HISTORY 706A/B : Topics in European Cultural History

Arts

2023 Semester One (1233) / Semester Two (1235) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An historical introduction to the relationship between ideologies, cultural practices, social structures and political institutions in Europe. Topics include: the political history of manners and court culture; public opinion and print culture; gender and consumerism; the history of the senses and the human body.

Course Overview

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of ‘cultural history’. In recent decades, interdisciplinary scholarship has transformed the study and practice of European history. Initially, this scholarship reoriented historians away from the ‘hard’ social sciences (quantitative sociology, economics, demography, econometrics) towards interpretive fields (cultural anthropology, art history, material culture studies, literary theory). More recently, historians have ventured into areas as diverse as biology and environment in reconstructing the past on longer temporal scales (‘deep’ history). This course explores how such approaches have enriched the understanding of history.

This course engages students collectively in productive (and sometimes provocative) areas of scholarship. Topics may include bodily histories, visual and material culture, history of emotions, belief systems, agency and identity, and environmental history. The chronological scope of the course extends from the early modern period to the present, but the class offers students considerable flexibility to explore specific topics of interest. It provides a solid foundation in the study of European cultural history and a calibrated introduction to interdisciplinary scholarship across the humanities.

Course Requirements

To complete this course students must enrol in HISTORY 706 A and B

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe and explain key aspects of culture history as method and practice (Capability 1.1)
  2. Critically evaluate different historical approaches to constructing or interpreting culture (Capability 2.1)
  3. Research, analyse, and communicate key aspects of cultural history in both oral and written formats (Capability 4.2)
  4. Develop and demonstrate reflexive, independent, and ethical approaches to history and historical research (Capability 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework 100% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course over two semesters, and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week in reading, preparation, and coursework for each 30 point course in which they are enrolled.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required in weekly seminars to complete the course. Seminar discussions are not recorded.

The course will not include live online events, except in case of an emergency shift to remote teaching and learning in accordance with University policies.

The activities for the course are scheduled according to the standard weekly timetable, in a single two-hour block per week.

This course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2023.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All required course readings will be accessible via Canvas. It is not necessary to purchase any books for this course.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 31/10/2022 08:11 a.m.