University Lecture Series

Asks historical questions about warfare in the modern era. Analyses conflicts and state violence and their impacts on people and their governments in a global setting. Themes include: the causes, course and consequences of warfare; restraint in warfare; ideologies of war and peace; civil war and revolution; imperial warfare; genocide; the human impact and context of war.

Lecturer: Maartje Abbenhuis

Monday 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Tuesday 9:00 am – 10:00 am

An introduction to New Zealand’s home-grown popular music, from the 1950s to the present day. A broad range of musical styles will be considered and situated within various social contexts. The issue of cultural identity in music – at national and local levels – will also be explored.

Lecturer: Aleisha Ward

Wednesday 9:00 am – 11:00 am

An introduction to the study and interpretation of folktales. Tales from many cultures will be examined. Contrasting theories on the origins and meaning of folktales will be explored.

Lecturer: Nicole Perry

Tuesday 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Explores the social, cultural, religious and political histories of medieval Europe and its relations with wider worlds. Topics covered may vary from year to year, but will likely include social structures, the place of religious faith, gender relations, power and authority, ethnic identities, conflict and dissent, migrations, literary and artistic expressions, and responses to crises.

Lecturers: Lindsay Diggelmann
Kim Phillips 

Friday 9:00 pm – 11:00 am

An introductory study of how law is made and applied in New Zealand – an overview of the law-making roles of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government; other influences on the development of the law; an introduction to case law, including judicial reasoning and the doctrine of precedent; an introduction to statute law, including the legislative process and techniques of statutory interpretation and application; the interaction between case law and legislation.

Lecturers: Mark Henaghan, Vincent Cogliati-Bantz

Monday 9:00 am -10:00 am

Wednesday 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Friday 9:00 am -10:00 am

Provides an overview of key contemporary social policy issues within the context of globalising economic processes and continuing gendered and racialised divisions. Discusses the way in which debates around social policy are constructed and the implications this has for social justice. Case studies may include food and health, technology, indigeneity and children.

Lecturer: Moeata Keil

Thursday 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Friday 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Europe’s rich and distinctive film tradition provides an opportunity to examine issues of contemporary Europe and its individual nations. This course examines the sources, complexities and resonances of a number of European films and the ways in which they refer, directly or obliquely, to historical, social and political issues around the concept of Europe. The films shown will all be subtitled.

Lecturer: Bernadette Luciano

Tuesday 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

An exploration of the diverse beliefs and practices found in modern Judaism against the backdrop of wider Jewish history. An oppurtunity to learn about cultural systems, institutions, and collective and personal rituals. In addition, the course covers the emergence of religious fundamentalism, feminism, and humanism in Judaism.

Lecturer: Orna Weinroth

Monday 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm