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History, Memory and Violence in Asia (HIST90026)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The history wars between Japan and China over Japan's war time roles periodically cause diplomatic fall outs between these two countries. Within the borders of Indonesia and Cambodia memories of violence are equally contested. Drawing on theoretical reflections on history and memory, on memory and identity politics, memory and the body, memory and gender students in this subject will learn to critically analyse memories or representations of violence in a range of Asian contexts. We will also engage with and reflect on a variety of media of memory such as narratives or testimony, museums, monuments, commemorative ceremonies, Internet sites, art and photographs. We will also reflect on the ethics and problems associated with researching and writing about memories and violence and related issues of truth and justice. The subject will include a number of case studies such as Japanese historical revisionism, the related memory wars in China over Japanese representations of the Nanjing Massacre and in Korea over the so called 'Comfort Women'. Further case studies might include memories of decolonisation wars, commemoration of the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, representations of the 1965 anti-communist killings in Indonesia, representations of the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, representations of the Cultural Revolution in China and representations of the Vietnam War in Vietnam.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:
- Summarise the history of violence in the Asian region
- Classify the various mediums of memory
- Evaluate the impact of traumatic pasts on contemporary Asian societies and of the politics of memory in this region
- Analyse the role of historical narratives and collective memory in shaping national identities and political discourses in Asia
- Compare different approaches to memorializing violence across various Asian countries, considering cultural, social, and political contexts
- Critically engage with theoretical frameworks on memory and trauma to understand the ongoing implications of historical violence in shaping regional and global dynamics.
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:
- Apply research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources
- Communicate effectively (written and oral)
- Construct an evidence-based argument or narrative through competent use of the library and other information sources
- Develop problem-solving and analytical skills
- Engage with new ideas and perspectives.
Last updated: 8 November 2024