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'Why, White Man, Why?' : White Australia as the Addressee of Apostrophe in Contemporary Aboriginal Writing
single work
Issue Details:
First known date:
2002...
2002
'Why, White Man, Why?' : White Australia as the Addressee of Apostrophe in Contemporary Aboriginal Writing
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'Contemporary Australian indigenous literature is characterised by a remarkably prevalent use of apostrophic address directed at the white reader. This mode of direct address in black literary texts draws attention to the political dynamics moulding reader-writer relations in contemporary Australia. The article examines numerous examples of this direct mode of address in prose, poetry and drama, and argues that this direct mode of address is a central element in the message of black writers. The use of apostrophe implies the active 'positioning' of the white reader on the part of the indigenous speaker; only by virtue of this positioning is the reading process made possible. The direct mode of address in these texts thus demands that the reader take up a stance characterised by a readiness to listen attentively to black literary voices.' (Author's abstract)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Last amended 25 Sep 2012 15:04:09
166-178
'Why, White Man, Why?' : White Australia as the Addressee of Apostrophe in Contemporary Aboriginal Writing
Zeitschrift fur Anglistik und Amerikanistik
23-36
'Why, White Man, Why?' : White Australia as the Addressee of Apostrophe in Contemporary Aboriginal Writing
Subjects:
- My People : A Kath Walker Collection 1970 selected work poetry essay
- The Song Circle of Jacky : Song Thirty 1986 single work poetry
- My Place 1987 single work autobiography
- Tired of Writing 1982 single work poetry
- You Who May Read My Words 1995 single work poetry
- Koori Dubays 1991 single work autobiography
- White Forms, Aboriginal Content 1985 single work criticism
- Writing from the Fringe : A Study of Modern Aboriginal Literature 1990 single work criticism
- On the Outskirts 1986 single work poetry
- Until You Learn 1994 single work poetry
- The Unhappy Race : The Myall Speaks 1964 single work poetry
- The Dreamers 1997 extract drama
- After Mabo : Interpreting Indigenous Traditions 1993 multi chapter work criticism
- The First-Born and Other Poems 1970 selected work poetry
- People are Legends 1971 single work poetry
- The Keepers 1989 single work drama
- Reading the Country : Introduction to Nomadology 1984 anthology prose
- Black Life : Poems 1992 selected work poetry
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