2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST2011 Mud, Blood and Poetry: The Cultural History of War in Britain

20 creditsClass Size: 45

Module manager: Jessica Meyer
Email: j.k.meyer@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Using a range of sources, including visual arts, fictions, material objects and propaganda, this module examines the ways in which modern warfare shaped experiences, cultural representations, and social structure in Britain and the wider world. Covering topics such as class, race, gender, emotions, bodily experience, myth and memory, students will apply the methodologies of the ‘cultural turn’ in history to explore how the South African War and the two world wars influenced 20th-century culture and society.

Objectives

The module aims to:
- explore the history of the South African War (1899-1901) and the two world wars, and their aftermaths through the prism of cultural outputs and approaches;
- analyse approaches and methodologies of cultural history as applied to war studies;
- consider the history of British warfare in the first half of the twentieth century in a global cultural context;
- utilise a wide range of primary source material, including letters, diaries, newspapers, art, film and fiction.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. analyse and interpret a range of relevant source material, including press reports, visual images, personal documents and material objects;
2. analyse and critique relevant historiographic arguments;
3. effectively and sensitively evaluate a diverse range of perspectives on war and its legacy.

Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Identify, analyse and critique relevant primary source material, applying relevant and appropriate methods and theories.
5. Communicate effectively with different audiences in both written and oral form.
6. Apply technical skills in creating and formatting podcast content.

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Practical	2	1.00	2.00
Seminar	9	1.00	9.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will receive formative feedback on an annotated bibliography of 5-10 primary sources and secondary texts in advance of the essay. They will be required to get approval for the subject of their podcast review from the module leader. Seminars will allow monitoring of student progress, and students will be encouraged to attend office hours where necessary.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500-word essay	50.00
Presentation	10-minute podcast presentation + 500-word summary + bibliography	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 13/05/2024 11:55:45

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