HIST 397: Topics in Public History

HIST 397-001: True Crime in Early Modern Europe
(Fall 2023)

03:00 PM to 04:15 PM MW

Horizon Hall 3008

Section Information for Fall 2023

True crime documentaries, podcasts, books, and television shows are a wildly popular modern genre selling in the tens of millions and attracting a large audience. But what you may not know is that it was also a bestselling genre in early modern Europe. Tales of serial killers, werewolves, bandits, and murderous nuns were wildly popular and helped sell chapbooks, broadsheets, and popularize murder ballads, in addition to providing material for moral panics and justification for the criminal justice system. By looking at primary sources, this course will examine true crime and popular culture in early modern Europe as a precursor to the genre today. We will produce a few episodes of a true crime podcast as a class as the final outcome of the course.

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Introduces students to issues and methods in preserving history and presenting historical information to a variety of audiences through museum exhibits, websites, public commemorations, and other means. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Schedule Type: Lec/Sem #1, Lec/Sem #2, Lec/Sem #3, Lec/Sem #4, Lec/Sem #5, Lec/Sem #6, Lec/Sem #7, Lec/Sem #8, Lec/Sem #9, Lecture, Sem/Lec #10, Sem/Lec #11, Sem/Lec #12, Sem/Lec #13, Sem/Lec #14, Sem/Lec #15, Sem/Lec #16, Sem/Lec #17, Sem/Lec #18
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.