Belonging Essay

Belonging, in essence, refers to the nonion associated with the data links individuals make with people, groups and places. Conversely, by belonging to a authorized group or place others argon indirectly excluded from belonging in the process. Belonging is a connection that we every last(predicate), as humans, instinctively seek bulge out it forms part of our natural behavior. Through this process of belonging we ultimately accommodate and grow as a person, the outcome by dint of which is our place in society is established.The Immigrant Chronicle by Peter Skrzynecki illustrates how difficult finding a sense of belonging can be by raising the issues experient when attempting to assimilate in a new heathen environment with all the associated physical, personal and social changes. Similarly, Jeffery news painting The New schooltime and the short film Mr Cheng explore how barriers can hinder our sense of espousal and belonging. Though it is an innate essential to belong it is not always achieved. This subject is accentuated throughout In the Folk Museum as the composer struggles to relate to a news report and culture which is not his own.The visit highlights his inner conflict of not designed where he belongs. He does not feel like a trustworthy Australian who may look at such relics and see cultural significance to them and understand their historical value. Rather he views them in a detached sense To remind of a past/ Which isnt exploit. The poet uses a faceless caretaker as a representative of Australias past. She sits abutting to a winnowing machine an agricultural machine that separates grain from chaff, creating a metaphor for separating the true Australians from new migrants.The poet illustrates the caretaker as dull and uninviting, matching her pig colour with the grey clay bottle that is in the museum causing them to issue be made from the same entity adding to the composers discomfort and estrangement. The composer emphasises his nee diness of belonging by describing the colour of the museum as well as its cold as piss touch showing the disconnectedness and isolation the composer experiences. The poem reinforces this humor, when the composer is asked to sign the visitants books emphasising that he is only a viewer of the Australian account rather than a part of it. desirewise St Patricks College similarly portrays the need to belong tho, it reveals that belonging does not always come naturally despite his mothers attempt to find a way to connect through alike and the schools reputation. The poet explores this attempt to belong in the third stanza by the stress of eighter years passing by and yet he is still Like a foreign tourist, Uncertain of my destination, Every time I got off. The poet reinforces this idea again by the repetition of time in the start of the quarter stanza, establishing that no matter how long, he is still not able to belong. in spite of the use of uniform, it is evident that it is only a facade, used in swan to create an illusion of belonging. It is not the uniform that binds bookmans together, but rather a unique connection shared with individuals and place. (Link to question here and back to thesis). Jeffery Smarts painting The New School establishes that although belonging is an innate need, it is not always achieved. Smart is described as a social commentator, a witness to the disoriented city dweller or worker in a dehumanized landscape.Elements of his paintings are taken from real places but they are modified and generalised. The effect is that he creates universal scenes which could be renderings of any bigger modern city rather than existence anchored in Australia or Europe. The supposition of isolation is shown through the individuals body language and perspective of the hands as well as positioning in the painting. She is impertinent from the other students, as well as the school, showing she does not fit, emphasising her disconnection and la ck of belonging.Jeffery Smart also creates a negative feel through the dark colour of the sky and the sadness the girl displays through her nervus facialis expression, showing the difficultly to belong and how the individual feels isolation as she has no connection with these people place or groups. Similarly In the Folk Museum, the composer feels alienated not being able to relate to the Australian culture and history. The poem initiates feelings of isolation and disconnection as the poet questions himself and his place in society as he does not experience a link with the history viewed. some(prenominal) St Patricks college and The New School relate to a place and a lack of belonging. Smart furthermore highlights the struggle to belong by the vectors in his painting. This is shown by the lines of the basketball court, fading as they progressively near the individual, emphasising the students estrangement from the school. In the same way Mr Cheng experiences a lack of belonging thr ough the vectors employed by the director, as images of his family appear however they fade emphasising his uncertainty of where he belongs.The director revisits the idea of isolation, illustrated through the sever family connections that Mr Cheng has suffered. Mr Chengs alienation is echoed throughout the piece as the director emphasises his expulsion throughout the film through Mr Chengs portrayal as being secluded from society. This struggle is shown by the projections of his memories on a brick wall throughout the film, creating a metaphor, representing the wall as a barrier, showing that although he possesses these memories he is blocked from accessing his true identity.Peter Skrzyneckis, The Immigrant Chronicle, allows one to see the difficulties the poet, as a second generation migrant experiences, this being, the dichotomy of belonging to a culture which is not his own and the feeling of estrangement from his parents culture. This concept is also shown through Jeffery Smar ts painting The New School as the individual struggles similar to that of Mr Cheng to relate to an environment which is unfamiliar.