The critical and creative relationship between European history (sources, methods, and modes of storytelling) and film. Examination of film’s potential to inspire new visions of the past, and new ways of representing the past.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Graduate students will do in-depth, advanced readings in addition to those assigned in the syllabus for each class. On average, graduate students will be required to read approximately 120-150 pages per week. Graduate students will submit an additional bibliographical essay by mid-semester and a 20-page essay at the end of the semester.
Athena Title
European History and Film
Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite
One course in THEA or FILM or HIST or RUSS or GRMN or SLAV or INTL or POLS or COMM
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about history and film in Europe by gathering and weighing of evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how the history and film of modern Europe shaped social and cultural identities and attitudes toward class, freedom, war, and revolution and encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.
By the end of this course, students will be able to generate their own research question or topic, locate suitable primary and secondary sources, and synthesize their ideas in novel ways.
By the end of this course, students will be able to initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate their independent research projects in stages and to give and receive constructive feedback through the peer review process.
Topical Outline
History and Film: Overviews and Theories
Social History in Books and Films
Case Study: Friendship, Courtship, and Gender in the Age of Jane Austen
Case Study: Film Adaptations of Jane Austen
The Epic Historical Film
Case Study: Revolution and War in the 19th Century
Case Study: Films on the Italian Risorgimento
The War Film
Case Study: Propaganda and Counter-Propaganda in World War I
Case Study: Existentialism and World War II
Work and Poverty: Neorealism
Dictatorship and Freedom
Films about Historical Memory
Amnesia, Trauma, and Guilt
Decolonization and Migration
European History and Identity
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Communication
The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, interpersonal, or visual form.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
