World War 1: Changing Faces of Heroism (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Leeds,
World War 1: Changing Faces of Heroism (FutureLearn)

Learn how the war moved us away from traditional views of heroism and created new kinds of heroes and heroines. Did the First World War make heroism meaningless or was it the conflict that gave it the most meaning? We’ve designed this course in partnership with the BBC to help you explore, discuss and challenge the ways in which First World War heroism has been remembered. Our experts will take you through the changing British, French and German views of heroism and discuss important similarities and differences.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Through discussion and analysis of art, literature, film and television, guided by our experts, you will explore the portrayals of heroism before, during and after the war. Drawing on rarely seen archive you will be curating a mini exhibition, exploring a war memorial and writing a review of a representation of war.

Together we will examine the changing faces of heroism from distant figureheads and brave warriors to the ordinary ‘Tommy’ and front-line nurses. The emergence of alternative hero figures, including anti-war campaigners and vulnerable, shell shocked soldiers, is also covered. We hope you will join the University of Leeds and the BBC in a fascinating reflection on the place of heroism, in the centenary commemorations of the First World War.
This course is part of a series designed in partnership with the BBC to commemorate the war.
World War 1: Paris 1919 - A New World Order? (University of Glasgow)
World War 1: Aviation Comes of Age (University of Birmingham)
World War 1: Trauma and Memory (The Open University)

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Discover the Hidden History of York (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of York

Discover the Hidden History of York (FutureLearn)

Investigate York’s cultural and social history and the pivotal events and people that helped define a nation. Uncover fascinating facts about the city of York, from medieval times to today. York is a city bursting with engaging and unusual episodes from its rich and diverse history. On this three-week course, you’ll delve into the city’s past and learn about some of the most interesting events and people to have contributed to York’s story.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
How We Remember War and Violence: Theory and Practice (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Bath

How We Remember War and Violence: Theory and Practice (FutureLearn)

Compare three models of remembering, exploring how the new model of ‘agonistic memory’ can help us better understand conflict. Consider how we recall war and violence and discover a different way to remember. Our memories of conflict are often used against us. Nationalist movements manipulate the story - offering confrontational, harmful perspectives. But there’s a different way.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
Poetry and the Holocaust (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Yad Vashem

Poetry and the Holocaust (FutureLearn)

Explore personal accounts of the Holocaust through poetry and discover how poems can help you understand events of the past. Study Holocaust poetry to better comprehend this dark period in history. On this course, you’ll understand the events of the Holocaust and World War II through poetry which underlines the individual experience.

Available Now
3 Weeks
World War 1: Aviation Comes of Age (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Birmingham

World War 1: Aviation Comes of Age (FutureLearn)

Investigate how the white heat of innovation in World War 1 shaped the history of human flight. Investigate how the early days of aviation gripped the imagination of the general public, galvanised industry and excited far-sighted members of the military, with this free online course from the University of Birmingham’s Centre for War Studies.

No sessions available
3 Weeks
The Tudors (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Roehampton

The Tudors (FutureLearn)

Go back in time to learn about the dramatic rule of the Tudor monarchs and religious change of the sixteenth century reformation. Uncover the turbulent history of Tudor England and its lasting impact. From magnificence and martyrs to weddings and war, the Tudor period was one of the most eventful in British history. The reigns of the five (or was it six?) monarchs during the late fifteenth to seventeenth century has enthralled historians, students and television and film producers alike.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Empire: The Controversies of British Imperialism (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Exeter

Empire: The Controversies of British Imperialism (FutureLearn)

The British Empire continues to cause enormous disagreement among historians. Find out why and join the debate. Explore the British Empire through six controversial themes. Over six weeks, we’ll explore the British Empire through six themes - money, violence, race, religion, gender and sex, and propaganda. You’ll get to hear the stories of the fascinating individuals who contributed to both its rise and fall.

Available Now
5-12 Weeks
Accounting for Death in War: Separating Fact from Fiction (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Royal Holloway, University of London,Every Casualty Counts

Accounting for Death in War: Separating Fact from Fiction (FutureLearn)

Discover the main methods used to account for war deaths, how they've been used and practice using them yourself. Calculating the number of deaths during a war is a difficult, but necessary, task - having accurate information is crucial for political and societal debates and decisions. On this course you will explore the methods currently used to account for war deaths and then apply these methods to particular wars.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory and Practice (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Leiden University

Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory and Practice (FutureLearn)

Delve into the research behind terrorism as you unpack the assumptions and impacts of both terrorism and counterterrorism. Explore terrorism and counterterrorism studies. Terrorism has arguably been one of the defining factors of our age. It frequently makes headlines, threatening or attacking governments, private businesses, and ordinary citizens. In many parts of the world, it has been one of the most important threats to peace, security, and stability – but what does this mean exactly? On this six-week course from Leiden University, you’ll explore the essence of terrorism and discover why it is so difficult to define.

Apr 25th 2022
5-12 Weeks