This unit is designed for students who wish to learn about Aboriginal cultures and spirituality in both their ‘traditional’ and ‘contemporary’ versions. The unit will introduce students to the key language, concepts and practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and spirituality. It will also contrast this way of doing and seeing life with that of the dominant Australian culture. Some work will be done on the status of Aboriginal cultures and spirituality in some Aboriginal forms of Christianity.
Unit code: IS9002M
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Elective
Unit discipline: Indigenous Studies
Delivery Mode: Blended
Proposing College: School of Indigenous Studies
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Describe the key concepts at play in traditional Aboriginal culture and spirituality. |
| 2. | Articulate the ways in which contemporary Aboriginal forms of spirituality engage with colonial influences. |
| 3. | Analyse the ways in which contemporary Aboriginal life is both continuous with, but also different to, traditional ways of life. |
| 4. | Articulate ways in which Aboriginal culture might be helpfully seen as a gift to wider Australian culture and spirituality. |
| 5. | Critique the work of an Aboriginal Christian theologian who seeks to engage traditional Aboriginal culture and spirituality in their work on Christianity. |
Prerequisite is 1 unit at Postgraduate Foundational level.
Reading and video materials will be made available for students well before the unit begins. Class andragogy will bounce off these materials and will consist of mini-lecturettes and class discussion.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | A 20 minute oral presentation via Zoom, followed by a class discussion led by the presenter, both reviewing the reading set for a particular topic. A written version of the presentation to be submitted one week after the oral presentation is given. |
1500 | 30.0 |
| Critical Review | A written review of one of the books or TV episodes set for the unit, critically assessing the capacity of the work to creatively engage traditional culture from a contemporary standpoint. |
2000 | 20.0 |
| Essay | An essay or multmedia presentation reflecting critically on the ways in which contemporary Aboriginal culture and spirituality is both different to, and continuous with, older traditions. The unit guide will provide futher information. |
4000 | 50.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 15 Mar, 2024
Unit record last updated: 2024-03-15 10:25:43 +1100