GBST10020 From Micro to Global

Academic Year 2022/2023

An African American is murdered by the police in the United States, causing a statue in England to be pulled down and thrown into the harbour. An airdropped crate of canned goods falls in Oceania during the Second World War, turning a man into a god and altering global health. A bicycle simultaneously facilitates racialised atrocities and gendered liberation. How does this happen? What conditions allow some small moments to become larger, whilst others are turning points that fail to turn? This module explores specific moments, materials, and ideas in order to understand their global repercussions. It tracks how the local becomes global.

In this module we use a multidisciplinary framing, drawing upon global humanities methodologies, to investigate boundaries and connections. Students will be exposed to and engage with theories and practices taken from History, Literature, Drama, Film, Material Culture, Art, Anthropology, and Archaeology. We will investigate a wide range of conventional and unconventional source materials, seeking connections and collisions in our weekly seminar discussions. This module draws upon the global studies structure to provide texture and materiality of microhistories within a global perspective.

Note: All teaching and discussions will be in English, however, students are encouraged to use their own linguistic skills and training to enhance their understanding and use non-Anglophone examples in their assessments.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will:

1) Hone analytical skills through focused case-studies. Students will learn to categorise across thematic groupings to complement their future research

2) Critically engage with diverse primary and secondary sources, including unconventional sources and multidisciplinary methodologies

3) Gain experience focusing the skills of academics: such as how to research, synthesise readings and lecture content, meet deadlines, and present research findings through written work and small group discussions

4) Write analytical essays to the standards of a level one undergraduate student

5) Gain transferable skills: such as critical engagement with materials, self-reflection, clear communication, an assessment of tone, authorial intent, and the shaping effect of audiences

6) Think globally in order to reflect on issues of diversity and inclusion within academic spheres

Indicative Module Content:

Thematic Overviews-
Week 3: Global Perspectives
Week 4: Global Microhistories
Week 5: Global Commodities
Week 6: Global Intellectualism

Case Studies-
Week 7: Monuments vs Memorials [joint seminar with European Studies]
Week 8: I, Pencil: Economic Pathways
Week 9: What We Carry: Emotion and Affect
Week 10: Duel Wheeled: Red Rubber and Suffrage
Week 11: Diets and Deities: The Making of ‘Accidental Gods’

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

22
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Total

122
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active and task-based learning

Peer and group work

lectures

analytical writing

reflective learning

case-based learning

student presentations 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Journal: Submission of weekly learning journal and revision to learning journal Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

30
Essay: A semester-long research project comprising an extended essay of 2000 words. Week 12 n/a Graded No

35
Continuous Assessment: Students are graded on their contributions in seminars throughout the trimester Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

25
Presentation: Each student will lead one seminar discussion; to be arranged in advance Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

10

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on leading the seminar discussion will be provided orally, immediately following the seminar. Oral feedback will be provided on an ongoing basis in seminars in response to student contributions. Feedback on the learning journals will be provided weekly via brightspace. Feedback on the end-of-semester essay assessment will be provided in writing post-submission, via brightspace. Students will also have the opportunity for a one-to-one consultation to discuss their progress throughout the trimester.