Australian Representation and Debates - Article Example

Running Head: AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATION and DEBATES Name Course Instructor Date Australian Representation and Debates It is quite evident the question of what Australia is and what it really means to be an Australian are questions that have largely been debated over time. According to Phillips and Smith (2000), the answers arising from these questions have constantly change based on historical background and today, these answers seem to largely vary between ethnic groups, residents as well as generations. Further, the discussion of what comprises Australia has become a national obsession not only to Australia but across the world. It is for this reason that this paper focuses on analyzing a range of debates and representations about being an Australian. This discussion will entail using at least three texts as well as using both theoretical and historical perspectives about being an Australia especially on that have been developed at the course of this unit. It is quite evident that for Australians as well as the individuals who have largely encountered Australia through tourism, immigration and education; there are various symbols as well as iconic images that run through one mind when “representing Australia” is mentioned. Evidently, individuals who have visited Australia for tourism purposes cannot leave Australia without noticing Uluru images in central Australia, opera house and Sydney harbor bridge, ceremonies such as corroboree where there is a lot of traditional painting, kangaroo that are constantly jumping in open space and finally, the well patterned empty breach which are against the blue ocean. All these images are largely designed to ensure that Australia is represented as exotic as well as attractive to their visitors (Phillips and Smith 2000). Based on history, there are various images especially those of Australia heroes and heroines which give the countries citizen the feeling of being powerful and morally good. For instance, stories and images of the ANZACs and those of sporting heroes are largely considered to be iconic representations of Australians courage toward achieving its independence. According to Phillips and Smith (2000), people of Australia can be described to represent their countries. For instance, individuals such as Banjo Patterson, Henry Lawson and CJ Dennis with their renowned poetic descriptions of the country’s’ independence can be termed as literary texts within Australian representation. Evidently, such representation can be viewed as true description of Australia as well as its citizen character since they largely represents people identity, places and experiences faced by the Australian community. It is important to note that a nation with reference to Australia is simply a cultural artifact (an imagined community) which is normally to achieve certain desired aims most importantly political loyalty (Phillips and Smith 2000). Purdie et al (2002) asserts that, Australia has greatly been represented through the use of symbols. Symbolic representation is considered to be categorized into film texts. It is important to note that symbolic representation of Australia does not necessarily have to mean images, sounds and words rather it can be used to represent people and their experiences. For instance, Uluru should not be viewed as a mere rock but one should relate it to Australia ruggedness so as to ensure it adopts a more aesthetic or mystical element that is greatly perceived to emerge from indigenous culture so as to apply Australia nation as whole. (Purdie et al 2002). It is quite evident that understanding Australia popular representation develops certain relationships which are greatly influenced by real historical events which may be considered as a response towards political events as well as debates that have shaped Australian politics in the past two decades. According to Purdie et al (2002), Australian representation does not lack various negativity based on the popular representation with main focus on film texts. Evidently, there exists numerous allegations of systematic culture destruction and genocide towards the aboriginal across Australia (Bowern and Harold 2004). This historical information gives the image that Australia youths are empty vessels waiting to be taught according to Stuart Macintyre who have largely contributed to the aboriginal culture destruction. Further, it is indicated by killing an aboriginal child creates vulnerability of Australian image of the future which has greatly underpinned the conflict over past years. It is important to note that whichever side of this debate you may might take regarding Australian history, researchers’ historian s need to come up with ways in which a positive future can be shaped where both non-aboriginals and aboriginals cultures and histories are greatly reconciled (Purdie et al 2002). Phillips (1998) maintains that, literacy texts indicate that the importance of aboriginality identity across Australia both among non-indigenous and indigenous does not greatly lie in the rectification of legal injustices and moral injustices carried out in the past but also providing a distinctive sense towards Australian nationality. It is quite evident that aboriginal culture is largely regarded as distinctive. The