Prospectus

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Global Memory Practices

Course
2021-2022

Admission requirements

Not applicable.

Description

We all can vividly remember the dramatic scenes of planes crashing into the Twin Towers, of war-torn regions in Iraq and Syria, or elated mass celebrations of tearing down the Berlin wall. The screenshots of these highly mediatized events have become part of global public memory. Yet, how often nowadays do we hear any detailed accounts of these events or inquire after their aftermaths, besides such clichéd references as ‘9/11’, ‘war against terrorism’ or ‘transition to democracy’? Which aspects of these and other recent histories of war and conflict have been highlighted or neglected by the media, and how have they affected our understanding of history and identity?

This course will inquire into the dynamics of remembering and forgetting of major political, ethnic and religious conflicts with global ramifications, with a focus on the social tensions and transformations that are produced by conflicting and contested memories. By exploring a variety of case studies, we will analyze and compare representations of conflict and post-conflict remembering around the world and the role of the media and art in shaping them.

The course will consist of two lecture blocks, which will each focus on key topics and concepts from the field of transnational memory studies:

Block I: Global Memory and Trauma: The Role of Media in the Dynamics of Remembering and Forgetting

Block II: Memory, Cultural Heritage and Art: Global Case Studies

Each lecture will deal with a specific case study that is related to the general theme of the respective block. Guest lecturers will be invited to share their expertise on memory related case studies in a particular region to ensure the global character of the course.

Methodologically, this course will develop a comparative framework that enable us to analyze memory practices as interconnected and tied up with global issues of geopolitics, such as imperialism and (neo)colonialism, migration and diaspora, transitions and historiography, indigenous knowledge and local communities. Students will be encouraged to test the relevance of the learnt approaches by discussing memory related topics and concepts from a variety of regions and applying them in short written assignments.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, students will have:

  • developed transnational comparative perspectives on discourses and representations of post-conflict memory;

  • learnt about the ways in which media and art shape cultural memory and hence our ideas about history and identity;

  • acquired a good understanding of major concepts and approaches in transnational memory studies and an awareness of how they have been developed and applied within particular cultural-historical contexts;

  • enhanced their skills of critical reading, debating and analytical writing.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Lecture

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Short weekly response to questions about the reading materials

  • Midterm assignment

  • Final exam (with essay questions)

The final mark for the course is established by (I) Determination of the weighted average (II) Completion of all graded and ungraded assignments (failing to do so will result in failing the course). To pass the course, the grade of the final exam must be at least 5.5.

Weighing

  • Short weekly response to questions about the reading materials: ungraded (but submission of all responses is a requirement for passing the course)

  • Midterm assignment: 40%

  • Final exam (with essay questions): 60%

Resit

A resit is only possible for the final written exam. To pass the course, this grade must be at least 5.5.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

The reading materials will be made available on Brightspace.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available on the website.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable.

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats

Remarks

Not applicable