131-213 Understanding Disasters

Usually 25 points of first-year history, politics, Australian studies, geography

This subject examines the social, cultural, economic and demographic contexts of 'disasters' including topics such as famine, natural catastrophe, environmental disaster, urban and industrial calamity and epidemics. Discussions will cover a diversity of contexts and arenas, including Europe, Australia, North America and Japan, from the ancient to the contemporary world. The subject will focus on changing understandings of disaster and catastrophe in the context of urbanisation, industrialisation, and secularisation. Further emphasis will be placed on popular memory and representation of disasters; political sanction of particular versions of calamitous events; restoration of material and social order; religious and rationalist responses to disaster; and the development of institutional safeguards. On completion of the subject students should have developed skills in understanding the meanings and consequences of disasters for victims, observers and perpetrators, and have gained historical understanding of the ways in which disasters have been understood, experienced, managed, relieved, and exploited.

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources;

• show critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.

Class participation, and written work totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available.