Department of Literature and the Arts

Introduction | Finnish Literature | Comparative Literature | Theatre and Drama Research | Art History

Introduction

The Department of Literature and the Arts offers a training in literary history, textual theory, narrative poetics, theatre and drama studies. This small but effectual department comprises four subjects: Finnish Literature, Comparative Literature, Theatre and Drama Research and Art History. The staff includes four full professors, three senior assistant professors, junior assistant professor, a director (in Theatre and Drama Research), an administrative amanuensis, and a departmental secretary. In addition, the department has a number of part-time teachers: visiting professors (docents) and teaching assistants. Research is pursued in all major subjects, and the department encourages postgraduate studies.

Until now, lectures and other instruction have been given in Finnish, but tutoring in Swedish, English and German is available. Course books are in Finnish, English, Swedish and German.

Descriptions of Curricula and ECTS
Studies at the University of Tampere
See also publications in English

Finnish Literature

The course of studies in Finnish Literature aims to develop skills in understanding and analyzing various literary texts in a broad cultural context. The central teaching objective is to provide a thorough knowledge of Finnish literary history, general literary theory and methodology. In addition, the subject offers instruction in creative writing and the teaching of literature. Students of Finnish Literature will usually enter professions such as education, library work, publishing, theatre, cultural administration, journalism, or media communication.

Comparative Literature

The aim of Comparative Literature is to provide a broad training in the systematic study of literature and literary phenomena. The field of the discipline includes classical literature, popular fiction, literary nonfiction (excluding Finnish literature), literary history, textual theory and methodology, and poetics. Students of Comparative Literature gain expertise in literature and verbal art. Depending on the choice of subsidiary subject(s) they will become researchers, teachers, critics, translators, journalists, or specialists in cultural administration.

Theatre and Drama Research

Theatre and Drama Research provides its students with specialized training in the analysis of theatre and drama literature. The subject gives a broad understanding of the theatre and drama as an art form, as a medium, and as an institution. The research environment of the discipline includes studying the current phenomena of theatre art, Finnish as well as foreign drama literature from Classical times to the present-day, theatre history and connections between the theatre and contemporary drama in other media. Theatre and Drama Research trains professionals in many fields, including researchers, drama and creative writing instructors, critics, journalists and cultural administrators, depending on the student's minor subjects.

MA in International Performance Research (MAIPR) Erasmus Mundus

Art History

Art History is concerned with the entire field of visual culture. The discipline offers a thorough training in the theory and methodology of visual arts and familiarises students with different schools and periods in art history. Studying Art History requires an active interest in both pictorial arts and architecture. Being a minor subject, Art History can be combined with, for example, such major subjects as History, Literature, Language Studies, Journalism and Mass Communication, and Information Studies.