MA History

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
War, Culture & Conflict

Course unit fact file
Unit code HIST66041
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The course unit aims to provide an intellectual framework for the study of the cultural history of war. It focuses on the meanings and materiality of war as they affected people in a range of social and geographic settings and at particular historical moments.

Aims

The course unit aims to provide an intellectual framework for the study of the cultural history of war. It focuses on the meanings and materiality of war as they affected people in a range of social and geographic settings and at particular historical moments.

Knowledge and understanding

  • Differentiate between military history and the cultural history of war;
  • Understand the varied meanings of the collective memory of war;
  • Be aware of and reflect on historical approaches to the impacts of war and of popular responses to violent conflict across time and across the globe.

Intellectual skills

  • Participating in informed debate, and conducting independent research using both secondary material and archival sources, in relation to questions relating to war, culture and history;
  • Formulating a research question based on scholarly literature at the forefront of the discipline and adopting an appropriate method for addressing and answering that question;
  • Developing analytical skills which can be applied to primary or secondary material;
  • Synthesizing in a meaningful and incisive manner a wealth of information gathered and analysed through independent research.

Practical skills

  • Perform bibliographical searches, utilise databases, and identify texts, visual evidence and material objects relevant to the cultural history of war;
  • Present complex ideas in coherent and accessible form in oral, visual and written format; Identify, analyse and apply a wide range of data;
  • Formulate and design a range of proposals; identify appropriate intellectual, methodological and resource toolkit for successful completion of proposal;
  • Manage a sustained programme of regular weekly work;
  • Gain experience in problem solving, leadership and teamwork.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Communicate effectively both orally and in writing about issues relating to the cultural and social impacts of violent conflict;
  • Organise own learning through self-management and work to deadlines;
  • Using ICT for research and presentation purposes;
  • Demonstrate the ability to work in a group context and show initiative;
  • Identify, analyse and apply a wide range of data to formulate and solve problems;
  • Ability to bring analytical and research skills to bear on the formulation and design of proposals.

Employability skills

Other
The course unit encourages a broad range of skills including time management, communication and research skills. Students will have been able to demonstrate a capacity for independent research, for handling extensive and challenging material, and for analysing complex issues independently and in group situations. These are all transferable skills likely to qualify students for a range of employment opportunities.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written assignment (inc essay) 100%

Feedback methods

Feedback method

Formative (for essay plan) or Summative

Turnitin

Summative

 

Recommended reading

Ashplant, T.G., Graham Dawson and Michael Roper,eds, The Politics of War, Memory and Commemoration, Routledge, 2000

Bourke, Joanna, An Intimate History of Killing. Face to Face Killing in 20th Century Warfare Granta, 1999

Evans M. and K. Lunn, eds, War and Memory in the Twentieth Century, Berg1997

Winter, Jay and Sivan, E., eds, War and Remembrance in the Twentieth Century, Cambridge, 1999

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars 33
Independent study hours
Independent study 117

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Ana Carden-Coyne Unit coordinator
EWA OCHMAN Unit coordinator
Thomas Tunstall Allcock Unit coordinator

Additional notes



 

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