Indigenous Representations
Overview
This unit develops students' knowledge of Indigenous Australian issues and emphasises the diversity of Indigenous Australia and its people. It provides a solid understanding of the pervasive power of colonial representations and the ways in which these have functioned during the contact period (1770-present) to shape non-Indigenous understandings of Australia's Indigenous peoples. The unit also investigates the impact that representational constructs have had in shaping the lives of Indigenous Australians, and the role of all citizens in this investigation.
Requisites
27-October-2024
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Investigate how Australia has historically created and disseminated knowledge about Indigenous Australians
- Analyse the power of language in the construction of representational racial and cultural identity and evaluate the implications of these images, stories, stereotypes and tropes on the life choices of Indigenous Australians
- Build skills to identify, communicate and counteract the extant, pervasive effects of colonialism on contemporary Australian society
- Develop and apply expansive thinking in issues of cross-cultural relationships in contemporary Australia
- Research a range of topics relating to Indigenous Australians and present a balanced, supported argument that contributes to informed discussions of Indigenous issues in Australia and inter-cultural discussions in general
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
---|---|---|---|
On-campus Lecture | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
On-campus Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
Specified Activities Various | 2.75 | 12 weeks | 33 |
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 6.00 | 12 weeks | 72 |
TOTAL | 141 |
Assessment
Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
---|---|---|---|
Media Watch Assessment | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Museum Exercise | Group | 35% | 2,3,4,5 |
Research Essay | Individual | 35% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Content
- Representing the 'Native' and Aboriginalism: An Introduction
- Australian Government: Representations - Victoria
- Aboriginalism in practice
- The Australian Academy: Indigenous Studies
- The Power of Anthropology in the Academy
- 'Modern' Science: The role of The Museum
- Australian Film - The (In)Visibility of Indigenous Film Representation
- Australian Sport
- Australian media - reporting Indigenous people in contemporary Australian society
- Representations of Aboriginal Australia and the imperative for Self-Reflection
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.