HIS4822 - History in Contemporary Society

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Describe the variety of uses made of history outside the academic field in the popular media and in the heritage industry.
Understand and participate in current debates on the advantages and disadvantages of popular representation of the past.
Engage in basic evaluation of examples of popular history.
Engage in the production of an example of popular history and discuss the way in which the past has been represented in it.
Engage in group work, leading to an oral presentation.

Content:

Students will explore the role played by history in the popular media and the heritage industry. In the first two thirds of the module they will study and assess examples of popular history, such as historical films, history documentaries, historical novels, museums, and heritage sites and activities, and will engage with current debates on varieties of popular history. Case-studies of examples of popular forms of history will be used to illustrate and explore these topics: this will include a field visit to a local museum/heritage site. In the final third of the module, students will undertake a group project, which will involve an oral presentation and the production of an example of popular history – such as the first chapter of an historical novel or story, the first act of an historical play, the script and storyboard for the first scene of an historical film, or a small exhibition/display. In the course of the presentation, they will reflect on the use which they have made of the past.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Learning will be facilitated through workshops, often focussing on case-studies, with use of DVDs, site visits, plus student report-back sessions and presentations.

Workshops
Contact hours: 28
Intended Group size: 35

Tutorials/Fieldtrips
Contact hours: 10 mins and 2 hours 4/5 and 35

Guided independent study
Hours: c. 170

Further details relating to assessment
Assessment 1 – Directed activities: these consist of weekly tasks that must be completed and submitted for inspection at timetabled sessions each week. The assessment will be assessed on a pass/fail basis with a pass requiring at least 75% of all weekly tasks to be completed successfully. A pass will lead to the full award of 10% towards the final module mark. A fail in directed activities will contribute 0% to the final mark.
The portfolio will consist of two academic reviews, one of a historical representation in the popular media, and one of a museum/heritage site. Students will have the opportunity to submit one review as a diagnostic exercise in the first semester, and to incorporate feedback in the finalised version of the portfolio. The oral presentation will involve the presentation of the creative project (including a written version of not more than 1000 words). It will also reflect on the use and abuse of the past which this creative project represents. Groups will consist of four students.

Assessment:

001 Directed Activities sem 1 & sem 2 10%
002 Portfolio of reviews 2000 words sem 2 wk 22 45%
003 Group oral presentation based on creative project 20 mins sem 2 wk 27 45%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Helen Kingstone
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL

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