History on the Box project sees students analyse and discuss TV and radio programmes from the past

A new blog launched in the School of History sees postgraduate students analyse and discuss TV and radio programmes from the past.

The blog, ‘History on the Box’, draws on the enormous, largely untapped potential of Box of Broadcasts (BOB), an archive of television and radio programmes maintained by the British Universities Film & Video Council. The blogmaster is Dr Zoe Knox.

Postgraduate students select television and radio programmes related to their research and write short reviews, critiques or analyses.

The contributions thus far have been on programmes as diverse as a documentary on the US civil rights movement (in which readers were reminded ‘It’s not all about King’) and a drama on the East India Company’s Regiments in India (in which the punishment regime was found misleading).

Dr Knox said: "Students have contributed to the blog for a number of reasons. Primarily, they have found it a stimulating way to reflect on the way their research area is packaged for public consumption. More pragmatically, writing blog posts is a useful addition to the c.v. The ability to craft short pieces of a public-facing nature is increasingly attractive to employers. It also has the potential to build an audience for their own work. Many History postgraduates have their own blogs or social media presence in order to disseminate and promote their research and this can enhance their online profile."

‘History on the Box’ has generated a great deal of interest and the British Universities Film & Video Council has promoted it through its own media. A number of stimulating posts are planned for the summer, so keep an eye on the blog for the latest posts.