Australian Literature and Society (Contemporary)

Institution: 
Edith Cowan University
Code: 
ENG2213
Year: 
2009
Levels: 
Undergraduate

This unit explores the distinctive qualities of contemporary Australian literature with particular reference to poetry, short stories, novels and plays published in the last twenty years or so. It will focus on problems of regionalism, isolation and multiculturalism and also examine current social concerns expressed in contemporary Australian writing.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge of recent Australian literature;

2. appraise the principal factors in the texts studied and explore the question of whether the literature achieves a distinctive Australian character;

3. recognise the principal themes in the selected texts and relate them to Australia's cultural background.

UNIT CONTENT

1. Prose fiction as a literary genre: experiments with style and form, treatment of issues such as feminism, racism and regionalism.

2. Intensive study of at least three recent Australian novels: social and political commentary, multi-culturalism, and the novel as a medium for comedy.

3. Australian drama: current themes and issues; experiments in form and their implication for performance of contemporary drama.

4. Australian poetry: regionalism (with special reference to Western Australia); experiments in form and direction; satire.

Texts: 
Winton, Tim An Open Swimmer 1982 Novel
Barnes, John [ed.]
McFarlane, Brian [ed.]
Cross-Country : A Book of Australian Verse 1984 Poetry
Malouf, David Harland's Half Acre 1984 Novel
Koch, Christopher Highways to a War 1995 Novel
Bail, Murray Homesickness 1980 Novel
Davis, Jack Kullark / The Dreamers 1982 Drama
Carey, Peter Oscar and Lucinda 1988 Novel
Bail, Murray [ed.] The Faber Book of Contemporary Australian Short Stories 1988 Short story
Hewett, Dorothy The Man from Mukinupin : A Musical Play in Two Acts 1979 Musical theatre
Carey, Peter The Tax Inspector 1991 Novel
White, Patrick The Twyborn Affair 1979 Novel
Jolley, Elizabeth The Well 1986 Novel
Bird, Carmel The White Garden 1995 Novel
Anderson, Jessica Tirra Lirra by the River 1978 Novel
Organisational Body: 
School of Communication and Arts
Degrees: 
Bachelor of Arts
Assessment: 

Tutorial/Seminar assignment - 30%

Assignment - 30%

Examination - 40%

Additional Information
Notes: 

Only a selection of texts from those listed will be studied.Topic also available as ENG4113 & ENG3213.

Supplementary Texts: 

Bennett, B. (Ed.). (1991). An Australian compass: Essays on place and direction in Australian literature. Perth: University of Western Australia Press.

Brewster, A. (1995). Literary formations: post-colonialism, nationalism, globalism. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

Burns, D. R. (1975). The Directions of Australian Fiction, 1920-74. Melbourne: Cassell.

Dutton, D. (1966). The Literature of Australia. Melbourne: Penguin.

Ferrier, C. (ed.) (1985). Gender, politics and fiction: Twentieth century Australian women's novels. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press.

Fitzpatrick, P. (1979). After "The Doll". Melbourne: Edward Arnold.

Green, H. W. (1971). A History of Australian Literature, Vols. 1 & 2. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.

Hodge, B. and Mishra, V. (1990). Dark side of the dream: Australian literature and the post-colonial mind. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Holloway, P. (1981). Contemporary Australian drama. Sydney: Currency Press,

Kane, P. (1995). Australian poetry: Romanticism and negativity. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.

Keesing, N. (ed.) (1975). Australian postwar novelists. Queensland: Jacaranda Press.

Kramer, L. (ed.) (1981). The Oxford History of Australian Literature. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Moore, T. I. (1971). Social Patterns in Australian Literature. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.

Palmer, J. (1979). Contemporary Australian playwrights. Adelaide: Adelaide University Press.

Phillips, A. A. (1980). The Australian tradition. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire.

Ramson, W. A. (ed.) (1974). The Australian Experience. Canberra: Australian National University Press.

Rees, L. (1978). A History of Australian drama, Vols. 1 & 2. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.

Smith, G. (1980). Australia's writers. Melbourne: Thomas Nelson.

Taylor, A. (1987). Reading Australian poetry. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press.

Walker, D. (1976). Dream and disillusion: A search for Australian cultural identity. Canberra: Australian National University Press.

Walker, S. (1983). Who is she? St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press.

Wilde, W. Hooton, J. and Andrews, B. (1985). The Oxford companion to Australian literature. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Categories:
Unit Contexts: Australian Literary Studies, Contemporary Studies