Preamble:
Regular readers of this blog will know that I have ongoing issues with pursuing further formal academic qualifications in the form of a doctorate. I am an academic at heart, which you'll realise from my 'About' page. Part of me would adore to pursue knowledge for knowledge's sake outside the constraints and formal structure of a university. In my retirement a doctorate would only feed my ego, but that doesn't stop me wanting to pursue an avenue of learning a with a rigour which also puts me firmly in the control seat. I have enough university qualifications behind me to know what I'm doing. And as a teacher I've designed courses and assessed people and marked public examinations so 'course structure' is no problemo.
Undaunted, I wonder whether the blogging universe allows for such a pursuit of peer-reviewed excellence similar to the social significance that Wikipedia has for our 21st century culture of knowledge. No longer do people have to flaunt their brains in front of publishers in the hope that someone will allow their work to go public. Blogs provide the forum as do other blogging groups.The story of Wikipedia demonstrates that 'academic' communities now exist outside the politics of institutions. 'Approval' is relatively instant and no more do we wait on the vagaries of someone finally getting around to assess your work. The 'Comment' function takes care of all that.Oh brave new world that has such potential in it!
Access to academic library resources can be a problem and I have recently applied for a borrower's card through the National Library of Australia as that gives me access to the kind of research avenues that are rigorous enough at this level. As a graduate of Sydney University and the University of New England, I don't have access to online library resources unless I go back as a student.
Soooo, there are a few stumbling blocks to the self-access doctorate, but they can be worked out. Now, what topic to choose?
The blogosphere micro-environment is indeed a remarkable thing and it appears that being very specific in your niche blog post titles plus having excellent host blog site 'genetics' can allow people to drift on to your blog allowing for rather fruitful cross-fertilisation. Such has been my case on first encountering Stieg Larsson. A lucky meeting indeed and one likely to spawn much fertile food for thought as I evolve as a reader of Scandinavian crime fiction. Is this a new academic trail for a brave new (retirement) world?
Thesis:
Soooooo, in my self-styled 'Retirement Self-Access University' I appear to have 'enrolled' in a new course broadly entitled 'Scandinavian Crime Fiction in Translation-Does Crime Translate Transcend Cultures?'. A 'course' outline follows.
'Scandinavian Crime Fiction in Translation-Does Crime Translate Transcend Cultures?'
"Does crime transcend culture? Is it the lowest common human denominator? Or does crime follow a specific cultural pattern? Is ratiocination shaped by cultural concepts of ontology?"
Our course will require you to read English translations of crime fiction by Scandinavian writers. You may choose your authors but whilst reading a number of writers you must read a number of works by each writer. You may like to start here by looking at Wikipedia's entry on Reg Keeland/Steven T. Murray, the translator of Stieg Larsson's Millennium series. Keeland has also translated other crime fiction novels by Scandinavian authors.You may like to use his list as a starting point for author selection.You might like to specialise in the crime fiction of one particular Scandinavian country after you have read a number from each culture. Another source you might like to investigate is the Scandinavian Crime Fiction blog at Wordpress.
Assessment: Create a series of blog posts on any comparative conclusions you draw from observations of your reading material. Any length. Any topic. Any focus area. It is desirable to link to other blogs that discuss the same texts in order for the course community to engage in dialogue of sufficient depth.
Due- when you're ready and have a developed piece to publish.
Sooooooo, this morning I ordered two more novels by Karin Alvtegen: Shame and Shadow. Stay tuned for posts. Learning to spell her name in search panes is a real trial as my Anglo-language brain doesn't naturally see the syllabic formations.
Feel free to join in and enrol in this 'course' with me! No fees. Only your academic reputation is at stake! And isn't it always as a book blogger?
Bernie, 'Betrayal' is certainly psychodrama in an inner angst form' and if you like plot as such then this is not going to be your thing, as I can see it wasn't. I'm 'enjoying' 'Shame' for much the same reasons as I 'enjoyed' 'Betrayal'. But as I always say, even if you disliked it heartily you still have something to talk about.
Posted by: Steph | July 13, 2009 at 08:56 PM
Have just finished Alvtegen's "Betrayal" -it was an effort because I didn't care enough about the characters or the plot resolution to be compelled to read on. It does give some more insights into the Swedish way of living. Like other Scandanavian crime, I found it fairly grim.
Posted by: Bernie | July 13, 2009 at 01:22 PM
I like the idea of the challenge and being a passionate believer in independant education, would like to participate. I also don't believe crime represents humanity it its basest form, but rather the rules themselves have created the crime. So, I'd be interested to see how the different cultures compare and where they are similar.
I'll have to find a book to start with however, as I have never read any Scandi crime novels.
Great post and Great idea!
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | July 05, 2009 at 01:53 PM
My interest in Scandinavian fiction is less academic than yours. With part of my family in Denmark, I wanted to get a feel for the culture -painlessly. At my emotional level it seems to often reflect the bleakness of the climate (and in places the landscape), the "matter of factness" of the people and their ability to cherish the bright parts of life eg cut flowers always in the house, sit in the sun when it appears, enjoy a fire. (don't ask me to justify these generalisations with quotes -feel free to disagree) I read crime because I need plot to keep my interest.
Posted by: Bernie | July 03, 2009 at 02:27 PM
Another exciting experimentation with blogging!
And 'Does crime transcend cultures?', feel a bit daunted to participate, but for what it's worth, when reading the Mankell novel I was reminded of something I read or heard somewhere, can't remember where, possibly a distant undergrad. memory, about the first great crime story being Oedipus Rex. You know how Oedipus has to solve the mystery of the kings murder, talk about twists. So if Oedipus is one of the first crime stories, than that kind of says crime does transcend cultures, and raises questions about how and why we read crime and mysteries. I think it must have been the father son thing, and the blinding thing that triggered the link to Oedipus, which I now need to re-read.
As ever you have me thinking, and in awe of your always challenging, stimulating posts.
Posted by: Sharon (Bookpusher) | July 03, 2009 at 01:08 PM