Activism, Selves and Histories

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Total expected time commitment is 170 hours across the semester, including class time.

Admission into the postgraduate diploma, postgraduate certificate or fourth year honours in Australian Indigenous studies.

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AIND40003 Activism, Revolution and Social Change

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 will investigate social and political processes intended to lead to the achievement of emancipatory goals. Specific Australian social movements and histories related to Aboriginal empowerment and social amelioration will be contextualised within theoretical frameworks including postcolonial, critical race and whiteness. This subject introduces decolonising methodologies for examining the relationship of contemporary ‘selves’ to histories, power structures and social transformation. Students explore the tensions and ethics around positionality, reflexivity, storytelling and creative activism.

Students who successful complete this subject will have:

• a sophisticated understanding of the potentialities of archival research;
• a developed ability to situate and analyse historical events in meaningful theoretical frameworks; and
• an understanding of the relation between the ideology and theory endemic to social movements and its philosophical antecedents.

A 5000 word essay 100% (due in the examination period). Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% (or 10 out of 12) classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Any student who fails to meet this hurdle without valid reason will not be eligible to pass the subject. All required written work must be submitted in order to pass the subject. Essays submitted after the due date without an extension will be penalised 2% per day. Essays submitted after two weeks of the assessment due date without a formally approved application for special consideration or an extension will only be marked on a pass/fail basis if accepted.

A subject reader will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• have a sophisticated understanding of the role of theory in Australian Indigenous studies;
• develop the ability to undertake high-level individual research;
• gain a developed understanding of the ethical requirements of research in Australian Indigenous studies; and
• appreciate the enhanced intellectual outcomes of collegiality.