HYM4130

Reading landscapes: cultural environments as historical documents

Not offered in 1998

8 points or 12 points
* 3 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton

Objectives Students successfully completing this subject should have developed a critical understanding of what constitutes a cultural landscape and to develop methods of analysis and presentation appropriate to landscape studies. Students should be able to evaluate concepts and models of landscape history and to undertake the assessment of landscapes according to given criteria.

Synopsis This subject takes as its basis the relationship between landscape and culture. Cultural heritage can take many forms. The concept of a cultural landscape, its meanings and its significance may differ to a number of observers. The course will look at ways of entering into the history of the environment. The subject is intended for students of history but will seek to broaden their conceptual base and provide an understanding of other methodologies relevant to the study area.

Assessment (8 points): seminar paper (1000 words): 20%
* Book review (1000 words): 20%
* Major essay (3000 words): 40%
* Short test (1 hour): 20%
Assessment (12 points) seminar paper (1000 words): 10%
* Book review (2000 words): 20%
* Major essay (4000 words): 40%
* Landscape citation (1000 words): 20%
* Short test (1 hour): 10%

Recommended texts

Cronon W Changes in the land: Indians, colonists and the ecology of New England Hill and Wang, 1983
Cultural heritage of the Australian Alps Proceedings of the 1991 Symposium AALC, 1992
Davison G and others The cream brick frontier: Histories of Australian suburbia Monash University, 1995
Dovers S Australian environmental history: Essays and cases OUP, 1994
Jeans D N and Spearritt P The open air museum: The cultural landscape of New South Wales Allen and Unwin,1995
Lowenthal D Landscape meanings and values Allen and Unwin,1986
Meinig D W The interpretation of ordinary landscapes: Geographical essays OUP, 1979
Schama S Landscape and memory Harper-Collins, 1995