Edelman Planetarium speaker talks on “Emu in the Sky”

The Fredric and Jean Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University continues its speaker series with a presentation on Friday, March 3, at 2 p.m., on “The Emu in the Sky, The Southern Cross & The Crux of the Matter: Constellations, Flags, Nationalism & Identity in Australia. Can the Night Sky be Colonized?” 

Guest speaker Gianna Farrell, an anthropologist and ethnographer, will look at the way in which the constellations known most commonly to white Australians and westerners as the Southern Cross has been co-opted as a symbol of nationalism. She will explore various Australian flags that use the Southern Cross as a symbol of national identity. Farrell will talk about the Southern Cross's importance as a navigational tool both for the original indigenous inhabitants of Australia and the colonizers of Australia. She will share some stories about how various Aboriginal groups interpret the Southern Cross--as an emu in the sky, an eagle talon, a possum sitting in a tree, a representation of a sky deity and a stingray. Time permitting, Farrell will talk about the tradition of Aboriginal astronomy and the way in which Aboriginal star maps have informed the modern day highway system of Australia. She'll also share her favorite star story--the story of the Seven Sisters.

Farrell, who teaches anthropology at Rowan University, earned an M.A. in visual anthropology from Temple University and conducted fieldwork in Australia. First and foremost, Farrell considers herself a story-teller and believes that anthropology's transformative power lies within the age-old art of telling a story.

Contact planetarium@rowan.edu or call 856-256-4389 for more information.