Module description
This module explores how the Middles Ages has been rejected, reiterated and reimagined in modernity. Beginning with the Gothic literature of the eighteenth century, the course tracks medieval revivals and reworkings across period, nation and medium to explore how the medieval past is refashinoned according to contemporary ideologies. What does it mean to describe an element of contemporary culture as ‘medieval’? Why and how have people turned towards the Middle Ages to understand the present and imagine the future? In addition to popular medieval literature and major critical and political movements, medievalisms in art, architecture, film, photography, music and video games are potential subjects of study. Key topics include temporality, authenticity, gender, performance, nationalism, fantasy, racism and cultural memory. Individual final essays will focus on one particular aspect of how the medieval past functions/functioned in the historical present.
Assessment details
Mid-semester literature review (750 words): 15%
End-semester essay (3,000 words): 85%
Educational aims & objectives
Develop critical and cultural understanding of the history of the idea of the Middle Ages; debates about periodization; the politics of time; and medievalism. Examine the ways in which the idea of the Middle Ages intersects with questions of identity – particularly with regard to national history and race.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable and practical skills appropriate to a Level 6 module and in particular will be able to: 1. Develop a systematic understanding of how particular historical periods approach, represent and teach aspects of the medieval past, and understand the significant differences between these historical approaches. 2. Synthesize both historical sources and contemporary secondary criticism in discussions and writings about these processes. 3. Identify and critically reflect upon their own respective beliefs about the medieval past, and how these beliefs reflect contemporary cultural values. 4. Consider the effect that different technological and aesthetic forms of media have on the representation of the medieval past. 5. Identify key areas of interest within the material studied, and present critically supported interpretations of the material, in oral discussions and in written essays.
Teaching pattern
This module is taught with a weekly two-hour seminar. The seminars are discussion-led and students are expected to be prepared to reflect on and think with the primary and secondary texts that are set each week.
Suggested reading list
Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto; Paul Kingsnorth, The Wake; Caroline Bergvall, Drift.