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Unit of study_
ARHT2636: Contemporary Indigenous Art
2025 unit information
The new has no meaning without the old, and the radical newness of the contemporary Indigenous art movement is underpinned by cultural practices dating back 50, 0000 years.Through in-depth visual analysis of individual artists and art-producing communities, you will consider the distinct Indigenous art practices and relate them to issues of cultural and political sovereignty, colonisation, lands rights and representation. Problematising the historical and contemporary reception of Indigenous art, the unit prioritises Indigenous modes of value and reflects on the deep systems of knowledge that continue to inspire artists, curators and scholars.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Arts and Social Sciences
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Art History |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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12 credit points at 1000 level in Art History or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Indigenous Studies |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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ARHT2036 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand the cosmological dimension of Indigenous art and the diversity of Indigenous contemporary art practice
- LO2. relate contemporary art practice to issues of assimilation, colonisation, sovereignty, reconciliation, formulations of nationhood and alternative citizenship, intersectionality, and social justice
- LO3. problematise the dichotomies between remote/urban, art/craft, ethnography/art, prehistory/history, traditional/contemporary
- LO4. understand the multiple regimes of value that shape the creation and circulation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in Australia and globally
- LO5. demonstrate knowledge of the historical reception of Indigenous art and the shifting frameworks of Indigenous museology
- LO6. engage with works of art and discuss them in relation to art historical, critical, political, and theoretical interpretations of Aboriginal art
- LO7. demonstrate skills in critical reading, writing, and thinking.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
There are no availabilities for this year.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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