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Paper Information:
Type: Paper
Paper Title: RETURN TO THE SAVAGE SLOT: ABORIGINAL AUTHENTICITY, AUSTRALIAN ANTHROPOLOGY AND THE NEGLECT OF HISTORY
Author: DIANE AUSTIN-BROOS (University of Sydney)   
Date/Time: Sat., 4:30 PM
Co-Author(s): DIANE AUSTIN-BROOS (University of Sydney) 
Abstract: In his account of the 'savage slot' that the discipline of anthropology filled, Trouillot did not address one major influence: nineteenth century evolutionism and, in particular, the role of Darwin's pronouncements on 'savages' in his 'Descent of Man.' Few societies and anthropologies have been influenced more than Australia's by this dubious heritage. Australia became a principal site of the initial salvage anthropology to record the savage's culture before it, and its bearers, were supposed to expire. Post-world war II, it seemed that Australian anthropology might shake off the savage slot, and the heavy burden of the past. However, the advent of land rights, and a state-directed politics of authenticity in fact has revivified notions of 'the savage' in unpredicted ways. This paper draws both on Trouillot's post-colonial critique, and his writings on historical anthropology to discuss the way in which Australian anthropology has been trapped in the savage slot.

Program Number: 4-0750
Session Title: HISTORY, MEMORY, GLOBALIZATION: IN HONOR OF MICHEL-ROLPH TROUILLOT
Session Sponsor: American Ethnological Society
Session Date/Time: Sat., 1:45 PM-5:30 PM
Organizer(s): RICHARD PRICE (College of William & Mary), BRACKETTE WILLIAMS (University of Arizona) 
Chair(s): RICHARD PRICE (College of William & Mary)  
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