Urban Legends: Melbourne Intensive

This subject is not offered in 2014.

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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 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/

How are Australian histories and identities expressed in the urban landscape of Melbourne, and Australian cities more generally? Urban Legends offers an exciting look at the role of space, including the inner city and the suburbs, in the development of the Australian nation and the diversity of its peoples. This cross-disciplinary subject is taught intensively, with lectures by academics and industry professionals. It explores meanings of 'places', both real and imagined: from the city to the suburbs to the bush. Much of our learning involves site visits outside the campus. We will explore Melbourne’s ethnic precincts, such as Chinatown, as well as the city’s famous laneways with their internationally known graffiti; and will look at the national and local stories in exhibitions at Museum Victoria, the Shrine of Remembrance and other key institutional sites and monuments to see how they interpret Australian identities in the past and present. We will explore how identity and issues of of race, cross-cultural interactions, gender and belonging are negotiated in the city, and the role of economic and social factors in city life. This subject will appeal students interested in undertaking a detailed study of representations of Australia and national identity, and will build skills in historical and cultural analysis.

Students who complete this subject successfully should:
· Be able to use historical evidence, including visual evidence, to think critically and analyse complex issues about Australian culture, society and identity.
· Have familiarity with key concepts relating to society, culture and place and have knowledge of the development of Australia’s built environments and the role of cultural institutions in defining issues of nation and identity
· Be able to select and identify their own sources through independent research, including the competent use of library, archival and other information sources.
· Demonstrate an ability to use and apply techniques of historical and social analysis drawn from a wide range of sources.
· Develop written and oral analytical skills relating to an understanding of historical and contemporary representations of identity
· Demonstrate an ability to interrogate evidence within its historical and cultural contexts.

A 1000 word map exercise: Walking the City 20% (due 14 February), a 1000 word exhibition review 20% (due 7 February), a 2000 word research essay 50% (due 14 March) and class attendance 10%.

Hurdle requirement: students must attend a minimum of 75% of lectures and tutorials/site visits in order to pass this subject. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day; after five working days, no late assessment will be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A subject reader will be available online

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 who complete this subject successfully should:

• Show they can use historical evidence in critical thinking and analysis of complex issues relating to Australian identity and culture.
• Demonstrate the ability to locate and analyse primary historical evidence relating to issues of Australian identity.
• Be able to present their views orally in tutorial discussion, and to communicate their ideas intelligibly and with argumentative persuasion through essay writing.

The subject dates and HECS/course fee census date for intensively taught subjects change each year. Check your enrolment record for the correct census date for this subject.