Australian scholars in history, humanities, education, and literary studies chronicle changes in the texts used in English and literature courses in Australian schools and universities from 1945 to the present. In addition, they survey trends in teaching methods, social values, and cultural assumptions related to Australian English and literature courses. As a whole, the essays demonstrate how the study of literature has become more broadly inclusive in terms of authors and texts studied. Some specific topics include the role of canonical texts in mediating subject English in Australia, and Cloudstreet as a classroom classic. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation ©2017 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
Required Reading examines for the first time what students have read and studied in the disciplines of English and literary studies at Australian schools and universities after 1945. On the basis of this primary evidence, the authors challenge enduring myths of curriculum history, the history of literary studies, critical theory, and cultural studies. They fill out the picture of how students were encouraged to read: when, where, and in which particular pedagogical and wider social and historical contexts. They relate dramatic changes to curriculum frameworks and syllabi, teaching and learning methods, social and cultural values and assumptions, and the academic discipline of literary studies itself. Required Reading shows, finally, how flawed assumptions about the nature and history of English and Literature have, since the 1980s, obstructed the advancement of knowledge within both fields of scholarly endeavour. Contributors include: Tim Dolin, Joanne Jones, Patricia Dowsett, John Yiannakis, Ian Reid, Jacqueline Manuel, Don Carter, Wayne Sawyer, Larissa McLean Davies, Brenton Doecke, Prue Gill, Terry Hayes, Jenny de Reuck, Susan K Martin, Tully Barnett, Kate Douglas, Alice Healy-Ingram, Georgina Arnott, and Claire Jones. (Series: Literary Studies) [ Subject: Australian Studies, Literary Studies, Education]
