‘An individuals identity is shaped by the way they perceive their connections with others and the world around them.’
How is this view represented in New Boy and Corrugated Castles?
The intrinsic nature of mankind can arguably be described as one's wish to develop a sense of connection to one another and the world around them; this desire to make connections can be described as the wish to Belong. Individuals identities can be shaped by the way they perceive these connections with others and the world around them. This crucial relationship between individual’s identities and belonging is explored in the short film, New Boy directed by Steph Green and in the novel Corrugated Castles composed by real life migrant Margaret Hill, all of which explore the potential barriers to feeling a sense of belonging. These barriers can be described as the inability to make connections due to different cultural backgrounds and feelings of alienation, discouraging one’s ability to make strong connections.
Migrants often feel a loss of identity and an absence of belonging due to cultural background differences. A common cultural background can lead to the development of relationships based on mutual interests. However, the opposite is also true – it is difficult to create connections when there is no common ground. This can be seen in texts based on the migrant experience such as the short film, New Boy. Through the use of the rhetorical question, “Do they know it’s Christmas?” we understand Joseph, an African migrant starting in an Irish school is immediately condemned to mocks made by the ignorant Irish students due to his cultural differences. The rhetorical question places a negative emphasis on Joseph’s African background, highlighting his immediate inability to make connections in an unfamiliar place. Threatening tones are also used to feature Joseph’s absence of belonging, as student Christian Kelley indicates that he is thoroughly unwelcome. The repetitive and derogatory dialogue spoken by Christian such as, “You’re dead” emphasises Joseph’s vulnerability as Christian utilises threatening tones to display that new children are not appreciated. Joseph identity is portrayed as alienated and dislocated from his classmates because of his cultural differences, deterring him from connecting to other students and feeling safe in his new school environment.
Feelings of isolation may result from one's relationship with a new place, and emotional alienation and disconnection can be the cause of discontent. This is emphasised in the story Corrugated Castles based on the migrant life of Margaret Hill in a corrugated iron hut in the Finsbury migrant hostel, Australia. Sensory detail can be comprehended in
perceptions of belonging and not belonging can be influenced by connections to place. An individual’s perception of belonging is greatly influenced by one's connection to their surroundings and environment. Their culture and belief plays a huge role in determining whether a person may feel like they belong in their environment or not. Our search for who we are is fuelled by the need to search for meaning in our lives and ultimately find where we belong. The texts that will be discussed in this essay are 3…
English Essay Jarryd Ebejer 12.02 “Family is one of the most powerful influences on an individual’s sense of belonging.” Belonging is a complex experience, composed of a range of factors. For many belonging to family is a critical element where it influences an individual to gain a sense of comfort. In Baz Luhrman’s film Strictly Ballroom, the families of Scott and Fran provide vastly different experiences of belonging and not belonging. It is within Fran’s family we see her demonstrate a…
English Essay ‘A sense of belonging often emerges as a result of our feelings of acceptance and understanding.’ Belonging is a feeling that all humans want and need to survive. Without being accepted by anybody you will feel left out and alone, you wouldn’t have anybody to guide you or even help you make good quality decisions in life. With a sense of acceptance you would feel on top of the world and ready to take on anything because you know that the people with you will always have your…
Belonging is the intrinsic string that weaves the discrete elements of a society together, and which endows its individuals with a sense of companionship, security and solidarity. Peter Skrzynecki in his poems Feliks Skrzynecki and St Patrick’s College and Tim Winston’s, Aquifer, in different ways, comment on the pivotal role that self-identity, conformity and traumatic events plays in influencing one’s capacity to mutual belonging in a society. However, both composers elucidate the importance of…
Considered a fundamental aspect of being human, belonging is an ambiguous concept which can offer individuals a sense of identity, security and connectedness. Experiences of belonging are related to a person’s interaction with others, as positive experiences can improve their sense of belonging, and negative experiences can limit their sense of belonging. An individual’s limited experience of belonging through their lack of ability to positively interact with others can often encorouge them to reject…
An individual’s perceptions of belonging evolve in response to the passage of time and interaction with their world. In what ways is this view of belonging represented in your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your own choosing? A person’s understanding of how they belong or how they don’t is nurtured by their experiences and indeed by the length of time spent growing to understand the nature of belonging. In the poem ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ by Peter Skrzynecki, the protagonist…
Belonging is an ambiguous concept which can offer individuals a sense of identity and security. Experiences of belonging are closely related to a person's interaction with others, as positive experiences can enrich their sense of belonging, and negative experiences can limit their sense of belonging; this notion is extensively explored within Peter Skrzynecki's poems 'St Patrick's College' as well as the first episode in British television drama 'Skins' directed by Bryan Elsley, as both texts illustrate…
Belonging is an extremely intricate idea in which many aspects play part in attributing an individual’s sense of belonging. An individual may seek conformity or choose to resist conformity and this will have a major impact upon a person’s sense of self. Both the memoir and the poem are written in the context of the migrant experience. Immigrants are a central idea engraved within Raimond Gaita’s memoir, Romulus, My Father and Sylvia Kantarizis’ poem, Integrated, and the concept of immigrants feeling…
Belonging does for human beings what soil does for plants: it nurtures us, enables us to grow and blossom and ultimately leads to a natural sense of fulfilment. Such fulfilment originates from a yearning to be part of something larger than ourselves, to be accepted as a raw figure with all our gifts and natural limitations. This desire to belong is universal, belonging being one of the more basic needs in Maslow’s hierarchy. It is placed just above health and safety, such a low level indicates how…
proud of them. Ideas related to Belonging- This is a story of a mother who wants to give her children knowledge about the rich culture of India. This story shows us three children who don’t feel sense of belonging during the beginning of their first trip to India. The love they got from a big family, celebration of different festivals with relatives, and the big amount of information they got from their mum make them feel confident and give them a sense of belonging to the culture of India. Finally…
