Module description
Modern London is haunted by the spectre of terrorism. From suicide attacks to vehicle-ramming, suspicious packages to lorry bombs, terrorism has dominated perceptions of the contemporary city. For many, London is now the “epicentre” of a global terrorist threat. But the story of London’s terrorism is longer and more complex. Beginning with terrorism’s origins in the 19th century, this module moves chronologically across a distinct set of violent events that have all been labelled acts of ‘terror’. While some incidents are situated in a long history of political struggle, others appear as random, often arbitrary, attacks. Yet whatever its form, London’s terrorism has been a cause for crises of the state, media spasms on a seismic scale and dramatic reconfigurations of the urban landscape. Indeed, so vivid is its impact that writers, filmmakers and visual artists have all been drawn to London as a site for terrorism’s restaging and retelling.
This module charts terrorism’s shifting signature by examining its impact upon London’s modernisation. Students will discover a city that has been subjected to rapid technological change and new political ideas, that are both wholly alien and eerily familiar. They will encounter London as a symbolic target for post-colonial violence and a fulcrum through which terrorist action and state policy are aligned. Approaching the subject through a variety of disciplinary perspectives, students will be exposed to a diversity of cultural texts (from novels to films, photographs to monuments) as well as a range of London archives that will contextualise each terrorist incident. These external resources will prove invaluable for the final assessment, where students will produce a digital e-portfolio exploring three of the terrorist events examined in the module. During the course, students will produce a formative e-portfolio and will receive tutor and peer feedback; students will then redraft and incorporate this work as part of their summative e-portfolio. The best of these will be made public through a partnership with the University of London’s Layers of London project.
Questions we might consider:
- What are the origins of London’s terrorism and has its affective impact changed over time?
- How do we distinguish between terrorism in London and its occurrences elsewhere?
- How is terrorism related to London’s modernisation?
- What is the relationship between terrorism and mass communication?
- In what ways is terrorism connected to London’s symbolic landscape?
- How is terrorism represented and do these representations privilege visual or verbal evidence?
- What can terrorism teach us about structural violence and/or the methods by which sovereign power is performed?
- How does terrorism intersect with conceptions of race, gender and sexuality in the city?
Assessment details
Assessment pattern:
E-portfolio (100%)
Educational aims & objectives
This module aims to:
- Provide students with a theoretical understanding of terrorism as a category of violence.
- Assess the extent to which terrorism offers a framework for understanding London’s modernisation.
- Investigate terrorism’s changing signification across a variety of disciplinary perspectives (e.g. philosophy, geography, literature, history, film, photography, politics).
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students will:
- Gain knowledge of the diverse contexts surrounding prominent incidents of modern terrorism in London.
- Translate theorisations of terrorism onto London’s landscapes and archives.
- Conduct fieldwork around a particular topic, identifying and analysing relevant primary and secondary sources.
- Obtain digital literacy through the use of an e-learning platform for assessment.
- Create engaging content that communicates findings and theoretical thinking in a clear and accessible manner.