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.

This subject allows students to examine the ways in which we 'image' space in Australia, and is based on a case study approach that encourages students to develop forms of site-specific engagement. It examines the way in which spaces or sites/sights - conceived in a visual, literary and/or physical sense - have been constituted and understood, and outlines the way in which spatial analyses can provide new ways of thinking about Australian society and culture. The seminars provide both a series of case studies on different approaches to 'imaging Australian space', and also a 'workshop' approach directed by student engagement with the topic. Included in the case studies are topics that investigate both rural and urban landscapes; cross-cultural, migrant and racialised spaces; senses of home, place and belonging; non-space; architectural and design spaces; transnational understandings of Australia's place in the region and world; and how each of these may be shaped and affected by cultural memories and cultural politics.

• 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.

A seminar presentation accompanied by a 1500 word discussion paper 25% (during semester, the paper to be submitted within a week of the presentation), and a 3500 word essay 75% (due during the examination period). This subject has a hurdle requirement of attendance at a minimum of 8 out of 12 seminars.

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