'A Giant with Clay Feet': Quebec Students and their Historical Consciousness of the Nation. (1st May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lévesque, Stéphane; Létourneau, Jocelyn; Gani, Raphaël
• Is Part Of: International journal of historical learning, teaching and research. Volume 11:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 175
• Publication Date: 2013-05-01
• Subjects: History -- Study and teaching; History -- Research; Periodicals; 907
• DOI: 10.18546/HERJ.11.2.13
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-9474

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore French Canadian (Québec) students' historical consciousness of the nation through the lens of Social Identity Theory (SIT). Relying on a sample of 142 Quebéc's historical narratives written by Francophone Québécois students, the paper revisits findings from a previous study on the historical consciousness of young Québécois. Informed by SIT principles, our narrative analysis shows how most Franco-Québécois categorize the past in homogenous categories (e.g., the imperialist Anglophone; the surviving Francophone) and frame their stories into particular modes of present-day orientations. Implications of this studyfor history education are also discussed.