The main things to come out of this project, was that it is quite difficult to define "Australian" identity, and even harder to assess if children in the 0-7/8 age bracket are able to articulate what this even means. The research indicates that children are not really able to identity what they mean by "being Australian" until they are in the 11-13+ age bracket.
This doesn't mean that issues around teaching pre-school aged children about “Australian” identity should be abandoned though or to suggest that this endeavor has no value.
What was more interesting though was the argument put forward by Gee (1999) about the big "D" discourse. I also found the work by Shore (2008), which related to online worlds, quite relevant as well. I wonder if perhaps online worlds like "ABC for Kids" and "Sesame Street" with their interactive games and use of characters, (who also feature strongly in their accompanying television shows), are somehow preparing children for more advanced play and immersion in the online game worlds, as articulated by Steinkuehler (2008), and also by Buckingham (2008). Where learning the rules of the world you are in, the hidden meanings, etc are all literacies in themselves.
Interacting in online worlds like "Sesame Street", as outlined by Shore (2008), also encourages other new world literacies, including meeting people of different backgrounds and different races (e.g multiculuralism).
Unfortunately, I was only able to lightly touch upon a whole range of issues, ranging from use of accent; to the mixture of 'new' and 'old' literacies; the groups that are not represented in Australian children's television; as well as tackling only the surface issues related to teaching young children about 'Australian' identity.
However, this has hopefully given me a sense of where to continue my studies in the future. As I was unable to find research exactly related to what I was interested in, perhaps this means that there is lots of room to continue to explore these ideas further.
Hi Cath, congratulations on your final post! I liked the addition of the images. Your comments about the continuing evolution of identity were interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe question left circling around in my mind is "how to acknowledge the elements of the shows that portray the Australian identity and those that are actively creating it?"
As an artist that has applied for animation grants that require "australian content", I've jokingly argued, "As an Australian isn't anything I create inherently Australian?" I wonder about how the tangible and often literal references that seem required to express Australian identity today (such as the bush, animals, lifestyle, multi-cultures) perhaps disqualifies some art that is less referential, yet essentially expresses the deeper shared values that perhaps identify us as Australian.
You mentioned that the bush and its issues has lost some of its punch as an Australian icon in children's TV; to be replaced by another accepted set of icons and issues. I wonder if any program/policy to define work by its use of currently recognized icons or issues is bound to subvert the natural evolution and strengthening of the Australian identity through art.
Any thoughts?
Hi Dann
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback. I do think what you are saying has good merit. I wondered that about 'dirtgirl' - as she seems to be carving out something else that differs from the criteria that I used to explain "Australian". I also think the Banana's actually have contributed to Australian identity - in that people identify them as "Australian" - but there is nothing in their show that really builds on any of the stereotypes. I think what you are talking about is probably explored more in the film literature as well. As this seems to be the place where questions about the representation of "Australia" seems to have the most hearing.
Cheers and thanks for your post!
Cath
Thanks Cath, I almost used the example of the Bananas to illustrate my point! It's the idea that something might not be neccesarily Australian at all in identity when it is first created, but could be adopted as Australian in identity after time.
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