Pluralism and the Treaty of Waitangi

1. Define the term 'pluralism' using APA referencing.

According to ALVC Resource book (n.d. p. 46) Pluralism is different cultures and social groups all being treated with the same amount  respect including but not limited to different ethnicities, genders, ideologies, abilities, ages, religions, economic status and education levels.

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

In my opinion I would describe our culture as very much a western society with our own traditional values incorporated into it, and not the other way around. The reason I say this is because sure we all support the mighty all-blacks whose traditional Haka strikes fear into neighboring countries, yet around every street corner we are treated with a big helping of some sort of western developed fast food restaurant or clothing store. Our main spoken language is English and other languages are only a optional choice for studies at middle schools and most of our political parties are made up of European rules and ethics.


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

Definitely the Maori culture. Before 1840 New Zealand was mostly inhabited by the Maori people and few European explorers/traders. The change only began to happen after the signing of a treaty.

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

If the Treaty of Waitangi were to not exit, New Zealand would be a very different place to live in. However its importance to us today is of great value in securing the sharing/ownership of land between the queen and the native people of New Zealand. To an artist it can mean several things. We grew up here, we know the customs, the people, the places. All these aspects that the treaty has helped shape influence us directly or indirectly in ways we sometimes don't even realize. Be it inspiration for a piece of art work or a native line of clothing, we all have much to relate to in terms of the treaty.


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

One main pro of globalization is the culture to culture interaction that we see when immigrants travel to New Zealand. It helps bring new experiences, food, fashions, language, and overall variety to our countries diversity. However the con, or general bad side, is that smaller ethnic groups (in this case Maori) start to be forgotten. Out with the old and in with the new you could call it.

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 is one of the most popular works by New Zealand artist Shane Cotton. It shows two fantails and two faces all opposite to one another. The top figure appears to be a symbol for the Europeans, maybe based of the lord and savior of the bible. while the bottom figure represents one of the indigenous people of the land. It is important to note Shane Cotton uses a lot of Maori symbols in his work, thus fantails have been used here to show the relationship between the two cultures. The whole work as a whole portrays the merging of cultures that the Treaty proposed.

Forked Tongue is another work by Shane Cotton that challenges the ideas of colonization by use of Maori symbols and icons. John Daly says "metaphors become starting points for an elaboration on the links between the physical, historical and spiritual landscapes." (July 20, 2010, para. 6). This all fits in with his idea of how the land is shared by both the Maori and Europeans under the terms of the treaty.

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'.

The piece 'sorry' by Tony Albert is a collection of faces placed into the word 'sorry'. These faces have all been acquired over the past decade by Tony and by placing them all together he is portraying the idea of the black aboriginal in a white mans world. The history behind the faces is that they are trinkets or items mass produced by white people. Tony has used these in conjunction with the word 'sorry' to show the history stolen from his people over the years. These faces or 'Kitsch' (unsatisfying copys of the original) do an excellent job in pushing this message forward.

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

Well if pluralism is the idea of cultures and social groups not being recognized highly over one another then we can easily see how these works are directly related to pluralism. Shane Cotton's work relates directly in his subject matter and by the symbols he has painted, while Tony Albert's collection of mass reproduced aboriginal faces communicate his view of colonization.


http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/category/tid/133

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

http://www.gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz/artists/shanecotton/biography.asp

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

http://21cblog.com/tony-albert-sorry-2008/

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