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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
In 1925 American anthropologist Margaret Mead visited Samoa on a research trip and thought that she had discovered a utopian society, free of the restrictive social conventions of western societies. Her revelations of promiscuity among Samoan teenagers made her the guru of generations of academics and the 1960s' aficionados of sex, rock 'n' roll and free speech.
In 1983 Australian academic Derek Freeman exposed Mead's findings as fraudulent, and revealed the story of how, and why, the Samoans had duped her. Heretic, David Williamson's controversial new play, explores the lifetime obessions of two remarkable headstrong protagonists. It also takes us inside the psyche of Derek Freeman, an iconoclast who was prepared to risk his marriage and shatter his career in the pursuit of truth. (Publisher's blurb, back cover).
Notes
-
Dedication: To Derek and Monica Freeman and to the late Margaret Mead who, in Freeman's words, 'asked the right question'.
Production Details
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First produced by the Sydney Theatre Company at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, 28 March 1996. Director: Wayne Harrison. There was a great deal of controversy over the production with Williamson disagreeing over the direction.
Contents
* Contents derived from the
Melbourne,
Victoria,:
Sydney,
New South Wales,:Penguin
,Currency Press
, 1996 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
- The Making and Unmaking of Margaret Mead, single work criticism (p. 7-11)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Plays Offer "Asian-Pacific Interface"
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 11 no. 1 1997; (p. 63-64,65)
— Review of Heretic : Based on the Life of Derek Freeman 1996 single work drama ; Fortune 1995 single work drama ; Pacific Union : The Story of the San Francisco Forty-Fivers 1995 single work drama -
His Passion is Anger
1996
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Saturday Mercury , 24 February 1996; (p. 41) -
Heresy
1996
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meanjin , Winter vol. 55 no. 2 1996; (p. 258-266) Australian Humanities Review , July - August no. 2 1996; -
Critical Analysis, Controversy and a Hat-Trick of Success
1996
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Age , 14 August 1996; (p. B19) -
Heresy for Some: Paradise is a PC-Free World
1996
single work
column
biography
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 4 March 1996; (p. 3)
-
Heretic
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: The Big Issue , 12 August-25 August no. 4 1996; (p. 36)
— Review of Heretic : Based on the Life of Derek Freeman 1996 single work drama -
Paperbacks
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 6 July 1996; (p. wkd 7)
— Review of Heretic : Based on the Life of Derek Freeman 1996 single work drama -
Untitled
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , August no. 183 1996; (p. 42-43)
— Review of Heretic : Based on the Life of Derek Freeman 1996 single work drama -
Plays Offer "Asian-Pacific Interface"
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 11 no. 1 1997; (p. 63-64,65)
— Review of Heretic : Based on the Life of Derek Freeman 1996 single work drama ; Fortune 1995 single work drama ; Pacific Union : The Story of the San Francisco Forty-Fivers 1995 single work drama -
A Full Flowering at Last
1995
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 1 April 1995; (p. 14)
— Review of Heretic : Based on the Life of Derek Freeman 1996 single work drama -
Heretic: Controversial Play Opens in ACT
1996
single work
column
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 13 June 1996; (p. 2) -
Heresy for Some: Paradise is a PC-Free World
1996
single work
column
biography
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 4 March 1996; (p. 3) -
Heresy
1996
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meanjin , Winter vol. 55 no. 2 1996; (p. 258-266) Australian Humanities Review , July - August no. 2 1996; -
His Passion is Anger
1996
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Saturday Mercury , 24 February 1996; (p. 41) -
Heretic Playwright Turns to Working-Class Rebellion
1996
single work
column
biography
— Appears in: The Australian , 21 March 1996; (p. 3)
Last amended 4 Nov 2011 11:07:59
Settings:
-
cSamoa,cSouth Pacific, Pacific Region,
-
cUnited States of America (USA),cAmericas,
-
cAustralia,c
- 1920s
- 1940s
- 1960s
- 1980s
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