Culture and Art in Australia and Oceania

Culture has defined Australia and Oceania historically. There are a lot of islands in Oceania in the Central and Southern Pacific Ocean. One of the smallest islands here, Australia, is rich in culture and has a lot to do with understanding art and culture. An exploration of the unique Australian cultures is more interesting since Australia dominates Oceania. Australia and Oceania’s art and culture are built around their traditional setups. Indigenous Australians were the first people to settle in the area. These indigenous people’s arts were mostly religious. Mask-making was one of their favorite arts.

Other things they did were painting, wood carving, tattooing, stone carving, and petroglyphs. The society’s arts were mainly passed down from generation to generation, and their main theme was to praise the supernatural. Aboriginal Australians described their culture as unified, which encompassed almost all native cultures in Australia.  There were strong spiritual attachments to the environment in Aboriginal Australian culture. In their arts-masks, indigenous cultures only had to create one part. They’re even available today as preserved cultural practices.

European colonization disrupted this society’s cultures. Their paintings and carvings weren’t respected by the colonizers. In addition, they were forced into several uneasy cultural forms that diverted their former unified state. Australia and Oceania’s art and culture were still preserved. Several ways have been introduced to modern culture that are different from their original settings. Australia’s arts weren’t erased by colonizers. It’s Australia’s traditional art, rock arta, that unites the Aborigines. Rock art and culture like sports could still be practiced. Rugby is big in Australia and New Zealand.

Other arts developed in Australia and Oceania include theatre, dance, and music. Throughout history, classical musicians and performers have translated Australia’s history into the present. As a result of their valued culture in music, the Aborigines kept a unique style of music that is still copied today. Especially because their music sent messages and praised their unique culture and belief in the supernatural, their music was respected. Religion was really important to them. Likewise, theatre and film have evolved from simple, local performances to world-class, recognized works.