The Art of Protest: The Music, Performance and Visual Arts of Activism since 1850
Undergraduate
MUR-HIS216 2025Course information for 2025 intake
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Enrol by
- 16 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 24 Feb 2025
- Price from
- $2,125
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
The Art of Protest: The Music, Performance and Visual Arts of Activism since 1850
About this subject
On successful completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Analyse the historical and cultural contexts of key protest movements from 1850 to the present, and critically assess the role of music, performance, and visual arts in shaping and reflecting these movements.
- Critically evaluate the strategies employed by artists, musicians, and performers to convey messages of social and political activism, considering how these strategies have evolved over time in response to changing societal conditions.
- Critically analyse historical scholarship, demonstrating an awareness of different conceptual approaches and how interpretations of the past are constructed.
- Evaluate primary and secondary sources to construct well-reasoned, evidence-based arguments.
- List of topics covered in this subject are coming soon.
This unit examines the role of music, performance, and visual arts in social and political activism from 1850 to today. Students will explore how artists have used their work to challenge authority, inspire movements, and advocate for change. Through historical analysis and case studies, the unit covers key protest movements and the creative strategies that defined them, from civil rights and anti-war protests to environmental and class activism. By engaging with diverse media, students will develop critical skills to analyse the impact of artistic activism on society and its ongoing relevance in today’s social justice movements.
- Artefacts of Protest (30%)
- Creative Expression and Social Change (40%)
- Final Invigilated Exam (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- 0.125 EFTSL
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