Aboriginal Myth in Arnhem Land

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that the Aboriginals of Australia are central to defining anthropology and to our understanding of what anthropology can say about modern man. The paper goes on to discuss how Aboriginal religion affects every aspect of Aboriginal society and how Aboriginal paintings are a expression of their religion. Lastly, the paper relates that the very survival of indigenous Aboriginal culture in Australia is a source of concern for many people for a wide variety of reasons.

From the Paper:

"Aboriginal paintings are expressions of aboriginal religion, of the Dreamtime, the recollection of the collective common story of these peoples. One of the remarkable features of this art is that virtually every aboriginal artist adheres to the same customs and conventions. This reflects that fact that art to aboriginals is not something that individuals do. It is a reflection of their common culture. While many individual artists may have different dreams and visions, the expression of their culture is so tightly bound to a common outlook and attitude that the commonality of the artwork is often more striking than the individuality (Price-Williams & Gaines). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kjellgren, Eric. "Ubirr (ca. 40,000?-present)". In Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000
• Price-Williams, Douglass, & Gaines, Rosslyn, "The Dreamtime and Dreams of Northern Australian Aboriginal Artists.
• Yengoyan, Aram A., "Economy, Society, and Myth in Aboriginal Australia," Annual Review of Anthropology

More papers on Aboriginal Myth in Arnhem Land:

• Term Paper # 133829 : "Aboriginal Myth in Arnhem Land"
• Article Review # 134792 : "Aboriginal Peoples and Aboriginal Title in BC Politics"
• Analytical Essay # 130282 : "Aboriginal People in Winnipeg"

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