aboriginals are considered to be representing Australia as indicated in the poems that were written by Kendall who saw that these set of individuals fading away from Australia the land they once lived in proudly (Phillips1998). Although, Kendall poem is one which is sentimental, he greatly represents his country through playing tribute to the aboriginal history (Bowern and Harold 2004). Critically, facts and myths, storytelling, visions and hard political realities have largely been used in Australian representation. These approaches have largely created the pull of political narratives of outrage colonialism as well as a diverse pull of myths that are used to represent Australia raising the question whose land is Australia (Phillips1998). The diverse use of poetry develops a strong sense of Australian land and what colonialism meant to them as well as to the white settles. It is indicated that the last half of the twentieth century across Australia is a time with enormous and dramatic change for aboriginals and their relationship to the Australian land as well to non-aboriginals with how they are perceived to share land with for various uses (Vizard 2002). Contemporary indigenous poems by Tony Birch “history war” and “the true history of Beruk” are texts that largely draws together poetic techniques as well as historical research. These two contemporary poems are retrospective in that they look back to Australia colonial period whereby they create figures and voices that speaks into various contemporary indigenous concerns (Phillips1998). Birch’s work represents Australian political and emotional status more richly. It is quite evident that through his poems “the true history of Beruk and “history of war” greatly weaves history and poetry together so as to represent Australia. It is quite evident that in the Australian representation, implementation of one landscape and attachment to one place is of great significance. Jones (1997) maintains that, individuals are greatly attached to their homes, friends, a place of familiarity and childhood experiences. Therefore the use of poems is used to represent a country. These poems are also used to wipe out the norm created by white settles that Australia is a no man land since they have assisted in ensuring political and popular movements to emerge thus re-designing Australia (Jones1997). Popular music especially that which was sung in the 80s plays a major role towards understanding how Australia is represented. Most bands sand about the diverse relation of non indigenous and indigenous individuals to their land thus answering the question to who does the Australian land belong to (Jones1997). For instance the song “great southern land by Icehouse give the indication that the achievement of Australia land is a long journey where it presumably refer to aboriginals as the ancient occupants of the Australian land (Vizard 2002). The song contemporary rhythm can educate any stranger on the Australian history which mostly comprises of aboriginals. On the other hand “solid rock” by Gonna represent Australia politically as compared to “great southern land”. This song is used to represent Australia political background answering the question what is Australia and how Australian are based on a political context (Jones1997). It is correct to state that the song played a major role in fight colonialism in Australia indicating that change was needed from the white settlers’ invasion. It is further evident that songs were used with the historical background of land claims as well as defining a probable future treaty (Vizard 2002). In conclusion, debates and representations assist in the shaping up of various ways in which Australia is perceived to be and also to understand Australian experiences. Debates and representations can further be used to create an impact on Australia a reality which is taken up in high and popular cultural discourse. This critical analysis of Australian representation has been of importance in ensuring that one is able to understand Australia as a nation and what is expected to be in both Australian literature and film. It quite evident that Australian people rest on a common set of national values which makes them embraces a unique culture. The use of literature as well as film has enabled both non aboriginals and aboriginal communities reconcile to ensure there is cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism across Australia. References Bowern, C and Harold, K. 2004. Australian Languages: Classification and the comparative method. Sydney: John Benjamins Jones, F. 1997. Ethnic diversity and national identity. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Sociology, 33, 285-305. Phillips, T and Smith, P. 2000. ‘What is “Australian”? Knowledge and attitudes amongst a gallery of contemporary Australians’, Australian Journal of Political Science, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 203–24. Phillips, T. 1998. Popular views about Australian identity: Research and analysis. Journal of Sociology, 34, 281-302. Purdie, N, Neill, J and Richards, G. 2002. Australian identity and the effect of an outdoor education program, Australian Journal of Psychology, 54(1), 32-39. Vizard, S. 2002. An Australia Day Address. In J. Healey (Ed.), Australia’s national identity, (pp. 133-134), Australia: The Spinney Press. Read More