School of Humanities  
 
 
HIS-10026 History, Media, Memory: The Presentation of the Past in Contemporary Culture  
Co-ordinator: Prof Ann Hughes    Room: CBB0.057, Tel:33464  
Teaching Team: Miss Amanda  Roberts, Prof Ann Hughes, Mrs Christine  Edge, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts, Mr Craig  Doughty  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 1 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
History Dual Honours (Level 1)
History Major (Level 1)
History Minor (Level 1)
History Single Honours (Level 1)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Yes
Prerequisites
None

Barred Combinations
None

Description

This module is for anyone who reads historical novels, watches historical films, or visits museums and stately homes. Our understanding of 'history' comes not simply from school or university study but from the versions of the past that are all around us. This module thus focuses on 'public history' rather than academic history, exploring the forms, purposes and impact of these broader, 'popular' representations of history. We will explore how visions of the past are central to individual and collective memory, and to the constructions of individual and community identities. Accounts of the past are always constructed and debated, and play a crucial role in most modern political and international conflicts. Weekly lectures will explore these general issues through analysis of the presentation of historical accounts in newspapers, film and television programmes, historical novels, and of the versions of the past displayed in museums, historic buildings and sites, in reenactments (such as the Sealed Knot), through anniversaries and memorials. One detailed case study will focus on the commemorations in 2007 that marked the anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain. Through a variety of written exercises and oral presentations students will make their own choice of sites, films, and written accounts for discussion and analysis in seminars.

Throught this module, students will develop a critical understanding of the various media through which accounts of the past are presented, of the social, cultural and political purposes of these presentations, and of their impact on audiences and participants. They will be able to compare 'heritage' or public history with history as an academic discipline. The module is a good introduction to a second level offering on heritage management. It will be of particular interest to students taking principal English, History, Media Communication and Culture, Politics and Sociology, but also to anyone eager to understand the widespread popularity of 'history' in our culture, and how it affects the present world. Assessment is by group presentation, a short written report and a module essay.
Aims
To provide students with an understanding of the variety of ways in which versions of the past are presented to different audiences in the contemporary world, and of the range of media through which these versions of 'history' are constructed.

To enable students to assess critically the methods, purposes and impact of 'popular' or 'public' representations of the past.

To offer students the tools to compare history as a scholarly discipline, with more general or popular understandings of the past.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Identify the variety of ways in which versions of the past are presented to different audiences in contemporary society. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Research independently a range of public history media, events, and locations, using printed, material and web-based sources. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Critically analyse the purposes and impact of presentations of the past in contemporary society. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3,4
Understand the political uses of the past in modern societies. will be achieved by assessments: 4
Compare and contrast history as an academic discipline with the broader uses of the past in the contemporary world. will be achieved by assessments: 4
Work as a team to make an oral presentation. will be achieved by assessments: 3
Write effective, critical prose. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,4
Understand that versions of the past are constructed and open to debate. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3,4
Study hours
10 lectures, 10 seminars, 10 lecture consolidation, 20 seminar preparation, 10 research and write formative report, 20 research and write summative report, 30 prepare group presentation, 40 research and write essay.
Description of Module Assessment
01: Exercise weighted 30%
Report of up to 1,000 words
Students will be required to identify and analyse the use of the past in one or two stories in current print media.
02: Group Presentation weighted 30%
A presentation by e-4 students given to the rest of the seminar group
An analysis of a heritage or public history website.
03: Essay weighted 40%
Essay of c. 1,500 words
The group presentation will be a collective description and analysis of one of: a) a historical film; b) a historical novel; c) a site visit to a museum, building or other relevant site.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.