Susan, and everyone, What I was hoping to get from Kevin was his viewpoint about the artwork I was producing, I wanted to know if it was offensive, or thought of as appropriation, and get some general feedback. Kevin refused to look at the photos I had, and I spoke mainly with the (white)woman who was with him at the time. she also tried to get him to have a look as she thought the pictures were really interesting. When Kevin did speak, I realised how much pain and anguish he felt. I felt his pain. It made me want to try and move forward from the pain that is felt, and this is why i started the project in the first place. What i wish to say is that i had not come across this magnitude of deep seated pain and bitterness firsthand. it made me think. alot. (I described the general feeling of the encounter as negative) my first reaction was it is probably going to be at least another 200 years before we can fix this mess up. it is going to take a long time to get to know Aboriginal people to be able to get their comments on my work. After that I did meet other Aboriginal people, and i have learnt that there are those that support reconciliation and those that do not, and those that dont care one way or the other. I also had a wonderful meeting with Dr Olga Gostin (Russian) who runs the Aboriginal Studies Unit at the University of S.A. She said that my work was truly inspiring, and how important/significant it is when the work (writing, art, etc) comes from the oppressor. Basically in my life and living it, I meet white people who have very biased views toward Aborigines and I am not afraid to speak up for the First Nations of Australia, and try to inform people that their views are biased, racist, what ever. I enjoy doing that with my artwork, because pictures can convey a message that words just cannot. By the way, my work is offensive to some people. People need to have their eyes opened. If there is anything else that people want to say, or have cleared up, please feel free. In my experience, life is an uphill journey, and my hill is steep, but I wouldn't want to change that. karyn >From: Susan Forde <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [recoznet2] Irene and Karyn's comments >Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 16:06:10 +1000 > >Hi everyone, > >Thanks to Karyn and Irene for their comments. I'll have a go at offering >some comments but I think there are many issues that arise from the emails >that require much longer discussion. > >I think it is a common error among non-Aboriginal people who are dealing >with Aboriginal people to expect everything to be "warm and fuzzy". Karyn >wanted one of the elders, Kevin Buzzacott, to express positive, warm, >encouraging sentiments to her in her new discovery of Indigenous culture, >and when he didn't she took it as a negative comment. > >There is a lot of deep-rooted racism in Australia, a lot of it >unidentified, and it's going to take a long time for people to come to >terms with that. Karyn, you are coming from a perspective of having very >little contact with Aboriginal people, and very little understanding of >their life experience. You should appreciate that. If Kevin Buzzacott >expressed some things that you interpreted to be negative, you should ask >why he is a little negative...or at least think about it yourself. Use your >insight. > >There is understandably a level of anger in some Indigenous people about >their life situations, treatment of their families, and lack of recognition >and understanding from the wider community. Indeed, not only is there a >lack of understanding, there is often open hostility from (white) people >who have directly benefited from the oppression and exploitation of >Aboriginal people. Anger, therefore, and resentment, is a completely >natural reaction and should be understood and accepted for what it is. > >I have no idea what the elder said to you, whether his comments were >actually negative, or whether essentially you did not listen sufficiently, >as Irene suggests. > >But I certainly think the advice, that we should all listen and watch twice >as much as we speak, is spot on. > >Regards to everyone, > >Susan. > >Susan Forde >School of Film, Media and Cultural Studies >Griffith University QLD 4111 > >ph +61 7 3875 7229 >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." 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