124266 KO Critical Media Analysis (2019W)

Australia has often been represented in cultural texts with the “man from the bush” in the foreground. From early depictions of convicts and bushrangers to international blockbusters such as Crocodile Dundee and Mad Max, cultural scripts or myths have developed that depict the Australian man as a practical, physically able, handsome and carefree character at home in the bush. The bush in this myth is empty, ignoring the presence and ownership of the land by Aboriginal people prior to European arrival. Likewise, the bush is home to the Australian despite the nation being one of the most urbanized on the planet. As Roland Barthes wrote in Mythologies (1957), myths are based upon history and participate in the creation of ideology. Students in this class will take part in the practical analysis of the myths, history and ideology that have accompanied the growth of the Australian “man from the bush”. The course will ask what cultural constructions have been made to appear natural and what groups have been marginalized. This course offers tools to analyse film, put into practice key cultural studies concepts as well as the opportunity to develop research methods and essay writing.