GSC1807

Patterns of social organisation B

Greg Douglas

6 points - 4 hours per week - Second semester - Gippsland - Prerequisite: GSC1803

Objectives Students will continue to focus on aspects of traditional lifestyle and culture and build on the knowledge acquired in first semester by completing the second semester component of the subject.

Synopsis The subject develops the grounding received by the students in GSC1803. The emphasis is upon the customs and beliefs which serve to maintain and enforce the societal links within Koorie society. The importance of kinship links within the family group is examined, followed by a consideration of the role of religion and spiritual life. The structure of the subject then closely follows the ceremonies which mark the passage of the individual through life. The subject begins with a study of the beliefs surrounding intermarriage between certain skin groups and totems. There follows a consideration of the initiation ceremonies of the young boys and the role of the elders in ensuring the continuance of the tribe's cultural heritage to the ceremonies and burial rites at death. Lectures and tutorials will be supplemented with the use of audiovisual materials.

Assessment Essay one (1200 words): 30% - Presentation (800 words): 20% - Worksheets: 10% - Overview essay (2000 words): 40%

Prescribed texts

Berndt R and Berndt C Aboriginal Australians Pitman, 1978
Edwards W H An introduction to Aboriginal societies Social Science Press, 1988

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