Performing Ethnicity: The Demidenko Show and its Gratifying Pathologies

Australian Feminist Studies

Volumn 11, Issue 23, 1996, Pages 53-63

  Gunew, Sneja ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0030531416     PISSN: 08164649     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/08164649.1996.9994804     Document Type: Article

References (71)

1. I have attempted to canvas some of this debate in Sneja Gunew, 'Multicultural Multiplicities: US, Canada, Australia' in David Bennett (ed.), Cultural Studies: Pluralism & Theory (University of Melbourne Press) Melbourne, 1993, pp. 51-65, but it is a highly complex and continuing issue as exemplified in the recent 'Writing Through Race' controversy. (See Cyril Dabydeen, 'Celebrating Difference', Books in Canada, September 1994, pp. 23-5 and Roy Miki, 'From Exclusion to Inclusion', Canadian Forum, September 1994, pp. 4-8). Interestingly enough, most Canadian examples of literary transvestism are in relation to Europeans 'passing' as Native Canadians, e.g. 'Grey Owl'.
2. I have attempted to canvas some of this debate in Sneja Gunew, 'Multicultural Multiplicities: US, Canada, Australia' in David Bennett (ed.), Cultural Studies: Pluralism & Theory (University of Melbourne Press) Melbourne, 1993, pp. 51-65, but it is a highly complex and continuing issue as exemplified in the recent 'Writing Through Race' controversy. (See Cyril Dabydeen, 'Celebrating Difference', Books in Canada, September 1994, pp. 23-5 and Roy Miki, 'From Exclusion to Inclusion', Canadian Forum, September 1994, pp. 4-8). Interestingly enough, most Canadian examples of literary transvestism are in relation to Europeans 'passing' as Native Canadians, e.g. 'Grey Owl'.
3. I have attempted to canvas some of this debate in Sneja Gunew, 'Multicultural Multiplicities: US, Canada, Australia' in David Bennett (ed.), Cultural Studies: Pluralism & Theory (University of Melbourne Press) Melbourne, 1993, pp. 51-65, but it is a highly complex and continuing issue as exemplified in the recent 'Writing Through Race' controversy. (See Cyril Dabydeen, 'Celebrating Difference', Books in Canada, September 1994, pp. 23-5 and Roy Miki, 'From Exclusion to Inclusion', Canadian Forum, September 1994, pp. 4-8). Interestingly enough, most Canadian examples of literary transvestism are in relation to Europeans 'passing' as Native Canadians, e.g. 'Grey Owl'.
4. Helen Demidenko, 'Pieces of the Puzzle', Meanjin, vol. 54, no. 3, 1995, pp. 430-6.
5. See Sneja Gunew, Framing Marginality: Multicultural Literary Studies (University of Melbourne Press) Melbourne, 1994.
6. 'Pieces of the Puzzle', p. 433.
7. 'Pieces of the Puzzle', p. 434.
8. 'Pieces of the Puzzle', p. 436.
9. Morag Fraser, 'The Begetting of Violence', Meanjin, vol. 54, no. 3, 1995, p. 419.
10. Fraser, 'The Begetting of Violence', p. 420.
11. Fraser, 'The Begetting of Violence', p. 425.
12. Fraser, 'The Begetting of Violence', p. 429.
13. Meanjin, vol. 54, no. 3, 1995, p. 583.
14. There had been some controversy around the interpretation of 'Australian life' even before the Demidenko case. See Australian Book Review, nos 173 and 174, 1995.
15. Greg Roberts and Irris Makler, 'A Fictional Life: The Fertile Mind of Helen Darville', Sydney Morning Herald, 26 August 1995, p. 27; Kathy Legge, 'Demidenko: A Crisis of Identity', Australian, 21 August 1995, p. 2.
16. Greg Roberts and Irris Makler, 'A Fictional Life: The Fertile Mind of Helen Darville', Sydney Morning Herald, 26 August 1995, p. 27; Kathy Legge, 'Demidenko: A Crisis of Identity', Australian, 21 August 1995, p. 2.
17. See Kathy Legge, 'The Demidenko Affair', Weekend Australian, 'Review' section, 15-16 July 1995, pp. 1-2; 'Forum on the Demidenko Controversy', Australian Book Review, no. 173, August 1995, pp. 14-20.
18. See Kathy Legge, 'The Demidenko Affair', Weekend Australian, 'Review' section, 15-16 July 1995, pp. 1-2; 'Forum on the Demidenko Controversy', Australian Book Review, no. 173, August 1995, pp. 14-20.
19. Robert Manne, 'The Great Pretender', Age, 26 August 1995, pp. 7-8.
20. Gerard Henderson, 'Playing With the Truth in This Work of "Faction"', Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 1995, p. 11 and 'Faction, Fiction or Propaganda: Ozlit Should be Blushing', Sydney Morning Herald, 22 August 1995, p. 13.
21. Gerard Henderson, 'Playing With the Truth in This Work of "Faction"', Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 1995, p. 11 and 'Faction, Fiction or Propaganda: Ozlit Should be Blushing', Sydney Morning Herald, 22 August 1995, p. 13.
22. Helen Demidenko, 'All Peoples are Capable of Atrocities', Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 1995, p. 11.
23. Demidenko, 'All Peoples are Capable of Atrocities'.
24. Helen Demidenko, The Hand That Signed the Paper (Allen & Unwin) Sydney, 1994, pp. 9, 11, 15, 16, 28, 29, 32, 43, 45, 46, 65, 90, 96, 108, 117.
25. Quoted in Australian Book Review, no. 173, p. 19 my emphasis.
26. Roberts and Makler, 'A Fictional Life'.
27. Luke Slattery, 'Our Multicultural Cringe' in Australian, 13 September 1995. As one of the compilers of the first comprehensive bibliography of Australian multicultural writers (S. Gunew, L. Houbein, A. Karakostas-Seda and J. Mahyuddin, A Bibliography of Australian Multicultural Writers (Deakin University Press) Geelong, 1992) I note such remarks with a degree of wry interest. Certainly such 'authentic' voices abound for those who wish to seek them out but this, so far, does not include the Australian media or even the literary establishment to any great degree. Studies in ethnic minority writings are far less advanced in Australia than they are in Canada or the United States.
28. Luke Slattery, 'Our Multicultural Cringe' in Australian, 13 September 1995. As one of the compilers of the first comprehensive bibliography of Australian multicultural writers (S. Gunew, L. Houbein, A. Karakostas-Seda and J. Mahyuddin, A Bibliography of Australian Multicultural Writers (Deakin University Press) Geelong, 1992) I note such remarks with a degree of wry interest. Certainly such 'authentic' voices abound for those who wish to seek them out but this, so far, does not include the Australian media or even the literary establishment to any great degree. Studies in ethnic minority writings are far less advanced in Australia than they are in Canada or the United States.
29. David Marr, 'Australia's Satanic Verses', Sydney Morning Herald, 26 August 1995, Spectrum 4A.
30. Helen Darville, 'Helen Darville Apologises', Sydney Morning Herald, 26 August 1995, p. 1.
31. David Bentley, 'Questions Posed on Author's Life', Courier-Mail (Queensland), 19 August 1995, pp. 1, 27; Kay Dibben, 'Author Mystery Deepens', Sunday Mail (Queensland), 20 August 1995, p. 3.
32. David Bentley, 'Questions Posed on Author's Life', Courier-Mail (Queensland), 19 August 1995, pp. 1, 27; Kay Dibben, 'Author Mystery Deepens', Sunday Mail (Queensland), 20 August 1995, p. 3.
33. See Globe & Mail, 23 August 1995; London Sunday Times, 27 August 1995; Manchester Guardian Weekly, 27 August 1995.
34. See Globe & Mail, 23 August 1995; London Sunday Times, 27 August 1995; Manchester Guardian Weekly, 27 August 1995.
35. See Globe & Mail, 23 August 1995; London Sunday Times, 27 August 1995; Manchester Guardian Weekly, 27 August 1995.
36. John Peel, 'Letter', Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 1995, p. 12. As this paper is being written further allegations of plagiarism are appearing in connection with the story cited at the beginning of this essay.
37. G. Henderson, 'Literary Judges Who Don't Want to be Judged', Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 1995, p. 13.
38. Ivor Indyk, 'Letter', Australian Book Review, no. 174, September 1995, pp. 3-4; Helen Daniel, 'Double Cover', Australian, 16 September 1995; McKenzie Wark, 'Revamp the Culture Club', Australian, 13 September 1995.
39. Ivor Indyk, 'Letter', Australian Book Review, no. 174, September 1995, pp. 3-4; Helen Daniel, 'Double Cover', Australian, 16 September 1995; McKenzie Wark, 'Revamp the Culture Club', Australian, 13 September 1995.
40. Ivor Indyk, 'Letter', Australian Book Review, no. 174, September 1995, pp. 3-4; Helen Daniel, 'Double Cover', Australian, 16 September 1995; McKenzie Wark, 'Revamp the Culture Club', Australian, 13 September 1995.
41. Gayatri Spivak, 'Can the Subaltern Speak?' in C. Nelson and L. Grossberg (eds), Marxism and the Interpretation of Culture (Macmillan) London, 1988, pp. 271-313.
42. Gunew, Framing Marginality.
43. My thanks here to Richard Cavell for suggesting this highly useful direction of thought.
44. David Hwang, 'Afterword', M. Butterfly (New American Library) New York, 1988, p. 94.
45. Marjorie Garber, 'Phantoms of the Opera: Actor, Diplomat, Transvestite, Spy', Vested Interests: Cross-Dressing and Cultural Anxiety (Routledge) New York, 1992, p. 236.
46. M. Butterfly, p. 241.
47. Song Liling attacks Gallimard (and through him Western sensibilities) for not being able to tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese women and for having no knowledge of the historical enmity between the two nations.
48. Garber, 'Phantoms of the Opera', p. 246.
49. Judith Butler, Bodies That Matter (Routledge) New York, 1993, p. 225.
50. Butler, Bodies That Matter, pp. 225-6.
51. Butler, Bodies That Matter, p. 234.
52. See Barry Oakley, 'Staying power wins author a literary marathon', Australian, 2 June 1995.
53. Walwicz is known for her sardonic mimicry of a range of 'ethnic' and so-called 'non-ethnic' voices. See her collection boat (Angus & Robertson) North Ryde, New South Wales, 1989.
54. See for example an early review by Susan Mitchell, 'Passport to Criminal Pasts', Weekend Australian, 12-13 November 1994.
55. This is based on private communications but see also Marko Pavlyshyn, 'Ukrainians Reject Stereotype Image', Weekend Australian, 16-17 September 1995.
56. See footnote 1 for further references.
57. Helen Demidenko, 'Interview', Australian Book Review, no. 165, 1995, p. 21.
58. Marr, 'Australia's Satanic Verses'.
59. See Australian Book Review, no. 173.
60. One notes here the controversy which both Maxine Hong Kingston and Alice Walker have attracted in these terms. See Frank Chin, 'This is Not an Autobiography', Genre, vol. 18, no. 2, 1985, pp. 109-30; Robert G. Lee, 'The Woman Warrior as an Intervention in Asian-American Historiography' in Shirley Geok-lin Lim (ed.), Approaches to Teaching Kingston's The Woman Warrior (Modern Language Association of America) New York, 1991, pp. 52-63; Trudier Harris, 'On The Color Purple, Stereotypes and Silence', Black American Literature Forum, vol. 18, no. 4, 1984, pp. 155-216; Alice Walker, 'In the Closet of the Soul', Living by the Word: Selected Writings 1973-87 (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich) San Diego, 1988, pp. 78-92.
61. One notes here the controversy which both Maxine Hong Kingston and Alice Walker have attracted in these terms. See Frank Chin, 'This is Not an Autobiography', Genre, vol. 18, no. 2, 1985, pp. 109-30; Robert G. Lee, 'The Woman Warrior as an Intervention in Asian-American Historiography' in Shirley Geok-lin Lim (ed.), Approaches to Teaching Kingston's The Woman Warrior (Modern Language Association of America) New York, 1991, pp. 52-63; Trudier Harris, 'On The Color Purple, Stereotypes and Silence', Black American Literature Forum, vol. 18, no. 4, 1984, pp. 155-216; Alice Walker, 'In the Closet of the Soul', Living by the Word: Selected Writings 1973-87 (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich) San Diego, 1988, pp. 78-92.
62. One notes here the controversy which both Maxine Hong Kingston and Alice Walker have attracted in these terms. See Frank Chin, 'This is Not an Autobiography', Genre, vol. 18, no. 2, 1985, pp. 109-30; Robert G. Lee, 'The Woman Warrior as an Intervention in Asian-American Historiography' in Shirley Geok-lin Lim (ed.), Approaches to Teaching Kingston's The Woman Warrior (Modern Language Association of America) New York, 1991, pp. 52-63; Trudier Harris, 'On The Color Purple, Stereotypes and Silence', Black American Literature Forum, vol. 18, no. 4, 1984, pp. 155-216; Alice Walker, 'In the Closet of the Soul', Living by the Word: Selected Writings 1973-87 (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich) San Diego, 1988, pp. 78-92.
63. One notes here the controversy which both Maxine Hong Kingston and Alice Walker have attracted in these terms. See Frank Chin, 'This is Not an Autobiography', Genre, vol. 18, no. 2, 1985, pp. 109-30; Robert G. Lee, 'The Woman Warrior as an Intervention in Asian-American Historiography' in Shirley Geok-lin Lim (ed.), Approaches to Teaching Kingston's The Woman Warrior (Modern Language Association of America) New York, 1991, pp. 52-63; Trudier Harris, 'On The Color Purple, Stereotypes and Silence', Black American Literature Forum, vol. 18, no. 4, 1984, pp. 155-216; Alice Walker, 'In the Closet of the Soul', Living by the Word: Selected Writings 1973-87 (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich) San Diego, 1988, pp. 78-92.
64. Butler, Bodies That Matter, p. 232.
65. Witness the cartoon in the Australian Book Review, no. 174, p. 5.
66. Helen Daniel, 'Double Cover'. One should note here that Helen Daniel is also the current editor of the Australian Book Review.
67. Sneja Gunew and Fazal Rizvi (eds), Culture, Difference, and the Arts (Allen & Unwin) Sydney, 1994.
68. See K. Legge, 'Demidenko: A Crisis' and Leonie Lamont, 'Chic to be an Ethnic', Sydney Morning Herald, 1 September 1995.
69. Editorial, 'Demidenko Still Needs to Explain', Weekend Australian, 26-27 August 1995, p. 20.
70. A comparable trajectory could be traced in relation to 'becoming indigenous' as has been analysed in the work of the Canadian critic Terry Goldie and around 'white aboriginality' by the Australian critic Ian McLean. See Terry Goldie, Fear and Temptation: The Image of the Indigene in Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand Literatures (McGill-Queen's University Press) Kingston & Montréal, 1989; Ian McLean, 'White Aborigines: The Quest for an Australian ldenitity. A History of Concepts and Ideologies in Australian Art.' Unpublished doctoral disseration, University of Melbourne, 1995.
71. A comparable trajectory could be traced in relation to 'becoming indigenous' as has been analysed in the work of the Canadian critic Terry Goldie and around 'white aboriginality' by the Australian critic Ian McLean. See Terry Goldie, Fear and Temptation: The Image of the Indigene in Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand Literatures (McGill-Queen's University Press) Kingston & Montréal, 1989; Ian McLean, 'White Aborigines: The Quest for an Australian ldenitity. A History of Concepts and Ideologies in Australian Art.' Unpublished doctoral disseration, University of Melbourne, 1995.