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HIS-10050 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

HIS-10050 - History in Media and Film: The Presentation of the Past in Contemporary Culture
Coordinator: Ian Atherton Room: CBB0.046 Tel: +44 1782 7 33205
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None


Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

The past is presented in many different ways, including in contemporary film and media. In this module you will consider ‘public history’, examine representations of the past in visual culture, and discuss the importance of these representations to collective memory, constructions of identity, and contemporary politics. Working with students from different subjects, you will begin to develop key skills for Humanities students, including how to evaluate and interpret sources and communicate your arguments to audiences of all backgrounds.

Aims
This module aims to provide students with an introductory understanding of the variety of ways in which versions of the past are presented to and consumed by different audiences in the contemporary world, and of the range of media through which these versions of history are constructed.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify the variety of ways in which versions of the past are presented to different audiences in contemporary society: 2
assess the uses of the past in contemporary media such as film, computer games, television, or social media: 1,2
critically analyse the purposes and impact of presentations of the past in contemporary media and society: 1,2

Study hours

12 hours of lectures
12 hours of seminars
12 hours of structured, guided engagement with online videos/films
20 hours preparation of group presentation
40 hours preparation of portfolio
54 hours seminar preparation and consolidation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 40%
Group presentation
In small groups (c. 5 students), and with the tutor's support, students will select one example of the following media: (1) a historical novel; (2) a historical film; (3) a TV programme; or (4) a computer game, and analyse the presentation of the past in that example. Duration of presentation to the rest of the seminar group (c. 15 students): 20 minutes, with a further 5 minutes for audience questions. Students will be marked individually. Students will complete a formative meeting log charting their preparation of the presentation, which will facilitate calculation of individual marks. Students with a Reasonable Adjustment around presentations may give their presentation (or their part of it) to the tutor only.

2: Portfolio weighted 60%
A portfolio of c. 1400 words
Students will submit a portfolio in which they will analyse the ways in which a past event is portrayed in a range (2-4) of texts and media. The portfolio will include annotations or discussion of each text or media chosen, along with a discussion of the wider place of the event in memory. Total word count: c. 1400 words

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026