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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS-RS 311"
COURSE NAME: "History, Memory, and Popular Culture"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Vanda Wilcox
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: One previous history course.Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
History Research Seminar: 300-level history courses designated by the prefix HS-RS indicate courses being offered as Research Seminars. These courses are writing-intensive and help to train students to carry out original research by guiding them through the preparation of a significant research paper. History majors are encouraged to take these before their senior year, and especially before the semester in which they prepare their thesis.
This course aims to explore the relationship between history, memory, and popular culture: how is our view of the past shaped by popular culture, and how do societies collectively remember and represent the past? Students will learn to think critically about representations of the past in popular culture and the relationship between history and present day society.

Satisfies "Modern History" core course requirement for History majors.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Memories of past events live on and continue to affect the present in politics, society and culture. This seminar course introduces students to the concept of memory studies; explores the relationships between history and memory; and examines some of the ways in which societies and cultures remember and represent the past. Students will consider representations of national and international history in popular culture, such as novels, videogames, comics, film and television, as well as formal means of memorialisation such as commemorative sites (memorials, monuments and museums). We will critically examine the debates around controversial statues, monuments and heritages sites, to explore how they speak to contemporary debates over the past. We will also look at contemporary forms of public history (podcasts, social media) to see how they reinforce, subvert or modify existing collective narratives about the past.

The course is likely to be of particular interest not only to history majors but to media and communications majors. It also offers excellent interdisciplinary potential for those majoring in literature or art history.

In Fall 2025 the topics under consideration may include US slavery and the civil war, videogame depictions of the First World War and debates over the legacies of fascism in Italy.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, students will:
* have a greater understanding of the processes by which the past is remembered, presented and interpreted;
* be able to identify and critique public narratives about the past;
* be able to critically evaluate the ways in which various crucial nineteenth and twentieth century events have been presented.

The course will lead students to consider the relationships between the past and the present along with exploring some aspects of the way history operates as a discipline. 

Key skills used and developed by the course will be: 
      - critical reading and thinking;
      - analysis and argument; 
      - participation in and leadership of class discussions; 
      - oral and written presentation of critical reactions to key sources (texts, films, monuments); 
     - independently planning, researching and writing a specific topical study. 

Developing an individual analysis, justifying it with appropriate arguments and citations, and effectively communicating these ideas whether orally or in writing, are the central requirements of the course.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
War and Remembrance in the Twentieth CenturyJ. Winter & E. SivanCambridge University Press 9780511599644  
The Memory of the Civil War in American CultureAlice Fahs and Joan Waugh (eds)UNC Press978-0-8078-7581-0   
The First World War in Computer GamesChris KempshallPalgrave978-1-137-49176-3  
Dixie's Daughters: the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the preservation of Confederate CultureKaren L. CoxUP of Florida 978-0813028125  
Italy's Divided MemoryJohn FootPalgrave978-0230618473  
The History and Politics of Star WarsChis KempshallRoutledge 9781315145426,ebook available in library 
This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil WarDrew Gilpin FaustAlfred Knopf9780375404047E468.9 .F385 2008 
The Great War Myth and MemoryDan TodmanHambledon Continuum781852855123D521 .T58 2005 

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Research PaperStudents will write a 2500-word independent research paper during the semester, which will constitute a significant proportion of their final grade. This will be based on individually selected topic, in consultation with the instructor, and represent a chance for students to explore the history and memory of a specific event or topic of their choice, or to critically compare several cultural works and their roles in generating collective memory.30%
Videogames & history paperStudents will write a short (1500 word) paper on the presentation of war in video games, using Valiant Hearts and other materials assigned in class.20%
ParticipationThis includes both in-class participation in discussion of readings and screenings, and response to moodle prompts as appropriate.20%
Final Exam 20%
Research Plan / Annotated BibliographyStudents will be required to submit a detailed outline and annotated bibliography two weeks before the research paper is due, in order to receive feedback. Also included in this share of the grade is a short oral presentation of your research plan to the class.10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Students should sign in on the class attendance sheet at the start of each class. Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the start of class may be recorded as absent. Please be punctual.

