ANY3430

Civilisation and Its Malcontents ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Michael Stevenson

Offered:
Not offered in 2005.

Synopsis: The unit deals with texts that relate to the following argument: an important force in the making of contemporary civilisation has been the encounter, and its aftermath, between peoples leading distinctively different modes of life. One such significant encounter for example is that between native peoples of Europe and the native peoples of the Americas. The nature and dynamics of these encounters, often destructive to the point of ethnocide, also produce movements of criticism and opposition. The malcontents create forms of consciousness and organisation which, while modern in themselves, strive to counter the general destruction and alienation created by modernity itself.

Objectives: Students can expect to develop: 1. Knowledge about the long-term historical, cultural and social consequences of the encounters between Europeans and the peoples of the Americas. 2. An overview of the transformations in the lives and relationships of indigenous peoples brought about by colonialism. 3. An enhanced comparative awareness of the experiences and struggles of indigenous peoples. 4. A familiarity with the work of various indigenous writers. 5. A deeper reflective knowledge of the contribution of indigenous peoples to the making of the modern world and its multi-cultural consciousness.

Assessment: One research essay (3000 words): 60% + One review essay (1500 words): 40%

Contact Hours: 2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites: Appropriate first-year ANY sequence or by permission

Prohibitions: COS3440