New Releases by Jeremy Beckett

For four decades Jeremy Beckett has shone a light on previously marginalised fields of life. While the many went in search of ''traditional culture?, Beckett was fascinated to learn how people who often lacked wider recognition of their Aboriginality went about their lives. In the process he changed our understandings of those people and highlighted the issues they confronted. He has enriched our appreciation of the diversity of Indigenous identities and experiences. He was an expert witness leading up to the Mabo decision, and has brought Australian Indigenous studies into a world framework. His work continues to be influential to many: those who revisit his ideas here; and those who are newer to his work.

The ''Corner Country'', where Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales now converge, was in Aboriginal tradition crisscrossed by the tracks of the mura, ancestral beings, who named the country as they travelled, linking place to language. Reproduced here is the story of the two Ngatyi, Rainbow Serpents, who travelled from the Paroo to the Flinders Ranges and back as far as Yancannia Creek, where their deep underground channels linked them back to the Paroo. Jeremy Beckett recorded these stories from George Dutton and Alf Barlow in 1957. Luise Hercus, who has worked on the languages in the area for many years, has collaborated with Jeremy Beckett to analyse the names and identify the places.

Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda, Luke Skywalker, and more are brought to life with dozens of little-known facts and hundreds of photos, as are accessories, vehicles, weapons, and even the Death Star. Learn about the history, manufacture, and construction of the minifigures of the "Star Wars" galaxy, and come away a LEGO Jedi Master.

Jeremy Beckett was born in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, on June 7, 1975. He grew up in southern California. Jeremy graduated high school at sixteen years of age, and joined the U.S. Navy weeks after his seventeenth birthday, making him the youngest person in the military. He served for four years in the Navy with the Seabees, and was discharged honorably in July of 1996. Jeremy became a commercial fisherman in Alaska shortly after. He attained sea time and schooling to become a merchant marine. He has worked on fishing boats, cargo ships, supply ships, research vessels and tankers. His job has taken him all over the world, including South America, Central America, Asia, Africa, and European countries. All of Jeremyas stories have been written at sea, and he continues to work at sea as a chief mate in the Gulf of Mexico. Jeremy has a wife and a daughter and a baby on the way.

"Star Wars is the largest grossing film franchise in history! Discover the collectibles. "The Official(R)" Price Guide to Star Wars Memorabilia is a complete and reliable sourcebook on a subject that is gaining new and revived popularity with fans and collectors thanks to the release of the the two prequels and the May 2005 premiere of "Star Wars: Episode III!" - Written with the support of "Rebelscum.com, one of the largest and most successful Web sites devoted to "Star Wars and its memorabilia. - Includes numerous detailed descriptions and price listings for Star Wars collectibles.

Examination of the rupture between place and identity in the autobiography of Myles Lalor; oral history; contrast with the life and world view of George Dutton; nostalgia, Aboriginality and world view change.

Jedda as a critique of the Assimilation Policy; the film in the context of competing discourses on the possibility of Aboriginal domestication, sexuality and the force of nature; the problem of the structural and genetic half cast.

Comments on David Hollinsworths Discourses on Aboriginality and the politics of identity in urban Australia.

Physical description and ethnographic background; contact history - missions, migration and maritime industry; relations with governments; contemporary economy, social structure and relation to the sea.

In defence of his use of the term welfare colonialism.

See Becketts Against nostalgia; place and memory in Myles Lalors Oral history, for background and summary.

This book examines Aboriginal identity in various forums - discourse, education, juvenile institutions, geographic locations, in terms of myths and in land rights actions. A selection of authors drawn from a variety of disciplines present a readable collection of works covering the past and the present, and many issues which face Aboriginal people in Australia today.

Reactions of the Torres Strait Islanders, Australia''s "other" indigenous minority, to colonialism and their position in Australian society, are compared with the Aborigine experience.

Explores the aftermath of a cargo cult in the Torres Strait; focuses on relation between anthropologist and informant in the negotiation and transfer of knowledge.

Note on theoretical developments in Stanners thought.

Discusses the role of the Government in the past and present lives of Aborigines; Aborigines in the economy; protectionism; assimilation; self determination; land rights.

Reply to Shnukal (1983) on distinctions between Creole and Standard English.

Mythology, the after life, mortuary customs and social structure in the western Torres Strait islands; includes comparison with Cape York myth and brief Mamu myth from R.M.W. Dixon.

Summarizes traditional social and economic life of Islanders; examines variation in dependence on fishing and gathering v. gardening; variation linked to population density and mobility; broad uniformities in formal social organization and religion.

Note on article by Robin Fox (Mankind, June 1969) on kinship and marriage.

Based on field work, 1958-1961; discusses elections on Murray Island; describes island council, functions, arrangements for elections; community social, economic differentiation, economic & domestic activities, kinship network; electoral divisions & competition, gives details of cases (elections of 1956, 1959 and petition)

Genetic and cultural diffusion, life of community on Thursday Island; Favourable view of white people by islanders.

Itinerary, purpose; brief notes on 1) traditional culture and social organization - work at Murrin Bridge on Wongaibon people and at Tibooburra (Maliangaba) outlined; unsuccessful attempts to record texts; 2) culture contact - Tibooburra and Murrin Bridge; 3) modern kinship behaviour traditional marriage in abeyance for at least a generation, question of marriage of younger people; visiting networks and their extension, breakdown of regionalism.

Based on field work 1958-1961 in Torres Strait (location disguised but probably Murray Island), background to community, European contact, influence of Anglican mission, employment; gives example of disputes showing behaviour, attitudes etc.; discussion of rivalry and tension, solidarity.