ATS2909-3909: Villains and Rogues: A History of Ideas About Gangsters

Yes, there's a unit about gangsters. It sounds very awesome and like its just a interesting unit, but in reality, its not. The lectures act as a background to the weekly readings, providing historical context to the readings and random information relating back to the topic. Each week focused on a specific mafia or gang, besides the first 3 weeks which talked about Gangs and Mafias in general. The readings were the core of the unit, as in they were what was discussed in the tutorials- the ideas presented in the readings about the topic was focused on heavily in the tutorials and were expected to be discussed in the assessments. But they werent covered in the lectures, which made the lectures almost irrelevant. But I found them to be the most interesting. The readings unfortunately, were a drag, and many people struggled to get through them, as did I. I dont think the unit focused on the romanticisation and portrayal of gangsters by society as much as I expected, besides there being a whole reading on it in one of the first 3 weeks. I also struggled to comprehend the distinction between a Villain and a Rogue and a Mafia and a Gangster and as such I found myself just alternating between the 4 titles accordingly in the assessments as they werent clearly defined I felt. I didnt even attend the lectures half the time, but I think doing the readings and attending the tutorials is probably the most important and essential thing to doing well in this unit. I did feel a lack of direction half the time while doing the major assessments and struggled as a result. I just had no idea what to say. I felt like the unit was hyped up a lot, just by the name and what it seems to imply its about and the fact that Ernest Koh is a lecturer. He's no doubt an awesome lecturer, he's just funny and makes the lectures more enjoyable, but it didnt change the content I guess. You may remember him from Contemporary Worlds 1 and 2 (First Year History/Politics/International Studies Core Units) where he left quite the impression on students from his humor. I think he only took 2 lectures for this unit, those were enjoyable. Annabelle made the lectures interesting too, but they werent a highlight by any means.

I dont think I'm going to do as well as I hoped for this unit. It was quite complicated and not as interesting as I expected. Its more of a History Unit, but it wasnt as engaging as I hoped for.

I had other stuff to say but its 2AM and I cant remember what they were.

Annabelle Baldwin and Ernest Koh

No, it was not required as the unit had a take-home exam.

3 of 5

Yes, with screencapture

The unit reader which cost about $25 from memory.

1x 1.5 hour lecture and 1x1 hour tutorial

2013, Semester 1