Attitudes Australians have towards indigenous culture.
A segment of the wider Australian society has certain ethnocentric attitudes and assumptions about indigenous culture. The Herald Sun’s columnist Andrew Bolts article “The artist needs colouring in” is one example of ethnocentric stereotyping.
Mr Bolt’s article argues what it means to be Aboriginal and have indigenous an identity this is a perfect example of the stereotypes and beliefs of many in the broader Australian community. The first sentence “ Yet another white who chooses to be black” is an example of the belief in the importance of darker skin colour in being Aboriginal, the sentence also plays on the idea/fear people call on the “race card” in order to undeservingly benefit themselves. The article continues with a description of the winner of the National Aboriginal and Torre Strait islander Art award, Danie Mellor who is pictured and is of European appearance.
The artist Danie Mellor and his winning piece were commented on by Bolt. “The work is a dramatic departure from recent winners, which have had a style more readily identifiable as Aboriginal art. It’s not just the art but the artist that isn’t ‘readily identifiable as Aboriginal’.” The paragraph brings in the notion that in order to be Aboriginal you have to fit the mould of not Just appearance, you also must fit in with traditional cultural practice, such as art styles that “look” indigenous.
The idea of someone who not only looks white and is in many aspects western, but identifies as indigenous seems unfathomable to many in the Australian population. The article then shows us the previous winner and runners up to the award all of which are black skinned Aboriginals, this again brings into