107-030 Contemporary Aboriginal Art

Bachelor of Creative Arts students may credit this subject to a Media Arts and Visual Media major at second or third year.

Usually 25 points of first-year art history, see Prerequisites.

This subject deals with contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and the politics of representation. Starting with Namatjira and the Papunya movement, the subject surveys recent acrylic and bark painting, and urban Koori painting, photography, and film. Issues such as copyright and appropriation, the art market, women's art practice, curating and museums policy are debated in the subject. By the end of semester students should have a familiarity with problems in the interpretation of Aboriginal art and culture in postcolonial Australia and have a broad knowledge of pictorial practices of contemporary Aboriginal art.

• be able to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of essays;

• be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations;

• be able to communicate knowledge in an intelligent and economical way through essay writing and tutorial discussion;

• be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, essays, assignments and examination revision;

• be able to participate in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.

An essay of 2500 words 60% (due during the semester) and a take-home examination of 1500 words 40% (during the examination period). It is a hurdle requirement of this subject that students attend 75% of tutorials in order to receive an assessment for this subject.

A subject reader will be available.