HIS6822 - Presenting the Past

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

(1) describe and comment on current arguments concerning key issues relating to the contemporary heritage industry and its role in presenting the past;
(2) describe and comment on current arguments concerning key issues relating to other forms of public/non-specialist history;
(3) critcally evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of individual genres or media through which the past is presented with reference to specific periods;
(4) conduct scholarly reviews of individual representations of the past focusing on specific examples and applying theoretic knowledge to the analysis.
(5) demonstrate a high level of skill in group work, engage in accurate use of analysis and enquiry through independent research, and communicate via report-writing and oral presentation.

Content:

Students will explore key issues relating to the modern heritage industry and its role in presenting the past, such as access and social inclusion, finance and admission fees, the representation of different classes, genders and ethnicities, and the strengths and weaknesses of various modes of interpretation. They will also critically evaluate the arguments and assumptions surrounding the ways in which the past is represented to specialist and non-specialist audiences through, for example, TV documentaries, historical films and novels. In this way, students will develop a sophisticated understanding of issues such as audience, the impact of visual media, different modes of interpretation, questions of historical authenticity, empathy, realism and narrative construction; and reflect on the limits of scholarly history as a mode of representation.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Learning will be facilitated through a combination of workshops, tutorials, and fieldwork. A strong emphasis will be placed on the development of independent research skills, the exercise of initiative and complex decision making in initiating and carrying out project work.

Workshops
Contact hours 22
Number of groups 1

Tutorials
Contact hours 2
Individual tutorials

Fieldwork
Contact hours 6
Number of groups 1

Assessment: