The Unmasterable past: collective memory in a global world
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| HIST4011 | History | 4 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- HIST4011
- School
- History
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module can be best described as the study of ‘the unmasterable past’, a concept first outlined by Charles Maier in his 1988 book, written at a time subsequently defined as the ‘memory boom’. Decades later, some scholars have evaluated this ‘memory boom’ as a phenomenon that has fomented social division and eroded democracy, whereas others laud it as a process that has given voice to the voiceless. Students enrolled in this module will, therefore, investigate some of the vast ramifications of the ‘memory boom’, namely, the relationship between history and collective memory, nationalism and memory, the formation and consolidation of a specific memory, the culture wars arising from clashes between competing memories, etc, in a wide array of contexts.
This team-taught module opens with an introduction to relevant theoretical frameworks on memory studies and nationalism before exploring a range of case-studies and primary and secondary source material. This is designed to enhance students’ understanding of social and cultural change and collective memory in a global context, and to provide them with the necessary skills to tackle research projects, such as MA dissertations, in this field. By the end of the module, students will have acquired a sound understanding of how the past has contributed to the construction of a number of contemporary identities and how such questions can be researched.
Target Students
Available to MA History and Politics and Contemporary History
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: 1 x 2,500 word essay
- 50% Coursework 2: 1 x 2,500 word source analysis
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This team-taught module is designed to enhance your understanding of social change and collective memory in a global world and to provide you with the necessary skills to tackle research projects, such as MA dissertations, in this field. The module will use specific concepts and case studies as prisms for the interrogation of broader themes and contexts. The approach of concepts, contexts and case-studies is particularly suited for research-active MA students. The module is team-taught and will enable MA students to get to know staff and their research projects in the field of memory studies. It shall encourage a wide-ranging scholarly discussion amongst students and staff. The module begins with a focus on conceptual approaches, before exploring several case-studies. The module introduces students to many of the key debates within the literature on nationalism and collective memory and will engage with a range of primary and secondary source material. By the end of the module, students will have acquired a sound understanding of how the past has contributed to the construction of contemporary identities and how such questions can be researched.Learning Outcomes
At the end of the module students should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding:
- Understand the connections between theory and evidence
- Know what are some of the key methodological and philosophical debates in the study of history and the social sciences.
Intellectual Skills:
- Use different kinds of historical evidence to illustrate general arguments
- Conduct independent research.
Professional and Practical Skills:
- Demonstrate ability to think critically
- Give coherent presentations
- Use IT to prepare written works.
Transferable skills:
- Write an effective precis of an argument
- Think about abstract problems.