1. In simple terms pluralism is “a theory that there is more than one basic substance or principle.”
- Dictionary.Com. (n.d). Retrieved August 20, 2011 from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pluralism
2. To me New Zealand’s dominant culture is the look of wearing shorts and jandals and watching the All Blacks game with a bottle of either Steinlager or Heineken. People from other countries rapidly grasp our drinking culture and love for rugby as a nation. It is also recreational activities such as bungy jumping and playing sports. In today’s day and age most kiwis have moved away from the farm life and have gained the love of this American inspired ‘city life.’ The love of the arts is also ever growing in New Zealand now.
3. “Māori culture has predominated for most of New Zealand's history of human habitation.” Te Reo Maori was the common language heard among this country before the 1840’s. It was then when young ones respected the elders and women had no say in important meetings. It was a women’s job be a wife and a mother rather than pursuing to be the future Helen Clark. This was a period before the Maori started “borrowing from Pākehā culture.” Although, it was towards about 1830 when the Maori people started to experiment with the European religion Christianity. We also experienced Maori hierarchy which is something quiet unknown today. “Māori society has traditionally been one based on rank, which derived from ancestry (whakapapa). Present-day Māori society is far less hierarchical than it traditionally was.”
- Wikipedia. (n.d). Retrieved August 23, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_New_Zealand#M.C4.81ori_borrowing_from_P.C4.81keh.C4.81_culture
4. I think it relates to us in the sense that we can’t be ignorant towards it and not acknowledge our country’s heritage when it comes to referencing them in our artworks. We as artists constantly perform various research’s before developing a final idea and I think it is important that when it comes to presenting a piece - which may in some aspects relate to the Maori culture- it is important that we present it in an appropriate manner. We don’t want to be like game designers today who place a moko on a man’s chin when it is largely disrespectful as only a woman wears a moko on her chin.
The Treaty of Waitangi is our country’s history and till this day there are various controversies in regards to this. It is very important that we as New Zealanders familiarize ourselves with these especially as artists as it would be shameful if we were to reference it wrong.
5. Globalization can have a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand in the sense that many companies who use aspects from the New Zealand or Maori culture many times fail to do their research. They put forward something that they really have no clue about and try selling it. They lack understanding of what a diverse nation we are and despite this we are all familiar with the roots of this country. A good example would be of another modern video game which showed a warrior with a taiaha which was very disrespectfully positioned pointing towards the ground. The failure of having done their research meant offending the Maori as this position insisted on the idea of pointing the taiaha towards the earth god.
Many though agree that “New Zealand culture has been broadened by globalization.” They agree that it is beneficial that we are reaching out to the world and focusing on the “transition from national and regional economies to global economies.” We are now thinking in terms of what it beneficial for us when it comes to our countries future and mass producing into other countries seems to be doing exactly that.
- Wikipedia. (n.d). Retrieved August 23, 2011 from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:SnOivA55MCcJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_New_Zealand+How+can+globalization+be+seen+as+having+a+negative+effect+on+regional+diversity+in+New+Zealand+in+particular&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nz&client=safari&source=www.google.co.nz
- Google. (n.d). Retrieved August 23, 2011 from http://www.google.co.nz/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=globalizatio&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=OVJTTqTKOM7YiALvj_jGDA#sclient=psy&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&tbs=dfn:1&source=hp&q=globalisation&pbx=1&oq=globalisation&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=33929l34087l2l34215l2l2l0l0l0l1l273l273l2-1l1l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=9d0d5f7a60b1d045&biw=1366&bih=554
6. Cotton through these works is trying to step away from presenting a visual narrative and moves towards conveying a “sense of the way landscape and objects are repositories of memory.” “These memories in turn develop into our individual and collective cultural landscapes.”
The piece forked tongue has the “letters O/I” which combines faded maps and words is a statement about the ways in which mapping and naming is a record of ownership and control of land in traditional European culture whereas for Maori it was other factors which determined ownership.” This strongly relates to the treaty of Waitangi as it was the Europeans who wanted it on paper to claim the ownership of this land whereas the Maori understood it to be of something different. In the Maori treaty it says that the land still belongs to the Maori whereas in the English version it states that it belongs to the British. Cotton here is trying to portray the insignificance of words on a piece of paper as it can be deceiving as the treaty was.
In the piece ‘welcome’, Cotton is referencing the “controversial motif of "upoko tuhituhi" or “marked heads”, and his iconic birds.” I find this work to be related to colonization in the sense that he is trying to present to the world the Maori colony. He is also trying to represent his ancestors and their after-life through this piece and the importance towards this in the Maori culture. The idea of an after-life or heaven has been expressed by putting an image of Jesus on his piece. It places an idea of the dead. It also seems that Cotton commonly references Christianity through his recent works as he even “often quotes lines from The Lord’s Prayer .”
You also examine that he is trying to present to the world our native birds and familiarising them with what can be accepted to be seen in our colony. He is trying put forward our colonies believes which have very much been shaped by our history.
You also examine that he is trying to present to the world our native birds and familiarising them with what can be accepted to be seen in our colony. He is trying put forward our colonies believes which have very much been shaped by our history.
