HSY1110

'Australian Legends: Heroes and Villains in Colonial Australia' (6 points)

(ARTS)

Leader: Dr Christina Twomey and Prof Marian Quartly

Offered:
Not offered in 2004.

Synopsis:

Objectives: Upon successful completion of this units students will be able to: 1. Understand some of the key preoccupations of nineteenth century Australian society: possession of a hostile new land; preservation of a sometimes fragile British civilisation; projection of gendered readings upon both land and civilisation. 2. Appreciate the ways in which story tellers use the conventions of narrative to create iconic refigurings of cultural 'truths'. 3. Compare Australian iconography with that of the metropolitan culture and of other new settler societies such as the United States and Canada. 4. Develop their skills in the critical analysis of different kinds of narrative sources, text and also pictorial images, and to communicate their findings both orally and in writing. 5. Gain experience in the planning and organisation of a critical essay involving both primary and secondary sources.

Assessment: Two short tutorial exercises (500 words each): 20% + class test (30 min.): 10% + Book reading exercise (500 words): 10% + Research essay (1,500 words): 35% + Examination (1 hour): 25%

Contact Hours: 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour tutorial