and other cultural conditions. A general perspective will be traditional arts as contemporary culture and the aesthetic, ideological and cultural policy issues that are related to such a perspective.

Students will also gain an overview of the scientific theory within the field of arts and cultural subjects and become familiar with important concepts and questions associated with this. Emphasis will be placed on methodological problems which will prepare students for work on their preliminary and Master’s degree projects, where a combination of theoretical and practical aspects will be emphasised.

Learning Methods

The programme includes lectures and seminars with both regular teachers and guest lecturers. Teaching and examinations in the Joint Theoretical Component will be given in the autumn semester. Teaching usually takes place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Some of the teaching sessions each semester will be subject seminars which also will include practical performance workshops. Assignments and information will be handed out during the course of the programme.

Assessment Methods

The Joint Theoretical Component of the Master’s degree study programme comprises 30 ECTS credits.
Students must submit an obligatory assignment mid-term in the first semester. This must be evaluated as “passed” before the student may be allowed to continue with the Joint Theoretical Component, which includes a final 6-hour written examination. This will be assessed on a scale of A-F. Grades A-E are passing grades; grade F represents “fail”. The grade for this examination counts for ¼ of the final grade for the entire Master’s degree study programme.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean