ATS2355 · Race and power: Imagining Indigenous Australia

Overview

This unit critically examines the ability of white Australia to know Indigenous people through the discursive power of representation. This unit explores white Australia's attempt to represent Indigenous people, moving beyond the historical, political and legal 'facts' of the colonial encounter to address the inherent theoretical problems of 'talking' about and for Australia's Indigenous peoples. Topics covered include representation of Indigenous people in media, history, sport, culture, public administration and law. The unit is self reflexive and critically assesses way the Western academy has claimed to possess knowledge about Indigenous people and authority over Indigenous lives.

Areas of study: Cultural competence Indigenous cultures and histories

Offerings

The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate, both orally and in writing an appreciation of the broad social, cultural and historical context in which contemporary dialogues between Indigenous people and white Australia operate.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the key theoretical frameworks through which white Australia claims knowledge about and power over Indigenous peoples and cultures.
3. Describe and critically assess the central themes and issues that have shaped white Australian knowledge about Indigenous peoples and cultures.
4. Acknowledge and critically examine the difference between white Australia's representational constructs of Indigenous people and the historic and contemporary realities of Australia's Indigenous peoples'.
5. Acknowledge and critically examine the power and privilege of whiteness in contemporary Australian society.
6. Demonstrate the various study skills and techniques necessary to successfully complete this unit and other Indigenous Studies units.

Workload

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. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.