| Unit name | Century of Genocide |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HISTM0026 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Austin |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
The 20th century has been scarred by mass crimes, murders and violence; yet it is the term ‘genocide’ which casts the darkest shadow over this era. This course aims to explore the history and memory of genocide in the 20th century in order to better understand both the origins and consequences of this phenomenon in society, politics, culture and international law. To what extent is genocide a product of modernity? How does the 1914-45 period help us to better understand processes of genocide? Is genocide a necessary outcome of total war and nation-state building? Is the Holocaust unique? This course examines specific case studies (the Armenian genocide, the Ukrainian famine, the Holocaust, genocide in Rwanda and Cambodia) and themes (testimony, commemoration, representation) using an array of primary sources, such as official documents, minutes of trials, photographs, novels, films and memoirs.
Students will examine historical instances of genocide and mass violence. By the end of the unit students should have: • Developed their ability to tackle highly sensitive issues in a thoughtful manner, applying both academic rigour and intellectual insight. • Explored the limits of historical representation of genocide and mass violence in contemporary society. • Improved their ability to scrutinise and treat critically historical documents. • become more adept at contributing to and learning from a small-group environment
10 x 1.5 hour seminars
5000 word summative essay
Omer Bartov & Phyllis Mack, eds., In God’s Name, Genocide and Religion in the Twentieth Century (2001) Donald Bloxham & A. Dirk Moses, The Oxford Handbook of Genocide Studies (2010) Vasily Grossman, Forever Flowing (1972) Primo Levi, If This is a Man (1996) Art Speigelmann, Maus, 2 Vols. (1987) Ararat (2002) Dir. Atom Egoyan
