“Australia is still revealing itself to us. We oughtn’t to close off possibilities by declaring too early what we have already become,”
The drive to create change in Australia, to achieve justice for the multitude of societal issues we still experience today, is a prime example of how Australia is most definitely not a finished product. Throughout my exploration of Australian literature, each text I have studied calls for some kind of change within our society or acknowledges our constantly growing nation.
My initial blogpost is an analysis of “What is an Australian?” and explores the development of Australian identities throughout time. Pre-colonialism to post-colonialism, the abolishment of the white Australia policy and our constantly shifting stance on refugees are all examples of the changes we have experienced as a nation and continue to experience today. My First blog explores the question of who is Australian as not merely having a single answer, which is catalysed by our identification as an inclusive nation. I looked to the Australian National anthem for guidance in answering this question, “For those who’ve come across the seas/We’ve boundless plains to share;” Which reinitiates our inclusive and welcoming reputation. However, the current extent of racism in our society reflects how Australia is still in grave need of improvement. Our inability to accept refugees regardless of whether our national anthem says that we are happy to share our “boundless planes” is yet another primary example.
My second blogpost analyses Sidney Nolan’s First Class Marksman, a painting of Australia’s infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly. The work glorifies Ned Kelly as an iconic figure within Australian history and furthermore, glorifying the change that Kelly himself was advocating for and the societal injustices present in the 20th century. Though we have come far as a nation since the time of bushrangers, there are still battles to be fought and much change to be implemented in our society today.
Our visit to the NSW Art gallery catalysed my interest in the interactions of art and literature. My third blogpost explains that both art and literature are created from the desire to express oneself. Using the example of Lisa Bellear’s Urbanised Reebocks which expresses the generation of Indigenous Australian’s who are unable to fit into either Modern Australia or their Indigenous Communities. This disconnection is present in 2019 as a result of former policies of Assimilation, proving the immense development Australia still requires as a nation as a result of past decisions.
Even the words of Patrick White call for change in Australia. My fourth and best blogpost analyses White’s opinions in both The Prodigal Son and Down in the Dump. Which declare Australia as a nation plagued by materialism, blinded to the greater meanings of life. I personally believe that though White had a monumental influence of Australian literature, the materialistic ilness he spoke of still infects our nation.
My final blog is an analysis of both Russel Drysdale’s The Ruins and Kim Scott’s That Deadman Dance. Both embody the whitewashing of Australian history and the extent of injustice that colonial Australia inflicted upon our First Nations people. I believe that we cannot declare Australia as being an entirely welcoming and just nation as there is still much to be done in repairing our relationship with our Traditional Owners. Current campaigns like Change the Date are examples of how we still require much development as a nation. The Extinction Rebellion movement in Australia which aims to implement environmental justice and an awareness of the sustainable practices which are imperative to the preservation of life on earth are also examples of how Australia is not yet “finished”.
I believe we may never be able to declare ourselves as finished, as there is always need for improvement. Though there is hope for change as we look back on how far we have come.
Images Sourced From:
(https://www.pressreader.com/australia/the-daily-telegraph-sydney/20190702/282510070113972)
(https://squamishlibrary.digitalcollections.ca/people-coming-off-boat)
(http://www.rennieellis.com.au/news-exhibitions/news-exhibition/0/pg/2/year/2009)
(https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/patrick-white-wins-nobel-prize)
(https://michaelgriffith1.com/2019/08/18/later-colonial-australian-literature-around-the-1890s/)
ACU Student Blog 