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Research in Focus

French Victorian postcards depicting ‘visions of the future.

Concepts of utopia and dystopia in nineteenth-century Europe.

By on June 15, 2017 in Research in Focus

Neil Bertram, James Mayer and Liam Pietrasik, third year history students at the University of Portsmouth, wrote the following blog entry on the ways in which science and technology combined between the years of 1880 and 1914 to foster fears of a dystopian society, along with creating dreams of a utopian future. Their research was undertaken as part of a final year group research project. The unit is co-ordinated by Dr Robert James, Senior Lecturer in Social and Cultural History at Portsmouth. Concepts of utopia and dystopia represent imaginary societies in which people live either in a perfect environment, governed by the laws which provide happiness to everyone, or in […]

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#Outreach: A case study of the Portsmouth History Centre’s Outreach.

By on June 14, 2017 in Public History, Research in Focus

“Nicola’s dissertation was a fantastic piece of original and innovative research. Drawing on a wide base of archival and museums literature, Nicola’s dissertation shone a light on the outreach initiatives of local authority archives (an area which has not received a great deal of attention in comparison to community archives) and used the Portsmouth History Centre as an in-depth case study. Nicola’s original analysis of social media alongside ‘traditional’ forms of outreach illuminated both the benefits and drawbacks of current practice and provided a basis for sound suggestions for future initiatives.” – Dr Jessica Moody, Nicola’s dissertation supervisor. My dissertation was inspired by my volunteering role within the Portsmouth History […]

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Men of the 16th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 1st Infantry Division wade ashore on Omaha Beach on the morning of 6 June 1944

Personal Experiences of D-Day: Told through the words of the veterans by Jessica Harper and Katy Hodges

By on June 6, 2017 in Learning in Focus, Public History, Research in Focus

Jessica Harper and Katy Hodges, third year history students at the University of Portsmouth, wrote the following blog entry on the research they conducted as part of a final year group research project. Along with fellow final year students Hannah Coulouras and Phillip Gerrish, Jessica and Katy looked into veterans’ experiences of D-Day in June 1944. As well as presenting their findings as part of the unit’s assessment, the students also gave a public presentation at Portsmouth City Museum. The final year group research unit is co-ordinated by Dr Robert James, Senior Lecturer in Social and Cultural History at Portsmouth. Personal Experiences of D-Day: Told Through the Words of the […]

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HENRY VIII © National Portrait Gallery, London 157 (1)

Following Henry’s lead: clothes and the construction of masculinity during the reign of Henry VIII

By on June 1, 2017 in Research in Focus

Andrew McCarthy, a current third year student in History and Politics, tells us about what attracted him towards his dissertation topic, what research challenges he faced along the way and what he was able conclude from his research.  Andrew is planning to study for an MA in Early Modern History at Birkbeck next year. The early modern period was a time which included some of the most gripping events in history which is why I have always had an interest in it. As I have furthered my research into the period, I have come to realise that I am mostly interested the social aspect of sixteenth century British history, especially […]

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How to ‘forget’ difficult pasts: slavery, memory, and the maritime frame

By on May 25, 2017 in Research in Focus

In Theresa May’s ‘Brexit speech’, on January 17th 2017, the prime minister suggested that Britain’s “history and culture is profoundly internationalist” [1]. This is certainly one way of framing Britain’s historic relationship with the rest of the world. Alternatively, you might suggest that May spelt “centuries of colonial rule, oppression, slavery and genocide” wrong. As cultural sociologist Iwona Irwin-Zarecka argues, the range of possible interpretations of historic events and themes can be limited through processes of ‘framing’ [2]. Such ‘framing’ doesn’t necessarily block out other possible interpretations, but it does act to restrict the range of meanings. The past can be ‘framed’ in certain ways, and certain interpretations and narratives […]

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Katy Gibbons – Five of the Most Violent Moments of the Reformation

By on April 20, 2017 in Research in Focus

This article by Dr Katy Gibbons, Senior Lecturer in History at Portsmouth was published recently in The Conversation: Link: https://theconversation.com/five-of-the-most-violent-moments-of-the-reformation-71535 Katy’s research looks at religious exile in Early Modern Europe, its impact on the home and host societies, and what it reveals about the complex interactions between groups of coreligionists in different parts of Europe.  Katy’s most recent publication is ‘English Catholics and the continent‘, in The Oxford Handbook of the Age of Shakespeare, edited by R.K. Smuts (Oxford University Press, 2016)’

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