About this course: This course is a short taster on the topic of the use of Images, Film, and their use in historical interpretation in the 20th century. It is primarily provided for those who have a general interest in history that draws on photojournalism as primary evidence, and films based on historical events. Once you have completed this course we hope you will be equipped to: Appreciate the significance of photographs as historical evidence in the twentieth century. Understand the limitations of the medium, and how we can attribute meaning to these individual records of 'one moment in time' while taking into account the circumstances in which any particular image was taken. Understand how individuals and institutions have looked to manipulate images to their own ends – through alteration and/or censorship – and what that meant to contemporary interpretation, as well as subsequent historical interpretation. Put individual images into a wider context, and in particular with reference to history written, or portrayed, beyond academia: public history. Do be aware that part of the contents of this course regard images and depiction of war. Real wars and real images.
Created by: University of London, Royal Holloway, University of London
Taught by: Dr Emmett Sullivan, Senior Tutor
History Department, Royal Holloway, University of London
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction
We will explore the issues associated with the use of images as a source for historical research and consider a number of examples where image manipulation has been uncovered
7 videos, 8 readings
- Reading: The Camera Never Lies - Course Information
- Reading: Aims and Objectives
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Use of Images
- Reading: The Use of Images
- Video: Manipulation
- Reading: Manipulation
- Video: The Image in Politics
- Reading: The Image in Politics
- Video: Advertising
- Reading: Advertising
- Video: Reportage (Reporting the News)
- Reading: Reportage
- Discussion Prompt: Week 1 - Reflective Task
- Video: Optional Extra Material - other forms of images - Guernica
- Reading: Optional Extra Information - Guernica
Graded: Week 1 Quiz
WEEK 2
Images and History in the Twentieth Century
We will review a number of cases studies where images have either shaped our opinion of events or have been suppressed from the public at the time, to avoid adverse or negative reaction.
8 videos, 6 readings
- Video: Introduction part 1
- Video: Hitler
- Reading: Adolf Hitler
- Video: The Boer War
- Reading: The Boer War
- Video: The Civil Rights Movement
- Reading: The US Civil Rights Movement
- Video: Vietnam
- Reading: Vietnam
- Discussion Prompt: Week 2: Reflective Task 1
- Video: The Blitz part 1
- Video: The Blitz part 2
- Reading: The Blitz
- Discussion Prompt: Week 2: Reflective Task 2
- Video: Optional Extra Material - The London Riots 2011
- Reading: Optional Extra Reading - The London Riots 2011
Graded: Week 2 Quiz
WEEK 3
The Air-Brushing of History: Stalin and Falsification
The cause célèbre' of historical manipulation - Joseph Stalin. The 'air brushing' of historical records, and in this case the literal airbrushing of Soviet images in the 1930s and 1940s
10 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Reading: Introduction
- Video: The Soviet Union
- Video: Soviet Union under Stalin
- Reading: The Soviet and Stalin Lectures
- Video: The Image as Propaganda
- Video: Falsification
- Reading: Falsification
- Discussion Prompt: Week 3: Reflective Task
- Video: Conclusion
- Discussion Prompt: Conclusion - Reflective Task
- Video: Optional Extra Material - Films with historical themes
- Video: Optional Extra Material: Film - The Damned United
- Video: Optional Extra Material: Film - In the Name of the Father
- Video: Optional Extra Material: Final Thoughts
- Reading: Optional Extra Material: Films with historical themes
Graded: Week 3 Quiz
WEEK 4
Photojournalism, Authenticity and Matters of Public Acceptability: The Battle of Mogadishu
With respect to Reportage and the use of images as a evidential record, should we condemn Stalin in the last 20th and early 21th century? We use an example from 1993 to illustrate this point.
