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History & The Arts
Superqueeroes: Gender and superheroes
Why is Wonder Woman only playing a secondary role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice? This article looks at the role of gender and sexuality in superhero films.
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Society, Politics & Law
Could President Trump do what Candidate Trump promises in the struggle against Islamic State?
Donald Trump has been explaining how - were he to become President - he would "win" against Islamic State. But if he turns his stump pledges into action, would he be breaking international law?
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Society, Politics & Law
Why sportspeople convicted of violence against women forfeit their right to be 'stars'
Should a sports star, convicted of crimes of violence against women, be allowed to return to the privileged position they occupied before they offended?
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Languages
Gaelic in modern Scotland
Modern Scotland is a multi-lingual country. Gaelic, Scots and English, along with newer introductions from Europe and beyond, all influence the way Scotland's people now speak to each other and to the rest of the world. Created with the positive encouragement of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and with support from BBC Alba, this free course, Gaelic in modern ...
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History & The Arts
10 things that ended in 2006 (when OpenLearn was born)
OpenLearn was born in 2006 but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) some things ended this same year. We look back as part of our ten year anniversary celebrations.
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level 1: introductory icon
Society, Politics & Law
Contemporary Wales
This free course provides an accessible and lively social science account of contemporary Wales. It introduces key aspects of the economy, society, politics and culture of Wales, providing a wealth of up-to-date evidence that is organised around core social science concepts and theories, to help you make sense of a changing nation.
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Money & Business
The Eurozone: Magnet or Black Hole?
Was the EU's choice to move towards 'one market' and 'one money' a sound one? Why did they do it, what went wrong, what is the 'Euro-crisis' and what are the implications for the UK?
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Society, Politics & Law
Innovation, markets and industrial change
How does a firm emerge as 'leader of the pack'? Why do most of the small firms so common in the early years of new industries disappear? This free course, Innovation, markets and industrial change, looks at how and why change occurs through the industry life cycle, at the role of innovation and at how production costs, demand and technology ...
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Society, Politics & Law
Children and violence: an introductory, international and interdisciplinary approach
Children are subject to many forms of adversity, for example, poverty or ill health. However, a significant form of adversity experienced by children in many different regions of the world is violence. The form of violence against children varies widely and is hugely disparate. In this free course, Children and violence: an introductory, ...
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Society, Politics & Law
Social problems: Who makes them?
Anti-social behaviour, homelessness, drugs, mental illness: all problems in today's society. But what makes a problem social? This free course, Social problems: Who makes them?, will help you to discover how these issues are identified, defined, given meaning and acted upon. You will also look at the conflicts within social science in this area.
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Society, Politics & Law
Reading evidence
What is active reading? It is reading with the aim of understanding and grasping something. While studying this free course, Reading evidence, you will be focusing on the variety of methods for presenting and organising qualitative and quantitative evidence in the form of numbers and text. You will learn how to understand the ways in which ...
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level 2: intermediate icon
Society, Politics & Law
Social construction and social constructionism
Within the field of social sciences the terms 'social construction' and 'social constructionism' are frequently used, particularly in relation to social policy. This free course, Social construction and social constructionism, will enable you to achieve a greater definition and understanding of these terms.