James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2002

AN1002:03

Anthropology 1B: Australia and Regional Culture

Townsville, Cairns

HECS Band 1

26 hours lectures, 12 hours tutorials. Semester 2.

Staff: Dr R Henry, Dr D Miles (Townsville campus); Dr M Fuary (Cairns campus).

The emergence of anthropological thought in the study of Australian Aboriginal cultures and the cultures of Papua New Guinea, the Pacific and Southeast Asia; the relationship of people to the land; religion and cosmology; the impact of colonialism in Australia and the Pacific; contemporary cultural issues and debates affecting minorities.

Learning Objectives:

  1. acquisition of ability to identify issues and subject areas associated with anthropology;
  2. understanding and appreciation of the cultures and peoples of North Queensland and its near neighbours;
  3. critical assessment of everyday assumptions about cultural difference;
  4. ability to discuss and write about questions of culture, tolerance and change in the region.

Assessment by tutorial attendance and participation (10%); review of an ethnography (15%); essay of not more than 2,000 words (25%); two-hour end of semester examination (50%).