Dialogue, morality and the Deadly Questions campaign: reconstructing, reviewing and revaluing Victorian Aboriginality

This paper discusses Aboriginal identity as expressed through the Deadly Questions campaign launched by Aboriginal Victoria and marketing company Clemenger BBDO in 2018. It provides an insight into the meanings that members of mainstream cultural groups bring to their dialogues with Aboriginal people. I analysed the 100 representative questions on the Deadly Questions website through three main categories: a primary category identifies those questions that frame Aboriginal identity to support non-Aboriginal constructions of national identity; a second category explores related themes of learning and reflection; a third category identifies those questions that use an inclusive, humanitarian discourse. Results indicate that people's viewpoints are strongly bound with their moral outlook. Comfortableness with cultural ambiguity aligns with a questioning of stereotypes and support for Aboriginal positions, while surety around a singular national narrative promotes a deficit positioning of Aboriginal people and culture. Between these two categories lies a readiness and willingness to learn about Aboriginal culture, but a reluctance to learn too much. The paper concludes by reflecting on pathways to promote a more dialogical vision of Aboriginal and mainstream cultural relations and makes the case that it beholds those with a humanitarian ethos to stimulate debate towards a more inclusive society for all Victorians.