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Controversies in Australian History (HIST30064)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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This subject examines controversial episodes in the Australian past that commanded public attention, gave rise to heated argument and exposed local, regional, and national divisions. Controversies such as the Myall Creek massacre of 1838, the Eureka rising, debates about Australia's role in the Pacific from the use of coerced labour on 19th century sugar plantations to the ongoing practice of offshore detention, the conscription referenda during the First World War, the Wave Hill walk-off, the ‘dismissal’ of Gough Whitlam in 1975 and the Bringing them Home Report all threw up competing interests and generated alternative notions of entitlement. The outcomes of these events had lasting consequences. By studying many controversies over 200 years of White occupation of Australia, the subject reveals changing preoccupations of race, class, gender, nationality, as well as changing forms of popular participation and public accountability. By considering how these controversies arose and how they were handled the subject provides insight into public life, the creation of consensus and the legitimacy of national institutions. The controversies gave rise to shared memories and competing traditions, many of which shape our present. They have shaped Australian history and continue to generate alternative interpretations. The subject thus introduces students to some of the key moments in the country’s history.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Assess competing interpretations of historical events
- Analyse the impact of historical controversies on national identity and collective memory in Australia
- Critically evaluate the role of public discourse in shaping and influencing historical controversies and their memorialisation in Australia
- Develop and demonstrate research skills through the sophisticated use of primary materials alongside scholarly literature
- Devise well-supported arguments that engage with contested narratives in Australian history, demonstrating an understanding of their implications for contemporary society and communicate these across a range of written genres
- Construct a rigorous intellectual argument and be able to communicate this effectively through written work and class discussions
- Identify and reflect critically on various scholarly approaches to understanding Australian history and identity.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Apply research skills through competent use of information sources, especially the library and digital archives.
- Communicate persuasively and effectively (written and oral)
- Construct an evidence-based and historiographically informed argument through the competent use of the library and digital archives
- Develop sophisticated problem-solving and analytical skills
- Engage with new ideas and perspectives and apply these to both public and intellectual debates
- Summarise, interpret and evaluate complex arguments.
Last updated: 8 November 2024