Bulletin

Issue: March 2004

News

OUTLAWED: academics contribute to exhibition

Two La Trobe University History Program readers, Drs Barry Carr and John Hirst, played roles in the preparation of the exhibition Outlawed, currently on display at the Australian National Museum, Canberra.

Outlawed examines an unusual aspect of history-the stories behind a number of the world's rebels, revolutionaries, bandits and bushrangers-including Australia's own Ned Kelly.

Scheduled to be presented at the Melbourne Museum between 28 May and 10 October, 2004, and possibly other state capitals, it is the first major exhibition to investigate national outlaw legends from a global perspective. It delves into the lives of individual revolutionaries and outlaws who became figures of national significance.

Artefacts, including guns, clothing and samples of writing, interactive material, films, and short histories trace the evolution of outlaw legends in popular culture and legend making and examine why social outsiders fascinate and inspire.

Outlawed also seeks to reveal why certain social rebels are glorified as fighters against the injustices and inequalities of class or colonialism and why some came to symbolise chivalry, courage, freedom, ruthlessness, tragedy and mystery.

The exhibition showcases some of the more intriguing outlaw heroes including Robin Hood (UK), Ishikawa Goemon (Japan), Ned Kelly (Australia), Jesse James (USA), Pancho Villa (Mexico), Hone Heke (NZ), Phoolan Devi (India) and Salvatore Gilliano (Sicily) and explores regional and global folklore and 'fakelore' and attempts to penetrate the tension between fact and legend.

Dr Carr, who teaches a course entitled Peasants and Politics in Latin America, and is Director of La Trobe University Institute of Latin American Studies, has always been professionally interested in bandits and revolutionaries in 19th and 20th century Latin America.

Dr Hirst, who is on the board of the National Museum of Australia, and Dr Carr were both members of the expert committee which initially planned the exhibition. As a specialist in 19th and 20th century Australian history, Dr Hirst contributed his knowledge of Australian bushrangers. He was supported by history postgraduate, Mr Alex McDermott, who studied Ned Kelly's 'Jerilderie Letter' for his honours degree.

Dr Carr advised the exhibition's curator, Professor Anne McGrath, about Pancho Villa and assisted her with contacts when she went to Mexico to source material.

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