102-213 Face, Place, Race: Images of Australia

Students are not permitted to undertake within a 12 month period more than two undergraduate subjects offered by the Australian Centre.

This subject examines the role of visual images and practices in the historical and contemporary development of Australian culture and identity. Themes of 'places', real and imagined: the city, the suburbs, the bush, the beach and the desert, and 'faces': Australian cultural icons and representations of masculinity, femininity, indigenous and 'ethnic' Australians, will be explored through the study of visual cultures, which ranges from traditional visual forms of painting and photography to media forms of film, TV and advertising to the visual in everyday life. Students will familiarise themselves with using techniques of visual analysis and visual evidence drawn from many media and will have the opportunity to participate in off-site classes, eg. at the Melbourne Museum, the Art Gallery at Federation Square and the Immigration Museum.

• be able to use visual evidence in critical thinking and analysis of complex issues;

• develop the ability to research in depth primary materials of a visual nature relating to such issues;

• be able to present their views orally in tutorial discussion, and to communicate their ideas intelligibly and economically through essay writing.

A 1500 word exercise 30% (due during the teaching period), a 2500 word research essay 60% (due after completion of classes) and class participation 10%.

A subject reader will be provided.