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HI553C: HISTORY AND THE MEDIA (2023-2024)

Last modified: 01 Aug 2023 11:46


Course Overview

History has long had a high profile in literature, film and television; its presence has expanded exponentially in the digital age, with a vast range of new historically-based websites, computer games, and blogs. This course will consider the use of history and historical themes in literature, film, and television. In an age claimed to be post Truth, it will consider the dividing-line between fiction and history, the problems of historical authenticity and artistic licence, and the use and misuse of history by politicians and other public figures. 

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor Robert Frost

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

  • HI503C History and the Media (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

History has long had a high profile in literature, film and television; its presence has expanded exponentially in the digital age, with a vast range of new historically-based websites, computer games, and blogs. This course will consider the use of history and historical themes in literature, film, and television. It will look at  theoretical approaches to the presentation of History in various forms of the media; the connection between academic history and public history, and changes in the place of history in the media in the digital age. An important part of the course will be to consider the distinction between History and Fiction in the post-Truth age, and to develop a critical awareness of the problems of historical authenticity and artistic licence, and the use and misuse of history by politicians and other public figures. It will consider the ways in which historical myths are created in the media, and the difficulties academic historians have in changing popular myths and misconceptions about individual historical topics. As part of their assessment, students will prepare seminar contributions, prepare  a critical review of a particular presentation of a historical topic, and write a 4,000-word essay examining the presentation of a historical subject in at least two different media formats. The focus of the two assessed pieces of work can be drawn from any period of history or historical specialism. 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Review of a media presentation of a historical theme

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Written

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateShow a critical understanding of the ways in which the digital age has changed the ways in which history is presented, and the problems involved for the historian.
ProceduralEvaluateDemonstrate an ability to think critically about the difference between history and fiction, and the ways in which various forms of media approach this distinction.
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate an ability to apply the themes of the course in a critical analysis of one or more presentations of historical topics or themes in the media.
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate a critical awareness of the theoretical literature on history and the media.

Tutorial/Seminar Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Continuous, oral feedback 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateShow a critical understanding of the ways in which the digital age has changed the ways in which history is presented, and the problems involved for the historian.
ProceduralEvaluateDemonstrate an ability to think critically about the difference between history and fiction, and the ways in which various forms of media approach this distinction.
ReflectionEvaluateEvaluate and debate the use of history in various types of media, including literature, television, film, and gaming applications.

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks 29 Feedback Weeks 32

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Feedback

Essay based on the presentation of a historical topic or theme in at least two different media types.  Written and oral feedback within 3 weeks

Word Count 4000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateShow a critical understanding of the ways in which the digital age has changed the ways in which history is presented, and the problems involved for the historian.
ProceduralEvaluateDemonstrate an ability to think critically about the difference between history and fiction, and the ways in which various forms of media approach this distinction.
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate a critical awareness of the theoretical literature on history and the media.
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate an ability to apply the themes of the course in a critical analysis of one or more presentations of historical topics or themes in the media.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ReflectionEvaluateEvaluate and debate the use of history in various types of media, including literature, television, film, and gaming applications.
ProceduralEvaluateDemonstrate an ability to think critically about the difference between history and fiction, and the ways in which various forms of media approach this distinction.
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate a critical awareness of the theoretical literature on history and the media.
ConceptualEvaluateShow a critical understanding of the ways in which the digital age has changed the ways in which history is presented, and the problems involved for the historian.
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate an ability to apply the themes of the course in a critical analysis of one or more presentations of historical topics or themes in the media.

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