AR2011 - Australia Through Time and Place

This subject considers the development, practice and findings of anthropological and archaeological research on Australia. Following a critical overview of the evidence of human colonisation and settlement of Australia and its cultural and linguistic diversity, this subject provides an integrated exploration of a number of key areas of research in the two disciplines, under the following headings: ritual; cosmological beliefs in time and space; colonial encounters; authentic pasts/authentic presents; leadership and power; kinship and country.

Learning Outcomes

• to encourage critical analysis of anthropological and archaeological approaches to understanding Indigenous Australian societies;
• to promote an appreciation of the complexity and diversity of Indigenous Australian social and cultural life through time;
• to provide an understanding of the implications of current findings and theoretical perspectives in Australian anthropology and archaeology;
• to provide students with a framework in which they are able to assess the value of an interdisciplinary approach to a number of key areas of research on Australia.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• An understanding of the economic, legal, ethical, social and cultural issues involved in the use of information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.