12 videos, 11 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Reading: Introduction Information - Photojournalism, Authenticity and Matters of Public Acceptability: The Battle of Mogadishu
- Video: Death of Margaret Thatcher
- Reading: Death of Margaret Thatcher - Information
- Discussion Prompt: Week 4: Reflective Task 1
- Video: Black Hawk Down
- Reading: Black Hawk Down – Information
- Video: The Day of the Ranger: Aftermath
- Reading: The Day of the Ranger: Aftermath - Information
- Video: Black Hawk Down and 9/11 Media Reportage
- Reading: Media Reportage - Images and information
- Video: Black Hawk Down - The Website
- Reading: Black Hawk Down: The Website - Information
- Discussion Prompt: Reflective Task
- Video: The Image
- Reading: The Image - Information
- Video: Interview
- Reading: Interview - Information
- Video: UN and the USA in Somalia: Historical Context
- Reading: The UN and the USA in Somalia: Historical Context
- Video: The Somalian Civil War: Historical Context
- Reading: The Somalian Civil War: Historical Context - Information
- Discussion Prompt: Week 4: Reflective Task 2
- Video: Optional Extra Material - Interview with Niko: Real-Time Editorial Decision – The Boston Marathon Bombing
- Reading: Optional Extra Reading: Interview with Niko: Real-Time Editorial Decision: The Boston Marathon Bombing - Information
- Video: Optional Extra Material - Image in the Context of Gender Studies
Graded: Week 4: Peer Assessment
Graded: Week 4 Quiz
WEEK 5
The Power of the Image: Mount Suribachi, 1945
The photograph of the raising of the flag at Mt. Suribachi was a Pulitzer Prize winning image, and the base of the film 'The Flag of our Fathers'. We will explore the use of the still and the motion picture to influence our opinion.
11 videos, 8 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Background to the Battle
- Reading: Background to the Battle
- Video: Loss of Life
- Reading: Loss of Life - Information
- Video: Importance of Iwo Jima
- Reading: Importance of Iwo Jima - Information
- Video: Did you pose that?
- Reading: The Photos and 5.6 'Did you pose that?'
- Video: The Photos
- Video: The 'Gung-Ho' Shot
- Reading: The 'Gung-Ho' shot; and Interpretation of the Main Image - Information Reading
- Video: The 7th War Bond Drive
- Reading: The 7th War Bond Drive - Information
- Discussion Prompt: Week 5: Reflective Task 1
- Video: The Stamp and After
- Reading: The Stamp and After - Information
- Video: Ending the Pacific War
- Reading: Ending the Pacific War - Information
- Video: Interview - Reflections on Iwo Jima
- Discussion Prompt: Week 5: Reflective Task 2
Graded: Week 5 Quiz
WEEK 6
From Page to Screen: Film as Public History
What is 'Public History'? How do photographs and films with an historical theme shape our awareness of historical events and our memories?
8 videos, 2 readings
- Reading: Week 6 reading part 1- Reading
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Approach to study
- Reading: Flags of Our Fathers: The Book and Film as Public History - Information
- Video: Flags of Our Fathers: The Book and Film as Public History
- Video: Letters from Iwo Jima
- Video: Academic critiques
- Video: An Honourable Suicide
- Video: Interview with Julio Etchart: America's Other 9/11
- Video: Final Thoughts (MOOC wrap up)
Graded: Week 6 Peer Assessment
Graded: Week 6 Quiz
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Ratings and Reviews
This is an excellent course and I have really enjoyed it. The topics covered are diverse and the course has provided me with several areas for further independent research.
This course is very informative and structural in learning the relation of films and history.
Fantastic course. I loved the examples of iconic photos which I had seen but now better understand their significance. I hadn't seen many of the Stalin photos, however. Its amazing how politicians can manipulate us ala George Orwell........
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Highly recommended. I enjoyed revisiting important parts of History through iconic photographs and learning to look at them from a critical and analytical point of view. Mr. Sullivan was great in his lectures and the assignments were insightful. It was hard but well schedule. Many thanks