WW1 Heroism: Through Art and Film

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.

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

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.