Pluralism and the Treaty of Waitangi
In teaching week 5 you will discuss pluralism and the Treaty of Waitangi in your tutorials.
Use this discussion, the notes in your ALVC book and the internet to respond to the following
questions;
1.Define the term 'pluralism' using APA referencing.
Pluralism in art refers to the nature of art forms and artists as diverse. The cultural context of art is all encompassing in its respect for the art of the world’s cultures. Inclusion of individuals of differing ethnicities, genders, ideologies, abilities, ages, religions, economic status and educational levels is valued. Pluralism honors differences within and between equitable groups while seeing their commonalities. Pluralism, The Treaty of Waitangi and Globalisation. Caldwell, B (1999) Cultural context. Retrieved 16 Oct 2003 from http://www.public.iastate.edu/~design/ART/NAB/PluArt.html
2.How would you describe New Zealand's current dominant culture? i think that in New Zealand we have a very multi-cultural society today filled with Europeans/Pakeha, Pacific Islanders, Asians, Muslims etc. Originally New Zealand was a Maori and European culture but as time and technology have proceeded, New Zealand is now filled with so many different races and immigrants due to the country being clean, small and safe which is a big attraction overseas. However, people across the world who are uneducated would assume that New Zealand has a dominant Maori culture... with lots of sheep.
3.Before 1840, what was New Zealand's dominant culture? New Zealand was firstly a Maori country in which the Maori travelled from the Pacific Islands and settled here without any decent resources and touch weather conditions. The Maori then signed The Treaty of Waitangi by some Maori chiefs which then gave the British monarchy sovereignty over parts of New Zealand. After this was signed promises were then broken and ship loads of European settlers arrived.
4. How does the Treaty of Waitangi relate to us all as artists and designers working
in New Zealand?
I think that the Treaty of Waitangi relates to artists and designers in the way that it is an ongoing feud with the Pakeha and the Maori because it is still not settled and creates and lot of tension and drama from the past, which is seen and expressed through art in the sense of painting, sculpture and designs. It is something that New Zealand history will never forget and is has been documented in art. It relates to us in the way that we must know and be aware about it to understand Maori art and history of our country.
5.How can globalization be seen as having a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand in particular?
it is seen has having a negative effect on NZ because people such as playstation and lego have taken aspects of the Maori culture in which they have no idea about or bothered to research properly about, and used offensive parts of the culture to sell a product and to make it more interesting because everything else in the world has been taken. This has resulted in unhappy parties of the maori culture and shows how globalization can take away so much of a culture just for competition for originality.
-Globalization refers to the increasing unification of the world's economic order through reduction of such barriers to international trade as tariffs, export fees, and import quotas. The goal is to increase material wealth, goods, and services through an international division of labor by efficiencies catalyzed by international relations, specialization and competition.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization)
6. Shane Cotton's paintings are said to examine the cultural landscape. Research Cotton's work 'Welcome'(2004) and 'Forked Tongue' (2011) to analyze what he is saying about colonialization and the Treaty of Waitangi.
'Welcome' (2004) Shane Cotton
'Forked Tongue'(2011) Shane Cotton
Shane Cotton’s work always has some Maori culture reference discusses in his paintings about conflict and culture. “Forked Tongue”, which features a cliff face, a fantail, some Maori designs and a tracery of red lines these symbols or metaphors become starting points for an elaboration on the links between the physical, historical and spiritual landscapes(John Daly-peoples,2010). To me this painting has references to American Indian stories told by artworks talking about myths and the land, which is interesting in the way that he is telling a story to viewers about. I think that in his past paintings as well as these that he is saying about the treaty of waitangi that it is a past not to be forgotten and to appreciate the Maori land left.
In the work “Welcome” it talks about the Treaty of Waitangi and colonization in the way that it is talking about Maori and Pakeha with Jesus Christ at the top of the lithograph and at the bottom a representation of Maori. The contrast of Jesus, the Maori symbol and the black and the white fantail show confrontation and the use of the title ‘Welcome’ has a contradictory sense in the way that Pakeha made themselves welcome and became very unwelcome once they went against the Treaty.
7.Tony Albert's installation 'Sorry' (2008) reflect the effects of colonization on the aboriginal people of Australia.
Research the work and comment on what Albert is communicating through his work, and what he is referring to.
Describe the materials that Albert uses on this installation and say what he hopes his work can achieve. Define the term 'kitsch'.
Tony Albert's practice reveals his interest in mass-produced products from Australia's history and what these say about dominant beliefs. By collaging, sculpting and transforming images, brands and texts, Albert succinctly reframes modern Indigenous Australian history through its representations in 'kitsch' material culture. His work Sorry 2008 was inspired by former prime minister Kevin Rudd's formal apology to Indigenous Australians on 13 February 2008. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Drb9RbW3Tw) “Each represents a false identity, manufactured black faces made to fit white society” Tony Albert
He uses manufactured that he has collected all his life of black faces that white companies have made and have used them in this display, the faces appeal to a mainstream sensibility of what aboriginal people are. The figures in this work relate to the people who were effected by the policies that were cut off from who they were and their culture. The apology is suggesting that it is still a word and a gesture but the aboriginal community are still waiting for something out of that gesture or what will be the future.
He says that ‘it’s reverse racism’ ‘it is the whole idea of taking something derogatory or used against you and putting it in a positive way’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6afMy0rlqq8
8. Explain how the work of both artists relates to pluralism.
They both talk about their culture in their work which is a strong aspect or pluralism that they both show. Also I think that they are both hopeful and positive about the future and hope that there will be change for their culture.
Your answer to Q.8 is very interesting i like your ideas around kitsch objects and how they are reverse racism and they use images and visuals that appeal to a mainstream audience and are idealised versions of what they depict. very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI love both artist as they are very similar and depict the same ideas about their cultural heritage and identity so there works are not just about them selves but their country and the whole culture. i also agree with Luke.Scott in how the ideas around Kitsch objects and how they are reverse racism.
ReplyDeleteShane cotton is one of my favorite New Zealand artist that i have used as a artist model many times for my work.
i enjoyed reading your descriptive analysis of globalization and about how other parties - such as the gaming people - who don't research cultures properly and therefore portray our culture in a negative way. The only thing they are concerned about is making money and, in the video we watched case, having and creating a warrior like character that is visually appealing. It does not necessarily have to have a specific meaning. I think that other corporations should be able to use global icons as this is just what and how the world is today. However, the should portray them respectively and in a correct way as this is how a large portion of the world will now see new zealand.
ReplyDeleteI liked your response to New Zealand culture you discussed topics I hadnt thought about like NZ being multi-coultural. I also agree with your anwser to question 4 you have explained it very well, I didnt quite understand this question at right but after reading your response it makes sense, it is very important for us to understand the treaty of Waitangi and maori culture to understand the art that is created around it.
ReplyDeleteI liked your response to New Zealand culture you discussed topics I hadnt thought about like NZ being multi-coultural. I also agree with your anwser to question 4 you have explained it very well, I didnt quite understand this question at right but after reading your response it makes sense, it is very important for us to understand the treaty of Waitangi and maori culture to understand the art that is created around it.
ReplyDelete