Jesse Poon Yr 12 English Advanced

Area of Study Belonging

HSC 2009: Understanding nourishes belonging. A lack of understanding prevents it. In what ways is this view of belonging represented in your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your own choosing?
Understanding oneself and the world around them is essential in an individuals search for belonging. It is only by understanding who we are, and our purpose in the larger community that we may begin to create strong connections and find a sense of belonging. Such ideas are explored in Peter Skrzyneckis poems Postcard and Migrant Hostel, as he unveils to us how understanding can result in inevitable connections to others, how a lack of understanding prevents us from discovering our place in the world, and how understanding may strengthen our identity despite being ostracized from a group. Such ideas are also investigated in Haruki Murakamis novel South of the Border, West of the Sun, which follows the journey of a middle-aged man through his mid-life crisis during post-war Japan. These issues are further illustrated in Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemanns short film The Lost Thing, featuring an abstract characters search for belonging. Understanding what our own passions are can lead to inevitable connections made with others who share these similar interests. Commonalities can arise from a variety of sources, and in the case of Skrzyneckis Migrant Hostel, can be found through common cultures. Skrzynecki comments on the inevitable connections that arise through the understanding others in the form of languages, giving people a basis for communication: Nationalities sought each other out instinctively/Like a homing pigeon/Circling to get its bearings. The simile used highlights the unavoidable connections that form when given the ability to communicate through speech. Such ideas are also explored in the poem Postcard in which the personas family are able to connect through common experiences, and thus strengthen their sense of belonging as a community: They shelter you And drink to freedom/Under the White Eagles Flag. The use of the collective pronoun they and the reference to the Polish coat of arms further adds a patriotic tone, suggesting that the understanding they possess of each others experiences and their culture has strengthened their rapport. Thus, Skrzynecki suggests that it is only through our understanding of others, whether through language, culture or similar experiences, that we are able to create irreparable bonds and thus, form a strong sense of belonging. Similarly, Murakamis novel explores how the understanding and sharing of similar experiences can create inevitable connections to others. Hajime was an only child living during a time when such a status was extremely rare. This one factor and led to him feeling isolated for much of his life. However, upon meeting Shimamoto, he discovers that she is also an only child. It is this commonality that allows them to understand each other and thus provide a foundation for their budding relationship: We understood each other. You could even say that I loved her Additionally, Murakami suggests that this deep level of understanding had led to an unavoidable connection: call it magnetism. Like it or not, its a power that ensnares people and reels them in The extended metaphor illustrates the unavoidable nature of such relationships when formed on the basis of common experiences. Therefore, we can conclude that not only can similar experiences provide a foundation for the formation of strong relationships, but also that sometimes, such bonds are inevitable. On the other hand, a lack of understanding of ourselves can prevent us from being able to form connections with others, and thus lead to further alienation. In Skrzyneckis Postcard,

Jesse Poon Yr 12 English Advanced

the persona is unable to feel any connection to the postcard due to his insecurities about his own cultural identity: I never knew you, except in the third person. The personification of Warsaw emphasises his inability to connect to this person due to his lack of experience and understanding of the town and his cultural heritage. This has consequently resulted in doubts as to who he is and where he belongs: Whats my choice to be? It seems as though this lack of understanding has led into a perpetual downward spiral of insecurities, as a lack of understanding leads to further doubt, which ultimately obscures ones understanding even more, resulting in rebellion against any one culture: I stare at the photograph/And refuse to answer. Thus, Skrzynecki suggests that the absence of a strong understanding can be a barrier to an individuals search for belonging. Likewise, Ruhemanns short film conveys similar ideas of how a lack of personal insight into ones identity can lead to further isolation. The short film follows the journey of a lost thing in his quest to find a place to belong in a world where he is explicitly excluded. The anonymity of its name further connotes its isolation from society. It is the narrator and personas inability to understanding who or what he is that initially leads him to try and conform to a society he is clearly rejected from. This is illustrated through a shot of the family sitting and eating in the foreground juxtaposed with the lost thing stifled in the dark corner in the background. Such contrast emphasises the isolation that its experiencing as a result of a lack of knowledge of its own personal identity and its role within the larger world. Thus, we are able to conclude that when any individual is void of any understanding of its own identity it results in further exclusion. Being able to understanding yourself can lead to the strengthening of your identity despite being alienated from the dominant culture or society. Such is the case in Skrzyneckis poem Migrant Hostel, in which the family has been clearly alienated from Australian society and culture: A barrier at the main gate... As it rose and fell like a finger/Pointed in reprimand or shame. The personification of the boom gate illustrates the outright schism between the two cultures. However, their strong familial ties and their understanding of who they are has led to the persona feeling a sense of belonging despite rejection from the dominant culture: Always sensing a change/In the weather/Unaware of the season/Whose track we would follow. Despite the impermanence of their current situation, they are able to create a sense of belonging within their family, connoted by the collective pronoun we. Hence, an understanding of ones culture and family can lead to a sense of belonging despite the unyielding pressures of society. In South of the Border, Hajimes inability to connect with or understand the context of his time has also led to the formation of a stronger personal identity. Upon meeting Shimamoto, they engage in a lengthy discussion about the difficulties of being an only child. However, when asked whether he would like a brother or sister, Hajime replies: If I did have a brother or a sister, I would be the me that I am. The repetition of personal pronouns seems to reinforce that his rejection from society has strengthened his own character and identity and led to a deeper understanding of who he is. Therefore, Murakami suggests that sometimes, rejection and isolation can help steer you to discover your true self and your role in the world, thus allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of your own personal identity. Therefore, we can conclude that the understanding of ones identity and their place in the world can lead to a stronger sense of belonging. Yet, a lack of understanding can lead to further isolation. Skrzyneckis poems, Tan and Ruhemanns The Lost Thing, and Murakamis South of the Border demonstrate the significance of these issues in helping us gain an insight into the importance of understanding others and ourselves in the formation of relationships between individuals and within a group.