Up to 3 absences will be excused automatically. If you already have 3 or more absences, and you will be unavoidably absent from class, you can request an excused absence from the Dean of Students' office. To minimise unnecessary paperwork, please do not approach the Dean of Student's Office to excuse your first 3 absences, it is not needed.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

 

 

Class Topic

Assignment

1 Sep

1.

Social memory, cultural memory and personal memory

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3 Sep

2.

Constructing popular memory: film, TV, literature, memoirs, comics, memorials & commemoration

Readings on Masada on moodle / class handouts

8 Sep

3.

War memorials and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Visit the Vittoriano monument in Piazza Venezia & the Tomb of the Unknown soldier there.

10 Sep

4.

Myths and Representations of the Great War - a Global Comparison

Brandt, Susanne: "Memory of the War: Popular Memory 1918-1945, 1945 to the Present" in:1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War,ed. by Ute Daniel, et al. Berlin, 2017.*

15 Sep

5.

Film representations of the First World War:Paths of Glory

WatchPaths of Glory(DVD) – 1 page commentary due at start of class

17 Sep

6.

Popular representations of the First World War fromBlackadder to Joe Sacco

Dan Todman, The Great War. Myth and Memory, Intro, Ch. 1

22 Sep

7.

History and Video Games (I):Authenticity vs Re-enactment

Brian Rejack, "Toward a virtual reenactment of history: Video games and the recreation of the past",Rethinking History,11:3, (2007)*

24 Sep

8.

History and Video Games (II): Are Games History?

Dawn Spring, "Gaming history: computer and video games as historical scholarship",Rethinking History,19:2 (2015)*

29 Sep

9.

Video Games and the First World War (I)

Chris Kempshall,The First World War in Computer Games (2015), Foreword & Ch. 1

1 Oct

10.

NO CLASS TODAY - MAKE-UP: Chris Kempshall guest lecture, 6 November

You should have played most/ all of Valiant Hearts by Now

6 Oct

11.

Video Games and the First World War (II)

Chris Kempshall & Vanda Wilcox, “Killing to commemorate, dying to remember? Authenticity and the practice of memory in Isonzo”, BJMH 10:3 (2024)

8 Oct

12.

Memories of the US Civil War in the Reconstruction Era

Drew Gilpin Faust,This Republic of Suffering, Ch. 7: Accounting

FWW & Video Games Paper due

13 Oct

13.

The Civil War on Screen - FromThe Birth of a NationtoGloryand Beyond

WatchGlory(DVD)
Readings on HBO's "Confederate"*

15 Oct

14.

Confederate Memories (I)

Karen L. Cox, "Confederate Defeat and Cultural Expressions of Memory", inDefeat and Memory: Cultural Histories of Military Defeated. Jenny Macleod, Palgrave, 2008.

20 Oct

15.

Confederate Memories (II)

Karen L. Cox,Dixie's Daughters : The United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Preservation of Confederate Culture

22 Oct

16.

Civil War Memories and the Civil Rights Movement

Jon Wiener, "Civil War, Cold War, Civil Rights: the Civil War Centennial in Context" inThe memory of the Civil War in American culture,eds Alice Fahs and Joan Waugh.

Commentary on 1 reading from classes 14-16 due at start of class.

27 Oct

17.

Civil War Monuments: Silent Sam and others

Silent Sam readings & links on moodle

29 Oct

18.

Civil War Monuments (II)

Informal student presentations

3 Nov

19.

Fictionalising History: Star Wars

The History and Politics of Star Wars, Intro (recommended) & pp.101-111 (essential)

5 Nov

20.

Italian fascism and its material legacies from architecture to monuments

John Foot, Italy’s Divided Memory Ch. 3

Visit EITHER the Foro Italico or EUR

10 Nov

21.

Italian fascism on screen

Watch M: Son of the Century DVD

12 Nov

22.

Neo-fascism and nostalgia

View contemporary posters at https://www.wheremonstersareborn.com/

17 Nov

23.

Research Project Presentations

Annotated Bibliography due in.

19 Nov

24.

Research Project Presentations

 

24 Nov

25.

tbc - class vote on final topic

 

26 Nov

26.

Tbc

 

1 Dec

27.

Tbc

 

3 Dec

28.

Conclusions & Revision Session

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