Category Archives: Summative Entry

“Australia is not a finished product”

Malouf’s profound statement that ‘Australia is not a finished product’ was critically explored by examining different authors perspectives, spanning from early colonist to the modern writers of today. The authors studied all have an overarching theme of the Australian landscape that explores what it means to them and shapes their identity in the process. Given that these authors constantly add unique insights as to what they perceive ‘Australia’ to be, through the following blogs it is evident that ‘Australia is not a finished product’. Thus, new authors and new eyes are constantly adding fresh insights and thoughts as to what they perceive ‘Australia’ to be.

Throughout this semester, I was able to not only learn of the Australian landscape through the perspectives of different writers but also develop and form my understanding as to how I perceive Australia to be. My frame of reference pertaining to the fact that ‘Australia is not a finished product’ was supported when I explored the cross-cultural voices in Ouyang Yu’s poems. In particular, a line that immensely intrigued me was ‘I say I’m returning to my home country wherever I go it is with a heart tinged with two colours’ as it shows that Australia is not only what we know it to be ‘European settlers’ ‘Aboriginal History’ rather, it gives the modern perspective of Australia. Through the use of emotive, polysyndetic use of first person languge, Ouyang conveys that Australia has opened its arms to welcome people from all walks of life that now embrace it as a nation and call it ‘home’. Thus, it is for this reason that Malouf’s statement is so profound when he says ‘Australia is still revealing itself to us’- as it is the people, places, history and culture that is adding to this nation making the recipe unfinished.

The epiphany that Australia is not a finished product began with my first blog of Lisa Bellear’s ‘Urbanised Reeboks’. Beallear offers a unique insight into the first collective identity of Australia. As such, the author signals the idea that with time, this identity has now been rediscovered and it has culminated in a newfound appreciation as we continue to search for a collective Australian identity. Her exploration of the fundamental issues that Aboriginal Australians faced is done through a transparent way, specifically by offering first-hand knowledge as she invites the audience to experience assimilation and the transition of both Indigenous and European culture to form a combined, collective and forced identity. Bellear achieves this by portraying her constant identity crisis voiced through complex experiences and issues that an Indigenous person living in our society has faced. Thus, through Bellear’s composition, it is clear to us that ‘Australia is not a finished product’, given that assimilation and degradation previously existed and some of these elements have not changed even till this present day.

In my second blog, I critically explore Mary Gilmore’s ‘Eve Song’ and examine her feministic ideologies despite it being unusual in her era. As such, it is through her work I was able to understand that Australia has progressed and is ever-changing. through Gilmore’s literally portrayal, she conveys the fact that there is no universal way of writing literature, rather it’s an unfinished product. We see this through ‘Eve Song’ that projects the feminine view with female writers within Australia beginning to share their perspectives on the Australian identity. This likewise demonstrates how ‘Australia is not a finished product’ because we have new authors giving their insights into their appreciation of what they understand Australia to be. Further, the theme of changing identity is reinforced throughout her poem to demonstrate the stark contrast, while highlighting the irony of societal expectations creating uncertainty and vigour to the reader’s mind. 

Moreover, my third blog, which I consider my best blog, unequivocally highlights the notion that ‘Australia is not a finished product’. Arthur Streeton’s ‘Fires On: Lapstone Tunnel’ painting reveals to me a stark, desolate Australian outback landscape in contrast to the effects of revolution, which is vividly drawn to express his nationalism. This contributes to the Australian identity by appreciating the natural environment that has been significantly shifted by humans destructive activities including. This artwork articulates a change of perception from early settlers, and is an exemplar of the notion that the insight of artists draws a different Australian landscape thus ‘Australia is not a finished product’.

In my fourth blog, I explore ‘Voss’, a novel written by an Australian writer, Patrick White that explores Australia through his journey that he undertook. Through this, he was able to gain a deeper appreciation of Australia and its raw power. He contributes to the concept ‘Australia not being a finished product’ by covering new topics in Australian literature that haven’t been discovered before. Gives a vigorous insight as it is of a first-hand Australian author. Ultimately,  this blog addressed the concept of ‘Australia being an unfinished product’ by exploring literature throughout Australian history.

To add, as the plaque reads ” Australia is still revealing itself to us” and therefore it is clear that Australia is a land that although there are many claims to have discovered it is still evolving . I think that our historical context needs to be recognised and learnt from before we can declare what it means to be Australian. There is no room for cultural segregation in a complete Australia, hence why it is such a prominent issue of concern in Australian literature. Australia is still a young country, an evolving continent, and there is still time to provide Australia with a literary identity through existing and future writers.

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