Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LH Echoes of Colonialism and Imperialism Across Cultures
School	Lan, Cult, Art Hist & Music
Department	Modern Languages
Module Code	09 34935
Module Lead	Dr Berny Sèbe
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Based on the premise that the experience of imperialism and colonialism is foundational to understand the dynamics of the contemporary world, ranging from power balances to political struggles, from unspoken and overt hierarchies to cultural norms, this module explores the modalities and impact of imperial and colonial practices across time, space and cultures. In their economic, political, military and cultural unfolding, imperialism and colonialism did not leave any continent untouched, having largely shaped how people think, speak and live around the world. Drawing on case-studies pertaining to some of the linguistic areas taught in the Department of Modern Languages, examined through a diverse methodological and disciplinary perspective involving historical studies, critical theory and cultural representations, this module combines diachronic and synchronic approaches to help students further the knowledge accumulated during their training in Modern Languages and develop cross-linguistic expertise about the theory and practice of imperialism and colonialism.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to:Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the ways in which knowledge of imperialism and colonialism as historical and cultural phenomena offer useful frameworks to understand the contemporary world; Demonstrate the ability to analyse critically some of the major historiographical, theoretical and cultural approaches to colonial empires; Demonstrate a sophisticated and nuanced approach to the study of imperialism and colonialism based on an informed choice of methodologies and sources; Demonstrate the ability to engage with, and compare, imperial or colonial apparatuses across time, space, linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Assessment	34935-01 : 1000 Words on methodologies in English : Coursework (25%) 34935-02 : 3,000 Word essay in English : Coursework (75%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1,000-word piece on methodologies in English (25%); 3,000-word essay in English (75%). Reassessment: No resits are permitted in final year. If students miss the assessed task owing to extenuating circumstances, the failed task would be rescheduled at a later date.
Other
Reading List