racial reading
representation of cultures
The characters in Strange Objects have different opinions on Aboriginal people. Just because the characters in the book are racist, doesn't imply that the author is racist or that the book is racist. It's evident throughout the book that Steven Messenger has views on races. On page 23 we can see what views Messenger has are insecure and very similar to views of Wouter Loos later on in the novel. "...After school they'd disappear back into the bush where they came from. In my opinion it was better that way.". The entries of Messenger were in his perspective, in the present. Having a perspective in the present and comparing it to the past opinions of Wouter Loos, gives the reader a chance to understand how little racist opinions have changed.
perspective
In the novel there are two main narrators, one of which is in a form of a diary. Diaries are a personalised opinion, and also shoes how Wouter Loos has very little knowledge on races, and seem to merge all "black race" into one, referring to them as "Indians". On page 114, he states "...Although I could not tell if the three from the previous day were among them, as to me they all shared a sameness of appearance.". We can compare this to Steven Messenger's quoting on page 23 "...Some were Malays, some Chinese, but they all looked alike." And later says that he can not tell the difference. Jan Pelgrom never gets an intel in the story, and is only mentioned in other people's recording as savage, a bit crazy, and also afraid of Indians. It says in multiple of Loos' entries that he runs from them or threatens the indigenous. Souter could of over exaggerated it though, or changed the story. It says that we can not completely trust this diary because it is written by a guy who doesn't want to be accounted for being in the wrong.
One of the key characters in this novel is an Old Indigenous male named Charlie. He is referred to by Messenger as "an old abbo" (page 24). Charlie was a significant character, he had plenty of information, enough to solve the mystery of the ring, Ela, and everything. Not having his perspective was a tease, and drew our attention closer to the conversations he partake with anyone, especially with Steven.
One of the key characters in this novel is an Old Indigenous male named Charlie. He is referred to by Messenger as "an old abbo" (page 24). Charlie was a significant character, he had plenty of information, enough to solve the mystery of the ring, Ela, and everything. Not having his perspective was a tease, and drew our attention closer to the conversations he partake with anyone, especially with Steven.
foreign
They discuss in the book the idea of being different, due to race, homeland, skin, intellect and culture. When Jan Pelgrom and Wouter Loos arrive on the island, they don't immediately encounter anyone. They decide to make a sled out of their remaining materials. It is obvious to readers that this may not be an effective mode of transport for Australian landscape, eventually they bog the sled. Steven Messenger says "... Aborigines were in this country all the time, so I cant say they're foreign, just different". Which is ironic in the comparison of Wouter Loos' entry, saying that he felt disregarded and was poked at for looking so different. When Loos' first arrives he scribes in his diary that he can not see any signs of development and civilisation. He doesn't claim that the way Indigenous people live were proper, because it wasn't like his home-land.
REPRESENTATION OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN THE PAST
As soon as white people first arrived in Australia, the Aboriginal people that already inhabited the land were discriminate against and looked down upon, labeled as uncivilised and savage.
Over the years, this discrimination continued. Up until the late eighties were Aboriginal People considered to be less than white Australians, who were unclean drunks, causing the younger generations of Australians to adopt this racism and views on Aborigines. Australian Aborigines were not even recognised as people who inhabited the land until 1992.
Over the years, this discrimination continued. Up until the late eighties were Aboriginal People considered to be less than white Australians, who were unclean drunks, causing the younger generations of Australians to adopt this racism and views on Aborigines. Australian Aborigines were not even recognised as people who inhabited the land until 1992.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Fabtograph