VIC7083 - Victorian Society

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate advanced knowledge and critical understanding of selected trends and developments in Victorian society, and their impact on the construction of identities;
Summarise the current state of knowledge in the relevant field through the production of an independent historiography of the selected trend or development;
Apply appropriate literary, cultural or historical theories and research methodologies to the primary sources selected to reflect the construction of Victorian identities;
To devise and conduct a research project that makes productive use of relevant collections, museums, electronic archives or physical archives;
Present research findings clearly, using appropriate evidence and illustration, and with accurate use of the required style guide.

Content:

This module will deepen your understanding of selected trends and developments in Victorian society, and their influence on the constructions of identity in the Victorian period, both in Britain and overseas, including the Empire. A particular aspect of theme will be chose as the focus each year: e.g. gender and sexuality; race; imperialism; childhood; sport; nonhuman animals; the urban and rural environment; and religious belief. You will develop your own interests by devising your own question relevant to the topic and researching and writing an extended essay on this.

Learning and Teaching Information:

A variety of learning and teaching methods will be used. These include group discussions and debates based on reading and seminar questions; workshops on particular texts and theories; investigations of specific documents.

Students will also undertake independent fieldwork in local archives and museums, as appropriate to the topic: e.g. Leeds City Art Gallery, the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate, Abbey House Museum, York Railway Museum. The digital humanities will be engaged through the use of relevant digitised collections, e.g. The Disability History Museum or The Victorian Women Writers Project.

The 20-minute individual tutorial may take different forms as appropriate to the individual student (e.g. face-to-face discussion, e-mail consultations). These tutorials are intended to give students some guidance on their choice of essay question and on researching the topic.

Seminars/Workshops
Hours: 12
Intended Group size: 12

Tutorials
Hours: 2
Intended group size: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 286

Further details relating to assessment
Students will produce an essay of 6,000 words on a question that they have devised themselves with guidance from the module tutor.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Prof. Karen Sayer
Level - 7
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - CANNOT BE TAKEN WITH VIC7045
Semester(s) Offered -

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