Young Australian - Perspectives on National Identity - Book Report/Review Example

Running Head: BOOK PROPOSAL & REFLECTION Book Proposal & Reflection Part A: Book Proposal Rationale Young Australian: Perspectives on National Identity will be a non-fictional book that will present the identities of being an Australian from the perspective of a young Australian. Currently, there are many books about the whole subject of identity. What is common though is the fact that many of these books have been written from common perspectives: specialists on various subjects and minority voices like immigrants, native populations and others. Although such titles cover the subject of national identity, there exists a need for a piece of work that addresses the questions of identity from a different perspective. By presenting this subject matter from the perspective of a young Australian, this book will certainly offer a fresh and new voice to the subject. The second reason regards the target market. It is certainly important to include the values of nationhood and diversity among the young people who make up a significant proportion of the Australian population (Hugo, 2005, p. 30). This book will be a direct appeal to the young segment of the population. This way, young Australians will easily identify with the voice and thus grasp the complex issues treated in the book. Although Vivid Publishing has a number of titles that treat content similar to the proposed book – falling under the category of adult non-fiction, there is no title that is similar to the proposed book in terms of form and structure. As such, publication of the proposed book will help the publishers gain a competitive advantage in the market. Genre Ideally, the proposed book will fall under the general category of non-fiction books. This categorisation is in accordance with the range of books already published that have similar content to the proposed one. Many of the books in this section cover a wide range of topics. The topics may be historical in nature, an exposition of academic issues or a general re-explanation of complex social and economic issues (Vivid Publishing, 2014). The proposed title will be historical in content in that it will entail an examination of different aspects of the history of the county in a different way. Content List of Chapters The proposed book will be made up of three main parts, each of them containing two different chapters. The titles and linking of these parts will emphasise the idea of the book helping the reader do three key things: retrace the history of Australian identity, evaluate its present status and examine its future within the context of changing global trends. The following is a list of the chapters with a brief explanation of the information that each of the chapters will contain. Part One: Where am I from? This part will contain material about the historical aspect of Australian identity. It will be made up of two chapters, each one of them containing specific material as follows. Chapter One: The Building Blocks of Identity It has been observed that multiculturalism is an important aspect of national identity for Australians (Henry & Kurzak, 2013, p. 1). Essentially, this chapter will offer brief background information on the key aspects that form the national identity of Australians from the perspective of the author. Perspectives will cover important symbols, values and phenomena that are said to form the overall identity of being a citizen of Australia. Although the question of values that form what may described as a typical Australian identity are common, re-examining them from the perspective of a young Australian will be the focus of the material in this chapter. Chapter Two: Forgotten Facts As the title suggests, this chapter will present historical facts and events that are considered important for the national identity of Australia. The focus will be on providing information about important days in the history of Australians and what role they played in shaping the national identity. There are several days, events and weeks that mark important dates in the history of the country. These include Australia Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans Day among others. Although the importance of these days in remembering the history of Australia is well known, the focus of the material in this chapter will be placing these events within the right historical context of Australia. It will also take into account the role played by important historical events such as the British influence and the Anzac tradition in forging a sense of nationhood for Australians (Lohm, 2007, p. 3). Part Two: Where am I Now? From the title, this part will focus on providing perspectives about the current state of national identity. Selected material will be biased towards what is of interest to young readers, predominantly students. Chapter Three: Young Achievers. There are many Australians, from different backgrounds, who have made a mark on both the local and international stage in different activities (Australian of the Year Awards, 2014). This chapter will contain information about young Australians who have made a mark on both the national and international map. Based on the nominees for Australian of the Year Award, this chapter will present background information about other nominees who made it to the final list of the Awards. Selection will be based on age and heritage as a way of emphasising cultural diversity. Chapter Four: My Australia It has been pointed out that Australia, with its current population of 22 million people, is one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world (Australian Government, 2014). It is also observed that the rights and privileges of citizenship play an important role in shaping the national identity of Australians (Galligan & Roberts, 2004, p. 3). Diversity is reflected in terms of religion, race and language. Here, emphasis will be laid on the cultural diversity that makes up Australia. The content will be presented to show how typical stereotypes of Australian identity encourage discrimination against minority groups in terms of socio-economic factors. Also, this chapter will present information on what it means to be an Australian citizen. Part Three: Where to Next? Chapter Five: Australian and the World It has been observed that the cultural diversity of Australia, represented in literature and other creative works, plays a key role in fostering national identity (Patterson, 2012, p. 2). On the other hand, it is observed the portrayal of typical Australians in many creative works is stereotypical in nature (Leighton, 2010, p. 237). In this chapter, the perspectives of the author about the role of Australian culture in the world will be presented. Special focus will be laid on the place of Australian music, film and other cultural productions at the global stage. Reflections will cover the role that such films have had in exporting Australian content to the world. Chapter Six: Future Challenges It is observed that the future of Australian identity lies in developing appropriate policies on multiculturalism (Australian Multicultural Advisory Council, 2010, p. 12). Material in this chapter will seek to present the role that Australian culture plays in shaping the world. Emphasis will be laid on different ways in which Australia acts as a global hub of cultural values. Target Readership(s) As stated earlier, there are a number of books on the subject of Australian identity that have already been published. Many of these titles have the general public as the primary target readership. Others which take on an academic approach target the academia as the primary readership. In the same way, the proposed book will target the general public. However, its target market will bear a few similarities from the other similar books already in the market. These are outlined as follows. To begin with, the proposed book will target the young population in Australia. This will be made up of high school and college students who will identify with the content and form of the book. This will be in line with reports that have indicated that there is an increasing need for Australian content that is reflected in all sections of the population (ABC, 2012, p. 