This course examines the ways in which Indigenous people, in Australia and elsewhere, have assumed the right to tell their own histories of imperialism, colonialism and dispossession through diverse forms of memorialisation, performance, writing, art and other modes of meaning-making. The creative labour of Indigenous intellectuals, artists, filmmakers, writers, and historians shapes contemporary public culture in Australia and other settler-colonial nations, such as Canada, southern Africa, New Zealand and in the Pacific. This course explores such creative labour, both in the past and in the present. We will examine the ways in which Indigenous people have engaged with and challenged imposed cultural and historical forms and practices in ways that have redefined concepts such as sovereignty, self and other, nation and place, and history and time. Students will gain experience working with archives, images, objects, performance, television, lyrics, film and digital forms of storytelling.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- understand the key theoretical and political debates about history and memory within colonial, cross-cultural and post-colonial contexts;
- critically interpret a range of memorial and historical sources, and their uses within the telling of Indigenous history;
- apply new and expanded understandings of historical practice and the uses of the past to their own research projects; and
- construct an evidence-based historical argument in a form suitable to its purpose and target audience.
Indicative Assessment
- Historiographical review, 1000 words (20%) Learning outcomes 1, 4 (20) [LO null]
- Source analysis, 1000 words (20%) Learning outcomes 1-4 (20) [LO null]
- Research essay, 2500 words (50%) Learning outcomes 1-4 (50) [LO null]
- Seminar participation (10%) Learning outcomes 1, 4 (10) [LO null]
- (null) [LO null]
- (null) [LO null]
The ANU uses 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. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks of seminar and seminar-like activities; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
Preliminary Reading
Sarah Carter and Maria Nugent (eds), Mistress of Everything: Queen Victoria in Indigenous Worlds (Manchester University Press, 2016)Luise White, Speaking with Vampires: Rumor and History in Colonial Africa (California University Press, 2000)
Miranda Johnson, The Land is Our History: Indigeneity, Law, and the Settler State (Oxford University Press, 2016)
Dipesh Chakrabarty, Provincialising Europe: Postcolonial Thought and Historical Difference (Princeton University Press, 2000)
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4080 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $5280 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8652 | 21 Jul 2025 | 28 Jul 2025 | 31 Aug 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | In Person | N/A |
