Unit aim
Guides students through the major contemporary theoretical debates about the relationship between written texts and the production of cultural and social meanings. Students will do a detailed study of the theories of Postmodernism, Post-colonialism and Feminism.
Unit content
Module 1: Mapping literary engagement
- Introduction
- Deconstruction, Derrida and beyond
- New Historicism in the literary landscape
Module 2: Ethical engagements in literary criticism
- A question of authorship
- Power and ethics
- Theorising whiteness
- Subjectivity and power
Module 3: Beyond the postmodern
- Subjectivity in the 21st century
- Space and time after 9/11
- Postmodernity in the 21st century.
Learning outcomes
Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.
Learning outcomes and graduate attributes
| On completion of this unit, students should be able to: | GA1 | GA2 | GA3 | GA4 | GA5 | GA6 | GA7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | differentiate between major contemporary theories about writing and written texts and the relationship of texts to cultural practices | Intellectual rigour | Creativity | |||||
| 2 | recognise the theoretical positions underlying particular critical approaches to writing and textual analysis | Intellectual rigour | Creativity | |||||
| 3 | understand the significance of, the social and cultural contexts in which texts are made and read | Intellectual rigour | Creativity | |||||
| 4 | analyse texts from a number of theoretical perspectives. | Intellectual rigour | Creativity | |||||
Prescribed texts
Session 2
- Flanagan, Richard, 2008, Wanting, Knopf, North Sydney.
- Grenville, Kate, 2005, The Secret River, Text, Melbourne.
- Tsiolkas, Christos, 2008, The Slap, Allen & Unwin, Australia.
- Turner Hospital, Janet, 2007, Orpheus Lost, Fourth Estate, Sydney.
- Wright, Alexis, 2006, Carpentaria, Giramondo, Sydney.
Teaching and assessment
Online
| Teaching method |
| Structured online learning 2 hours (12 weeks) |
| Lecture online 1 hour (12 weeks) |
| Assessment | |
| Critical Response | 10% |
| Literature review | 35% |
| Essay | 45% |
| Participation | 10% |
Fee information
Domestic
Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2016 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 1
Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees
International
Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.