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Myth of the Western Man

Theme: Culture, language and identity - Racism in Australia
Key Learning Area: English - Health and Physical Education (HPE) - Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE) - The Arts
Age Group: Primary Upper (10-12) - Secondary Lower (13-14) - Secondary Middle (15-16) Resource Type: Posters and artwork - Timelines and calendars Stimulus Name: Myth of the Western Man (White Man's Burden) 1992

Outcomes

Students identify ways in which history and culture influence identity.

Introduction

Diversity- A Celebration of Art &Culture An Education Kit for the Yiribana Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Gallery (AGNSW) provides the basis for a variety of teaching activities related to history and identity. Most can be adapted for different age groups.

Worksheets to download
Myth of the Western Man picture (jpeg File)
Myth of the Western Man text (rtf File)

Suggested Activities

Adapted from Diversity-A Celebration of Art & Culture
An Education Kit for the Yiribana Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Gallery

• Find and describe the figure in this work.
• Describe the qualities of this work. Look at the swirling lines
• Identify the numbers in Gordon Bennett's work.
  1788 1795 1799
  1802 1803 1804 1813 1824 1838 1857 1861 1869 1876
  1917 1928 1972 1976 1992
  What are their significance? What do you think they might represent? Make a timeline and research dates to identify their significance.
• Create a timeline of dates significant to your personal, family or cultural identity.
• Create a self portrait pictorially or verbally, that explores the complexity of identity.

Additional Strategies

• Research in detail the dates in the painting. Write a report about one of them.
• Write a biography of a 'hero of the resistance'.
• Compare and contrast this painting with Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri's Warlugulung.
• Consider symbols, colour, composition, process and purpose.
• Consider where knowledge comes from. Who writes history? How are historical images collected and presented? Who authorises historical images and accompanying texts?

Related Resources

• History
• Progress
• Paul W. Newbury 1999, Aboriginal Heroes of the Resistance- from Pemulwuy to Mabo, Action for World Development

Copyright Acknowledgement
Gordon Bennett, Myth of the Western Man (White Man's Burden),1992
synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 175 x 304cm, 175 x 304cm
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Courtesy of Gordon Bennett, artist
Photo: R Woodbury for AGNSW

Date: 12 October 2000