Hey there! Looking for any feedback at all on the latest context piece I've written for "One Night the Moon".
The prompt is from the 2011 VCAA exam and I'm hoping to score over 40 for English so please be picky!
Many thanks in advance, much appreciated!
Edit: The first paragraph is my required statement of intention.
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We create the places in which we dwell.
By Dylan Burrowes.
I have chosen to write my context piece in the form of an expository essay to fully explore the innate influence we all possess over our psychological, social and historical landscapes. Written in logical and coherent prose in present tense with a reasoned tone to allow thorough exploration of the prompt, the piece was written to encourage questioning of personal presuppositions and beliefs that humans often formulate without careful consideration. This piece is written to be published in a young adult magazine with the audience consisting of well educated 17-22 year olds. Influences have been drawn from the film One Night the Moon produced by Rachel Perkins; it contains many undertones of the various ways in which racism can deteriorate the fabric of society and the lives of its victims and offenders. Many social parallels have been included, namely from the broad field of science. This ensures a well-rounded discussion and gives adequate respectability and credibility to the ideas explored.
“We know we cannot live in the past but the past lives within us.” This quote by the late Charles Perkins, Aboriginal activist and father of One Night the Moon producer Rachel Perkins, acknowledges the importance of using our bygone experiences to shape our future. Indeed among our human population lies great power which is seldom recognised. Moreover, our civilisation is composed of individuals with unquestioned core moral presuppositions which in being unquestioned stunts societal growth. It is therefore paramount that in society and on a personal scale we do not dwell in the various past and present landscapes that permeate our society.
It can be said that on a personal level and in our psychological landscape, we are in full control of our thoughts and actions. Rationally speaking, although we are subject to life experiences and circumstances it is ultimately a personal decision to think in a particular way or act in a certain manner. Logically therefore it is ourselves who designate which past situations to psychologically dwell in, and whether or not we dwell at all. We may find ourselves adopting positivity in our lifestyle and viewing life circumstances with grace and optimism. Others may find themselves at the mercy of misery, allowing their plights to define them. One thing is certain however; despite any external influence it is ourselves and ourselves only who control our thoughts and therefore actions. Also certain is that our actions reinforce our thoughts. Mahatma Gandhi reflects on this staggering certitude in his contemplation that “Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.” So powerful is the link between thought and behaviour that it is used as a primary form of treatment for those experiencing psychological dysfunction; cognitive behavioural therapy encourages altering thought patterns to alter behavioural patterns. In One Night the Moon, Jim Ryan’s blatant racist and disparaging attitudes towards the Aboriginal ethnic group serves not only to emotionally wound Albert but weigh his own spirit with bitterness; he is ultimately regretful and ashamed for his behaviour after the death of his only child, Emily. This is especially evident when Jim sings “I don’t know anything anymore” - he has created the unhappiness in which he dwells as a result of his thoughts becoming his actions, which became his way of life. It is important to realise the power we possess in the human quality of consciousness; we are able to construct the areas of our psychological landscape in which we dwell. Where these personal landscapes are vocalised and communicated between others, our social landscape is formed.
Social and historical landscapes are significantly underrated in present society as to their ability to transform individuals. Although we are able to contribute significantly, we are most often under its influence; a common example being peer pressure. Social norms are extraordinarily powerful and are characterised by two integral dimensions: how much a particular social group approves of a behaviour and the frequency with which the behaviour is performed. In the early 17th century Galileo Galilei, famous philosopher and astronomer, is known for defending the idea of heliocentrism - that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Due to the societal and religious view of the time being that the reverse occurs, Galileo was ruthlessly shunned by fellow citizens and was imprisoned for the remainder of his life for not conforming with the Catholic church’s beliefs. This was all in the face of growing scientific evidence. This highlights the formidable power of a social landscape - all logic can be dismissed completely. Therefore, as we all contribute in some way to a social landscape, we bring into existence the social landscapes in which we dwell. In early Australian society, due to the ubiquitous racist attitudes held by the whites, it was almost hardwired into Australian culture to treat the Aboriginal Australians as though they were inferior. This can be witnessed in One Night the Moon when Albert is in the Ryan home without permission. When Rose heard him, although she knew Albert was attempting to help, she recited almost automatically “Get out!” as though she was upholding her cultural norm without reasoning. Furthermore, Perkins exhibits Rose Ryan as unable to cultivate her British flowers in Australia; she is seen digging them up. Perkins recognises that racism is disseminating throughout Australian society at exponential rates. This scene symbolises that no longer can the British keep cultivating their racist attitudes in Australia anymore; the current racist social landscape in which we are dwelling must be dismantled by the very people who constructed it and continue to support it - ourselves.
Historical landscapes also are quite dynamic. Although past events can never be altered, the view of them can change greatly. Renowned American philosopher and psychologist William James recognises that we can warp and manipulate history. He has said that “We divert our attention from the...indecencies...which our life is founded... [These] are never mentioned, so that the world we recognise officially in literature and in society is a poetic fiction far handsomer...than the world that really is”. Historical landscapes can alter with what is remembered and what is passed on to others; it is also very much subject to what we want to remember and what we want to pass on to others. It therefore interweaves directly with the social landscape; our historical landscape can influence our current social perceptions and outlook. Rachel Perkins attempts to challenge her audience to shape the societal and historical landscapes in which Australia is currently dwelling. In One Night the Moon, Perkins uses Jim Ryan as a metaphor for a culture which hasn’t questioned their core beliefs, presuppositions or the morality of their social and historical landscapes. Perkins highlights the hypocritical nature of the society, presenting the Ryan’s in their commonplace Sunday morning ritual of going to Church, sanctimoniously listening to a priest who exclaims “We are united in a brotherhood of man”. The community attend the services and listen to the sermons, although the services are nothing like reality - society is not united, as we are yet to transcend racial barriers. In this way Perkins rebuke’s the white’s for their self-righteous behaviour and encourages her audience to rethink what aspects of their cultural or historical landscape they take for granted. This is especially as society is dwelling in the man made racial discrimination of the past, to which we are reinforcing and encouraging by blindly following its lead.
Our current human civilisation is under a number of influences to which most of us are unaware. Many fail to realise the intrinsic power they wield over their own psychological landscape, choosing to be product of their circumstances. Even more underestimated is the immense authority of our social and historical landscapes to which we all contribute. We not only reside in these landscapes but tend to dwell, never pondering whether we believe these presuppositions are morally, culturally or ethically sound. It is therefore important that we always question the landscapes that surround us and never stagnate in our power to improve the world around us.
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