Art in South America and Term Paper

This work of art depicts a struggle between two ancestors, the Bungalung man and a Tingari man, the latter of whom was trespassing on sacred land (No author). The copious quantity of dots, particularly the white ones, evinces the full force of the elements invoked by the Bungalung Man to beat his opponent into submission. The power of the Bungalung man is evinced by the fact that he leaves tracks in his wake when walks, which record permanent imprints on the earth. The setting in which this painting takes place, Tjikarri, is a common location in the artist's paintings.

Aboriginal art reflects the sacred elements of the stories of creation for these people. It incorporates a variety of symbolism that is representative of dreaming, which is a means of ascertaining power and hearkens back to dreamtime, in which Aboriginals believe the world and all of its creations were made. Many of the symbols used to reflect the myths regarding creation seem ambiguous to untrained westerners, since they vary according to the context of the work in which they are employed.The explanations themselves either account for observable, physical phenomena or more esoteric sources of power and hegemony, such as found within "Bungalung Men Dreaming."

Works Cited

Bardon, Geoffrey. "Aboriginal Art and Use of Symbols." Aboriginal Art Online. 2004. http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/culture/symbols.php

Nakamura, Janet. "Milky Way." Aboriginal Dreamtime. No date. Web. http://www.jintaart.com.au/iconography/milkyway.htm

Nakamura, Janet. "Stars." Aboriginal Dreamtime. No date. Web. http://www.jintaart.com.au/iconography/starsico.htm

No author. "About the Artist." Original and Authentic Aboriginal Art. 2004. Web. http://www.authaboriginalart.com.au/Artist.asp?Artist=Johnny%20Warangkula%20Tjupurrula

No author. "Art, Land and the Dreaming." Aboriginal Art Online. 2004. Web.

No author. "Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime." Crystalinks.com. No date. Web. http://www.crystalinks.com/dreamtime.html

This is a replica of Bungalung Man Dreaming (above).

This is a replica of "Stars" (above).

This is a replica of "Milky Way.".....