Australian Aboriginal Art
UndergraduateCUR-VIS3402025
Previously CUR-VIS25
Witness the impact history, aesthetics and politics has had on Indigenous Australian art practice. Visit the pre-colonial era. Examine artistic representations of The Dreaming. See how Indigenous Australians have wielded art to create commentary.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 24 Aug 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 3 Mar 2025,
- 1 Sept 2025
- Price from
- $1,286
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Australian Aboriginal Art
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- investigate the role of art in Aboriginal Australian cultures in relation to the geographical and historical context in which it exists
- explore the range of perspectives shaping the interpretation of Aboriginal art and representations of Aboriginal people, demonstrating the ability to critically evaluate the integrity of diverse sources of information
- demonstrate critical thinking skills and cultural understanding in interpreting contemporary Aboriginal Australian art.
- Introduction
- Aboriginal Nations Pre-Invasion
- The 'Unsettling' of Australia
- Aboriginal Art in Colonial Australia 1788-1900
- Aboriginal Peoples in the Photographic Archive
- Ephemeral Practices, Ritual, Song and Performance in Aboriginal cultures
- Artefact and Landscape as Memory Triggers in Aboriginal Communities
- Diversity and Difference
- International Markets, Displacement and Commodification in Remote Aboriginal Communities
- Artists as Cultural Warriors: The Twentieth Century Human Rights movements
- Contemporary Art. History Under the Microscope; Reclaiming the Present and the Future
This subject was previously known as VIS25 Australian Aboriginal Art.
In this subject you will explore the richness, complexity and diversity of Aboriginal art in Australia. Learn about the importance of art in Aboriginal culture, the impact of British colonisation and the strategies that Aboriginal artists use to maintain cultural knowledge, fight for political rights, and bear witness to the ongoing survival and resilience of Aboriginal Australians.
Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.
- Essay 1 (40%)
- Essay 2 (45%)
- Online test (15%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
CUR-VIS25 (Not currently available)
Others
You need proficiency in the English language and be competent in writing essays.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Arts (Digital and Social Media) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-ICV-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Digital Experience and Interaction Design) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-DDV-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-FAV-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing and Publishing) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-PVC-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-VLC-DEG
UndergraduateGRF-ART-DEG
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