Literary Representations of Asia

Introduction

This unit is delivered by the University of Tasmania.

The unit Literary Representations of Asian-Australian Relations introduces teachers to a range of texts that deal with Australian perceptions of Asia as well as Asian perceptions of Australia. It raises issues of cross-cultural communication - and mis-communication - and provides the opportunity for teachers and their students to analyse and deconstruct stereotypes of Asia and Australia. It will appeal to both primary teachers wanting to include Asia across the curriculum and to secondary and English teachers.

Unit Structure
The unit is organised into five modules. These are:

• Module One: Stereotypes of Asia and Australia
  This module looks at the way in which Asia and Australia have been 'constructed' through stereotyping and Orientalist approaches.
  
• Module Two: Australian Images of Asia
  This module examines representations of Asia in Australian literature through two common genres of literature - 'Invasion literature' and 'Exotica and heroism' and also interrogates the place of cultural tourism in stories about Asia.
  
• Module Three: Asian Images of Australia
  This module introduces images of Australia as seen through the eyes of Asian writers. It problematises and defamiliarises fixed notions of Australian identity and culture, and Asian identity and culture
  
• Module Four: Asian-Australians: Migrant and Refugee Stories
  This module highlights the socio-political, historical and cultural issues that are related to the experience of migration. It aims to increase awareness of how events, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours affect individuals and members of a particular group.
  
• Module Five: Asian-Australians: Hybrid Identities
  This module explores different notions of identity through the reading and viewing of texts by and about Asian-Australians.

Aims and Outcomes
The unit is designed to encourage teachers to reflect upon issues pertaining to the incorporation of studies of Asia into the English curriculum. The aim is thus not only to increase teachers' knowledge and understanding of texts, but also to enable them to use those texts to infuse studies of Asia into the English curriculum. This will impact upon teachers not only in their role as classroom practitioners but also in their wider capacity as developers of a dynamic curriculum that is relevant to the needs and interests of today's students.

Assessment
The assessment is realistic and well integrated with your course work. It consists (80%) of reflective writing that you can construct as you read and also weights (20%) your contribution to the online discussion.