Australian First Nations’ arts and cultural practices and cosmological beliefs span 60,000+ years, with Australian First Nations' Peoples standing firm in the belief that they have been here since deep time associated with Australian First Nations' Ancestral Beings, creation stories and cosmologies. This course explores the diversity of pre-contact, post-contact Australian First Nations' arts and cultural manifestations, from customary to contemporary representations, incorporating diverse media and trans-disciplinary platforms.
The course in Australian First Nations’ visual arts and culture has three main aims:
* Provide students with basic geographical, historical and contextual frameworks for the study of Australian First Nations’ visual arts and culture in mainland Australia, Tasmania and the Torres Strait Islands.
* Familiarise students with concepts that are fundamental to Australian First Nations’ understandings of the interconnected relationships between art, culture and life, both historically (pre- and early post-contact, up to the early 20th century) and in a contemporary (early 20th - present-day) context.
* Assist students in developing ideas about how contemporary Australian First Peoples’ visual arts and cultures contribute to cross-cultural critical theory, representation and identity, and trans-disciplinary practice and research.
Wherever possible collections and exhibitions at national arts, cultural, social history and archival institutions are used as part of the teaching and learning experience.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- identify historical and geographical origins of Australian First Nations’ Visual Arts and Culture and Cultural Practices;
- conduct a culturally relevant appreciation of Australian First Nations’ Visual Arts and Culture and Cultural Practices;
- develop cross-cultural awareness in the processes of interpretation of Australian First Nations’ Visual Arts and Culture and Cultural Practices;
- research and access information on Australian First Nations’ Visual Arts and Culture and Cultural Practices;
- speak and write with appropriate cultural sensitivity and awareness on Australian First Nations’ Visual Arts and Culture and Cultural Practices; and
- gain a critical understanding of some of the major issues of debate concerning Australian First Nations’ Visual Arts and Culture and Cultural Practices.
Other Information
Relevant readings, resources and tasks will be uploaded to Wattle throughout the semester.
Indicative Assessment
- Oral presentation (10 mins) of 1500 word paper (30) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Research essay, 3000 words (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Review, 1500 words (20) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Tutorial and Online Forum participation (10) [LO 1,3,5]
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: 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials; and b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing. Contact hours may include visits to major art institutions in Canberra.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
Preliminary Reading
Caruana, Wally, & Cubillo, Franchesca, 'Introduction to Aboriginal Art', from 'Indigenous Australia: Masterworks from the National Gallery of Australia', 2017
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 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $3840 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $5700 |
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.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4382 | 21 Feb 2022 | 28 Feb 2022 | 31 Mar 2022 | 27 May 2022 | In Person | View |