Module HIST2351: Memory and conflict in Europe since 1918

Department: History

HIST2351: Memory and conflict in Europe since 1918

Prerequisites

• A pass mark in at least ONE level one module in History.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To introduce students to the key concepts of memory studies and to a critical understanding of the relationship between history and memory.
• To apply these concepts to an appropriate historical context and content in late modern Europe.
• To develop an understanding of the politics of history and memory in late modern Europe.
• To contribute towards the achievement of the Department's generic aims for study at Level 2.

Content

• Twentieth Century Europe has been marked by memory battles. This module will explore these memory cultures from the interwar period through to the post-war period and to post-communism.
• It will examine European politics, memory, and history during the period in question in a transnational and comparative manner.
• It will investigate some of the most significant contestations over history and memory with a strong yet not exclusive focus on Central and Eastern Europe.
• Students will be guided through important conceptual work on memory and noteworthy instances of memory conflicts and claims, such as identity formation in the new states of interwar Europe, notions of victimhood after the Second World War, and politicized memory in post-communist east-central Europe.
• It will therefore provide a critical overview of European identity formation in the Twentieth Century.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge and understanding of the theories and concepts of memory studies.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant historical context and content in late modern Europe.
• Critical use of concepts in historical research.

• Subject specific skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/ModuleProformaMap/

• Key skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/ModuleProformaMap/

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Student learning is facilitated by a combination of the following teaching methods:
• lectures to set the foundations for further study and to provide the basis for the acquisition of subject specific knowledge. Lectures provide a broad framework which defines individual module content, introducing students to themes, debates and interpretations. In this environment, students are given the opportunity to develop skills in listening, selective note-taking and reflection;
• seminars to allow students to present and critically reflect upon the acquired subject-specific knowledge, methodologies and theories, and to identify and debate a range of issues and differing opinions. The seminar is the forum in which students are given the opportunity to communicate ideas, jointly exploring themes and arguments. Seminars are structured to develop understanding and designed to maximise student participation related to prior independent preparation. Seminars give students the opportunity to develop oral communication skills, encourage critical and tolerant approaches to reasoned argument and historical discussion, build the students' ability to marshal historical evidence, and facilitate the development of the ability to summarise historical arguments, think in a rapidly changing environment and communicate in a persuasive and articulate manner, whilst recognising the value of working with others and, occasionally, towards shared goals.
• Assessment:
• Examinations test students' ability to work under pressure, to prepare for examinations and direct their own programme of revision and learning, and develop key time management skills. The examination gives students the opportunity to develop relevant life skills such as the ability to produce coherent, reasoned and supported arguments under pressure. Students will be examined on subject specific knowledge;
• Summative coursework will test students’ ability to communicate ideas in writing, present clear and cogent arguments succintly and show appropriate critical skills as relevant to the particular module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative work done in preparation for and during seminars, including oral and written work as appropriate to the module. The summative coursework will have a formative element by allowing students to develop ideas and arguments for the examination and to practice writing to similar word limits.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University