Presentation outline (above) The lecture given this week by Kelly Greenop (2008) really spoke to me about my own values and misconceptions about Aboriginal people. It really brought to life an accurate depiction of Aboriginal treatment in the past and the reality of what they endured. During last weeks blog I mentioned that I would like the other side of the story, that viewed Aboriginal culture in a positive light and I felt this lecture gave me that insight. Like Greenop (2008) says we tend to be given an idea about Indigenous life through images of outback Australia, boomerangs (pan identity) and slum villages. She describes that 70 percent of the indigenous population actually live in the city. What interests me is their view on city living, how they have adapted to this environment and what it means to be an aboriginal in contemporary culture.
Another interesting topic Greenop (2008) described was the idea of cultural change versus cultural loss. It is a blurred line between what is veiwed as loosing cultural identity or ritual as opposed to what western culture calls ‘progression’. I believe that certainly parts of culture should be preserved and nurtured. Does this mean having a museum for everything along the path of history? What people fear too much is as Hezel relates “Change itself is not so much the problem as what it may lead to: the death of the culture”. I think change should sometimes be allowed to happen. Change has often been beneficial to culture and made it a rich tapestry that displays the past and the present.
Another interesting topic Greenop (2008) described was the idea of cultural change versus cultural loss. It is a blurred line between what is veiwed as loosing cultural identity or ritual as opposed to what western culture calls ‘progression’. I believe that certainly parts of culture should be preserved and nurtured. Does this mean having a museum for everything along the path of history? What people fear too much is as Hezel relates “Change itself is not so much the problem as what it may lead to: the death of the culture”. I think change should sometimes be allowed to happen. Change has often been beneficial to culture and made it a rich tapestry that displays the past and the present.
References:
Greenop, K. (2008). Urban indigenous place values. Retrieved September 4, 2008, from Queensland University of Technology blackboard academic http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_35883_1
Hezel, S. J. (2005). Cultural loss: How real is the threat? Retrieved September 4, 2008, from http://www.micsem.org/pubs/counselor/frames/cult_lossfr.htm?http&&&www.micsem.org/pubs/counselor/cult_loss.htm
Greenop, K. (2008). Urban indigenous place values. Retrieved September 4, 2008, from Queensland University of Technology blackboard academic http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_35883_1
Hezel, S. J. (2005). Cultural loss: How real is the threat? Retrieved September 4, 2008, from http://www.micsem.org/pubs/counselor/frames/cult_lossfr.htm?http&&&www.micsem.org/pubs/counselor/cult_loss.htm
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