131-223 Making News: Making Histories

Usually 25 points of first-year history or media and communications, see Prerequisites.

The media in their news-making role invoke histories continually. The subject will introduce students to a more critical approach to the way in which history is presented in the media and will help them to identify some of the simplifications popularly circulated. But it will also aim to provide some tools for the researching of other forms of contemporary history. It will do this by examining some of the major news stories of the day and the way history is invoked in them, and asking what other forms of historical representation are available or possible. The circulation of counter or alternative histories will also be examined, in a range of media. The subject engages with the way in which the media has presented a number of historical cases and will examine the historical understandings which inform media coverage of current issues such as the Middle East, Aboriginal land claims, and the war on terrorism.

Class participation, and written work totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available.