Postcolonial and Indigenous Histories

This subject is not offered in 2014.

10 hours per week: total time commitment 120 hours

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

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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/

This seminar critically examines the scholarly phenomenon of postcolonialism in relation to the recovery and writing of Indigenous and colonised histories, and the related political struggles of Indigenous peoples around the world. The seminar will be an introduction to debates within the body of postcolonial and Indigenous studies scholarship with a focus on measuring the significance and implications of colonial pasts on the practice, methodologies and theories of historical scholarship. Through case studies of postcolonial and Indigenous histories, the seminar will encourage students to think and write critically on the political implications for Indigenous and colonised peoples of current scholarly and historical debates.

• understand or be familiar with the complexities of relations between Indigenous peoples and society and government.
• show a critical awareness of the contemporary political significance of the colonial past, and an understanding of the shared and distinctive meanings of key issues in Indigenous politics and histories.
• understand or be familiar with a comparative understanding of Australian Indigenous issues in the context of an international framework of Indigenous struggle.

A 1500 word essay 30% (due mid- semester), a 3500 word essay 60% (due end of semester), presentation, seminar attendance and participation 10%.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to pass this subject. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. 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.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• 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.