Europe: Narrating the Nation

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

90 hours.

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 explores national identity in Europe in the modern era. It introduces students to key moments, narratives and mythologies in the emergence of national identity in countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain and England. Students will encounter a range of writing (prose, poetry, drama, letters, diaries) which reflects on the significance of events such as revolutions, wars, colonialism and modernisation. An enduring theme will be the ways in which a sense of national self emerges from direct comparison to perceptions of “others”, including Jews, women, the poor, peoples of other nations. The subject will draw attention to the gendering of the nation, the position of women and Jews and the significance of colonialism to the national narrative of European nations. Students will gain an appreciation of nation and national identity in Europe as a discursive process, and an understanding of the distinct national stories of a number of European countries.

Students who complete this subject should:

• be aware of how nations and national identity in Europe have emerged in the modern era.
• be able to appreciate national identity as a discursive process, something which is created and reflected upon in writing of various kinds including prose, poetry and life writing.
• gain an understanding of the different national narratives of countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain and England through reading texts which reflect on events such as revolutions, wars, colonialism and modernisation.
• Gain an appreciation of how the formation of national identities in Europe is a comparative process through studying themes such as the gendering of the nation and the position of women and Jews.

A 20-minute class presentation, 25% (due during semester) and two essays of 1500 words each, 75% (the first during semester, the second at the end of semester). Attendance at 75% of tutorials is a hurdle requirement in this subject.

Materials supplied by the School.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students should be able to:

• appreciate literary and other texts in their historical context
• summarise and critically engage with texts in oral and written presentations
• enhance their understanding of texts by referring to existing scholarship
• interpret and appraise literary reflections on nation and national identity
• reflect upon the comparative nature of national identity and compare national narratives with respect to themes such as gender, colonialism and the position of Jews