Cultural Reflections
HE recent Citizens’ Forum discussion from 2ZB, "Is there any true New Zealand culture or is it just a mirror of overseas culture?’ could ‘have been deeper but could scarcely have been wider, thanks largely to D. W. Parkin, who leapt in at the beginning, with so broad a definition of New Zealand culture that it was at least impossible to deny its existence. And it was as well that there was this general agreement, since, owing to the unavoidable absence of a third speaker, the chairman (H. C. McQueen) was compelled té6 immerse himself in the discussion, a position which might have been embarrassing had he been compelled to act as referee at the game time. J. R. Cole dealt competently with the literary side, and the interesting point he made was that it was the depression which had acted as catalyst in the emergence of a self-aware and distinctive school of New Zealand writing. Mr. Cole’s theory was that then for the first time men, unwillingly leisured, were brought up against stern social realities. Mr. Parkin dealt rather with the national characteristics that were part of a distinctive New Zealand culture, saying, at the risk of being accused of our national failing, that we (continued on next page)
(continued from previous pagey were known and likéd abroad for our pragmatism, our disinterestedness, and our lack of aggressiveness. In this he took at least one word rightlout of Mr. Cole’s mouth, since he was on the point of saying that aggressiveness and not its opposite was a national characteristic. This difference of opinion seemed to me to invalidate the theory that there is such a thing as the typical New Zealander, but fortunately there still seemed to be plenty of culture left for the germ of national consciousness to flourish in. The chairman summed up to the satisfaction of all concerned by~ announcing" that there was such a thing as a true New Zealand culture, but that naturally we would continue to mirror overseas trends.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19490429.2.22.3
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 514, 29 April 1949, Page 10
Word count
Tapeke kupu
338Cultural Reflections New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 514, 29 April 1949, Page 10
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in