28). This is reflected not only in film and television production but also in book publications that portray Australian content in different ways. Secondly, the secondary market of the book will be composed of the general adult population, predominantly parents and educators. These groups of individuals will read the book to understand how young Australians perceive the concept of national identity, belongingness and diversity. According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) (2013), there is a general trend towards reading eBooks across the globe (p. 3). Both readers and publishers are expressing interest in providing digital content in addition to printed books. Since this title targets a segment of the population that forms heavy users of technology, the book will be easily translated into an eBook version. Statement of Total Word Length The book will have a total word length of about 10,000 words, equally distributed in the six chapters of the book. Though minimal, references shall be made to important historical information from government websites and other relevant sources. Information about Photographs Young Australian: Perspectives on National Identity will make use of several photographs. Two plates will be included at the beginning of every part of the book. This will make a total of six photographic plates that will be included in the book. Cover Letter to Intended Publisher Vivid Publishing, I am a local writer with keen interest in general non-fiction books. Currently, I am doing my undergraduate studies at the University of New South Wales. Though not yet published, my interest is in history and issues of social concern. My wide reading and understanding of these subjects is an asset. Enclosed is a proposal for my book which bears the following as a tentative title: Young Australian: Perspectives on National Identity. The book is likely to appeal to young readers (primarily high school and college students). Also, the material in the book is likely to interest the general adult population (both parents and educationists) who are interested in understanding what national identity means to young Australians. The book, which is about 10,000 words long, covers important aspects of what forms the national identity of Australians. This is done in three important parts: retracing the historical perspectives of Australian culture, understanding the present values of national identity within the global context and examining the future of Australian culture. I believe that, if accepted and finally published, the book can be an important addition to your current list of general adult non-fiction books. Thank you. Yours ……………………………………………………………….. Part B: Reflection In preparing the proposal for Young Australian: Perspectives on National Identity, several perspectives were taken into consideration. These are outlined as follows. To begin with, the context of the book should be understood in relation to historical changes that have shaped national identity in Australia. According to Mccrindle Research (2012), national identity in Australia has undergone changes from its original form to the current one (p. 2). These changes have been witnessed in the form of global identity, views about diversity and community life. The material in the proposed book covers these subjects from the perspective of young Australians. Second, consideration was given to the purpose for which the book is intended in the market. There is need to promote Australian content and a sense of national identity (Commonwealth of Australia, 2009, p. 2). This need is much urgent in the young group of Australians who are still in school. This is because a sense of national identity among all members of the population is important as a tool of enabling the population tackle various social problems and changes (Convict Creations, 2013). As such, this book fulfils this purpose by presenting the question of Australian identity with the young readers in mind. This is ensured by the type of material selected and the way the material will be presented in the book. Third, the structure of the proposed book is intended to enhance the interest of members of the primary readership. From the three different parts, each of them containing two chapters, a reader is taken through a journey of the past, the present and the future of Australian identity. Lastly, several factors were considered in the process of selecting a potential publisher for the book. For instance, the competitiveness of the market was considered. Currently, there are many titles in the market which are similar in content to the proposed book. One of them is Australian National Identity, edited by Justine Healey, which presents a wide range of information about the subject of Australian national identity (The Spiney Press, 2014). Another one is Being Australian: Narratives of National Identity by Catriona Elder which is focused on exploring the meaning of historical stories and events in shaping the current national identity of Australian citizens (Allen & Unwin, 2014). Although these books contain material that is similar to the proposed one, the proposed book is different from them in terms of format and style. Whereas the majority of current titles in the market focus on an academic approach, Young Australian: Perspectives on National Identity will be different in that it will be written in the first person narration and in a non-academic style. References ABC (2012). Annual report, 2011 – 2012. Retrieved from http://about.abc.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ABC-Annual-Report-2011-12-Part-2.pdf Allen & Unwin (2014). Being Australian: Narratives of national identity. Retrieved from http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781741149289 Australian Government (2014). Our people. Retrieved from http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/our-country/our-people Australian Multicultural Advisory Council (2010). The people of Australia. Retrieved from http://www.immi.gov.au/about/stakeholder-engagement/_pdf/people-of-australia.pdf Australian of the Year Awards (2014). Honour role. Retrieved from http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/honour-roll/?view=results&year=2014&categoryID=0&desc=Australian+of+the+Year+2014 Galligan, B., & Roberts, W. (2004). Australian citizenship. Carlton: Melbourne University Press. Commonwealth of Australia (2009). I am Australian: Exploring Australian citizenship. Teachers’ resource manual: Upper primary unit. Retrieved from http://australiancitizenshipday.govspace.gov.au/files/2013/01/primary_school_teaching_resource.pdf Convict Creations (2013). Does Australia need a national identity? Retrieved from http://www.convictcreations.com/research/index.htm Henry, N. & Kurzak, K. (2013). A Multicultural Australia. The Australian collaboration, fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.australiancollaboration.com.au/pdf/FactSheets/Multicultural-Australia-FactSheet.pdf Hugo, C. (2005). Population. In J. Spoehr (ed). State of South Australia: Trends and issues (pp. 20–48). Kent Town: Wakefield Press. Leighton, L. (2010). Who the bloody hell are we nowadays? Future Justice 2010, pp. 235–238. Retrieved from http://www.futureleaders.com.au/young_writers/pdf/Future_Justice/Laura_Leighton.pdf Lohm, D. (2007). How has Australia’s history influenced young adults’ understanding of Australianness? A Retrieved from http://www.tasa.org.au/conferences/conferencepapers07/papers/28.pdf Mccrindle Research (2012). Six shifts in Australian communities: The new Australian identity. Retrieved from http://mccrindle.com.au/SocialAnalysis/2012/Six-Shifts-in-Australian-Communities_The-New-Australian-Identity.pdf Patterson, A. (2012). Australian literature: culture, identity and English teaching. Retrieved from http://www.nla.gov.au/openpublish/index.php/jasal/article/viewFile/2460/2925 PWC (2013). Turning the page: The future of eBooks. Retrieved from http://www.pwc.com/en_GX/gx/entertainment-media/pdf/eBooks-Trends-Developments.pdf The Spiney Press (2014). Australian national identity. Retrieved from http://spinneypress.com.au/books/australian-national-identity/ Vivid Publishing (2014). General non-fiction books. Retrieved from http://www.vividpublishing.com.au/ Read More

