Textual Revelations

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Total expected time commitment is 170 hours across the semester, including class time.

Admission into the postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, or fourth year honours in Australian Indigenous Studies or English & Theatre Studies.

None

None

None

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject is premised on the idea that certain key texts provide the means to gain insights and understanding of Aboriginal social realities and individual selves, in a manner qualitatively different to more empirically focused studies. Through deep and intensive readings, informed by appropriate theoretical perspectives, a selection of diverse Australian texts will be considered for the ways they meditate on the complex Australian past, produce visions for an Australian future and create deep intercultural connections.

Students who successful complete this subject will:

• have the deep and nuanced reading skills to understand the complexity of Aboriginal being, philosophy and social reality as expressed through literature;
• have the basis for making qualitative distinctions with respect to literary and truth value as it relates to texts addressing Australian Indigenous issues in a range of genres; and
• have an understanding and respect for the authorial choices present in the novels as conditioned by social, political and racial imperatives.

A 5000 word essay 100% (due in the examination period). Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% (or 10 out of 12) classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Any student who fails to meet this hurdle without valid reason will not be eligible to pass the subject. All required written work must be submitted in order to pass the subject. Essays submitted after the due date without an extension will be penalised 2% per day. Essays submitted after two weeks of the assessment due date without a formally approved application for special consideration or an extension will only be marked on a pass/fail basis if accepted.

A subject reader will be available.

• K Scott. Benang
• A Wright. Carpentaria
• X Herbert. Capricornia
• B Wongar. Raki
• Melissa Lucashenko. Mullumbimby (2013) University of Queensland Press
• Alexis Wright. Plains of Promise (1997) University of Queensland Press

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• have a sophisticated understanding of the role of theory in Australian Indigenous Studies;
• develop the ability to undertake high-level individual research;
• gain a developed understanding of the ethical requirements of research in Australian Indigenous Studies; and
• appreciate the enhanced intellectual outcomes of collegiality.