Resisting Colonialism: Australia-Pacific

This subject is not offered in 2008.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The course looks at the histories of European colonialism and economic imperialism in Australia and the western Pacific, in relation to anti-colonialism and Indigenous peoples' responses and resistance. The course will consider the nature and continuity in the region of Indigenous peoples' overt political activism and resistance, such as peaceful protest, political coups and civil wars; more ambiguous forms of protest through cultural movements and practices like "cargo-cults", music, sport, theatre and dance; and the philosophies and critical theories that accompanied the historical emergence of both grass-roots and global Indigenous movements in the anti-colonial and so-called postcolonial eras. Students will gain access to Indigenous perspectives as well as and in relation to non-Indigenous writing on the major issues and themes considered in the course. In addition students will be encouraged to engage critically with the nature of decolonisation and emergent postcolonialism in the context of related debates and arguments in Australia and the Pacific.

Information Not Available

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources;

• show critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.