One of the main aims of Contemporary English is to increase your understanding of human behaviour.

Choose one of the Contemporary Issues you have studied. Write an essay outlining what you have learnt about human behaviour from your study of this issue. Refer to at least ONE of the set texts and related materials. (1997 HSC Contemporary Paper 2, Section I)

As a result of reading and studying set texts, i.e. 'Women of the Sun' and 'Joseph's Coat' and supplementary material, I have come to terms and understood that human behaviour depends on the culture in which an individual lives. Cultures around the world today and in the past have been pressured by other cultures, an individual must come to terms with his/her real identity and that for a culture to survive it must actively take pride in its people and 'stand up' for what is right.

The Aboriginal culture has been under pressure throughout all the 19th Century and the after effects are still seen today. In the text 'Maydina', Mrs. Macphee says 'It is easier to train those with white blood in them' totally demolishing the self esteem of any Aboriginal. As well as that 'Mrs. Macphee' would not allow 'Maydina' to sing or talk in her language not even teach her child 'Biri'. We also see another racist comment, or more like ironic, in Lo Arna (the text episode 4 in Women of the Sun) 'Cutler' says 'there are some people who no matter what you do for them never seem to contribute' putting pressure on the Aboriginal culture as they were not allowed to be given land, so couldn't farm, which was the job they were mostly good at. In an article I read on 22 of May in the 'Sydney Morning Herald' called 'The Block: It's days are numbered'. Where the government is basically 'kicking' all the Aboriginal residents living in the inner Redfern area on Evelie St, while this was the only land in Sydney Aboriginal actually owned.

It was not just Aboriginal that faced pressures in the poem 'To the Adopted Mother' (the text) the writer says 'Only with words you praised my works, you did not feel for me.' The writer here symbolizes all the ethnic cultures that though Australia would welcome them as it's own citizens, Australia still puts pressures on them. For example on a program called 'A Current Affair' on Channel Nine at 6.30, it showed a Greek person that was not allowed to have a haircut because of his race.

Personal cultural identity is important, An individual must come to terms with his/her real identity. There are some who don't know their identity for example in the text' Maydina', 'Biri and Johnny' were caught up between two cultures, the 'white' from 'Mrs. Mcphee' and the 'black' from 'Maydina'. There are others who do not appreciate their personal identity even though they know it. For example in he text 'Lo Arna'. 'Ann' was really furious that she was Aboriginal, when she found out she said 'I am an Abo, a bloody boong' which indicates no sense of appreciation, she later tries to wash her identity symbolically in the shower but she knows she can't do that. Yet still there are those who appreciate their culture identity. For example Maydina clearly identifies her personal identity by saying 'I Maydina that is my name.'

In a video called 'Growing up Koorie' watched on 2nd July, we see how an Aboriginal woman in this documentary series identifies herself by saying 'Even though my parents are white, my ancestors are black and I will always keep this culture.' Also in an article I have read called 'Black Fight Back', in the S.M.H. newspaper on 11 of July 97, shows how two Aboriginal women have just come to terms with their personal cultural identity in their mid forties. The two are now motivated to fight for their culture. A program on the radio I heard on 24 of May 97 was about a centre called 'Link up Centre'. And the producers of this centre say 'part of our job is not just to help Aboriginal youth but to let them understand what their identity really is.'

After an individual has come to terms with his or her culture, he/she must take pride in that culture. For a culture to survive it must actively take pride in itself. The people of this culture must face any problems with enthusiasm and determination to let their culture survive. In 'Maydina' the text we see how the Aboriginals on the Balan site refused to give to Governor Bligh their spiritual totems, as they meant a lot to them. Even though it resulted in them being harassed physically it helped them to be confident in their culture. Individuals who have succeeded in doing so are like 'Cathy Freeman' a sporting hero who is Aboriginal, and 'Ernie Dingo' who is also an aboriginal and a star on T.V.

Comments that show pride in a culture would be in 'Maydina', the text, when Maggie says 'we are like seeds of the grass, the wind comes and the seed is gone long time from now we come again like the grass from the seed.' Which is really taking pride in the Aboriginal culture. Also in the text poem 'Urban Ab', it quotes 'with murder with rape you marred their skin but you cannot whiten their minds. ... that black and beautiful kind.' A guest speaker called 'Rick Manton' on 31 May 97 explained to our English class the importance of taking pride in the Aboriginal culture to survive and how young Aboriginals must not drink alcohol or do any offences that would result in shaming the culture. A supplementary material 'Black death in Custody' in 'Seven Nightly News' on 21 of August 97 we see how Aboriginal leaders took pride in their culture by complaining about the horrific number of deaths in prisons.

These materials (supp. and texts) have greatly increased my understanding of this sensitive contemporary issue and created a sense of questioning on how people behave in different cultures.

(From '1997 Sample HSC Answers, Contemporary English') ---------*note that this essays is under Typical Above Average Range