CL1PP: The Past in the Present

Module code: CL1PP

Module provider: Classics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Amy Smith, email: a.c.smith@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 19 September 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to the ways in the material remains of antiquity have kept ancient mediterranean cultures remain alive in various aspects of our contemporary world. It aims to introduce students to:

• The special value of material culture as a source of evidence for ancient life
• The skills and methods that enable us to interpret that evidence
• The ways in which the study of material culture has shaped (and sometimes mis-shaped) our modern view of the ancient world

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of theories and practices informing the interpretation of ancient material culture;
2. Make clear and concise observations and analyses of ancient material culture;
3. Enquire about the relevance of antiquity to modern concepts, monuments, and arts;
4. Critically assess the borrowings of antiquity in modernity; and
5. Produce authentic outputs using a range of media articulating their own reflections on what they have learned. 

Module content

The module will explore the value of material culture for our understanding and knowledge of antiquity, while drawing links with the modern world. After a brief survey of the history of collections and the reception of antiquity, we delve into the ways that the moderns have used and abused the Classical past, through the performing & creative arts, war & politics, love & death. Each week focuses on a different ‘lesson’ from our Greek and Roman predecessors with case studies from the Ure Museum’s collections that help us to understand its relevance to the modern world. It will consider ways in which modern and contemporary societies reinterpret the past in light of the present and how this iterative trajectory has shaped our current presentation and understanding of antiquity especially through museums and the creative arts. How can a better understanding of antiquity help us to understand our world? The module will introduce students to the range of approaches to primary sources of antiquity, especially material culture. It will also explore ways in which different audiences engage with antiquity, not least through museums and creative media. Students will be encouraged to present their own responses to lessons from antiquity through creative projects, via analog and digital media. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is comprised of an average of two ‘contact hours’ per week that constitute 19 one-hour meetings (10 lectures, 5 seminars, and 4 workshops) and a plenary providing an opportunity for students to share their creative projects. Students will be expected to read primary and secondary sources, while considering artefacts and monuments ancient and modern, both within and beyond the Ure Museum. Discerning use of digital media that supplement traditional learning resources is encouraged.

Each lecture will present an aspect of antiquity, illustrated or exemplified by artefacts in the Ure Museum, to understand ways in which the Classical past has been used and adapted to modernity. Assignments each week will encourage students to seek, discover, and analyse further ancient or post-Classical manifestations of relevance to the weekly theme. Seminars in weeks 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 provides students with opportunities—in smaller groups—to share their own discoveries and perspectives, apply their knowledge to coursework tasks, and interact with others on the themes. Workshops in alternating weeks (4, 7, 9, 11) provide opportunities for students to engage with museum artefacts hands-on, to further explore their ideas, and seek feedback. An enquiry-based learning structure will support students as they undertake research on these weekly assignments. Students will enhance oral, written, digital, and creative communication skills through seminar discussions, keeping a log of their work, and preparing a final presentation of their own design. Each student will be responsible for recording their engagement with each assignment in their learning portfolio. For their final presentation, moreover, they will produce their own analyses based on their own enquiries into antiquity, using primary sources, and articulate their ideas through a range of media. Through planning their engagement with sources, selecting monuments and artefacts for study, and planning their own projects, students will develop independent thinking and learn a variety of approaches to the Classical past. Embedding practice into their learning experience will enable students to apply their knowledge to plan their projects, honing time management and data organisation skills. The development of their own independent projects through enquiry will support them in making decisions, developing their own approaches, and owning the concepts and practices being taught. At the end of term they will submit this portfolio for assessment, which will conclude with a reflection on their learning trajectory. Each student will be responsible also for creating a visual presentation (via poster, blog, vlog, animation, etc.) on a particular theme/group of artefacts. 

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs