More than 230 years ago, Captain James Cook, a British explorer, ‘discovered’ the Australian continent and claimed it for Great Britain. From then on, the Indigenous Australian population experienced a drastic cultural and social change. Today around “68% of the Aboriginal population […] live in urban environements” (Knudsen 2004, S. 73). Despite the progress in assimilation, smoldering sources of social friction between Aboriginal people and the white community, like unemployment, poverty, alcoholism and bad health care, remain. These subjects often occur in literature of indigenous authors, especially poetry, “the most popular genre of Aboriginal creative expression in
English” (Shoemaker 1989, S. 179).
Another important theme, which is often worked up in indigenous poetry, is the urban Aboriginal’s relation to their cultural heritage, which will be the topic of this termpaper.
This theme is of high topicality nowadays, considering the increasing number of Aboriginals living in urban environments. It will be important to figure out to what extent the Indigenous’s past does still play a role in their present lives. Also it will be of interest if they still feel connected with their cultural past, if nature still plays a decisive role, even in
“civilised Aboriginals’” lives, and how they generally feel about their situation of being part of two significantly differing cultures. Therefore, the poems will be analysed on the basis of the subtopics nature, identity and past.
The aim of this paper is to provide a small overview of recent poetic works dealing with this topical theme of the urban Aboriginals relation to their cultural heritage to draw the reader’s attention to a new, probably even largely unknown part of Aboriginal’s lives.
This termpaper will first give a short overview about the Aboriginal poetry in general and the authors lives. Later on, poems in which subjects like past, civilisation or nature occur will be analysed. Poems by Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Jack Davis will act as exemplary works to be analysed and interpreted. Therefore, at the beginning of the termpaper some short biographical facts about these poets will be given to become acquainted with their cultural
background.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Background Information
- 2.1 Biographical Facts about the Authors
- 2.2 The Development of Aboriginal Poetry
- 3. Analysis of Poems
- 3.1 Connection to Nature
- 3.2 Question of Identity
- 3.3 Relation to Past
- 4. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper aims to provide a concise overview of recent Aboriginal poetry focusing on urban Aboriginals' relationship with their cultural heritage. It seeks to highlight this often overlooked aspect of Aboriginal life, given the increasing number of Indigenous Australians residing in urban environments. The analysis explores the extent to which the past influences the present lives of urban Aboriginals.
- The impact of colonization and its lasting effects on Aboriginal culture.
- The complexities of Aboriginal identity in urban settings.
- The continuing significance of nature in Aboriginal life.
- The expression of Aboriginal experiences and perspectives through poetry.
- The role of poetry as a tool for social and political change.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by highlighting the significant cultural and social changes experienced by the Indigenous Australian population following European colonization. It emphasizes the growing urban Aboriginal population and the persistent social issues they face, such as unemployment and poor healthcare. The chapter introduces the central theme of the term paper: the urban Aboriginal's relationship with their cultural heritage, focusing on how this theme is explored in Aboriginal poetry, particularly the works of Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Jack Davis. The introduction establishes the paper's objectives—to provide a brief overview of relevant poetic works and to draw attention to a relatively unknown aspect of Aboriginal life—and outlines the structure of the analysis, focusing on the subtopics of nature, identity, and the past.
2. Background Information: This chapter provides essential background information crucial for understanding the context of the poems analyzed later in the paper. The first part delves into biographical details about Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Jack Davis, two prominent Aboriginal poets. Their life stories reveal their personal experiences with colonization, discrimination, and their significant contributions to the fight for Aboriginal rights and social justice. The second part examines the development of Aboriginal poetry, transitioning from oral traditions to written forms influenced by European educational systems. This section critically assesses the impact of Western poetic styles on Aboriginal verse and highlights the debate between aesthetic value and the primacy of the message conveyed in the poetry. The chapter's discussion establishes a context for analyzing how personal experiences and historical influences are reflected in the themes and styles found in the selected poems.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Aboriginal Poetry
What is the overall purpose of this academic paper?
This term paper offers a concise overview of contemporary Aboriginal poetry, specifically focusing on how urban Aboriginal individuals connect with their cultural heritage. It aims to highlight this often-overlooked aspect of Aboriginal life, given the increasing urban Aboriginal population, and explores how the past influences the present lives of these individuals.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper investigates several key themes: the lasting impact of colonization on Aboriginal culture; the complexities of Aboriginal identity in urban environments; the ongoing importance of nature in Aboriginal life; the expression of Aboriginal experiences and perspectives through poetry; and the role of poetry as a tool for social and political change.
Which poets are discussed in this paper?
The analysis centers around the works of two prominent Aboriginal poets: Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Jack Davis. Their life stories and poetic contributions are used to illustrate the key themes.
What aspects of Aboriginal life are analyzed in relation to poetry?
The paper analyzes how themes of connection to nature, questions of identity, and the relationship to the past are expressed in the poetry of Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Jack Davis. This analysis delves into how personal experiences and historical influences are reflected in the poems' themes and styles.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into four chapters: an introduction establishing the context and objectives; a background section detailing biographical information on the poets and the development of Aboriginal poetry; an analysis of selected poems focusing on themes of nature, identity, and the past; and a concluding chapter summarizing the findings.
What is covered in the introductory chapter?
The introduction highlights the significant cultural and social changes impacting Indigenous Australians after European colonization, emphasizing the growth of the urban Aboriginal population and the persistent social challenges they face. It introduces the paper's central theme—the urban Aboriginal's relationship with their cultural heritage—and outlines the structure of the analysis.
What information is provided in the background information chapter?
This chapter offers biographical details about Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Jack Davis, exploring their experiences with colonization and discrimination. It also examines the development of Aboriginal poetry, tracing its evolution from oral traditions to written forms and discussing the influence of Western poetic styles.
How does the paper analyze the poems?
The analysis of poems focuses on three main subtopics: the connection to nature, the question of identity, and the relation to the past. It examines how these themes are represented in the selected works of Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Jack Davis.
What is the significance of the paper's focus on urban Aboriginal poetry?
The paper's focus on urban Aboriginal poetry highlights a relatively understudied aspect of Aboriginal life. It aims to bring attention to the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous Australians living in urban environments and how they maintain and express their cultural heritage through their poetry.
What is the overall conclusion of the paper?
(The provided text doesn't contain a summary of the conclusion chapter. The conclusion would likely synthesize the findings of the analysis, reinforcing the key themes and their significance in understanding the experiences of urban Aboriginal Australians.)
- Quote paper
- Ilona Sontag (Author), 2008, Urban Aboriginals and the relation to their cultural heritage, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/114579
