Postcolonial Identities in Asian Arts

This subject is not offered in 2012.

96 Hours

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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 Overview, Objectives, 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 the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The Arts in Asia are thriving with a rapidly increasing number of new arts venues, festivals, publications and events to meet the demands of the growing middle classes. While Art scenes grow and florish in countries including Korea, China, India, Indonesia and Japan, little recognition is given in Art curricular in Australia that acknowledges or indeed prepares artists for the shift towards an ‘Asian Century’. How can we recognise ourselves within the Pacific Asian region? What commonalities and inspirations can be found across cultural divides? Which artists inspire interest and how can students imagine collaborating with them? This subject provides an introduction to some of the key artistic, political , economic and cultural movements of Asia in the 20th and 21st Centuries. It will equip established and emerging artists with the tools to explore resonances across cultural divides and encourage further exploration through the arts of the distinct social-political histories of decolinisation and the postcolonial, and postmodern formations of contemporary Asia.

This subject will:

• introduce students to key historical and contemporary art movements and their socio –political contexts in Asia;
• create capacities for ‘translation’ and understanding between diverse cultural groups and public and private institutions and organizations;
• equip students with tools for negotiating artist residencies, collaborations and exhibitions and performances in Asia;
• equip students with research and communication skills that will allow them to undertake PhD research.

5000 words or equivalent written and practical project, developed in conjunction with supervisor with feedback throughout the semester (100%).

Subject Reader

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completing this subject students will have:

• the ability to communicate, cooperate and collaborate in a range of cultural contexts internationally;
• a deep awareness of and respect for cultural differences, protocols and aspirations;
• the ability to generate and promote intercultural dialogue through the arts;
• an ability to initiate research projects and develop highly innovative and experimental modes of representation and communication;
• a high level of understanding and appreciation of transnational practices across the art form;
• the capacity to interpret and translate into clear English a range of discipline-specific vocabularies and languages ;
• a capacity for innovative and original thinking marked by well-developed and flexible problem-solving abilities;
• the capacity to clearly communicate the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication;
• a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship;
• a capacity to cooperate and collaborate with people across all national, social and cultural divides.