On Not Being Australian: Mudrooroo and Demidenko
Abstract
Discusses how the cases of Colin Johnson/Mudrooroo and Helen Darville/Demidenko complicate and reveal fractures in 'Australian' identity. 'By not being [the hegemonic] Australian, Mudrooroo and Demidenko help to define the Australian, to make 'him' seem like a being which is 'himself.' On the other hand, by apparently not being not Australian their imposture is even more troubling for the Australian, who has often felt an imposter 'himself', 'cringing' (Philips) into Da-sein rather than growing up in it.'
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Published 1 October 2004 in Volume 21 No. 4. Subjects: Australian identity, Cultural & national identity, Imposture, Literary hoaxes.
Cite as: Goldie, Terry. ‘On Not Being Australian: Mudrooroo and Demidenko.’ Australian Literary Studies, vol. 21, no. 4, 2004, doi: 10.20314/als.2c9d1ae207.