How “Down in the Dump” illustrates Patrick White’s message expressed within “The Prodigal Son”.

Patrick White’s The Prodigal Son, encompasses his return to Australia after having lived several years in Europe. In particular, it explores his disgust with the materialism that had overtaken the nation. White believed Australian’s had developed an ignorance of the deeper meaning of life and had forgotten the importance of intellectualism. To amend this disheartened and shallow Australia, he proposed a return to art, poetry and the creative outlets that exist beyond materialism.

” I wanted to discover the extraordinary behind the ordinary, the mystery and the poetry which alone could make bearable the lives of such people, and incidentally, my own life since my return.” – Patrick White

White prompted that even the current Australian literature circulating at the time was stale and was in need of great change. He desired pieces of literature that would spark passion within the hearts of its readers and catalyse change in the lives of ordinary Australians.

I believe that Patrick White’s Down in the Dump best illustrates this movement from materialism to achieve a wholistic life as well as the desire to change societal norms. Reflected most predominantly within the two households, each reflecting a different extreme. The Hogben’s being overly conservative, obsessed with reputation and overtly materialistic. As opposed to the Whalley’s who have a complete disregard for reputation and live in an almost unruly but lively state. These houses represent the societal norms and values which White desired to change. Further evidence of these values is present in their respective trees, the “aluminium trees” owned by Mrs Hogben which serve no purpose beyond aesthetics. Contrasted by the fruit trees that grow within the Whalley’s household, fruit trees being symbolic of life though they are overgrown and mismanaged.

Within Down in the Dump White embeds the need for a wholistic and balanced life away from the extremes present in our society. Again present in the characterisation of Meg and Lum in their search for fulfilment. For example, Lum develops an almost obsession with the trucker in his desire for a destination and control within his own life. The same can be said for Meg, after she is apprehended by her mother for how she may be perceived by others after spending time with the Whalley’s. Craving a sense of freedom and escape from the materialistic rendering that entraps her brick home.

Through White’s strategical exaggeration of these extreme values in Down in the Dump, it is clear he is advocating for change in society.

Although in 2019, I question whether we have achieved this change or merely become more blinded?

Picture sourced from: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/patrick-white-wins-nobel-prize

Peer Review 2 on Sabrina Kisso:

Link to Sabrina’s Blog: https://sabrinasblog.music.blog/2019/08/26/creative-blog-2-1-paragraph-prose-in-relation-to-henry-lawson/

Peer Review:

Hi Sabrina,
I thought your attempt at prose in relation to Henry Lawson was very well executed! It was immediately clear to me that you were addressing our generation’s “obsession” with technology, there was not once a moment that I was struggling to understand your message. I also believe you have represented Lawson’s pessimism in an engaging and clever way. I loved your link to Eve and believe your use of imagery was great for the little words given. It was an enjoyable, “short and sweet” read!
Thanks.

An Exploration of How Art and Literature Interact in a Person’s Experience.

It is innately human to desire freedom of expression.

I believe both art and literature are born from this innate desire to create and express ourselves. Throughout time humanity has used both literature and art to teach future generations and openly express our personal experiences.

Even today, literature is at the core of education and art, continuing to expand our understandings of the world we live in.

For example, the works of Picasso within his cubism period explored portraiture in ways the world had never before experienced. He wished to explain the way our eyes truly viewed the world – which was in an assortment of “planes” – and to explain that the brain is what gives the illusion of a “complete” image. He wished to create art which showed life in a way that was “unfiltered” by the brain in order to change a persons experience.

Whilst literature like “Urbanised Reeboks” by Lisa Bellear aims to express the experience of life as a generation of Indigenous Australians which feel they no longer fit either in the Indigenous Community or modern society. It explains the inner turmoil of both enjoying modern society and the materialism of objects like “Reebocks” and “Raybans”, whilst simultaneously yearning for a culturally rich life.

Even travelling back millennia, literature was developed as a method of communication and education. Similar to that of traditional art, used for typography, and education on survival.

Image result for ancient stone carvings literature

I believe both literature and art have been an integral part of humanity’s existence, and will continue to shape our personal experiences in the future.

