Unit details

HUMA4001 Feeling the Past: Emotions in History, 1100–1800

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face
Semester 1	Online	Online timetabled

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 4 elective
• Honours option in History [Bachelor of Arts (Honours)]

Content

The unit is designed in five, two-week modules, with introduction and conclusion sessions. The modules focus on key concepts in the historical understanding, practice and expression of emotions in European tradition from 1100–1800, using relevant primary sources and significant secondary references, with reference to historical events that focused intense emotional energies, for example, the Crusades, the Reformation and the French Revolution. These concepts are drawn from and illustrated by historical documents, literary and theatrical texts, examples of visual and material culture, and examples of intellectual discourses on the emotions of various kinds.

The unit includes examination of the changing intellectual, social and cultural significance of concepts such as 'love', 'the passions' and 'empathy', and consideration of major conceptual frameworks within which the role of human emotions have been understood: physiological; psychological, philosophical/theological, political and popular. Attention is also given to the history of 'emotionology': the changing social and cultural regulation of emotional expression. Attention is paid to gendered aspects of these fields of enquiry.

As well as emphasising past understandings of emotions, the unit introduces students to a variety of contemporary theoretical and methodological approaches to studying the history of emotions. It encourages reflection on the emotional factors that may affect contemporary understanding of the past, and on the continuing effects of European traditions of emotion in contemporary emotional life.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) recognise and analyse major concepts and terms in the European history of emotions, 1100–1800; (2) identify and analyse the operations of major terms and conceptual frameworks of emotion in a variety of texts from the past: historical documents, literary and theatrical texts; examples of visual culture, and examples of various intellectual discourses of emotion; (3) recognise, understand and analyse major conceptual shifts and other changes in the understanding, practice and expression of emotions in the period 1100–1800; (4) show a working knowledge of the main contemporary theoretical and methodological approaches to studying emotions history; (5) give a scholarly, well-researched and illuminating oral presentation on a prepared topic and set of readings in the European history of emotions, 1100–1800; and (6) provide scholarly, well-researched and illuminating discussions of topics and readings in the European history of emotions, 1100–1800.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) seminar attendance, preparedness and contribution; (2) a seminar presentation; and (3) essays. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Except where supplementary assessment is not available in a unit, it will be offered to students in all units who:

• Are in good academic standing overall;
• Have passed over half the units taken in the teaching period concerned, except where they are only enrolled in two or less units in the period;
• Have submitted all assessment items in the unit;
• Have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit; and
• No finding of academic misconduct has been made against them in the unit concerned.

Additionally student may apply for supplementary assessment in any unit which is the final unit required for graduation in there course and where they have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Kirk Essary

Unit rules

Prerequisites:

eligibility to enter Honours in the following disciplines: English and Cultural Studies; History; European Studies; or Medieval and Early Modern Studies; or eligibility to enter Master of Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Co-requisites:

Nil

Incompatibility:

Nil

Contact hours

seminars: 2 hours per week; introduction and conclusion sessions