120044 AR Advanced Interdisciplinary Course = Literature 1/2 (MA) Literary and Cultural Theory (2009W)
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Australian Aboriginal Literature
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Diese LVA gilt für das Masterstudium Anglophone Literatures and Cultures nach UG2002, das Diplomstudium (UniStG) und das Lehramt UF Englisch (UniStG).
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Tu 15.09.2009 14:00 to Mo 28.09.2009 14:00
- Registration is open from Fr 02.10.2009 14:00 to Th 08.10.2009 14:00
- Deregistration possible until Sa 31.10.2009 23:59
Details
max. 30 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Wednesday 14.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
- Wednesday 21.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 28.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 04.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 11.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 18.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 25.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 02.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 09.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 16.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 13.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 20.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Wednesday 27.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Contents: Over the past two decades there has been a remarkable upsurge of interest amongst academics as well as the general public in the cultural heritage of the Australian Aborigines, and in particular, their artistic achievement in painting, in songs as well as in literature (in English). This course will introduce (advanced) students to a wide variety of texts in prose and verse written by Australian indigenous authors (mainly) in the 20th and early 21st centuries. These texts do not only deal with the ancient myths of creation (e.g. the 'rainbow serpent'), their spiritual beliefs and psychic practices ('dreamtime') and their conception of nature and the universe, but these writings also reflect the trauma of displacement, enforced assimilation and the indigenous people's struggle for liberation. Though all of these diverse issues will be given considerable space in the discussion, the main focus will be on exploring the spiritual life and the extraordinary psychic abilities and the ancient spiritual practices employed by the aborigines in sacred rites and in their endeavour to get in touch with the spirits of their ancestors in a trance-like state known in the West by the term 'dreaming'.
Assessment and permitted materials
Assessment: Regular attendance, one PPT presentation (ca. 15 mins) per participant (individually or as member of a team); active participation in discussions in class, final exam (consisting of an essay plus a set of exam questions relating to the texts and the teaching materials handed out).
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Aims: To advance cross-cultural understanding, to explore the ancient myths and the conception of man and nature of the Australian indigenous people as well as to gain insight into the phenomenology of spiritual experience of this most ancient of religions.
Examination topics
Method: A multi-media-based course, incorporating lecture units combined with group-work and student-centred textual studies and students' presentations (15 mins); interdisciplinarity is maintained throughout by an approach based on insights derived from other disciplines such as anthropology, history, psychology, folklore studies; these insights are used as epistemological reference-frames for the interpretation of texts written by Australian indigenous authors.
Reading list
Texts: A 'Reader' will be provided (mastercopy available from the Sekretariat early in October); several texts are taken from the Anthology of Australian Aboriginal Literature. Ed. Anita Heiss and Peter Minter. London: McGill UP, 2008.
Association in the course directory
Diplom 343, UF 344, MA 844
Last modified: Th 09.01.2025 00:15