Post-colonial Literature for ChildrenEDU32PLC

Week 5 - Lecture 10

Voices in Australian literature:

European voice or Aboriginal voice?

Either or neither or both?

© La Trobe University, David Beagley 2006

References

Foster, J., Finnis, E.J. and Nimon, M. (1995) Aboriginal Australia: a century of attitudinal change. in Australian Children’s Literature: an exploration of genre and theme. Wagga: CIS, Charles Sturt University

European or Aboriginal?Either or neither or both?

Ernie dances to the didgeridoo, My Place, Going for Kalta, The Papunya School Book of Country and History, Walking with the Seasons in KakaduEuropean? Aboriginal?Multicultural?Australian?

Consider the representation of the various groups. How are they:Identified?Differentiated?

Ernie dances to the didgeridoo

Ernie dances to the didgeridoo

Ernie dances to the didgeridoo

Part of a larger series about children : Celeste sails to Spain, Clive eats alligators, Rosie sips spiders, Tessa snaps snakes, When Frank was four – published 2001Structured as an informative sequenceBegins from the European as the familiarDoes not label any groupMaintains the positive younger reader/childhood approach by emphasising identifiable activitiesIntroduces new details as an extension of the familiar

My Place

One off production for Bicentennial in 1788Structured as an informative sequenceBegins from the European and works back – colonial/imperial centring of cultureLabels each group in contextMaintains the positive younger reader/childhood approach by emphasising identifiable activitiesIntroduces new details as an extension of the familiar

My Place

Going for kalta

Prize winner – BotY Information 1999Emphasises traditional Aboriginal values over European sensibilitiesDirect conversational voiceEuropean structure

Going for kalta

Going for kalta

The Papunya School book of country and history

Prize winner BotY Information 2002Serves definite political purposeClear Aboriginal voice and style in storytelling and visualsIntegration of Aboriginal and European expressions of history, geography, society etc. Emphasis on cultural and physical interactions and re-establishment of identity

The Papunya School book of country and history

The Papunya School book of country and history

Walking with the seasons in Kakadu

Published 2003Collaborative creation – European writer with Aboriginal artistEuropean style and format – text and illustrations

Walking with the seasons in Kakadu

Walking with the seasons in Kakadu

In conclusion …

Key elements in presentation and representation:Honesty and integrity Recognition of past Hope for the future Acceptance of difference Consultation