4.6
stars
311 ratings

Dr Emmett Sullivan +1 more instructor

39,323 already enrolled

Offered By

University of London

Royal Holloway, University of London

Film, Images & Historical Interpretation in the 20th Century: The Camera Never Lies

University of London

About this Course

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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.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.79/5 (114 Ratings)

Dr Emmett Sullivan

Senior Tutor

History Department, Royal Holloway, University of London

43,486 Learners

2 Courses

Dilara Scholz

Tutor

Department of History

39,323 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

University of London

The University of London is a federal University which includes 17 world leading Colleges. With extensive experience in distance learning since 1858, University of London has enriched the lives of thousands of students, delivering high quality degrees across the globe. Today, University of London is a global leader in flexible study, offering degree programmes to over 45,000 students in over 190 countries, delivering world-leading research across the world. To find out more about University of London, visit www.london.ac.uk

Royal Holloway, University of London

Royal Holloway, University of London, is ranked in the top 30 universities in the UK (Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2018) and the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2017-18).

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating97%(9,706 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Introduction

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 40 min), 8 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Introduction42sUse of Images7mManipulation2mThe Image in Politics5mAdvertising5mReportage (Reporting the News)4mOptional Extra Material - other forms of images - Guernica14m

8 readings

The Camera Never Lies - Course Information10mAims and Objectives10mThe Use of Images10mManipulation10mThe Image in Politics10mAdvertising10mReportage10mOptional Extra Information - Guernica10m

1 practice exercise

Week 1 Quiz30m

Week2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Images and History in the Twentieth Century

3 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 54 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz

Week3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

The Air-Brushing of History: Stalin and Falsification

3 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 104 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

10 videos

Introduction7mThe Soviet Union13mSoviet Union under Stalin7mThe Image as Propaganda16mFalsification13mConclusion4mOptional Extra Material - Films with historical themes8mOptional Extra Material: Film - The Damned United11mOptional Extra Material: Film - In the Name of the Father9mOptional Extra Material: Final Thoughts11m

4 readings

Introduction10mThe Soviet and Stalin Lectures10mFalsification10mOptional Extra Material: Films with historical themes10m

1 practice exercise

Week 3 Quiz30m

Week4

Week 4

6 hours to complete

Photojournalism, Authenticity and Matters of Public Acceptability: The Battle of Mogadishu

6 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 105 min), 11 readings, 2 quizzes

12 videos

Introduction5mDeath of Margaret Thatcher7mBlack Hawk Down7mThe Day of the Ranger: Aftermath7mBlack Hawk Down and 9/11 Media Reportage4mBlack Hawk Down - The Website7mThe Image17mInterview10mUN and the USA in Somalia: Historical Context7mThe Somalian Civil War: Historical Context8mOptional Extra Material - Interview with Niko: Real-Time Editorial Decision – The Boston Marathon Bombing12mOptional Extra Material - Image in the Context of Gender Studies8m

11 readings

Introduction Information - Photojournalism, Authenticity and Matters of Public Acceptability: The Battle of Mogadishu10mDeath of Margaret Thatcher - Information10mBlack Hawk Down – Information10mThe Day of the Ranger: Aftermath - Information10mMedia Reportage - Images and information10mBlack Hawk Down: The Website - Information10mThe Image - Information10mInterview - Information10mThe UN and the USA in Somalia: Historical Context10mThe Somalian Civil War: Historical Context - Information10mOptional Extra Reading: Interview with Niko: Real-Time Editorial Decision: The Boston Marathon Bombing - Information10m

1 practice exercise

Week 4 Quiz30m

Reviews

4.6

114 reviews

5 stars
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4 stars
24.03%
3 stars
3.20%
2 stars
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1 star
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TOP REVIEWS FROM FILM, IMAGES & HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION IN THE 20TH CENTURY: THE CAMERA NEVER LIES

by JMMay 5, 2020

Excellent very interesting course and a great course leader Dr Emmett Sullivan well worth spending time on this.

by NGDec 29, 2021

The course, it enabled me to develop a sharper understanding of photographs and films as public history. I really enjoyed the peer graded assignments.

by AGJun 16, 2017

This course is very informative and structural in learning the relation of films and history.

by MSJun 5, 2020

This course provides students with the tools they need to analyse and understand visual history along with its deceiving nature that derived from the very character of film properties.

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

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Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
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The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Film, Images & Historical Interpretation in the 20th Century: The Camera Never Lies

Film, Images & Historical Interpretation in the 20th Century: The Camera Never Lies

About this Course