Module overview
Modern Israel is the topic of this third level History Special Subject module, running over two semesters. Contemporary images of Israel are often informed by general political attitudes, and the many – different – realities of life in Israel tend to disappear behind these images. This second part of the module takes a closer look at Israel’s cultural history and the development of a variety of aspects that allow us insight into the inner workings of the Israeli society and its many different divisions.
Linked modules
HIST3113
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Understand key debates that have emerged from the divisions in Israeli society
- Analyse, interpret and use historical evidence
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The contributions of literature and the arts to Israeli self-images
- Current debates and frictions inside of the Israeli society (along the lines of Jewish/Arab, secular/religious, European/Oriental divisions) and their reflection in the arts
- The impact of immigration and “multi-culturalism” on Israeli identities
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Work independently in preparing class work and written assignments
- Display effective time management in the preparation of class and coursework assignments
- Critically assess large amounts of complex material
Syllabus
Indicative topics may include:
- a ‘Holocaust consciousness’ and the creation of a ‘geography of remembrance’, particularly in Jerusalem.
- German-Jewish heritage, the recent mass immigration from the former Soviet Union, the role of Israelis of Arab origin, and the situation of non-Jewish demographies in the country.
- The effect of the wars and of the occupation on Israeli society and try to understand its specific political system.
- Gender relations within Israeli society
- Personalities, from David Ben Gurion via Golda Meir to Benjamin Netanjahu.
- The representation of Israeli images in the arts, particularly in film and literature, in music and architecture,
- The specific situation of Israel in the larger contexts of world politics on the one hand and the inner-Jewish tension between Israel and the Diaspora on the other hand.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
- Seminars
- Interpretation and close analysis of sources
Learning activities include:
- Preparing introductory and background reading for each seminar
- Preparing oral presentations
- Analysis of source material
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 72 |
| Seminar | 48 |
| Completion of assessment task | 100 |
| Wider reading or practice | 80 |
| Total study time | 300 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Ron Kuzar (2001). Hebrew and Zionism: A Discourse Analytic Cultural Study. Berlin and New York: de Gruyter.
Oz Almog (2000). The Sabra: The Creation of the New Jew. University of California Press.
Miron Benvenisti (2000). Sacred Landscape. The buried history of the Holy Land since 1948. Berkeley/London.
Maoz Azaryahu (2007). Tel Aviv. Mythography of a City. Syracuse University Press.
Eliezer Ben-Rafael and Yochanan Peres (2005). Is Israel One? Religion, Nationalism and Multiculturalism Confounded. Leiden, Boston: Brill.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 50% |
| Written assignment | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assessed written tasks | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 50% |
| Written assignment | 50% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External