AIA105 - Visions of Australia: Time and Space From 1700 to 2010

Unit details

Content

This unit in Australian Studies takes a long historical and broad geographical view of Australia. From the age of European expansion and “discovery”, the unit considers some key moments in Australia’s history – its convict foundation, the battles for territory between settlers and the indigenous population, the gold rushes, Federation, depression, war and reconstruction, the Whitlam era of reform to the resurgence of conservatism – and interconnects these to some vital spaces. Thus the unit will examine how indigenous land uses were replaced by different forms of agriculture in the 19^th century, defying many of the environmental realities of the continent, how Melbourne became one of the great Victorian cities in the 1880s, how the suburbs emerged along with the citadels of 1960s consumerism, the regional shopping centre, the indigenous struggle for territorial autonomy and the dilemmas of remote indigenous communities and how different parts of Australia engaged with a more globalised world in the latter part of the 20^th century. Along with these transformations of space over time, went different visions of Australia – as a yeoman democracy, as the workingman’s paradise, as the suburban dream, the lucky country and as a reconciled land of diversity. How and why these changes occurred will be explored through classes, readings, field work and online in a rich mix of text, visual materials and applied learnings.

Assessment

Field report/Interpretative exercise 25%, Seminar paper and presentation 15%, Essay 40%, Exam 20%

Unit Fee Information

* Rate for all CSP students, except for those who commenced Education and Nursing units pre 2010
** Rate for CSP students who commenced Education and Nursing units pre 2010
Please note: Unit fees listed do not apply to Deakin Prime students.