Postgraduate - UnitAPG4313 - Hidden transcripts: Cultural approaches to the past

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2012 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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12 points, SCA Band 1, 0.250 EFTSL

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Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Offered	Not offered in 2012
Coordinator(s)	Jane Drakard

Notes

Previously coded HYM4950

Synopsis

This unit examines new approaches in anthropology and history, specifically the development of 'ethnohistory', a theoretical perspective and growing body of work which attempt to understand the past through culture. This includes investigating the ways in which culturally oriented reading strategies have been used to uncover the 'hidden transcripts' encoded in texts, rituals and events. Particular emphasis will be placed on the way these strategies might be applied in the preparation of honours dissertations.

Outcomes

This subject examines methodological approaches in anthropology and history and looks at the ways in which culturally oriented reading strategies have been used to uncover the 'hidden transcripts' encoded in texts, rituals and events. Students are expected to:

Think carefully about the relationship between anthropology and history and the nature and implications of attempts to work within and between these two disciplines.
Consider the concept of 'culture' and its uses as a tool for historical investigation.
Relate their reading to a set of general questions about what historians do, including the nature of historical evidence and the conclusions that may be drawn from it.