Chapter Two: Forgotten Facts As the title suggests, this chapter will present historical facts and events that are considered important for the national identity of Australia. The focus will be on providing information about important days in the history of Australians and what role they played in shaping the national identity. There are several days, events and weeks that mark important dates in the history of the country. These include Australia Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans Day among others.

Although the importance of these days in remembering the history of Australia is well known, the focus of the material in this chapter will be placing these events within the right historical context of Australia. It will also take into account the role played by important historical events such as the British influence and the Anzac tradition in forging a sense of nationhood for Australians (Lohm, 2007, p. 3). Part Two: Where am I Now? From the title, this part will focus on providing perspectives about the current state of national identity.

Selected material will be biased towards what is of interest to young readers, predominantly students. Chapter Three: Young Achievers. There are many Australians, from different backgrounds, who have made a mark on both the local and international stage in different activities (Australian of the Year Awards, 2014). This chapter will contain information about young Australians who have made a mark on both the national and international map. Based on the nominees for Australian of the Year Award, this chapter will present background information about other nominees who made it to the final list of the Awards.

Selection will be based on age and heritage as a way of emphasising cultural diversity. Chapter Four: My Australia It has been pointed out that Australia, with its current population of 22 million people, is one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world (Australian Government, 2014). It is also observed that the rights and privileges of citizenship play an important role in shaping the national identity of Australians (Galligan & Roberts, 2004, p. 3). Diversity is reflected in terms of religion, race and language.

Here, emphasis will be laid on the cultural diversity that makes up Australia. The content will be presented to show how typical stereotypes of Australian identity encourage discrimination against minority groups in terms of socio-economic factors. Also, this chapter will present information on what it means to be an Australian citizen. Part Three: Where to Next? Chapter Five: Australian and the World It has been observed that the cultural diversity of Australia, represented in literature and other creative works, plays a key role in fostering national identity (Patterson, 2012, p. 2). On the other hand, it is observed the portrayal of typical Australians in many creative works is stereotypical in nature (Leighton, 2010, p. 237). In this chapter, the perspectives of the author about the role of Australian culture in the world will be presented.

Special focus will be laid on the place of Australian music, film and other cultural productions at the global stage. Reflections will cover the role that such films have had in exporting Australian content to the world. Chapter Six: Future Challenges It is observed that the future of Australian identity lies in developing appropriate policies on multiculturalism (Australian Multicultural Advisory Council, 2010, p. 12). Material in this chapter will seek to present the role that Australian culture plays in shaping the world.

Emphasis will be laid on different ways in which Australia acts as a global hub of cultural values. Target Readership(s) As stated earlier, there are a number of books on the subject of Australian identity that have already been published. Many of these titles have the general public as the primary target readership. Others which take on an academic approach target the academia as the primary readership.

Read More