HS1S030 - Crime, Vice and ‘Lowlife’ in Nineteenth-Century Britain 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | HS1S030 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Crime, Vice and ‘Lowlife’ in Nineteenth-Century Britain | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Business and Creative Industries | ||
| Faculty Group: | Culture and Animation | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Culture | ||
| Module Leader: | Andy Croll | ||
| Module Team: | |||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2021 | Final Year of Intake: | 2026 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 4 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | |||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | |||
Document Version Information
| Version | 1 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2021 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2027 |
Module Aims
The module has two aims. The first is to encourage students to think about how social, economic, demographic and political changes had an impact upon attitudes and policies towards crime, criminals and the 'vicious'. The second aim is to develop key skills in historical analysis through the use of primary and secondary source material and foster an awareness of how such materials can be used to formulate an historical argument.
Content Summary
The module examines changing attitudes to crime, criminals and punishment over the course of the long nineteenth century in Britain. The role of the newspapers in shaping and reflecting ideas about crime and criminality is considered, as is the gradual emergence of social scientific, criminological understandings. Key topics include the role of the media in the Whitechapel murders of 1888, the birth of the ‘new’ police, the ending of public executions and the rise of the prison, gender and crime, violence, the media construction of a ‘criminal class’, prostitution, youth crime, and white-collar crime. An interdisciplinary approach is pursued where appropriate and students are encouraged to consider the applicability of various theories and concepts – including, for instance, labelling theory and ‘moral panic’ models.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 16 |
| Seminar | 20 |
| Practical classes and workshops | 4 |
| Independent Study | 80 |
| Directed Study | 72 |
| Formative Assessment - Scheduled | 8 |
| Total Hours Selected | 200 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Identify and explain the main developments in and distinguishing features of the history of crime and vice in nineteenth-century Britain. |
| LO2 | Discuss primary sources (such as ‘slumland’ reportage, crime statistics and fiction) and secondary material related to such issues, clearly presented with supporting evidence. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Essay 2 | Essay on a key question in nineteenth-century crime history | 0 | 2400 | 60 | No | 40 |
| Asynchronous Assessment | Essay 1 | Essay focusing on perceptions of nineteenth-century criminals | 0 | 1600 | 40 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Essay 2 | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Essay 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |