102-511 Imaging Australian Spaces

Admission to a coursework masters program. Fourth-year honours or postgraduate diploma students may take this subject with permission from the postgraduate coordinator.

In this subject students will examine and discuss the ways in which Australian spaces have been represented in visual and written culture. From the populist mythology of the bush to the urbanisation of Australia, with particular reference to post 1945 suburbanisation and urban development, this subject will explore the ways that Australians have produced cultural images of space and society, and how these have been represented and promoted in nationalist and international contexts. Through a series of case studies we will examine issues such as cross cultural, racial and gendered spaces; migration place and belonging; how space is shaped by memory of the past and the cultural politics of the present; and ideas of Australian spaces within public culture at both localised and global levels.

• be able to demonstrate that they can take responsibility for their own learning and academic endeavour;

• be able to think in theoretical and/or have strong foundation for empirical research;

• be able to demonstrate the time-management skills required for conducting a sustained and developmental piece of independent study;

• be able to demonstrate skills of information retrieval, management of ideas, and orchestration of diverse sources in the process of research construction and presentation;

• be able to situate the significance of their research in the context of broader social, ethical and cultural contexts;

• be able to communicate their research findings in a clear and intelligible manner.

Each students will offer a formal presentation to the seminar accompanied by a 2000 word essay 35% (submitted during the semester) and a major essay of 3000 words 65% (due at the end of semester) and seminar attendance and discussion.

A subject reader will be available.