Making Connections through Cultural Memory, Cultural Performance, and Cultural Translation

Abstract

This paper addresses the need for making connections between and among cultures, especially among Aboriginal and dominant cultures. The context of the paper is one in which we compare and contrast three Aboriginal cultures: the Adnyamathanha people of South Australia, the Sechelt people of Canada, and the Paiwan people of Taiwan. In the act of making connections, we suggest that several themes need to be addressed. The first theme is cultural memory: connections with land. Immersing oneself in the three Aboriginal cultures highlighted here, it is clear that cultural memory (oral history) is deeply tied to connections with land. The second theme is cultural performance: creating and living connections. Rather than conceptualizing visual products as art, we suggest cultural performance as a concept which embraces the integrated nature of culture. Culture is performed through the participation of creators and viewers within a cultural context. The third theme is one of cultural translation: connections for art education. Coming to understand another culture is an act of cultural translation, an act that can only represent a partial understanding from a personal perspective. Through recognizing and respecting cultural memory and cultural performance, art educators may be better able to act as cultural translators alongside members in cultural groups wishing to engage students in learning about their cultures.