HYM4010

Making histories

Not offered in 1998

Bain Attwood and others

8 points or 12 points
* 1 lecture and one 2-hour seminar per week
* First semester
* Clayton

Objectives Students successfully completing this course should attain an understanding of recent developments in historical theory and practice, the ability to evaluate the relevance of these for reading and writing of history, and skills in researching and writing a thesis.

Synopsis Is history useful and, if so, what for? How do historians and others shape their accounts of the past? What are the basic steps involved in conducting a piece of historical research? This subject approaches the `making of histories' in three stages. Stage one, `using histories,' looks at how history is used (or abused); for example by the heritage industry, politicians and advertisers. Stage two, `shaping histories,' examines ways in which historical narratives are shaped by values, themes and literary conventions. Some consideration will be given to recent theoretical writings. Stage three `writing histories,' focuses directly on the processes of historical representation, in part through the writing of narratives, but also through less conventional forms of expression such as film, radio and museum display. As well as `deconstructing' what others, including former history honours graduates have written, students doing HYM4010 will be encouraged to reflect critically upon the historical practice evident in their own writing, and will be expected to attend a series of three special seminars toward the end of the semester designed to assist them in this endeavour.

Assessment (8 points) Written (6000 words): 100%
Assessment (12 points) Written (9000 words): 100%

Preliminary reading

Jenkins K Re-thinking history Routledge, 1991