Reflections Log
- Viliamu A
- Aug 18, 2020
- 2 min read
31/07/2020: Reflection
I chose the idea of “Family” to work with, as it has been a prominent idea in my diary piece. The idea of family, to me, kinda branches out to many ideas in which I have been exposed to, as a kid growing up in a Samoan household. Like Samoan Cultural traditions and practices, dances and music. Food as well.
The ideas that branch out from “Family” are affectionate and mainly intimate points, like love, togetherness, culture, tradition, history, dance and music, laughter, health and well-being, values, et cetera.
To wrap this all up into an ideal work field and job careers related to this domain - I see careers like Counselors, Graphic Designers, Samoan Tattoo Artists, Cultural Designers, Musicians, Pacific Studies Lecturers, to name a few.
I believe the Indigenous culture needs to be more recognized in today’s society, if not, in the future. The history of Samoa and other Island nations in the Pacific will be preserved that way, if Society finds ideal ways to implement their traditional practices and culture in our tertiary educations. Only then, our people will be exceeded beyond the stereotypes, and given the same opportunities as everyone else.
“Culture”.
18/08/2020: Reflection modified
Just to refurbish on the idea of "Culture". I have looked further into many problems, we as Samoans, are facing in society today...
Fortunately I remembered a little "talk" I was given from my parents this one night in the living room, and it talked about the conflicting practices of Samoan traditions and the Christian belief.
Dad told me about the forbidding of tattoos in the Bible, and how the Samoan practice of the Pe'a (Tattoo) falls in that rule. Dad told me the history of Samoan Pe'a only being relevant up until the coming of John Williams, the European missionary, into Samoa to share the "good news" of the Gospel.
In today's society, many Samoans have the Tatau Pe'a (traditional men tattoo) but the question stands; is it relevant today? Does it have meaning? Will it be relevant in the future? What is the future for this practice?
I say this because the Samoan culture is also heavily affiliated in the Christian culture - so it's a side that contradicts and conflicts the Samoan practice.
This tattoo also displays the ascendance of a boy into a man, showing others in the village that he is eligible to become a Chief. But this brings me back to my main concern; will Samoan practices be relevant in future? Just a thought.
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