Dreams and Nightmares: The Australian Cultural Imaginary

Course aim

To extend students' knowledge and skills in the analysis of how filmmakers, writers, artists and policy makers have explored themes of identity and diversity relating to the Australian nation and Australia’s place in the Asia-Pacific region.

Course content

Students will develop advanced knowledge of a range of inter-related issues such as Indigenous belonging and ownership, the racialisation of the Australian nation, multiculturalism, gender, notions of ‘Westernisation’, Urbanisation’ and ‘Globalisation’, by using classic and contemporary Australian film and literature, as well as government policy documents such as the Federal Government’s 2012 White Paper: ‘Australia in the Asian Century’, to explore how the Australian nation has been imagined. Students will explore the influence of historical, social and political concepts and events, how these have shaped and been shaped by policy, then captured, celebrated and critiqued by Australian Film and Literature.

Textbook(s)

Carter, D 2006, Dispossession, dreams and diversity: issues in Australian studies, Pearson Longman, , Frenchs Forest, NSW

Prerequisite(s)

Nil

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Annotated bibliography, Take Home Exam, Textual Analysis

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.125
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 1)
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
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* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.