Cirrus@Austlit

Using Australian social history, this subject uses a chronological sequence of autobiographies to critically investigate the 'lived experience' of being working class over two centuries. It examines writings from the convicts, goldrushes, immigrant, indigenous, rural and urban working class lives, against the backdrop of broad social, political and economic transformations. The subject asks theoretical questions about the relationship between vernacular experience and official historical accounts and subject and agency in historical explanation.

Subject Objectives:

On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to: 1. Engage with scholarly debate about the significance of the working class in Australian working class history. 2. Display an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of using autobiography as the basis for history writing 3. Evaluate key factors in Australian working class history 4. Discuss the significance of the category class in historical and social theory.