You need to consider this work on 2 levels
• As an appropriation of Dutterau’s painting the conciliation
• As an example of new art forms existing from changes and development of technology
This text highlights the changes and influence of new technology in the art making process as Parr appropriates Dutterau’s work through. The medium of photography, thereby using a modern medium to question past attitudes and historical representations of the treatment of Tasmania’s aboriginal people. Parr uses a process called DIGITAL ART IMAGING (which blends digital photography with digitalised images from traditional art works.)
By reconstructing Dutterau’s original painting using modern techniques the viewer is aware of the inter texuality and transformation: the ‘new’ resonates with the ‘old’, causing the viewer to reflect upon the changes in our society and how values and attitudes may have changed over the past 150 years.

Make a list of summaries and differences between the two texts.

The Concilation – Benjamin Dutterau – 1840

When examining the Dutterau’s painting consider the following

• How does the title of Dutterau’s panting reflect his perspective of events in Tasmania and of George Robinson.
The dictionary defines conciliation as: Action taken to reach agreement or restore trust, friendship, or goodwill that has been lost, especially as a deliberate process used in a dispute.

• The painting depicts the British colonialists attitudes and the values of the time (1840). The central figure is George Robinson. How does the use of colour and positioning suggest Dutterau’s admiration of him?
Euro centric: focusing on Europe or its people, institutions, cultures, sometimes in an arrogant way
• What other evidence in the painting suggests a Euro centric focus: the colonist belief in white mans supremacy and their view of the aboriginal people as a primitive people.
• What do the gestures of the individual aboriginals in the painting suggest about their attitudes towards conciliation?
• After studying this painting what thoughts does it give you about the calls nowadays for “reconciliation” with the aboriginal people?
Connotation: to imply or suggest something in addition to the main or literal meaning.
• What are the connotations of this term?