Essay Perceptions on Belonging

Belonging means different things to different people. The most common definition is feeling a sense of connectedness to a person, place or thing. Understanding nourishes belonging while a lack of understanding can prevent people from belonging. This is shown through Peter Skrzynecki’s poem ‘Migrant hostel’ which is about the challenges faced by travelers on their journey, and the hardships they have to overcome by exchanging their old world for the unfamiliar and unwelcoming new world in which they don’t understand anything. Skrzynecki’s poem ‘Feliks Skryznecki’ explores a relationship between father and son, and their contrasting experiences of belonging to a new place. The related text, ‘The Red Tree,’ by Shaun Tan also shows that a lack

A common human characteristic is the yearning to feel a sense of belonging through connections and different forms of relationships made in life. A sense of belonging or not belonging can emerge from feeling connected to people and places, whether they have been freely cast there or not. An individual will only feel a true sense of belonging through the understanding of those connections, which are created by experiences and can only come within.

Belonging is a complex, multi-faceted concept encompassing a wide range of different aspects. The need to belong to family and culture is a universal human need which provides a sense of value and emotional stability, and in many respects forges one’s identity. Alienation and disconnection often creates feelings of isolation, depression and loss of identity. A struggle with cultural identity is evident in Peter Skrzynecki’s poems ‘Migrant Hostel’ and ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’, where he examines a division between his pre-war Polish heritage and his newfound Australian way of life. The movement away from his European cultural heritage towards a more Australian identity created disorientation for Skrzynecki, and these feelings of disconnection

Good Afternoon teachers and students, The following texts express how an individuals understanding of belonging can quickly be changed by the people and place around them. “Jasper Jones a novel written by Craig Silvey”, it is a short story of a boy named Charles Butkins and the events that occurred because he helped Jasper Jones mask the death of Laura Wishart. “Australia by Ania Walwicz”, is attacking the people of Australia in the form of a poem, because of their point of views and attitudes in life. She also hates Australia itself because the people are not welcoming, this is the main point of this poem.

People’s perceptions of belonging can change over time, but this isn’t the case for all. When people experience moments of crisis in their lives they sometimes force a change within themselves and that is what helps them find an individual sense of belonging. This is highlighted in many texts and even composers life works. Texts that support this statement include Peter Skrzynecki’s Immigrant Chronicle poems, of which I have chosen St Patricks College and Feliks Skrzynecki. Skrzynecki’s poetry expresses the difficulties he faces when change doesn’t occur throughout time, as time alone isn’t a factor and that your sense of belonging is something that comes from within, with or without anyone.

People have the longing to belong and to be accepted by a group or community. A sense of Belonging can emerge from the connections and acceptance we have with other people, communities and the larger world. These ideas of belonging are represented in texts which explore aspects of belonging and an individual’s potential to challenge or improve a community group. The film ‘Strictly Ballroom,’ directed by Baz Lurhman, the film ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ directed by Kate Woods and the exaggerated true story of an African American youth’s fight to belong in the song “dance with the devil” by immortal technique all represent ideas of belonging formed by life experiences.

Belonging to place/culture is a major concept in ‘Migrant Hostel’ to show how the migrants use their background as a sense of affiliation and belonging. This can be seen through the use of a in “Nationalities sought each other out instinctively like a homing pigeon circling to get its bearings” This example shows how the migrants felt isolated and alone when they first arrived at the migrant hostel. As they came together the “sought each other out” through the use of nationally and culture which made them fit in and feel excepted into the place.

Belonging can be defined as the process of the association with the human race as socially active characters. It is part of the human condition which represents the need for security, safety and acceptance. An aspect of belonging such as isolation can be associated with the concept of belonging, as not belonging is a reciprocal process of belonging. Belonging allows for the authentication of characters through the formation of identity and connections.

An individual’s sense of belonging is determined not only by their own choices but also by the attitudes of others.

‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging.’

Belonging is having a connection between a place, person or possession. This relationship is based on how one feels about these bonds. Through Peter Skrzynecki’s two poems “Ancestors” and “10 Mary street” we look at how a sense of belonging Is not permanent. Through the use of related texts the understanding of this statement is better gripped. The movie “The Help” written and directed by Tate Taylor, this text includes two worlds that are separated by skin colour brought together by one book. The colourful picture book “Where the wild things are” Written and illustrated in 1963 by Maurice Sendak includes

‘The Crucible’ written by Arthur Miller and my related material ‘Happy Feet’ by George Miller is true to this statement “Understanding nourishes belonging…a lack of understanding prevents it” that represents the interpretation of belonging. To define belong is to have the correct personal and social assets to be a member of a particular group or it could be to fit a particular environment.

In her poem, “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”, Emily Dickinson reflects her own reclusive emotions through poetry. Emily Dickinson organizes her poem like an introduction of herself or a greeting. Her first and second line: “I’m Nobody! Who are you?/Are you nobody - too?” the speaker introduces his or herself as “Nobody” shows that Dickinson uses personification for Nobody and Somebody as if to show that is their name. Next, shows the speaker’s desire to be a “Nobody” and fear of showing individuality or being a “Somebody” “How public - like a Frog” (L6) “How dreary - to be - Somebody!” (L5) Finally, we understand that the poem shows Emily Dickinson’s emotional issues. Emily Dickinson had a range of emotional issues including: agoraphobia, depression,

A sense of belonging is important to all human beings, however, in the multi-cultural melting pot that is New Zealand, a lot of people can feel conflicted about their cultural identity and sense of belonging. Many people feel like they do not belong or do not have a place in society. They might feel like they're not accepted by other people or even not accepted by themselves. The poems that I have chosen are Chinglish by Renee Liang, brown soul by Leilani Burgoyne, Intertwined: Being ‘Afakasi by Grace Taylor and myths by Glenn Colquhoun. The connection Finding belonging in society is shown in the poem Chinglish written by Renee Liang.

The author wrote, “Children who have been taught they are smart have no difficulty. They have been happily telling testers what they want to hear for twelve years. Being artists at telling tester what they want to hear, they are admitted to college joyously, where they promptly learn that they are the hope of American.”(225). It is likely that reading and writing assignments will be challenging for these students.they need to be taught to read with a whole language approach, where they write stories from their experience and then learn to write the words they have written as whole words in context.