Belonging_Peter_Skryznecki

Did you all know that we all belong to the same group' Look around, what do you see' ... Yes that’s right we are all wearing the same uniform under the same roof. The uniform enables us to feel a sense of belonging as we all share something in common; it also contributes to what our identity is made up of. Belonging is an instinctive need that gives us a sense of security and comfort. This can emerge from connections made with people, places groups and communities this can be established through understanding and acceptance of others. Sometimes an individual may experience a struggle to belong in new groups and form new relationships. Reasons for this may be because of certain barriers such as bad experiences, stereotyped groups and dwelling on the good past. This may affect the individual emotionally and mentally and may stop them from associating with others. However an individual may overcome these barriers due to the modification of time. The poems that reflect to my visual representation and my personal understanding of belonging are through the poetry of “immigrant chronicles’ by peter skrzynecki, the 3 poems that i selected are ‘migrant hostel’, ’10 Mary street’, and ‘St Patricks college’. These selected poems enlighten my visual representation because it expresses my personal understanding of belonging. The storyboard is about how I, as an individual did not want to belong due to fear of the future, dwelling on the good past and not wanting to create new memories. But then as time went by, the aspiration to belong and connect with others was essential for sense of comfort and security. It also displays how overcoming stereotyped groups allows you to connect and understand others for who they are. Migrant hostel’ expresses the struggle of migrants to belong to a new land where they do not have absolute freedom and control over their lives. It also outlines how belonging is an instinctive need for all human beings who flock together to form a sense of security and comfort. Belonging is an essential part of the human condition and is a natural need for all human beings. “Nationalities sought each other out instinctively- like a homing pigeon circling to get its bearings.” this bird imagery emphasises the migrant’s strong need to connect and belong; this is in order establish a sense of comfort and security. Then in the 3rd stanza the birds image is continued and is expressed through a smile, “we lived like birds of passage” this suggest the impermanence of their is existence, the migrants wait for change as the birds wait for changes in season, to fly away. In contrast, the migrants don’t know what track, road and direction they will take when their time comes. Furthermore in stanza 4, the physical barrier, “the main gate” is the barrier between the migrants and the rest of the Australian society, this depicts the isolation of immigrants which makes them feel worthless and imprisoned. Then in stanza 4 the use of the metaphor and smile is used. “a barrier at the main gate sealed off the highway ... as it rose and fell like a finger pointed in repairmand or shame’. This portrays the negative perspective of the persona of the poet. Who felt ridiculed by the patronising bureaucracy who enclosed them in this temporary residence, this also made peter skrzynecki and the migrants feel that their fate is ambivalent and uncertain,. The gate is also personified, as somehow having authority over the migrants that constantly reminds them of how alienated and worthless they are, the quote, ‘daily we passed underneath or alongside it needing its sanction” expresses the migrants dependence on this particular place for the need of comfort and security. In addition the metaphor “highway” portrays the physical journey of the migrants into finding acceptance and a sense of belonging in the new world. Finally the contrasts in the final 3 lines of the poem “that had only begun or were dying, “demonstrates how the migrant’s future may hold hope, birth or despair for them. Finding a sense of belonging may be a stressful struggle when overcoming barriers in order to understand and accept others. I connect with this poem because as i entered this new school i had no idea what journey i was going to experience or where it may lead me to, it was a struggle for me to belong at first at this new school, because of certain barriers , but then as time went by, it was a natural need for me to connect with others and overcome these barriers. This was because it was very important for me to find my place, accept and understand others and be part of my school identity. “10 Mary Street” focuses on the positive warm atmosphere at home that the skrzyneckis family belong to, and demonstrates how belonging is modified overtime, which is emphasised throughout the poem with the repetition of” nineteen years”. The feeling of comfort and security within the house is also demonstrated. “Each morning shut the house like a well oiled lock” this simile expresses the use of routine and regularity; allowing the Skrzynecki family to feel a sense of acceptance and security to their new house, The Struggle to belong in the new country is also emphasised through a hyphen. “over that still too-narrow bridge, around the factory that was always burning down.’ conveys how the family is still finding their new country challenging, and is shown through the imagery of the industrial town, in which it emphasises the the feeling of unease for skrzyneckis family. In the second stanza, it conveys the boring and dull work lives of his parents, which is juxtaposed with the passion that he, and his parents have for the garden. ‘Tended roses and camellias like adopted children’, both smile and imagery used in this quote demonstrates to us that the atmosphere is full of joy and love, which also establishes the kinship that he and his family have towards the garden, furthermore the house is personified. “the house stands” this expresses how the house becomes more than just a simple house, it gives a sense of importance and shows how it is special to the poet, due to making a great sense of belonging. However the feeling of belonging and permanency is shattered, this is stated in the poem, ‘the whole block has been gazetted for industry’. In addition throughout the poem skrzynecki reinforces and mentions the words ‘nineteen’ years and ‘key’ these both express the sense of routine that the family has created with each other, as well as establishing that whatever happens, either good or bad experiences, the family will always belong together even though the house doesn’t remain there. I perceive the key as a symbolism of opening and closing doors in life, but