124220 SE Cultural and Media Studies Seminar / BA-Paper (2014W)

This seminar concentrates on selected films and (pilot series of) TV soap operas to explore different solutions for the representation of Australian identity. We will look at more recent responses to Australia’s origins as a white settler colony that struggled against the sense of inferiority in response to the condescending treatment by Britain. We well also discuss Australian responses to the thorny attempt to define “culture” by discussing the web profile of major cultural institutions, such as the Australian National Museum and the Australian National Library. Special attention will be devoted to the representation of the dark history of injustices towards Aboriginal people. Further topics include cultural responses to social problems and the attempt to portray a sense of belonging for an increasingly multicultural community.