102-005 Exploring Central Australia

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

This subject includes fieldwork in central Australia. An outline of the fieldwork program is available from the Australian Centre and at the web site http://www.australian.unimelb.edu.au.

A quota of 25 students applies to this subject.

Exploring Central Australia is an interdisciplinary subject designed to guide students towards a 'shaping' experience of Central Australia. It is a subject designed to prompt academic inquiry in the context of a first-hand encounter - an intensive field trip - with the environment and cultures of the region. We will be focusing on the contested histories and contemporary realities, with particular attention to issues of race and culture, in the town of Alice Springs, and also exploring the 'meanings' of Uluru for both the Anangu people and non-indigenous Australians. This subject is taught through a combination of seminars at the University and an intensive field trip (at additional cost) to Central Australia. Students will be exposed to a series of content-based discussions, readings, and first-hand experiences - including the opportunity to learn about Central Australia from its Aboriginal and non-indigenous inhabitants. They will be encouraged to produce research and writing that investigates issues, challenges stereotypes, and draws upon their fieldwork observations and interactions.

• Research: through competent use of the library and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research

• Critical thinking and analysis: through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument

• Thinking in theoretical terms: through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences

• Understanding of social, ethical and cultural context: through the contextualisation of judgments, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument

• Communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically: through essay writing and tutorial discussion

Class presentation 10% (during the semester), a 1000 word writing exercise 30% (due before the mid-semester break), a 500 word essay proposition 10% (due before the semester break) and a 2500 word research essay 50% (due during examination period). Students must attend all the seminars and the field trip.

A subject reader will be available from the Bookroom at the beginning of semester.