Editor's note
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Australia once had a booming Aboriginal kitsch industry – from garden ornaments to paintings to tiles to ceramic plates. But these domestic collectables – many of which still circulate – trade in racist stereotypes, writes Liz Conor.
And in case you missed it, we have compiled a map of some of the world’s political pressure points for 2017, including those that are facing momentous elections, are riven by ongoing conflict or war, or are battling an economic crisis.
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Suzy Freeman-Greene
Arts and Culture Editor
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Arts + Culture
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A fruit cart depicting a ‘picanniny’ child: such figures were popular at a time when Aboriginal children were being removed from their families.
Author provided
Liz Conor, La Trobe University
What are we to make of 'Aboriginalia': bric-a-brac, tiles, ornaments and artworks - once hugely popular - depicting caricatures of Indigenous people? What if they are collected now in a knowing, ironic way?
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Part of Auguste Rodin’s Pierre de Wissant, monumental nude,
c.1886–87.
Ted Snell, University of Western Australia
Our empathy for the anguished subject of this sculpture is heightened because although cast in bronze he is so tantalisingly human.
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Politics + Society
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New research has found that 15.7% of women and 7.1% of men have experienced economic abuse in their lifetimes.
Shutterstock
Jozica Kutin, RMIT University; Mike Reid, RMIT University; Roslyn Russell, RMIT University
Women living in high financial stress and those who have a disability or chronic health condition are most at risk of economic abuse.
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Some of the global pressure points in 2017. Below is the analysis of each country, grouped by region.
The Conversation
Susan Harris Rimmer, Griffith University
As countries around the world deal with internal and international crises, the potential for faultlines to open is high.
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Business + Economy
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‘Going forward’ is a boardroom and husting escapee that has now made it big time in the workplace, and even outside.
shutterstock
Kate Burridge, Monash University
When they start life, clichés are fetching and memorable phrases. But overuse has sucked them of vitality – and now they walk among the living dead.
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More than A$72 billion has been paid in dividends in 2016-17.
AAP/Dean Lewins
Lee Smales, Curtin University
Rather than lifting investment, Australian businesses have chosen to return cash to shareholders in the form of record dividends and share buybacks.
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Energy + Environment
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Sydney’s summer was the hottest on record.
AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Andrew King, University of Melbourne; David Karoly, University of Melbourne; Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute ; Matthew Hale, UNSW; Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, UNSW
New South Wales has just had its hottest summer on record – an event that was made 50 times more likely by humans' impact on the climate.
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Increasing carbon dioxide is impacting some of our favourite foods.
Glenn Fitzgerald, University of Melbourne
Rising carbon dioxide may be a boon for crop yields, but at the expense of nutritional content and quality.
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Health + Medicine
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Real-time tracking of drug production and distribution involves standardisation and investment in manufacturing and processing infrastructure.
from www.shutterstock.com
Bruce Baer Arnold, University of Canberra
A pirated movie won't kill you, but a counterfeit blood-thinner might. Australia needs stronger laws and tougher enforcement to counter fake drugs.
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Women are confused about how the new test for human papillomavirus (HPV), pictured here, will help them prevent cervical cancer. Let’s fix that.
from www.shutterstock.com
Jane Williams, University of Sydney; Sally Wortley, University of Sydney
The roll-out of a new screening program for cervical cancer has been delayed, leaving Australian women understandably confused about if or when they need Pap smears. Here's what they need to know.
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Science + Technology
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Visitors look at the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet at the Avalon Airshow 2017, Victoria.
AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy
Steven L. Jones, UNSW
The new Joint Strike Fighter will make its first appearance before an Australian crowd this weekend. But how close to being operational is the new fighter aircraft?
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The future soldier may be enhanced.
Shutterstock
Adam Henschke, Australian National University
Armed forces around the world are exploring technological and biological enhancements to their soldiers. But this raises a number of serious ethical concerns, before, during and after conflict.
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Cities
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The goal of healthy built environments has been missing from the NSW planning agenda for too long.
from www.shutterstock.com
Patrick Harris, University of Sydney; Jennifer Kent, University of Sydney; Peter Sainsbury, University of Sydney
The health impacts of urban and regional planning are undisputed. So why did the NSW government adopt and then discard health objectives as part of state planning legislation?
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The scene of the fatal crash at Essendon Airport, where authorities allowed extensive development between the runways and surrounding housing.
Joe Castro/AAP
Michael Buxton, RMIT University
Airport operators enjoy the privileged position in Australian planning law of being able to decide their own futures. Their exemption from state planning rules threatens orderly planning and safety.
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Education
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Figures show that few reports of sexual assault have resulted in the expulsion of the perpetrator from the university.
from shutterstock.com
Nicola Henry, La Trobe University
Prevention messages by universities are often directed at the victim and what she or he can do to avoid being raped. This may then deter reporting of the incident.
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Intellectual inquiry and expertise are under sustained attack, says Barney Glover.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Barney Glover, Western Sydney University
Our need for unbiased, well-researched information has never been greater.
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