History, Memory and Violence in Asia

Subject HIST90026 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points:	12.50
Level:	9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:	This subject is not offered in 2010.
Time Commitment:	Contact Hours: A 2-hour seminar per week Total Time Commitment: 10 hours per week: total time commitment 120 hours
Prerequisites:	Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in history (or in a relevant program) or enrolment in a relevant coursework Masters program
Corequisites:	None
Recommended Background Knowledge:	None
Non Allowed Subjects:	131-405 History, Memory and Violence in Asia
Core Participation Requirements:	For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills 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/

Contact

Kate McGregor

k.mcgregor@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	The history wars between Japan and China over Japan&amp.amp.Acirc..&amp.amp.rsquo..s war time roles periodically cause diplomatic fall outs between these two countries. Within the borders of Indonesia, India and Cambodia memories of violence are equally contested. Drawing on theoretical reflections on history and memory, on memory and identity politics, memory and the body, memory and gender students in this subject will learn to critically analyse memories or representations of violence in a range of Asian contexts. We will also engage with and reflect on a variety of media of memory such as narratives or oral history, museums, monuments, commemorative ceremonies, Internet sites, art and photographs. We will also reflect on the ethics and problems associated with researching and writing about memories and violence and related issues of truth and justice. The subject will include a number of case studies such as Japanese historical revisionism, the related memory wars in China over Japanese representations of the Nanjing Massacre and in Korea over Japanese silences about the Comfort Women. We will also examine commemoration of the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, representations of the 1965 anti-communist killings in Indonesia, representations of the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, representations of the violence of Partition in India, representations of the 1998 anti-Chinese riots in Indonesia and representations of the Vietnam War in Vietnam.
Objectives:	acquire knowledge of the history of violence in the Asian region. have an understanding of the politics of memory. have an understanding of the impact of traumatic pasts on contemporary Asian societies and of the politics of memory in this region.
Assessment:	A research essay of 3000 words 60% (due at the end of semester), a reflective essay of 2000 words 40% (due during the semester break).
Prescribed Texts:	A subject reader will be available.
Breadth Options:	This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	show an advanced understanding of the changing knowledge base in the specialist area. be able to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in the discipline. have an appreciation of the design, conduct and reporting of original research.
Related Course(s):	Master of Arts in History (Advanced Seminars and Shorter Thesis) Master of Criminology (CWT) Master of International Relations Master of International Studies Postgraduate Diploma in International Studies
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	Asian Studies Asian Studies History History History Indonesian Indonesian

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