Black Australian Literature

Welcome to ABTS2040! I trust that you will enjoy your time with us as we explore the power and intent of Indigenous Australian literature, from 1788 to 1990. We shall be considering the strength and purpose of Black writing and the course will trace the development of the indigenous literary voice from the days of first contact. Through this course we shall also look at the role of the individual within the tribal community and the complexity of the tribal structure. These factors were critical influences on Aboriginal communication and determined genre, methodology and content. This course should be seen only as a general introduction to indigenous writing and the history and development of the indigenous literary voice. So welcome to the course, I hope you enjoy it.

Texts: 

Davis, Jack [ed.]

Hodge, Bob [ed.]

Aboriginal Writing Today : Papers from the First National Conference of Aboriginal Writers 1985 Criticism

Shoemaker, Adam Black Words, White Page : Aboriginal Literature 1929-1988 1989 Criticism

Heiss, Anita Dhuuluu-Yala : To Talk Straight : Publishing Indigenous Literature 2003 Criticism

Rose, Michael [ed.] For the Record : 160 Years of Aboriginal Print Journalism 1996 Non-fiction

Davis, Jack [ed.]

Muecke, Stephen [ed.]

Mudrooroo [ed.]

Shoemaker, Adam [ed.]

Paperbark : A Collection of Black Australian Writings 1990 Anthology

Mudrooroo Writing from the Fringe : A Study of Modern Aboriginal Literature 1990 Criticism

Van Toorn, Penny Writing Never Arrives Naked : Early Aboriginal Cultures of Writing in Australia 2006 Criticism