Hut In The Wilderness Summary

Throughout the article, Huts in the Wilderness: Pioneering in School Readers, by Jane McGennisken, the effects of significant Australian pioneering literature are examined to determine the repercussions on School Readers and their beliefs on national growth. McGennisken clearly demonstrates her belief as to how the inclusion of the new visual and textual instances engrave national pride and growth towards the readers; she argues how the Grand Narratives used in schools persuasively inhibit the pride in Australia’s national history.
The Victorian Readers Fifth Book, was the first type of textual literature that was instilled into the curricula for School Readers that elaborated immensely on the strength associated with the Australian

pioneer men. This series of readings repeatedly mentioned the strength, and physical power of the men; however, it also discusses the youth and psychological attributes associated with the successful pioneer men. The representation of pioneer youth striving to be successful through hard work is depicted by the young man dreaming of the future and towards the life that he imagines for himself. The corresponding photograph displays symbolic visual representations further demonstrating the powerful and brave men. The strategical placement of the man’s foot along the boundary of the photograph, shows his established power and lack of limitations. This particular poem focuses on the strength, courageous and youthful characteristics that were associated with the idealized pioneer men; in addition, representing the preferred characteristics of the nation itself.
The battle between the land and pioneers is known as the pioneers conquering, showing dominance and ultimately success; this idea allows for people of that culture to have historical pride and appreciation for those who fought the ‘battle’.

Land is used to describe the major historical conflict when settling into Australia; however, the Indigenous Australians were not acknowledged for their belonging on the land before. This part of history is represented through the concept of the pioneers being old trees, “surviving contact with Australian Aboriginal peoples” (McGennisken, 2010, p. 40). This statement acts as a negative connotation for the Aboriginals while continuing to demonstrate the perseverance and stoicism of the pioneers. This reference to the past is a prime example of the use of a grand narrative because it is excluding certain parts of history with the intentions to make a particular culture, in this case the pioneers, have a better reputation and positive thoughts about their cultures

past.
The “Lonely Places” picture in The Victorian Readers Seventh Book, displays a small hut precisely located behind many mountains, trees, fences and other natural landscape, concealing the view of the home.

Huts symbolize the struggle that pioneers endowered to achieve success; this demonstrates the pioneer’s hard work towards establishing a home by requiring the reader to closely examine the picture to recognize the home. Similarly, to how only the pioneers whom put in the labour, time and dedication became successful; representing ideal characteristics of the idolized pioneers. McGennisken included many photos that emphasized the importance of the hut because it not only represents the struggles faced by the Europeans but also demonstrates how the land was empty, with no evident signs of civilization before the European exploration. This manipulates the audience through the use of a Grand Narrative by leaving out important facts of the past, like the previous Aboriginal settlers, to result in portraying themselves as more

heroic.
The final picture shown in this article is the most optimistic and directs towards the new generations by including an established family: a hardworking father, a mom taking care of a baby, an established hut in the background, and most importantly, a young boy kneeling at a cross. The cross represents sacrifice and promise while the young boy represents the new generation. His purpose is to demonstrate to the School Readers that not only will he inherit the successful land, but also the values and beliefs that are attributed with the concept of colonization. This is an extremely persuasive technique because it demonstrates not only pride in the land, but also in the values and lifestyle associated with the idea of settlement, intriguing the audience in a way to feel emotional about the colonization and want to strive to be like the pioneers in their future.
This article demonstrates how Grand Narratives can be instilled throughout the world in multiple forms. In this instance, a variety of visual and textual literature are used in the school systems in order to establish a grand narrative within the community. The concept of grand narratives beneficially excludes historical events that contradict the positive reputation of a valued myth within a culture. It is apparent how the use of Grand Narratives is not only very persuasive to those not apart of the community, but is also an effective way to establish national pride, which was ultimately, McGennisken’s argument.