Due to the distorted retellings of Australia’s history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture has suffered and become widely misunderstood. Stories often provide a myopic, inaccurate image of the Indigenous people, portraying them as uneducated, violent or lazy. While many Australians seem to lack concern for the country’s first inhabitants, there is a large population who also wishes to protect them and resolve a number of issues deeply rooted in Australian history. In an effort to gain recognition for their people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists often use their mediums of choice to expose what it truly means to be an Indigenous Australian. Rachel Perkins utilizes film to explore her identity as an Aboriginal woman as
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In 1992, Perkins founded Blackfella Films, Australia’s premier Indigenous production company where she currently serves as the managing director and writer. The production company’s mission is expressed as such: “Focused on self-representation, Blackfella Films committed resources to culturally significant stories, told by and with Indigenous media practitioners.” Establishing a production company primarily devoted to telling both factual and fictitious stories about Indigenous Australians is an ingenious way of confronting issues of representation. Historically, in Australian media, Aborigines have rarely been portrayed in an accurate or positive light. This is detrimental to the entire country because “the closest that many non-indigenous Australians will come to having contact with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person is via their representation in the media.” The misrepresentation of Indigenous people fuels racial discrimination. As an independent production company, Blackfella Films is able to release projects that are direct reflections of the staff’s desire to challenge the status quo and ease racial tensions. “Since 1996, the race debate has re-emerged as one of the most prominent issues in the Australian mass media.” Perkins’ production company’s success with a number of projects paired with its mission to represent Indigenous people is a unique way of getting important messages to the Australian population. Ultimately, Blackfella Films produces high quality entertainment while combatting widespread
In 1992, Perkins founded Blackfella Films, Australia’s premier Indigenous production company where she currently serves as the managing director and writer. The production company’s mission is expressed as such: “Focused on self-representation, Blackfella Films committed resources to culturally significant stories, told by and with Indigenous media practitioners.” Establishing a production company primarily devoted to telling both factual and fictitious stories about Indigenous Australians is an ingenious way of confronting issues of representation. Historically, in Australian media, Aborigines have rarely been portrayed in an accurate or positive light. This is detrimental to the entire country because “the closest that many non-indigenous Australians will come to having contact with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person is via their representation in the media.” The misrepresentation of Indigenous people fuels racial discrimination. As an independent production company, Blackfella Films is able to release projects that are direct reflections of the staff’s desire to challenge the status quo and ease racial tensions. “Since 1996, the race debate has re-emerged as one of the most prominent issues in the Australian mass media.” Perkins’ production company’s success with a number of projects paired with its mission to represent Indigenous people is a unique way of getting important messages to the Australian population. Ultimately, Blackfella Films produces high quality entertainment while combatting widespread