Historical Fiction (HSTY6914)
Department of History - University of Sydney
Semester 1 / 2009

Degrees

Graduate Diploma in Arts (History)
Master of Letters (History)
Master of Arts (History)
Graduate Certificate in Arts (History)

Description

To understand the past is it first necessary to imagine it? How do novels and films conceptualise historical processes? Who do they pay attention to, and what do they include and exclude in their vision of history? To what extent are academic history books 'fictional' in their techniques? Can fiction yield an understanding of history that is closed to academic texts? This unit explores these and related questions through critical discussions of fiction and historical texts, broadly defined.

Assessment

Critical essay 4000 words; book review 1000 words; seminar participation

Supplementary Texts

Miller, Ingenious Pain. London: Sceptre, 1997.

Burgoyne, Hollywood Historical Film. Malden, MA: John Wiley/Blackwell, 2008.

Curthoys, Ann and John Docker. Is History Fiction? Sydney: UNSW Press, 2005.

Rosenstone, Robert A. History On Film/Film On History. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education, 2006.

Manzoni, Alessandro. Betrothed. Trans. Brice Penman. Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1972.

Moore, Alan and Eddie Campbell. From Hell. New York: Bantam, 2001.

Walker, Jonathan. Pistols Treason Murder. Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne UP, 2007.

Hughes-Warrington, Marnie. History Goes to the Movies. Abingdon, Oxon.: Routledge Taylor Francis, 2006.

Manzoni, Alessandro. On the Historical Novel. Lincoln, London: University of Nebraska P., 1996.

Rosenstone, Robert A. Vision of the Past: Challenge of Film to Our Idea of History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1995.

Other Details

Text list to be confirmed.

Levels: Postgraduate
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