Essay Assignment
Length: 25000 words.
The objective of this essay is to assess students' application of Mary Louise Pratt's concept of ‘contact zone' to a case study in cross-cultural history.
Answer one of the following questions:
1) Biographical history: Choosing an individual from the course or your own research, write an essay about their life and experiences in historical context. How does their life story illuminate the contact zones of cross-cultural history? Consider gender, 'race' and colonial history in your answer.
2) Using an example from the course, consider how the figure of the 'go-between' can be understood in cross-cultural world history. What did he or she face in the contact zone with Europeans, was he or she a betrayer of their own people or a remarkable individual able to see beyond their own circumstances...or somewhere in between the two?
3) Considering the variety of early encounters with 'native' peoples, reflect on the role of interpersonal and cultural exchanges between locals and Europeans. How did these exchanges contribute to or mitigate against the violence of colonisation? You might choose early Sydney as your case study.
4) Refer to one case study either from the course or of your own choosing, reflect on the changing representation of no-western peoples and cultures in museums.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.