6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Organisational Unit
School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Prerequisites
Twelve credit points of first-year Arts units.
Synopsis
The unit will explore and examine the images and ideas that circulate about Asia in the world. Students will gain appreciation of the conceptualisation of the 'idea' of Asia, not just as a geopolitical entity but, as a vital 'site' that is imagined and seen as generative of imagination. 'Asia' exists not only as a landmass between Europe and the Pacific, but also as an imaginary: imagined entity and identity. It is a relational idea that is created in opposition to Europe, and also in terms of neighbouring nation-states/regions within Asia. This unit will explore the fluidities of meaning and flows of culture within and outside Asia. It will prepare students to negotiate questions of Asian ethics and aesthetics, authenticity and identity, voice and representation, Otherisation and Asian Super-powerdom. Studying a diverse range of texts (fiction, films, and new media cultural forms), they will learn how to understand these powerful imaginaries in a comparative framework. They will build critical analytical skills in Asian studies that will help in understanding how Asia is created, determined and negotiated through active, ever-mobile cultures in the face of hegemonic discursive and representational practices. There will be a special focus on Australia's relationship with Asia.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the unit, students should be able to:
- explain the influence of Asian cultures and ideas in the Asia-Pacific region, and in an international context;
- critically analyse a variety of texts in order to understand how Asia is created, determined and negotiated;
- utilise skills in research, critical writing and intercultural competence to communicate research.
Assessment
Within semester assessment: 100%
Workload requirements
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
See also Unit timetable information