Pluralism and the Treaty of Waitangi

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

"First, pluralism is not diversity alone, but the energetic engagement with diversity. Diversity can and has meant the creation of religious ghettoes with little traffic between or among them. Today, religious diversity is a given, but pluralism is not a given; it is an achievement. Mere diversity without real encounter and relationship will yield increasing tensions in our societies.

Second, pluralism is not just tolerance, but the active seeking of understanding across lines of difference. Tolerance is a necessary public virtue, but it does not require Christians and Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and ardent secularists to know anything about one another. Tolerance is too thin a foundation for a world of religious difference and proximity. It does nothing to remove our ignorance of one another, and leaves in place the stereotype, the half-truth, the fears that underlie old patterns of division and violence. In the world in which we live today, our ignorance of one another will be increasingly costly.

Third, pluralism is not relativism, but the encounter of commitments. The new paradigm of pluralism does not require us to leave our identities and our commitments behind, for pluralism is the encounter of commitments. It means holding our deepest differences, even our religious differences, not in isolation, but in relationship to one another.

Fourth, pluralism is based on dialogue. The language of pluralism is that of dialogue and encounter, give and take, criticism and self-criticism. Dialogue means both speaking and listening, and that process reveals both common understandings and real differences. Dialogue does not mean everyone at the “table” will agree with one another. Pluralism involves the commitment to being at the table -- with one’s commitments."

What Is Pluralism? (retrieved 29 August 2011). http://pluralism.org/pages/pluralism/what_is_pluralism

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

From my perspective European/Pakeha are the dominant culture, although in saying that New Zealand has become such a divers country having the indeginous Maori and immigrants. European/Pakeha culture however is the most influencing culture which we follow.

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

Maoris out populated european settlers by 100,000 to 200 people, so consequently Maori was the dominate culture in New Zealand. This however rapidly changed with the introduction of European ways and technologies which were taken advantaged of by Maori for territorial purposes.

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

I have difficulty finding a direct influence in all New Zealand artists and designers working in New Zealand however i can make the connection of how the treaty has influenced our modern culture. In what we see as 'kiwi' could not be possible without the history we've experienced. In saying that, culture is determined by its history.

I think its important that all New Zealanders, artists and designers or not, should understand the Treaty of Waitangi as it gives perspective to our country. It allows us to see the changes to our country and not forget the way of life that examples valuable morals which is lost in our conventional western culture.

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

Globalization is mainly associated with the economy, so from that aspect the development of an increasingly integrated global economy can alter the need and want for regional diversity. In a recent campaign efforts were made to try convince New Zealanders to buy 'NZ Made' products. This was to combat the globalization which has occurred in New Zealand. Companies have been moving factories overseas where it is cheaper labour and materials. The negative effect of this is the loss of jobs in New Zealand.

In a aspect from artists and designers the art world has become much smaller, so artists and designers tend to aim at subjects which appeal to a global audience rather then specifying to a New Zealand culture. It has become more accessible for people to access and understand a global trend/matter rather then addressing/appealing to a local audience.

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.

To find a clear image to see his works was hard to find but from what i could see in 'Welcome' has a face of jesus with the throned crown which suggests he is about to get crucified. Imedietly i start to think this work deals with icons and intertexutality. The fan birds are sometimes represented as a messenger of death. In Maori culture it is commonly believed that if fan tail enters and exits out the same entrance someone dear to you will die soon. With this he could directly be indicating that the treaty of Waitangi was a message of death, not to the maori people, but as to the maori culture. This idea is complimented by conventional european pictorial processes. The left and bottom objects of the message seem as if they are inversions of the other objects which could relate to the diversity in the two cultures.

In 'Forked Tongue' he discusses Maori and Pakeha characteristics being overlapped upon each other. With this imagery he talks about "landownership and two cultures living in one land." He has done this by having the maori influenced wild patterns with a indigenous maori bird overlain a photographic image of land. The photographic image references the technologic advancement of the europeans. The balance between these two layers are not harmonious and seemed forced which directly references the past of the cultures trying to reach pluralism.

7. Tony Albert's installation 'Sorry' (2008) reflects 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'.

Albert is trying to communicate through his work how the aborigines were treated by the european. He made this work following the apology made by former Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd on 13th of February. The word 'Sorry' is a direct reference to Kevin Rudd's apology and it is made up of faces of people affected by the europeans. They had there family, land and culture taken from them. The faces are contained within the word Sorry which could suggest that they were forced to fit within the european society. I feel as if Albert made the work seem as if an apology was inadequate for all the mistreatment that occurred, which i think the same.

The contemporary definition of kitsch is considered derogatory, denoting works executed to pander to popular demand alone and purely for commercial purposes rather than works created as self-expression by an artist.

Terms and Materials (retrieved 29 August 2011). http://netdwellers.com/1001/hosting/users/AT/IslandArts/paTerms%20and%20materials.html

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

Both artists try to achieve two cultural references within one work. This mix of two styles rely on references to the two cultures history to understand the statements the artist is trying to discuss. The effort made to talk about two cultures working in on society directly talks about the ideas behind pluralism and progresss that has been made.