HST693: Approaches to Freemasonry and Fraternalism
45 credits (semesters 1 and 2)
Module Leader: Dr. Andreas Önnerfors
| Module Summary |
This module is designed to introduce the major intellectual and historiographical themes relevant to the study of fraternal organisations. The module will provide a general overview of the history of fraternalism, then explore the way in which the history of fraternal organisations can be related to such major historiographical themes as: gender; identities; space; social networks; the emergence of elites; forms of recreation; and the social impact of politics. Students will present in the course of the seminars case studies relating to these themes.
The module will introduce students to methods by which the history of particular organisations can be used to explore wider historiographical themes. It will enhance their ability to relate specific historical information to broader intellectual questions and to use this information to interrogate existing historiographical and intellectual assumptions. It will also allow students critically to debate and discuss major themes of current historical research with relation to their particular field of interest.
| Teaching |
| Topic | ||
| 1 | Introduction: researching Freemasonry and Fraternalism | Andreas Önnerfors (AÖ) |
| 2 | Seminar on Georg Simmel: 1) "How is Society possible?" 2) "The Sociology of Secrecy and Secret Societies" |
AÖ |
| 3 | Mediaeval associational culture: guilds and fraternities | Guest Lecturer: Martial Staub |
| 4 | Seminar on "British Clubs and Societies 1580-1800. The Origins of an Associational World" | Guest lecturer: Andrew Prescott University of Lampeter |
| 5 | Foundations of British Freemasonry: A close reading of the Constitutions and Charges |
Guest Lecturer: David Harrison, University of Liverpool |
| 6 | Friendly Societies in Britain | Guest Lecturer: Dan Weinbren, Open University |
| 7 | 18th Century Cosmopolitanism and Sociability | AÖ |
| 8 | Researching Freemasonry and Fraternalism: Theories and Methods I | Antiquarianism AÖ |
| 9 | Researching Freemasonry and Fraternalism: Theories and Methods II | New readings AÖ |
| 10 | Researching Freemasonry and Fraternalism: Theories and Methods III | Studies of Ritual and Performance AÖ |
| 11 | Researching Freemasonry and Fraternalism: Theories and Methods IV | Prosopography/Networks AÖ |
| 12 | Researching Freemasonry and Fraternalism: Theories and Methods V | Deconstructing conspiracies AÖ |
| 13 | Researching Freemasonry and Fraternalism: Theories and Methods VI | Images as sources of knowledge AÖ |
| 14 | Exercise / Excursion | AÖ |
| 15 | Final Discussion | AÖ |
| Assessment |
Students will complete two exercises (totalling a maximum of 9,000 words) which explore two aspects of the general themes raised by the classes. Students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to relate a specific historical example to one or more of the major themes considered by the course and to show an understanding of the different historical concerns reflected in the examples discussed.
| Intended Learning Outcomes |
A candidate will be able to demonstrate:
- A rounded understanding of major historiographical themes relating to the history of freemasonry and fraternalism
- An ability to relate specific historical examples to wider historiographical themes and enhanced interpretative skills.
- Enhanced critical skills in the analysis of works of individual historians.
- An ability to elaborate and defend an intellectual position and to present scholarly arguments and historiographical debates both orally and in writing.