- Eye Contact. (n.d). Retrieved August 23, 2011 from http://eyecontactsite.com/2010/07/pondering-the-marks-and-symbols-of-shane-cotton
- The National Business Review. (n.d). Retrieved August 23, 2011 from http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/shane-cotton-paintings-examine-cultural-landscape-126412
7. On 13 February 2008, “Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offered a formal apology to Indigenous Australians.” Through the installation ‘Sorry’ Albert is trying to capture an “outpouring of emotion” due to this major event in the Australian history. He is reminding the world what the aborigines had to go through for far too long and yet despite a formal apology from the former prime minister, we still agree that actions speak louder than words.
In this installation Albert has simply used kitsch objects and applied them to vinyl letters. Kitsch is “art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.” Through the use of Kitsch objects Albert puts forward a “forest of face[s]” which represent everything that was stolen from his people and his land. “Each [Kitsch] represents a false identity, manufactured black faces made to fit white society.” Albert “revels in the sense of irony in the work, with the impetus of such a momentous and joyous event being an apology.”
I personally think his intentions with this piece were to express that it would take a lot more than a formal apology from a politician to make up for the years of pain and disrespect which was brought upon the aborigines.
- Queensland Art Gallery. (n.d). Retrieved August 20, 2011 from http://qag.qld.gov.au/collection/indigenous_australian_art/tony_albert
- Google. (n.d). Retrieved August 20, 2011 from http://www.google.co.nz/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=define+kitsch&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=5X5PTqPtJOX7mAWqxvW-Bg
8. I find that both Albert and Cotton express the idea of pluralism in their artworks by continuously expressing their cultural background through their works. They are not ashamed to express where they come from and they most definitely aren’t afraid to express their opinions on actions related to their cultures especially Albert. They remind us there is more than just “one basic substance or principle,” or more specifically in this case more than one culture. We understand that this world is a multicultural society now and it would be ignorant not to appreciate works which express cultural identity such as ‘Sorry’ and ‘Welcome’.
After researching I found that both artist seek reference to their past and intertwine it with the future. Recognises post-modern theory that there is no hierachies, both artist show that two cultures can co exist.We have to acknowledge our past as artist as designers in order to move forward. It reminds us never to forget. After watching the documentary in ALVC I thought it was bullshit !!! that people overseas could take from other cultures. Although everyone has their different opinions and some thought that Maori shouldn't get compensation and why should they? and it effects other cultures so why should Maori only benefit. I believe some people missed the point all together. It was the way in which it was represented. Some "took" inspiration from the tamoko because it was pretty. They drew a couple of scribbles and then said it was there own. Not acknowledging where it came from. Everything in a tamoko means something. If they had done there research they could have avoided upsetting anyone and would have known that there are people out there that are willing to teach you NOT FOR ANY MONEY!!!!!! so that there is no misinterpretation and others can learn from you. Knowing the proper name would have been a start. Most Maori don't like to reference a tamoko as a tatoo because of the cultural significance and that the Germans used to tattoo the Jews.
ReplyDeleteHey Cyndee!
ReplyDeleteThe point you made in question 4 about us, as artists, cannot be ignorant towards our own country’s heritage is very true. As practicing artists who live and work in this country, we must have at least some basic knowledge about where how our country came to be and what major historical events that occurred which changed the way we now live. It is essential, in fact, to learn and understand even a little bit about or country’s history in order for us to be successful. Because the work of a designer is usually created for a specific market audience, if we do not understand the very people we are designing for, how can we ever expect to be successful in what we do? You have got me thinking there Cyndee! And as for your comment on globalization, even though there are many negative effects in New Zealand because of it, the positives seem to outweigh the negative effects, and I can’t help but think that this country wouldn’t be the same without it. I can’t imagine living here without such things as American programs and movies, the different types of food from around the world and the different fashions that reach our shores.
You have made some good points of when you talk about the offensive misuse of the moko and the weapon based on Maori weaponry as I believe there is no excuse to not having proper research of a culture or idea when your basing the main character of a game on a specific culture as it can lead to misunderstandings. The game you are thinking of is the game called 'The mark of Kris.' Even though Im not part of the Maori culture I understand their thoughts of when something from their culture was used incorrectly. I find it absurd that the designers of the game used a moko on their character not just cause it gives a character a warrior look straight away but because it just looks cool. So personally I feel that the Maori culture have every right to complain or report on the issue of misuse of cultural identity.
ReplyDeleteYou are well explained of description of new Zealnds current culture, it made me well understanding of other country's culture. Also it is well conected with the both artist's works.
ReplyDeleteI think that globalization does have a negative effects on New Zealand. For two artist's works, both artists are presenting the idea of pluralism with the cultures and educates us my showing us
their installations and paintings with symbols. I really like the last two questions because it makes me clear understanding of what they created the work for and what kind of ideas they want to
share with us.
What you said about the moko is very interesting considering that neither of us is of Maori decent yet we still understand how the Maori people felt when the moko was misused in the PlayStation game. I agree with Joanne when she said, “I believe there is no excuse to not having proper research of a culture or idea when your basing the main character of a game on a specific culture as it can lead to misunderstandings” At least have some decency to do the necessary research so that they don’t offend anybody. I feel that this could’ve been something great for both the game producers and the Maori people to express and to share their culture yet no proper action was taken.
ReplyDelete