The meaninglessness of Aboriginal cultures

Abstract

Anthropology, amongst other disciplines and discourses, has attracted much criticism over recent decades for producing and circulating stereotypes of Aboriginal cultural authenticity. Aborigines have been at the forefront of much of this criticism. For a number of reasons, however, many Aborigines are now subscribing to notions of authenticity, and locate ‘real’ Aboriginality in somewhat mysterious biological essences, and proclaim that their biological heritage imbues them with specific cultural values. This paper considers the issue of cultural identity and discusses whether or not cultural identities fit within deterministic models of identity, or if such identities are more fluid and vulnerable to assumption.