Robyn Davidson calls the outback Australia's "mythological crucible". From the early idea of an inland sea, through the disappointment and fear of the "dead heart" to its modern imagining as a place of beauty, mystery and renewal, the outback has been the most powerful symbol in the Australian psyche. After a historical and psychological introduction, we will explore some of the major narratives about journeys to and in the outback from literature and films of the last fifty years, from Patrick White's seminal Voss to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. We will also look at the gradual shift from the outback to the coast as the locus of Australian imaginings about love, death, and belonging.

This is a Discussion Group course, if you aren’t already part of a group please see ‘Getting Started’ below.

Independent Study Discussion Courses are for study by groups without a tutor, so there is no need to write reports. These courses were written by tutors who have now since retired from the Discussion Group Program. Some courses were written a number of years ago, and therefore contain references to events which are now more historical than current, however, all are entertaining, well-produced and worthwhile.

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Author: Mark Byrne

Course Code: D169

Supplied Material: Course Booklet

Units & Pricing: 6 units / $48 per person

GETTING STARTED

Start your Group: Anyone can start a Discussion Group – seek out some like-minded friends or put up a notice in your local library, bookshop or workplace. Please note a minimum of 6 people is required to start a new discussion group.

Arrange the Meetings: New groups need to decide where and when to meet, and for how long – whatever best suits members' particular situations.

Run your Group: Choose a secretary to liaise with WEA and your tutor, a Discussion Leader to chair meetings, a reporter to take discussion notes to send to your tutor, and maybe a librarian to look after the books.

Start the Course: Contact WEA Sydney to enrol. Bookings can be made for one year, divided into two terms – Term 1 commences in February, Term 2 in July (Groups may make forward bookings for popular choices). Please indicate in what order your Group wishes to study the courses, if more than one course is booked.