“Australian Rules” essay Essay

Australian rules is set in a small rural town, where the relationships between the face cloth towns muckle and the prime people on the mission atomic number 18 complex, conflicted and marred by deeply entrenched racialism. The local football game team in umteen ship canal serves to hold still for the town, it reflects the conflicted relationship between the colour people and the central people- we receive to understand this as the get unfolds. Other themes inherent in the film are themes of family, love, loyalty and military group- the secrecy of domestic violence and the more naked forms of racial violence that spill reverse out onto the public spheres of the football line of business and the pub.The opening narration informs us that half the football team is key and that there would non be a football team without the indigen players, therefore we understand how the town team relies on the giving and account of the primitive players. We then witness the contrad iction of the white and pristine boys play side by side as team members followed by the social segregation between the members after the match. This segregation is highlighted by Blacky (a white boy from town) and Dumby (an Aboriginal boy who is the best player on the team) whose acquaintanceshipship transcends these borders and we in like manner witness demeanors that this segregation between the white teenager and Aboriginal teenagers is culturally imposed by certain adults.In one of the starting scenes, just after a football match, Dumby and Blacky want to hang out together, but Dumby is taken back to the mission by an older comrade and Blacky cannot follow. Blacky, Clarence and Dumby all call out to each other Nukkin ya and this use of Aboriginal language between two Aboriginal teenagers and Blacky the white boy signifies the unionise of their friendship and mutualacceptance. Pickles comment to Blacky that now he even negotiation like one, symbolises the towns disappr oval of such take note for Aboriginal culture and Aboriginal people.The character of fairly, Dumbys older friend from the mission, plays an important role in the film. He was once a smart football player himself but no longer kicks goals for whitefellas and he is monumental because he is the main character to verbalise that Aboriginal people are treateddifferently and unfairly. He is somewhat aggressive in his approach, expressing saddle sore and resentment, yet it is implied that his approach is reactionary to the way he has been treated, and his statementsoverlooked by the white instruct- are significant examples of changing responses to uneven power dynamics.For example the white coach tells Dumby to make sure all the Aboriginal team players turn up to the next match and Pretty interjects stating that it doesnt work that way anymore, his metaphor of yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir, clearly refers to the history of Aboriginal people being used as servants and points out that the coachs approach of ordering Dumby around is no longer appropriate. Unfortunately the coach does not take this message on and rather than acknowledging the Aboriginal boys as talented, valuable and indeed essential team players, he nervously treats them as unreliable boys who may destroy the teams chances by not turning up.This position of relying on Aboriginal talent, whilst refusing to appropriately acknowledge this talent is made explicitly clear during the award giving sacrament that takes mark after the team win the finals. Pretty is made to leave the ceremony after he disputes the truth of a speech about the classless nature of football whereyou can be anyone, from anywhere, and receive the recognition you deserve. Pretty is immediately proved to be right when the awards are attached provided to white boys, and Dumby, who is obviously the most talented player on the team is left completely unacknowledged. thither is a direct solecism in Dumbys response and he b ecomes more like Pretty, demonstrating enkindle and resentment, rather than his normal cheerful, co operative self. This gives us insight into Prettys character and how he may have developed the attitude that he has towards white people. Pretty and Dumbys break-in to the pub that in truth night can be interpreted as a direct response to the unfairness of the award ceremony- although there are characters, such as the coach, who are not willing to see the connection. The fact that Dumby is then murder by Blackys yield is a complicated event with many layers of meaning. The insights we have been given about Blackys father prior to the injection is that of a man who dominates his family, puts down his sons for showing vulnerability and who physically abuses his wife. There areinstances in which we can see links between the violence he demonstrates towards his family and the verbal and physical violence he feels justified in displaying towards Dumby, and then later towards Dumbys sist er, Clarence. There is a scene in which the father physically attacks Blacky and forces Blacky to declare loyalty to him (regarding the shooting), meanwhile verbally abusing Clarence with racial slurs and ordering her to get out of his house. During this scene the camera pans onto the faces of the Blackys make and siblings and we see how domestic and racial violence become enmeshed, that the fathers attack on Blacky for being with Clarence is an act of violence that hurts his whole family. interestingly it is Clarence who is the least cowed in this scene, she does not show fear and walks outwith dignity. In this way we can see how control and domination is a exceptional pattern in this family, but is not taken on by Clarence.In many ways, the shooting, and the following events, are catalysts for great changes, both in the town, and more specifically in Blackys family. Blacky rejects his parents demands to nourish loyalty to his father and instead Blacky remains loyal to his frien dship with Dumby. Blackys rejection of his fathers authority instigates other members of the family, such as his mother and next youngest brother who subtly take Blackys side. The scene where his brother urges him to get up and face his father, (when his father beat him to the ground), symbolises the request of his family for Blacky to represent them all and challenge the fathers authority. The resolution of the film sees the father gone, leaving Clarence and Blacky happily together but planning to this town that has postcode for them. The fate of the town is not so happy, the boys from the mission wont come to town and there is no longer a football team.In many ways we can see how Australian rules reflects the complexities of tender relationships- of love and loyalty and hatred and violence, and clearly demonstrates how deeply entrenched racism hurts everyone. The town, through its racism has destroyed the tentative trust of the Aboriginal people and has lost its glory- its winn ing football team. Its seems empty, a place only good for leaving.