WEEK+3+-+The+Savage+or+Exotic+Other

=== Tony Birch writes that the coloniser attempts to deny the identity of the native by capturing, controlling and fixing definitions of 'the other'. During this week, students examine an array of representations of indigenous people. In these texts, "the other" is spoken for and about. Students learn about the language of difference used to define 'the other'. Students will explore some of the current representations of what it is to be Indigenous, discussing questions around definitions of Aboriginality. ===


 * === How do the Early settlers or colonizers use the language of difference to define the Indigene // Other? // Why is the language of difference oppressive or reductive? ===
 * === What are early settlers' representations of the Other? Why are these limited to defining the Other as either a Savage to be feared, or, the Exotic to be desired? ===
 * === What do we learn about the relations of colonizer and colonized from these Early representations? ===
 * === Why is the Indigene's perspective and story absent from the representations? ===
 * === In what ways are contemporary representations of the Other as savage or exotic similar or different to early representations of the Other as savage or exotic? ===

Students are given TWO of the texts above to read/view.

 * === Identify the binary oppositions set up in the texts. Give examples from the text to support ideas. Record you observations in the form of a table. ===
 * === What are the similarities in the representation of native peoples in the texts ? Discuss the assumptions that underpin the texts. ===
 * === What do you notice about the point of view/ perspective of each text? ===
 * === How does the extract from the film, " // We of the Never Never // " at once conform to, and challenge the attitudes expressed in the other texts? What is the difference in terms of perspective? ===

Students find evidence from the poems that relates to the following assumptions:

 * === Indigenous people need to be saved ===
 * === Indigenous people need to assimilate ===
 * === Savage and uncivilised, primitive natives ===
 * === Uneducated and ill mannered ===
 * === Unable to control own feelings ===
 * === Lawless / criminal ===

MONOLOGUE- WRITING BACK
=== Students should notice that the perspective of the native is not given in these texts. Students are to choose one of the texts and write a monologue from the point of view of one of the Indigenes presented in the text. The monologue should write back at the attitudes expressed in the original text. ===