Arguments about Aborigines Australia and the Evolution of Social Anthropology [Paperback]

A stimulating history of the central questions in Aboriginal studies, first published in 1996.Australian Aborigines have been used as the crucial case study of early human forms for generations of social theorists and anthropologists. This text examines controversial subjects such as family life, religion and ritual, and land rights through the prism of aboriginal studies.Australian Aborigines have been used as the crucial case study of early human forms for generations of social theorists and anthropologists. This text examines controversial subjects such as family life, religion and ritual, and land rights through the prism of aboriginal studies.In the nineteenth century, Australian Aborigines were used by European scholars as an exemplar of early human forms, and have consequently featured as the crucial case study for generations of social theorists and anthropologists. Arguments about Aborigines examines controversial subjects such as family life, religion and ritual, and land rights through the prism of Aboriginal studies. Professor Hiatt's book will provide a valuable introduction to Aboriginal ethnography, and is a shrewd and stimulating history of the central questions in Aboriginal studies.List of illustrations; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Prologue; 2. Real estates and phantom hordes; 3. Group marriage; 4. The woman question; 5. People without politics; 6. High gods; 7. Conception and misconception; 8. Dangerous mothers-in-law and disfigured sisters; 9. Initiation: the case of the cheeky yam; 10. Epilogue; Notes; References; Index. In our native titles era, lawyers, historians and interested non-professionals would find it useful to learn more of anthropologists' intellectual engagements with Aboriginal people over the past century or so. This important book is a good place to start; it is an achievement worthy of a distinguished tribal elder. Bruce Rigsby, Australian Journal of Politics and History Reading each of these chapters as separate essays prl³³