Political battles over the soul of modern India are fought, in part, through the imagination. This course explores India's vibrant modern traditions to understand changing visions of the world's largest democracy. Film, writing, and new media reveal a space where right-wing Hindu activism meets global neoliberal norms, where "new women" and "angry young men" critique longstanding social roles and gender inequalities, and where the Indian government defines its economic and political aspirations in a changing world. This course brings scholarly research to bear upon real-world debates found in heritage management, institution-building, and cultural policy. It explores the role of India’s diaspora in shaping new visions of India. Through analytical and creative approaches, students build their abilities to engage with India in self-reflexive, nuanced and multimedia forms.  

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate a self-reflexive and policy-relevant understanding of how culture and power are interconnected in India, engaging with viewpoints from inside and outside the region;
2. Apply frameworks from gender, media and cultural studies to analyse critical challenges facing India and its diaspora;
3. Develop high-level interdisciplinary analysis of the national and global significance of popular culture and creative industries in India;
4. Conduct independent academic research that can inform applied multi-stakeholder processes, justifying methods and approaches as appropriate;
5. Communicate findings effectively, through advanced written, verbal and multimedia skills, to shape real-world debates concerning culture, power, and policy.

Research-Led Teaching

This course draws upon new ANU research into India's culture industries and soft power projections.

Additional Course Costs

There may be additional costs for streaming videos.

Required Resources

Reading materials will be available via Wattle. For your final project you will need access to basic video editing tools. Many such tools are available for free or potentially through ANU licenses. Please consult with convener if you do not already have access to such tools.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

This course offers an integrated seminar experience that combines lectures, discussion, and workshops.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Week 1-3 How Epics Shape Modern India Drawing upon Indian cinema, fiction, and political rhetoric, this module examines how players as different as Indian nationalists, Hindu right-wing activists, and international popular culture have turned to Indian classic texts to justify their visions for a new (old) India.	Weekly activities
2	Week 4-8 Imagining the Nation This module turns to influential cultural texts that have aimed to imagine the possibilities and perils of the world's largest democracy. We examine how such cultural texts index the exuberance and agonies of independence, the rise of right-wing Hindu nationalism, the transformation of India's economy, changing norms of gender and sexuality, and questions of law, justice, and national security.	Week 5, Essay Due Weekly activities
3	Week 9-12 Soft Power, Creative Industries, and "New India" This module examines the material conditions in India that support today's cultural production, such as market forces and political patronage. In doing so, it shows how wars fought over culture are connected to changes in Indian economic and political priorities.	Week 12, Final Project Due Weekly activities

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Class Participation	10 %	*	15/06/2023	1,2,3,4
Research Essay	30 %	23/03/2023	31/03/2023	1,2,3,4
Final Project: Vodcast	50 %	22/05/2023	07/06/2023	1,2,4
Digital Learning Journal	10 %	*	07/06/2023	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

You should to come to class consistently and effectively prepared to discuss the course readings, to engage in oral and written tasks, to work independently and collaboratively with your peers, and to show intellectual curiosity and analytical thinking.

Examination(s)

There is is no examination in this course.

Assessment Task 1

Class Participation

You should to come to class consistently effectively prepared to discuss the course readings and lectures, to engage in oral and written tasks, to work independently and collaboratively with your peers, and to show intellectual curiosity and analytical thinking. A hurdle requirement to receive your full participation mark is the final seminar meeting, where students will share their final projects with the class.

Assessment Task 2

Research Essay

A 2000-word research essay on a question related to the course. More details will be provided on Wattle.

Assessment Task 3

Final Project: Vodcast

You will create a vodcast (a short video) on a question linked to the themes and concepts of the course. No prior experience required. You will accompany this vodcast with a 1500-word reflective essay that explains the argument of your vodcast and shows how it draws upon research and key concepts of this course. More details will be provided on Wattle.

Vodcast: 25%

Reflective Essay: 25%

Assessment Task 4

Digital Learning Journal

You will contribute to an ongoing digital learning journal where you give evidence of how you are consistently listening to and engaging with the ideas you encounter in lectures and readings throughout the semester. You will complete entries in this digital learning journal through online activities that will be embedded in lecture recordings. Details will be available on Wattle.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Assessments will be returned via Wattle.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students