A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

To me, this photo accurately describes some of the cultural issues here in Australia. The most significant cultural aspect that I have encountered here is the difference between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and white Australian culture.

In Australia, aboriginal peoples are "othered" and seen as outsiders to the dominant culture. A lot of this stigma is associated with traditional aboriginal cultural practices, such as the playing of the didjeridoo, as pictured above.

The intersection of "black cultures"and white cultures in Australia is a common area of study. Often, Indigenous Knowledges is the term used to lobby for an increased understanding between the various races and cultures, outside of a predominately western context.

The photo above was taken at the Townsville City Market and pictures a white American student learning aboriginal music from an indigenous man. Scholars might say that this shows progress, in that members of the dominant culture are actively engaging with members of indigenous cultures. Others might say that this shows a continuation of the negative stigma that is associated with aboriginal people, as street-dwellers who cause trouble and are uneducated.

I personally believe that there has been progress, but there is still a lot to be done for the well-being of aboriginal peoples and the preservation of their cultures.

But learning and respecting the cultures is a step in the right direction.