The centenary of the First World War is a time for reflection and exploration. In this short course you will discover just some of the ways that heroism is portrayed through art and film.

You will explore recruitment posters and the messages they portrayed for both those going to war and those staying at home, as well as researching WW1 art and reflecting upon a painting you have chosen. You will then move on to explore contemporary German film consolidating your learning by reviewing a recent book, film, or TV programme about the First World War.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 7 seconds If you are interested in history, the recent centenary commemorations of World War I won’t have passed you by. We have all seen images and heard stories of those on the front line, as well as learning about those left to manage at home.

Skip to 0 minutes and 24 seconds Through videos, activities, and quizzes, this course will look at just some of the ways in which art and film have been used to tell these stories. We start by exploring recruitment posters, and consider how the words and images changed as the war progressed. We look at war art, and you have the opportunity to curate your own online exhibition. In the second week, we move on to look at film– specifically, contemporary German film. And you are encouraged to review a film, book, or TV programme. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to research and discuss topics with learners from around the world.

Skip to 1 minute and 5 seconds Sign up now to World War I Heroism: Through Art and Film.

What topics will you cover?

Analysis of recruitment posters and the messages they portrayed for both those going to war and those staying at home
Researching posters: use of words and images to invoke emotions about heroism
World War 1: how ideas about heroism changed from 1914 onwards
Heroism and film: exploring the differences between current images of World War 1 heroes in Germany, France, and Britain
Film reviews: contrasting ways in which the meaning of World War 1 is constructed and debated in Germany today

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Reflect on how the First World War affected the heroic ideals of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Assess WW1 posters and interpret the message that each poster would have given to those signing up during the war years.
Explore art from WW1 and discuss thoughts with other students.
Curate an exhibition of paintings of WW1 heroes and heroines to help reflect on the way ideas about heroism has changed from 1914 onward.
Explore how heroism is represented in post-WW2 German culture.
Discuss how WW1 and heroism are represented in films produced or co-produced in Germany in the last few years.
Evaluate a film, book or TV programme which focuses on the men and women who lived through WW1 and consider how they are portrayed in contemporary culture.
Research and discuss thoughts with fellow learners.

Who is the course for?

No previous knowledge is required, just an interest in history, art or film specifically related to the First World War . If you are new to learning online you will find it helpful to join Learning Online: Learning and Collaborating prior to joining this course.

Who will you learn with?

Alison Fell

A Professor of French Cultural History, my research focuses on French and British women and WW1. I lead a WW1 Centenary project called Legacies of War: arts.leeds.ac.uk/legaciesofwar

Who developed the course?

University of Leeds

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.

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