148143

The Past as Entertainment: History Through Movies, Mini-series and Games

The ways in which popular culture shapes our understanding of the past are examined through recent movies, mini-series and games. The course explores the different ways historians and the makers of popular cultures interpret the past.

Course code

Qualifications are made up of courses. Some universities call these papers. Each course is numbered using six digits.

148143

Level

The fourth number of the course code shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).

100-level

Credits

Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.

15

Subject

History

Course planning information

Restrictions

Similar content
148120

You cannot enrol in this course if you have passed (or are enrolled in) any of the course(s) above as these courses have similar content or content at a higher level.

Learning outcomes

What you will learn. Knowledge, skills and attitudes you’ll be able to show as a result of successfully finishing this course.

  • 1 Demonstrate a broad knowledge of how popular movies, mini-series and games reflect and shape historical understanding of history.
  • 2 Communicate a basic awareness of past events covered by specified movies, mini-series and games.
  • 3 Develop an understanding of how historians use a variety of primary sources to understand the past and gain an appreciation of how this understanding relates to those within popular culture.
  • 4 Identify key historical debates on major topics in specified periods and reliable historical interpretations.
  • 5 Demonstrate basic skills in the dissemination of historical arguments using written, oral and digital media.

Learning outcomes can change before the start of the semester you are studying the course in.

Assessments

Assessment Learning outcomes assessed Weighting
Oral/Performance/Presentation 1 2 4 5 20%
Written Assignment 1 2 3 5 20%
Written Assignment 1 2 4 5 25%
Written Assignment 1 2 3 4 5 35%

Assessment weightings can change up to the start of the semester the course is delivered in.

You may need to take more assessments depending on where, how, and when you choose to take this course.

Explanation of assessment types

Computer programmes
Computer animation and screening, design, programming, models and other computer work.
Creative compositions
Animations, films, models, textiles, websites, and other compositions.
Exam College or GRS-based (not centrally scheduled)
An exam scheduled by a college or the Graduate Research School (GRS). The exam could be online, oral, field, practical skills, written exams or another format.
Exam (centrally scheduled)
An exam scheduled by Assessment Services (centrally) – you’ll usually be told when and where the exam is through the student portal.
Oral or performance or presentation
Debates, demonstrations, exhibitions, interviews, oral proposals, role play, speech and other performances or presentations.
Participation
You may be assessed on your participation in activities such as online fora, laboratories, debates, tutorials, exercises, seminars, and so on.
Portfolio
Creative, learning, online, narrative, photographic, written, and other portfolios.
Practical or placement
Field trips, field work, placements, seminars, workshops, voluntary work, and other activities.
Simulation
Technology-based or experience-based simulations.
Test
Laboratory, online, multi-choice, short answer, spoken, and other tests – arranged by the school.
Written assignment
Essays, group or individual projects, proposals, reports, reviews, writing exercises, and other written assignments.

Textbooks needed

There are no set texts for this course.