History: Memories and Myths- Why Does History Matter

When a statue of slaveowner Edward Colston was pulled down in Bristol, the activists who removed it were accused of “erasing history”. But in the following weeks there was more debate in the media about the meaning of British history than there had been for years. History makes headlines – from disputes about the “Elgin Marbles” to debates about how children learn history in school to questionable historical analogies used by politicians who insult their opponents. If your head is spinning with all these debates, this course is a chance to explore some of these controversial issues in more depth. You will explore case-studies, asking for example how our understanding of World War Two affects attitudes to war today. You will consider questions vital to the way we approach the past: Can we ever be objective about history? Who benefits when certain events are remembered and others rarely mentioned? Can we learn from the past or will we keep repeating it? The course aims to help you reach your own conclusions about these controversies, rather than telling you what to think. This course is open to you whatever your knowledge of history and whatever your views on the issues involved.