AustLit

'Since the 1980s, the number of recordings made by Indigenous Australian performers has grown and those by Indigenous Australian women particularly have increased in the last 16 years. While scholars have examined the factors for the increase of recordings made by Indigenous performers generally, critical literature focusing on the continuing growth of recording output by Indigenous women performers is limited. Drawing on two discographies I have compiled of commercial recordings by Indigenous women performers, I examine the possible factors contributing to the growth of recordings by Indigenous women artists since 1990. I also examine some issues regarding gender and music and the social and political contexts relating to the recording output of Indigenous Australian women.'  (Publication abstract)

'Reflecting upon Dr Greer’s purpose in writing this essay, I have to admit that, as an Aboriginal Australian, I felt somewhat confused. On the one hand, Greer’s claim that she has racked her brains for years trying to imagine a way of healing Aboriginal grief (p. 2) smacks somewhat of paternalism and raises the question—‘if it was a matter of such great concern to her, why did she leave Australia?’ At the same time, however, I have to applaud her argument that there is a need for this nation to ‘end the problematisation of Aborigines’ (p. 2). This has been a persistent theme within Aboriginal communities for some time, a theme that she no doubt became aware of in her many interactions with Aboriginal Australians over the years.' (Introduction)