South Of My Days And For New England Poem Analysis

Through their works, composers often convey both their personal and cultural values, as they reveal the impact it has on the relationship between people and landscapes, which are explored through the diverse attitudes and behaviours of individuals. This notion is explored through Judith Wright’s poetry, South of my Days and For New England, which demonstrates how enduring cultural values have influenced and shaped an individual’s identity. Similarly, the 2010 documentary by Kevin McCloud, Slumming It, also demonstrates the significance of how an individual’s intimate connection with the land allows them to resonate and even realise the cultural values that exists within them.

An individual’s perennial cultural values may act as a barrier …show more content…
In South of my Days, Wright tries to re-evaluate her values in an attempt to emotionally reconnect with the Australian landscape. In the metaphor, “part of my blood’s country”, her intensely close attachment with the landscape is revealed. The metaphor challenges a dominant White-Australian reading of the poem which supports the cultural values that people own the land. However, through the use of first-person language, in conjunction with the repetition of possessive pronouns, Wright implies that the country is “part of” her blood, representing her strong sense of ownership with her past and the land, thus, revealing her personal and cultural values. Similarly, in Slumming It, McCloud’s attitudes are reformed as he is confronted by the cultural values of Dharavi. McCloud was originally unaccepting to the landscape, quoting it as being “hard to stomach”. This is reinforced with the use of a handheld camera, which creates instability and disorientates the responders as a means of aligning us with the confronted mind frame of McCloud as he experiences the poverty of the slum. As he is so overwhelmed, Kevin is unable to feel a sense of community. However, as McCloud is continually exposed to the way of life in Dharavi, his perceptions begin to transform, ultimately manifesting in, “I’m finding this place a paradox. Disgust is followed by delight”. The alliteration of ‘d’ and the oxymoron of ‘disgust’ and ‘delight’, showcases how McCloud is captivated by their lifestyle, and thus begins to contemplate his own cultural values, revealing that has formed a deeper connection with the landscape and has formed a bond with the community there. Through the exploration of the impact that landscapes can have on an individual’s cultural beliefs and values, we are positioned to understand the transformative effects of the