Maralinga : Thunder Raining Poison single work   criticism  
Issue Details: First known date: 2021... 2021 Maralinga : Thunder Raining Poison
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'The events surrounding the British nuclear tests in Central Australia came alive for Australian television audiences when the ABC screened Operation Buffalo in May and June 2020. The series was inspired by the actual tests at Maralinga, although screen writer and producer Peter Duncan was upfront in announcing that it was a work of ‘historical fiction’, along with a proviso that ‘a lot of the really bad history actually happened’.1 The series was promoted as a ‘captivating drama’ set in Maralinga in a Cold War climate in which ‘paranoia runs rife and nuclear bombs are not the only things being tested as loyalty, love and betrayal are pitted against each other’.2 The characters in Operation Buffalo include the handsome operations manager Major Leo Carmichael who is seduced by visiting British meteorologist Eva Lloyd George, a Russian spy; British General ‘Cranky’ Crankford who befriends Ruby and her Aboriginal family affected by the testing; and nurse Corinne who treats soldiers exposed to deadly nuclear chemicals. Meanwhile the British High Commissioner, key Australian politicians, prostitutes and ASIO agents weave in and out of the drama that includes visiting dignitaries observing the explosion of a nuclear device from a viewing platform.' (Introduction)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Humanities Australia no. 12 November 2021 23527866 2021 periodical issue

    'Welcome to the 12th edition of the Australian Academy of the Humanities’ flagship journal Humanities Australia, showcasing some of the outstanding research and writing being carried out by our Fellows, grants and awards alumni and those involved in our annual lecture series. It is an essential part of our commitment to supporting excellence in the humanities and communicating their value to the public.

    'This year’s edition of Humanities Australia again demonstrates the ability and effectiveness of the humanities in addressing current challenges, with articles covering a wide range of topics: from the value of the arts in times of crisis, to conceptions of loneliness in the past and present, to the ongoing legacy of frontier violence, colonisation, and Indigenous dispossession.

    'As in previous years, it also features an edited version of our annual Trendall lecture, and work by our Crawford Medal recipient,  providing a platform for readers to engage with research from across the humanities community.

    'We hope that you enjoy reading the wonderful research on display in this edition and that it can begin to convey the excitement we feel about the humanities disciplines and their potential to address important issues facing our nation, both directly and through reflections on the past.' (Publication summary)

    2021
    pg. 48-58
Last amended 2 Dec 2021 09:05:26
48-58 Maralinga : Thunder Raining Poisonsmall AustLit logo Humanities Australia
Subjects:
  • Maralinga, North West South Australia, Far North South Australia, South Australia,
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