Week 5 - 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.

“Inclusion of individuals of differing ethnicities, genders, ideologies, abilities, ages, religions, economic status and educational levels is valued. Pluralism honours differences within and between equitable groups while seeing their commonalities.”

Cultural Context: Pluralism in Art. - (retrieved 28 August 11).http://www.design.iastate.edu/NAB/about/thinkingskills/cultural_context/pluralism.html

2. How would you describe New Zealand's current dominant culture?

I do not think that there is a dominant culture in New Zealand considering that our country is very diverse with cultures from all across the world including the Pacific Islands, Asia, Europe and Africa. I wouldn’t say that the Pakeha/European or Maori culture are dominant, I wouldn’t think any culture within New Zealand is dominant, but I will say that the Maori culture, which is the culture that we associate with New Zealand is slowly fading.

3. Before 1840, what was New Zealand's dominant culture?

Before 1840 Maori was the dominant culture. There were about 100,000 Maori and 200 European. This has dramatically changed over the years when the musket wars occurred, killing over 20,000 Maori. Soon after, the Pakeha settled on the land and took over the country.  Technological advances in travel was soon big and different people started migrating from overseas and over the years the Maori culture slowly decreased and is no longer the dominant culture.

4. How does the Treaty of Waitangi relate to us all as artists and designers working in New Zealand?

The Treaty of Waitangi is a reminder of our country’s past. As artists and as New Zealanders, we have to keep the history and the culture alive through art and design. But this treaty is also a reminder of how easy it is to manipulate and take advantage of this responsibility to keep the culture alive and how we as artists and designers have to also be aware of the misuse of the sacred art form and traditions of Maori culture. We must not only keep the culture alive, but must also respect it.

5. How can globalization be seen as having a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand in particular?

I would say that it does have a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand because of the misuse of the the sacred culture and traditions of the Maori people. Because of this misuse of culture and it being manipulated it loses that significance and purpose that it has. We as a country have to keep this culture alive. Its not only Maori culture but as a diverse country we have to look after

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 

http://www.printsandprintmaking.gov.au/catalogues/work/52293/shane-cotton-welcome.aspx

'Forked Tongue'(2011) Shane Cotton

Shane Cotton is a New Zealand artist who has both Maori and Pakeha descent in him. The ideas that he trys to incorporate into his work is the two cultures of Both Maori and Pakeha/European. "Cotton’s work has addressed historical contact and the way in which the process of painting effects change by re-presenting figures and symbols from the past." (Flight Paths, 2007).

7. Tony Albert's installation 'Sorry' (2008) reflects 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'.

Sorry is an artwork by Tony Albert who by Kevin Rudd, a former Australian Prime minister, commemorates to the indigenous people of Australia (Aboriginal People) as an apology  to them who have suffered as a result of 'past mistreatment' by the Australian Goverment. Creating this work Albert is merely paying his respects to the Aborigines and reminding others of Kevin Rudd's former apology.

The term 'Kitsch' is “something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality" (Webster, 2011).

Albert's materials that he uses are very significant as they hold some sort of significance to him and his family.

"Even in my family, we had this stuff, too, so there are generations of people who understand the iconography." (Sorenson, 2009) 

He gave these objects and items a sense of importance or a meaning and it was something that indigenous people of Australia could be proud of because it represented them as a people and as a culture.

"Recontextualising them changed their meaning, gave them voice, bringing them back in a black, empowering way." (Sorenson, 2009)

8. Explain how the work of both artists relates to pluralism.

Pluralism can be seen in both these artist’s ideas and relate to each other through the ideas of culture, traditions and the ways of living as an indigenous people. The also both refer to the past and their peoples culture and how we can see this today.

Tony Albert | Australia b.1981 | Girramay people | Sorry 2008 |

 Found kitsch objects applied  to vinyl letters | 99 objects :   

 200 x 510 x 10cm (installed) | The James C Sourris Collection.

 Purchased 2008 with funds from James C Sourris through the 

 Queensland Art Gallery Foundation | Collection: Queensland Art Gallery

Reference List:

http://www.design.iastate.edu/NAB/about/thinkingskills/cultural_context/pluralism.html  

http://www.listener.co.nz/culture/art/flight-paths/

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kitsch

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/curios-of-the-contemporary/story-e6frg8n6-1111119151528