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Crime, Punishment and Media 1500 - 1800 (HIST30073)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Not available in 2020
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
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In this subject students will examine the social and cultural dimensions of law, crime and punishment in early modern Europe. The early modern period is usually characterized as a period of spectacular displays of punishment, but to understand this brutality we need to be aware of the social and communal nature of the penal system. This subject therefore examines the ways in which the developing news media disseminated information about crime and punishment to the public. Students will explore how crime, criminals and the legal system were represented in popular and official texts and how the public perception of crime was developed and manipulated. They will think about the ways in which the official reports of crimes diverged from the public perception of those crimes, and how the voice of the prisoner was reported and exploited. The subject covers the various methods and degrees of punishment, including judicial torture, and how these changed from one region to another and over time. As well as exploring the various kinds of offences that were considered to be serious crimes in early modern Europe, the subject looks at the complex ways in which religion and politics were interwoven in the early modern period, and the role played by shame and dishonour in the penal process. Students will also explore the topics of orality and print culture, the sensationalism and commercialization of news, and the representation of gender and social class, by taking advantage of a range of early modern digital humanities projects.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the subject, students should:
- have familiarity with the history of, and major developments in, crime and punishment in early modern Europe
- be able to reflect critically on the interplay between crime, punishment and the portrayal of these phenomena in the burgeoning news media
- be able to evaluate and utilise primary and secondary sources
- be able to apply research skills using printed and electronic sources in preparation of a research essay and reflective essay
- have developed skills in public presentations and confidence in self expression through seminar presentations and in-class discussions
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Mini-Research Essay
| Week 8 | 40% |
Hurdle Requirements Hurdle requirement: Hurdle requirements: • Students must complete the online 'Researching History' module in order to submit assignments for this subject. • Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. • All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Tutorial performance, including 5-minute in-class presentation
| During the teaching period | 15% |
Research Essay
| During the examination period | 45% |
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Dates & times
Not available in 2020
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 15 February 2024