FutureLearn

WW1 Heroism: Through Art and Film (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Leeds,

Discover just some of the ways that heroism and the First World War is portrayed through art and film. The centenary of the First World War is a time for reflection and exploration. In this short course you will discover just some of the ways that heroism is portrayed through art and film.

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You will explore recruitment posters and the messages they portrayed for both those going to war and those staying at home, as well as researching WW1 art and curating your own online exhibition of paintings. You will then move on to explore contemporary German film consolidating your learning by reviewing a recent book, film, or TV programme about the First World War.

What topics will you cover?

Analysis of recruitment posters and the messages they portrayed for both those going to war and those staying at home
Researching posters: use of words and images to invoke emotions about heroism
World War 1: how ideas about heroism changed from 1914 onwards
Heroism and film: exploring the differences between current images of World War 1 heroes in Germany, France, and Britain
Film reviews: contrasting ways in which the meaning of World War 1 is constructed and debated in Germany today

Learning on this course
You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

Reflect on how the First World War affected the heroic ideals of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Assess WW1 posters and interpret the message that each poster would have given to those signing up during the war years.
Explore art from WW1 and discuss thoughts with other students.
Curate an exhibition of paintings of WW1 heroes and heroines to help reflect on the way ideas about heroism has changed from 1914 onward.
Explore how heroism is represented in post-WW2 German culture.
Discuss how WW1 and heroism are represented in films produced or co-produced in Germany in the last few years.
Evaluate a film, book or TV programme which focuses on the men and women who lived through WW1 and consider how they are portrayed in contemporary culture.
Research and discuss thoughts with fellow learners.

Who is the course for?
This course is part of the Going to University collection which has been specifically designed for students at schools and colleges. They provide a taster of undergraduate study at the University of Leeds and help students to decide which subject to study at university.
Completion of the courses will also enhance students’ university applications.
The courses can also be used as a teachers’ classroom enrichment resource.
Courses in this collection are also great for people that want an introduction in the specific subjects discussed in each course.

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