Derek Freeman (1916–2001) was an anthropologist. Born in New Zealand, he gained his doctorate from Cambridge before moving to Canberra in 1955 to work at the Australian National University. He was Professor of Anthropology from 1972 to 1981, during which period he also became an influential advocate for Aboriginal rights. Freeman had earlier been inspired by the work of Margaret Mead, but came to doubt her highly influential account of adolescent sexuality in Samoa, finding her theories too narrowly based on cultural determinism and on the ‘nature vs nurture’ debate. In 1983 the publication of 'Margaret Mead and Samoa: The Making and Unmaking of an Anthropological Myth' caused a furore in the academic world, which was fuelled by 'The Fateful Hoaxing of Margaret Mead' (1988). The stoush was the subject of David Williamson’s play 'Heretic' (1996), the title of which delighted the elderly scholar.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds from the Basil Bressler Bequest 2001
© Ralph Heimans
Accession number: 2001.176
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On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Mette Skougaard and Thomas Lyngby bring eloquent context to Ralph Heimans’ portraits of Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark.
Dr Sarah Engledow tells the story of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee portrait by Australian artist Ralph Heimans.
The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG interviews the artist who painted his portrait, Ralph Heimans.
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