Handbook home
Racial Literacy: Indigeneity & Whiteness (INDG20004)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Not available in 2022
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
Overview
Fees | Look up fees |
---|
This subject aims to enhance student's racial literacy with a focus on representations of Indigeneity and whiteness in Australia. The term, "racial literacy", devised to describe anti-racist practices, entails students becoming literate in critically reading and understanding multiple modes of race representation. The inter-disciplinary approach enables students to analyse the relationships among texts, images, language and social practices, drawing on Australian literature, media, film and the visual arts. In this way, the subject equips students to become multi-literate in critiquing race constructions of identity formation and nation building through the creative and communicative arts. The subject introduces students to critical theoretical frameworks incorporating postcolonial, race and whiteness studies. It will engage with questions of voice, position, power, agency, capital and social justice issues to explore how representations of Indigeneity and whiteness operate with regard to the intersections of race, gender and class relations in an Australian context (with links and comparisons also made to examples of race representation in a global context).
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should have:
- developed racial literacy with the ability to critically evaluate multiple modes of race representation and articulate the strategies utilised in the operation of specific representations of Indigenous Australians and white Australians;
- an appreciation of the complexities and power of race representation in impacting on the formation of nation, history and political and public issues in Australia and on personal levels of constructing their own racial locations, cultural identities, ideologies and social experiences;
- gained a nuanced understanding of how racial hierarchies and investments are reinforced or countered through representations of Indigeneity and whiteness; and
- an understanding of conceptual tools and key theoretical issues involved in critical race studies and the politics of representation.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- a developed understanding of relevant critical theories and methods;
- the ability to work effectively as an individual and member of class;
- competency in the use of a wide range of research applications and resources;
- ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and comprehensively; and
- ability to produce high quality written material in a timely manner.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
106-317 Racial Literacy: Indigeneity and Whiteness
AIND30009 Racial Literacy: Indigeneity and Whiteness
Recommended background knowledge
MULT10001 Australian Indigenous Studies or MULT10001 Aboriginalities
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MULT10001 | First Peoples in a Global Context | No longer available |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Tutorial participation and a paper presentation
| 10% | |
An essay
| Mid semester | 30% |
An essay
| During the examination period | 60% |
Hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of (or at least) 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures, in person or via online delivery. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass this subject. For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. (Complete not less than 50% of word count) | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Additional details
Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
Not available in 2022
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- A subject reader will be available.
- Langton, M. Well I heard it on the radio and I saw it on the television ... An essay for the Australian film commission on the politics of filmaking by and about Aboriginal people and things (Australian Film Commission)
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Indigenous Studies - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024