Course overview
Using a postcolonial, poststructural and feminist lens this course will explore they ways in which "culture war" narratives are weaponised in political discourse in an effort to define what is and what is not "Australian". Specifically, this course will apply a social justice perspective to unpacking increasing tension and conflict, and the growth of nationalist, exclusionary and discriminatory discourse in politics and the media. Using a postcolonial and poststructural and feminist lens this course will unpack how discursive constructions of ethnicity, gender, sexuality and social class are not only used to create political divisions but are employed to encourage tribalism and polarisation and ultimately to empower nationalistic and fascistic narratives. At the conclusion of this course students will have the tools to critically deconstruct exclusionary political discourse.
- Theoretical Underpinnings
- Excluded Identities
- Intersections, Social Class and Hierarchy
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate, verbally and in writing, understanding of inclusion and exclusion as political tools, drawing on post-structural, post-colonial and feminist political theories.
- Critically analyse Australian and international political and media discourses with a focus on exclusionary narratives.
- Demonstrate critical thinking , verbally and in writing, in relation to the way political, social, economic and cultural discourses maintain or even further embed structural political, social, economic and cultural inequalities
- Conduct independent research utilising a variety of sources including peer reviewed, government documents and media sources.
- Communicate, verbally and in writing, with respect and understanding for inclusion, diversity and equity, and demonstrated engagement with cross-cultural and social justice-based communication.