it can also be seen as the main key to belonging is through experiences, understanding and acceptance. In the last two stanzas it explains how family is united through identity, security and memories, this is demonstrated through the technique of smile. ‘And smoked like a dozen puffing Billies” this suggests that the polish culture is still apart of them and remains alive. At the end of this poem the family becomes “naturalized” to their land establishing the sense of belonging. I relate to this poem because even though I’m still quite unease about this new school, the routine of attending school every day for 5 days in the week allowed me to establish comfort and security, also the modification of time helped me to develop strong connections with my friends,, this was due to the use of ‘key’ which was understanding and accepting them. This poem links the most to me because i enjoy going schoo due to my feeling of acceptance ,similarly i look forward to it every day, just like how peter would run to his garden at home due to his feeling of acceptance, however my past memories would always be something i would belong to just like his polish culture. The poems’ St Patricks College’ is about peter skrzynecki experience at school, it tells us that peter was forced into school by his mother as she was impressed by his uniform. he clearly belonged to his school but this was only through the school uniform that he wore for eight years .as it is quoted in the poem. ‘For eight years, i carried the blue, black and gold that id been privileged to wear’. However he truly did not belong in the school because it was a place that he never felt a part of. In stanza 3 the readers of this poem receive a picture of boyish playfulness; we see games played while trains and buses are caught. The distance travelled is delicately emphasised. Skrzyneckis sees himself ‘like a foreign tourist;’ for the reason of never feeling a sense of ease with the place, the word “foreign” depicts this as it is a barrier that stops him from fitting in. This is due to barriers such as social status and culture. This simile allows us to compare his life to a tourist, as well as emphasising the sense of alienation. In this poem peter feels different and creates an atmosphere of confusion ‘voices at bus stops, litanies and hymns’ this gives us an impression of lack of connection and involvement with what is happening around him. This is also symbolised by the quote ‘equations i never understood’. Moreover the repetition in the third and fourth stanza “for eight years “emphasises the amount of years spent at the school which also implies a sense of hard work. This is different from the ‘10Mary street’ poem because in this poem it is about peter belonging into a group through identity, but really he isn’t apart of them. Whereas, in the poem ‘10Mary street’, peter enjoys belonging to his family and home as he is not confused and is a part of it.. The only way this poem relates to me is because it allows me. To compare my new school experiences with skrzyneckis experience in “St Patricks college’ also because i belong to my new school through my uniform just like how he did at “St Patricks college’. My visual representation reflects the understanding of belonging through peter skrzyneckis poem because it displays all the notions of belonging, these are: connection, understanding, modification of time, barriers and acceptance. This is displayed through a storyboard. When I first came to this school, I literally thought I was not going to belong, it was just too impossible for me to let go of my good past with my friends at Saint Maroun’s `college . This notion is reflected on the first canvas, emphasised with the use of the salient image at the centre of the frame. The frame is a portrayal of not wanting to belong, due to the reflection on the past and is further communicated with the use of white pearls acting as vectors. These vectors direct the audience to the images that involve the past with its involved memories and as such act as emotional barriers that prevented the belonging and emotional connection to the newer atmospheres. The instinctive need to belong is a theme explored in the second frame. The gaining of comfort and security it also expressed via the modification of time, symbolised by the salient clock in the middle of the canvas. The use of the greyish blue colour is symbolic of the transformation of the emotional state of sadness evolving into happiness. This is shown through me trying to connect with others, overcoming stereotyped groups, and accepting others. At the edges of the frame it begins from me not wanting to belong which is shown through black and white images this portrays my isolation in this new school, then as the pictures turn from the black and white colour to a bluish colour. It expresses my connection with others, understanding with others and the overcoming of stereotyped groups. Also as you see on top of the clock are both of my school logos. This old school logo has vectors pointing to my new school logo, which emphasises the love i have for both of the schools but at the same time overcoming my past barrier to belong. Finally, the third frame, coloured golden-yellow, immediately communicates a warm environment and is reinforced by the various positive imagery of me belonging and connecting with my friends. These positive attitudes and emotions are depicted with the use of the cliché love heart shape. The ideal of connecting and bonding is made through the physical contact of the holding of hands and the concept of identity is exemplified through the use of body language where the students all point to their uniforms. Additionally, the use of colour juxtaposes the school buildings in the first frame which are black and white contrasted with the school building in the final frame of the composition, vibrant and colourful. This is symbolic and a direct representation of the change over time of a sense of belonging, moving from a dark and dim environment to a more bright and joyful emotional state of mind. in conclusion my understanding of belonging reshaped and developed my understanding through skrzyneckis poems this is because his perspectives of belonging are very similar to my perspectives., also the notions of belonging helped me to improve my understanding as the notions were both present in my personal experience and in skrzyneckis poems. i learnt that in order to belong to have a sense of comfort and safety, it is important to overcome certain barriers, connect. With others, understand others and accept others for who they are. I also established that the modification of time as well helps the development of belonging