Images Sourced From:

https://www.britannica.com/art/cave-painting/images-videos

pablopicasso.org/cubism.jsp

https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/Stock-Images/Rights-Managed/H44-10962675

Peer Review 1 on Isabella Digi’s:

Link to Isabella’s Blog: https://isabelladigi.home.blog/2019/08/16/week-4-blog-1-for-judith-wright-the-mountain-has-its-own-meaning-describe-a-favourite-place-that-has-a-real-meaning-for-you-that-you-would-hate-to-see-destroyed/

Peer Review:

Isabella, I thoroughly enjoyed your approach to the question. In your description of the passing seasons, I can imagine the feelings of love and joy fostered by your cherished place, or “the farm” as you reference. I particularly enjoyed your reference to the typical Australian child’s experience by including “Zooperdoopers” and “Aerogard” it makes it possible for the reader to relate on a deeper level, as we too encountered similar experiences. Your deep sense of love for your family’s farm easily understood, as is your anxiety towards this familiar place’s end. I hope your home stays preserved for your family for as long as possible! This was a great blogpost, I really enjoyed reading.

My personal response to Sidney Nolan’s First-Class Marksman, and how it reflects Ned Kelly’s status in the 20th century.

Sidney Nolan’s First Class Marksman encompasses a beautifully painted Australian bush landscape in vibrant arrays of greens, blues and dusty oranges. These colours are directly juxtaposed by the foreground, Nolan’s most famous Ned Kelly silhouette. The stark, black, abstractly shaped armour. Kelly’s silhouette holds a long rifle, painted in the same colour scheme as the background, and appears to be aiming deep into the bush, instigated by the path.

Nolan’s tactical use of juxtaposing Kelly’s infamous, black silhouette against the vibrant background establishes Kelly as both an outsider and a well known character. The silhouette stands out amongst the scenery, replicating his well known status. Weather he was feared or worshiped, he was a distinguishable character in 20th century Australian society.

My initial response to both the title, “First-class Marksman” and the gun was that Nolan utilised this particular iconography to represent Ned kelly as a fierce, worshiped leader amongst the general public. Describing Ned Kelly as “first-class” enforces this idea of worship and respect.

However, on researching the work, I came to understand that Nolan was recreating an incident in Victoria where Ned Kelly and his “gang” were practicing their shooting, concealed amongst the bushland of Wombat Ranges.

In all, I believe Nolan establishes Ned Kelly’s status as both feared and worshipped, and at the very least a striking character within 20th century Australia.

Info sourced from: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/62.2010/

Image sourced from: https://michaelgriffith1.com/2019/08/18/later-colonial-australian-literature-around-the-1890s/

My response to the proposed creative question, “Who is an Australian? Describe your own national and cultural background and explain why it is definitely part of what makes up our Australian nation.”

I believe there is not merely one answer to the foremost question, “Who is an Australian?”.

Firstly, we cannot move forward without acknowledging our traditional owners, the Indigenous Nations of Australia. To define an Australian by being of the First Nations would mean an Australian is an individual of indigenous Australian heritage. One who belongs solely to the land, who was raised on stories of the dream time, taught secret men’s or women’s business, learnt from the elders, was born from the land and will one day return to the land. To answer who is an Australian by defining an “Australian” as one of the Traditional land owners means than being an Australian is much more than being born on this continent, it encompasses having inherited traditional knowledge, which is passed through generations.

However, we cannot disregard the migratory history of Australia. Being of both Italian and Scottish descent, I am both the second generation born in Australia from Italy, through my maternal family line the Messina’s. As well as being many generations born in Australia through my paternal line, the Donaldson’s who were one of the early settlers. I strongly believe my mixed racial decent shapes my personal definition of an “Australian” into one which is founded upon pride for our multicultural identity.

“For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share; “

Our National anthem defines Australia as a place for all, “we’ve boundless planes to share” and therefore includes multiculturalism as a vital part of defining an Australian. It defines Australians as people who are as unique and diverse as the multitude of unique flora and fauna that we share this land with.

I believe there are many different and subjective answers to who is an Australian, however, my culturally diverse family history moulds my idea of an Australian into an individual who is appreciative of the land, and the generations before them who worked hard to settle and start a life here.