Abstract
Themes of the alien other are ubiquitous in Australian texts, in both law and science fiction. This chapter discusses the recurrence of these themes in various (con)texts, from the first pre-federation alien invasion novel The Germ Growers to the High Court decision in Love v Commonwealth; Thoms v Cth. The chapter argues that the enduring Australian fascination and anxiety with the alien is tied to the illegitimacy of Australia’s occupation by the British based on the claim that the continent was terra nullius. The work of First Nations author Claire Coleman and early parliamentary debates are also analysed in this context. Where colonial law asserts the lawfulness and neutrality of its concepts, ‘white-washing’ invasion, massacres, and genocide, the science fiction genre allows a space for the trauma of such brutalities and illegalities to be explored outside of law’s empire.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Legal Studies |
Place of Publication | Sweden |
Publisher | Taylor and Francis AS |
Pages | 238-252 |
Number of pages | 15 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781040013250, 9781003467762 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780367506957 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.