Course Resources Archive

This module explores aspects of the relationship between crime, popular culture and other forms of disorder and conflict in the early modern period.

Mainly adopting the approach of 'history from below' this module explores the relationship between social crime, protest and popular culture in the early modern period. The intention is to explore the various ways in which the experience of hierarchy and subordination was negotiated in the early modern period through criminal acts of social disorder.

Conflict implies order and the module will begin with an exploration of some aspects of the ways in which orderly early modern society was made and maintained. Themes covered here may well include questions of paternalism and power, hierarchy, authority, and relationships to popular culture.

The aim here will be to arrive at an understanding of the interaction between popular politics and power in order to turn to a critically informed understanding of the major focus of the module: that of the exploration of manifestations of conflict and disorder. These will be explored from the perspective of the social history of popular politics and will address themes such as the role of ‘public’ and ‘hidden transcripts’ in the negotiation of power relations. Much of the emphasis, however, will be placed on social crime and the link to popular culture. Taking a case study approach, we will engage with a range of debates and forms social crime took. Topics will vary from year to year and will draw on the full range of social crime, including: riot (mainly anti-enclosure and food), poaching, wrecking, threatening letters, rick burning and cattle maiming.

Social crime was not the only form of social conflict evident in this period and this is recognised in the module. Areas to be covered here may well include gender relationships, the workplace and forest communities. A major focus, however, will be the historiography of the relationship between popular culture and witchcraft. This is explored in the context of manifestations and explanations of the sixteenth and seventeenth century witch hunts.

i.  Knowledge and understanding
On successful completion of the module the student should be able to:
a.  Critically discuss the perspective from below of early modern structures of authority
b.  Critically evaluate definitions and explanations of the forms disorder took in the early modern period
c.  Understand and articulate the link between social crime, witchcraft and early modern popular culture
d.  Think critically about the nature and role of early modern popular culture

ii. Skills
On successful completion of the module the student should be able to:
a.  Demonstrate further development of groupworking skills
b.  Demonstrate further development of research skills
c.  Demonstrate further development of critical analysis skills and an awareness of historiography

Staff / student contact: 20% (lectures, workshops, tutorials)
Student directed learning: 80%

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.