HST4624 – Screening History: Representing the Past in the Contemporary Historical Film 2023/24

Historical films are one of the principal means through which the public engages with history, and they are also a continuous source of controversy. This module offers an introduction to the historical film genre by examining American and British films made during the past 20 years. It considers the debates surrounding the representation of history on film, and the influence and impact that historical films have on the public imagination and understanding of history. Throughout, we will explore the aesthetic pleasures that historical films offer to audiences, as well as the wider public discussion and debate that historical films provoke among scholars, critics and journalists in print and online. Films studied include 12 Years a Slave (2013), Dunkirk (2017), The Social Network (2010) and Suffragette (2015).