(Re) Viewing History: History on Screen

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Total expected time commitment is 8.5 hours per week including class time: total time commitment 102 hours

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Historical films and television have proven to be popular with audiences and often been the catalyst for significant public debates, but what place do they have in the discipline of History? In this subject, through viewing, reading about and discussing specific examples of historical film and television programs we will explore a range of theoretical ways in which film and television texts are historical documents. While film and television often focuses on entertainment, such texts can readily illuminate a range of ideas that are vital to the processes of history making. For example, the texts and public debates that surround them can reveal: the politics of history; the place of emotion in history; how public memories are created and maintained; how historical imagination develops; while also providing insights into to historically specific interpretations of the past.

Students who complete this subject will

• examine historical film and television texts to analyise how historical meaning is made;
• understand how scholars have theorised historical film and television texts;
• reflect upon how film and television creates a historical awareness in contemporary society;
• reflect upon the place of emotions, politics, ethics and ownership in public representations of history

A written reflective response of 1000 words (25%) due mid-semester; a tutorial journal 1000 words, completed throughout the semester (20%) due last week of semester; a written research task 2000 words (50%) due during the examination period; tutorial participation (5%).

Hurdle requirement: students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day; after five working days, no late assessment will be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Subject readings will be available on line

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who complete this subject will

• think critically and analyse material and determine the strength of an argument through completing recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion;
• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources;
• demonstrate an understanding of social, ethical and cultural contexts through the contextualisation of judgements, and also being open to new ideas and possibilities and expressing responses to them by constructing an argument;
• be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion;
• attention to detail, time management and planning through organising their workload and completing assessment tasks