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Perspectives on Australian society
Proposed to be offered next in 1996
R J Birrell
A critical analysis of competing perspectives on the nature of Australian society. Particular attention will be given to the growth of economic and political institutions; the emergence and character of class relationships; the extent to which it is possible to identify a distinctive Australian culture; and the development and character of Australian nationalism including recent challenges from the multicultural movement. The subject will include discussion of the extent to which interests associated with capital, labour and the intelligentsia have influenced these processes, and whether it is possible to identify distinctive Australian characteristics in a world increasingly shaped by multinational corporations.
Assessment
Essay based on a class presentation (2000 words): 40% * Essay (4000 words): 60%
Preliminary reading
Hancock W K Australia 1930 or later editions
Recommended texts
Castles F Australian public policy and economic vulnerability Allen and Unwin, 1988
Connell R W and Irving T H Class structure in Australian history Longman Cheshire, 1980
McLachlan N Waiting for the revolution: A history of Australian nationalism Penguin, 1988
Price C (ed.) Australian national identity Academy of Social Sciences, 1991
White R Inventing Australia Allen and Unwin, 1981
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Political sociology
C W Chamberlain
This subject examines political behaviour and institutions from a variety of sociological perspectives. Topics to be discussed include the distribution of power in industrial society; the political culture of contemporary Australia; variations in male and female political perspectives; competing explanations of social order; and voting behaviour.
Assessment
Essay (4000 words): 60% * Seminar presentation (2000 words): 40%
Preliminary reading
Emy H V and Hughes O E Australian politics: Realities in conflict 2nd edn, Macmillan, 1991
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Sexed media, media-ted sex
C Atmore
This subject considers how various theories of media representation relate to different theoretical models of gender and sexuality. We consider the role the mass media might play in producing and reproducing gender and sexuality as social processes and inequalities. We also examine whether there might be particular ways of thinking about the media and analysing media representations which are more conducive to considering themes of gender and sexuality. We first consider different theoretical approaches to the media and their associated methods, and then look at some specific studies and debates in the areas of media representation of sexual identities, sexual violence, pornography, AIDS, feminist and sexual identity-based political protest, and the idealised and feminised body. Students are encouraged to make their own critical assessment of the theoretical debates and choices of media analytic methods, and to support their critiques by carrying out a small study of an aspect of media representation.
Assessment
Essay (2000 words): 40% * Class paper (1000 words): 10% * Project (3000 words): 50%
Recommended texts
Betterton R Looking on: Images of femininity in the visual arts and media 1987
Cohen S and Young J The manufacture of news: Social problems, deviance and the mass media 1981
Fiske J Introduction to communication studies 1982
Young A Femininity in dissent 1990
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Social psychology
W H Foddy
An introductory option involving one lecture and one tutorial per week. This option is designed to (i) reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the subject; (ii) cover the major perspectives in social psychology; (iii) review major research hypotheses and findings.
Assessment
Assignment (4000 words): 60% * Test (equivalent to 2000 words): 40%
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Sociology of the family
U Svensson
This unit examines how social, political and economic forces structure private domestic life. Topics to be discussed include the politicisation of the family and family reform movements, a comparison of family forms and family policies in capitalist and socialist societies, family forms and personality construction, the social construction of parenthood and childhood, the family as a site of gender struggles. The aim is to critically assess different theoretical explanations within the Marxist, feminist, functionalist and psychoanalytic perspectives.
Assessment
Essay (3000 words): 50% * Two seminar papers (1200 words each): 20% each * Seminar participation: 10%
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The research process
G D Bouma
This option provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in designing and doing empirical sociological research by engaging in a group research project. A variety of techniques and methodologies will be explored and used in studying a research topic selected by the students.
Assessment
Two minor reports (1500 words each): 25% each * Participation in group research project (3000 words): 50%
Prescribed texts
Bouma G D The research process OUP, 1993
de Vaus D A Surveys in social research 2nd edn, Allen and Unwin, 1990
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Women, psychiatry and madness
Proposed to be offered next in 1996
J van Bommel
This option will focus on women, femininity and madness. We will begin with a socio-historical analysis of madness, its institutionalisation and its subsequent de-institutionalisation. We will critically assess sociological, medical and feminist theories of women, femininity and madness. We will focus on how the institutions of psychiatry and psychotherapy `understand' madness for women. As well, we will examine the various feminist critiques of psychoanalysis and female subjectivity.
Assessment
Two essays (3000 words each): 50% each
Preliminary reading
Bernheimer C and Kahane C (eds) In Dora's case: Freud, hysteria, feminism Virago, 1985
Busfield J Managing madness Unwin Hyman, 1989
Chesler P Women and madness Doubleday, 1972
Foucault M Madness and civilization Tavistock, 1967
Grosz E Sexual subversions Allen and Unwin, 1989
Showalter E The female malady: Women, madness and English culture, 1830-1980 Pantheon, 1985
Smith D E and David S J (eds) Women look at psychiatry Press Gang, 1975