AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA CULTURE

 The culture of the South Pacific is a mixture of Western and Indigenous lifestyles.  Some people in the area still live in traditional villages; others live in modern urban areas.  Modern technology helps provide services to people in some remote areas. KEY POINTS

 The movement—due to migration & colonization reasons—of people has contributed to the shaping of cultures in the S. Pacific region.  Indigenous People: developed lifestyles in harmony with their natural environment  Europeans: Brought their ways of life, using the environment to build Western-oriented societies BLENDING OF CULTURES

 Aboriginals  Focus on relationship of humans to nature  They believe that all natural things—rocks, plants, trees, animals, and humans—have a spirit and are interrelated.  Believe in the idea of “Dreamtime”  The early time when they say wandering spirits created land features, plants, animals, and humans.  Europeans  Brought Christianity, which attracted many indigenous followers.  Most widely practiced religion in Australia and Oceania today. RELIGION

 Indigenous  Traditionally used art, music, dance, and storytelling to pass on knowledge from generation to generation.  Australian Aboriginals recorded their past in rock paintings.  New Zealand, Maori artisans developed canoe making, basketry, tattooing, and woodcarving.  Houses have elaborate wood carvings.  Europeans  For sometime just copied European themes and infused it in this region, but then started to garner inspiration from S. Pacific environment THE ARTS

 Musicians, Writers, & Artists  Opera Performers  Australia’s Joan Sutherland  New Zealand’s Kiri Te Kanawa  Writers  N.Z.—Sylvia Ashton Warner wrote of her experiences as a schoolteacher in Maori communities  Aus.—Thomas Keneally wrote the novel Schindler’s List, which became an award-winning motion picture  Movie Stars  Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Russell Crowe, Liam & Chris Hemsworth, Heath Ledger, Rebel Wilson  Singers/Bands  AC/DC, Empire of the Sun, Keith Urban, Gotye, Rick Springfield, INXS THE ARTS

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 Juxtaposition: Island Simplicity VS Fast-Paced, Urbanization  Traditional  Subsistence Farming  Many Pacific islanders farm only enough for their own needs; crops like bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, chickens, pigs, etc.  Fale  Samoa  Simple dwelling with thatched roof (for shelter) and open sides (for cooling ocean breezes)—Blinds of coconut palm leaves can be lowered for privacy  Modern  Linked to cities by roads and modern communications technology  Nearness to sea and warm/mild climate allow outdoor activities TRADITIONAL & MODERN LIFESTYLES

 Quality of education varies across the region  Aus. & NZ offer free, compulsory education until age 15  Literacy rates are high & many students attend universities  Outback Education: receive and turn in assignments by mail or communicate with teachers by two-way radios EDUCATION

HEALTH CARE  Aus. & NZ, esp. those in cities, generally have access to quality medical care and other social services.  Some rugged areas in Aus. make access to health care difficult.  Modern tech. allows doctors to consult with patients with two-way radios and through mobile clinics of the Flying Doctor’s Service

HEALTH CARE  Indigenous People  Remote islands: fresh food, electricity, schools, and hospitals are often limited.  Aborigines: Suffer from poverty, malnutrition, and unemployment  Many Pacific islanders also lack an adequate standard of living  Aus. Gov & private organizations have been trying to make up for past injustices by giving gov. assistance, land, and natural resources.

 Reflect the region’s diversity  Western-style resorts attract tourists to the beaches  Surfing, outrigger canoe racing, spearfishing, waterskiing  British brought cricket and rugby  Former American territories—islanders play baseball  French introduced cycling and archery SPORTS & LEISURE