Study Abroad

This interdisciplinary study abroad program explored concepts of art and activism in Sweden and Finland as representatives of the broader Nordic region, as well as a brief introduction to Nordic languages. We reflected on 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 used contemporary Swedish and Finnish film, music, and performance and visual art to learn about modern Swedish culture and society, and we also examined 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 provided opportunities for rich and unique experiential learning such as site visits, field trips, and guest lectures. 

Course assignments included research bibliographies, reflective writing, group discussions, and co-created public-facing presentations of program themes and events. The program was based in Stockholm, Sweden, with one week in Helsinki, Finland. Some excursions were included to nearby towns and historically- and culturally-significant locations. 

Program Leadership:

Kim Kraft and Lauren Poyer

In 2022, Prof. Lauren Poyer and I co-directed Honors Sweden Study Abroad: "Justice in the Nordic Region". We were based in Stockholm, with multi-day trips to Gotland and Uppsala. During this interdisciplinary study abroad program, students explored concepts of justice in medieval Scandinavia and modern Sweden; as well as an introduction to Nordic languages. We  reflected on questions around power structures, access to justice, norms, cultural identity, and intersections with gender, class, race, climate, and religion. We used contemporary Swedish literature and film, especially those considered or inspired by “Nordic Noir”, to learn about modern Swedish culture and society. We also examined medieval saga literature and law codes as a window into the cultural history of medieval Scandinavia from the Viking Age to the late Middle Ages. We took advantage of our location in Sweden through experiential learning such as site visits, field trips, and guest lectures. Course assignments included reflective writing, group discussions, and co-created social media posts. 

Program Leadership:

Kim Kraft and Lauren Poyer