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 artforms 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." (Caldwell, Drake, 2000, para. 1)


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


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


In my opinion, New Zealand currently has a predominantly European culture, but being such an ethnically diverse country, there are a number of elements from other cultures such as Maori, Chinese and Pacific Islander mixed in.


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


Originally, New Zealand was only inhabited by Maoris, so they were the dominant culture. As soon as the Europeans made contact with the Maoris, dominance started to shift towards the Europeans until a treaty needed to be signed in order to prevent war between the two groups of people.


http://history-nz.org/colonisation.html
http://history-nz.org/maori.html
http://www.writework.com/essay/three-forms-maori-and-pakeha-interaction-before-1840


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


I think that the Treaty of Waitangi relates to artists and designers today in that there are still underlying feelings about who "owns" what. For example, some may feel that artists and designers should not be allowed to use Maori inspired designs because they are not part of their culture.


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


A negative effect can be seen because big corporations are using elements of traditional Maori culture to sell their products. People may see this as a negative, because these companies often don't think to research the importance behind these aspects of Maori culture they are using and end up using them in the wrong context, or in such a way that could be insulting to the Maori people.


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. 


In Cotton's work Welcome, he has used images of native New Zealand birds, and "upoko tuhituhi" or “marked heads.” The use of images of ancestral Maori faces, and these native birds shows that cotton is saying that even today, Maori culture before colonialization, and the Treaty of Waitangi are still important.

 

'Welcome' (2004) Shane Cotton 

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

  

  

        

 

'Forked Tongue'(2011) Shane Cotton

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/shane-cotton-paintings-examine-cultural-landscape-126412

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'. 

By using the word "Sorry," Albert is referring to Kevin Rudd's apology to the aboriginal people. He is communicating his feelings that the word sorry is "just a word," and that Rudd's apology was quite hollow. Albert has used Vinyl letters that spell out the word 'sorry' in block capitals, and a collection of "aboriginalia" which is aborigine styled memorabilia. Albert says that he hopes his work can 'give these silenced objects a voice,' meaning that he hopes to give the aborigine people a voice.

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

Both these artists' works refer to their culture. Albert especially, in that he has used products that specifically use pluralism i.e. aboriginalia.

                                       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
                              

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6afMy0rlqq8

http://qag.qld.gov.au/collection/indigenous_australian_art/tony_albert

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

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6afMy0rlqq8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Drb9RbW3Tw

http://www.news.com.au/national/pm-moves-to-heal-the-nation/story-e6frfkw9-1111115539560