British Studies, Spring 2011 - Part Two
We’re two-thirds of the way through the semester...where did that go?
While it seems to have passed very quickly we have crammed quite a bit into the last five weeks. In regular lectures and seminars our exploration of British history and culture has taken us from the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 to the beginning of the 20th century and the end of the Victorian era, and there have been a wide range of supplementary activities integrated into the College calendar to enrich that exploration.
There have been two splendid evening lectures, the first delivered by Dr Heidi Strobel from the University of Evansville on the subject of Queen Charlotte and artistic ‘matronage’ (not patronage). Harlaxton’s Dr Edward Bujak presented the second lecture, the first in a series of events commemorating 40 years of the University of Evansville’s association with Harlaxton Manor. Both lectures were very well attended.
The British Studies faculty lent a hand with the Student Development Office’s Afternoon Tea event. However, information on the social, economic and political role of tea in the nation’s history probably played second fiddle to the rather fine array of cakes, sandwiches, biscuits (‘cookies’ if you must) and range of teas.
Two field trips have been organised for this middle section of the British Studies course. The first offered a comparison of Southwell Workhouse, the first such institution in the country with our own Harlaxton Manor. The comparison is designed to provide an insight into the Victorian mindset and it’s also a fine opportunity to make use of Harlaxton itself. The house was built at the height of the Victorian age, when concepts of ‘Britishness’ were evolving, becoming fused with notions of history, empire and class. Our students therefore learn about Britain in a building that evokes all the complexities of the British identity.
The second field trip was a voluntary visit to the University of Nottingham, some 25 miles away. This was organised by our colleagues in the Academic Services department and offers students the opportunity to use the library and get a taste of academic life in a U.K. university.
In addition there has been a rich selection of travel opportunities organised by SDO and our faculty colleagues to Stratford-upon-Avon, the Lake District, Ireland, Oxford, Bath, Stonehenge and North Wales. We hope that the British Studies programme offers some context and insight for our students as they travel with the College and by themselves around the United Kingdom and further afield.
Dr David Green
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