What do Students Learn?

This programme redefines the study of history by integrating cultural, social, and political dimensions to provide a richer, more holistic understanding of the past and its relevance to contemporary global challenges.

Students will engage with landmark historical events and movements, such as the rise of mass media in the 20th century, the post-colonial struggles for identity, and the role of propaganda in shaping ideological battles during the Cold War. They will explore pivotal case studies like the political and social impact of the Berlin Wall, the memory politics surrounding the Holocaust, and the role of media in the British industrial strikes of the 1970s and 80s.

The programme critically examines the power dynamics behind cultural symbols and national identities, drawing on examples such as the use of Soviet iconography, the memory of the British Empire, and the legacy of the American Civil Rights Movement. Through a comparative lens, students will study the construction of historical narratives in both Western and non-Western contexts—whether through the representations of race and gender in colonial-era British art, or the impact of the Chinese Cultural Revolution on its national identity.

Students will engage with key theoretical frameworks, such as the works of Edward Said, Michel Foucault, and Stuart Hall, to critically assess how history is mediated, remembered, and contested. By focusing on how the past continues to inform global social movements, students will be empowered to challenge conventional historical narratives, while understanding the power structures that continue to shape them.