The events of the twentieth century are vivid for discussion when applying toward the theme of youth development and elaboration of different subcultures in the society. A progressive approach as of youth’s directions was similar to gaining freedom and more perspectives for further perfection. After the 1960s the public shared the free publications of people who urged for the changes and more of them were intended to make such a path by means of revolutionary actions. Others admired the beauty of native landscapes and were inclined to find acceptance to patriotic motives within the vast majority of the population.
First of all, the point of conflicting perspectives touches upon the two cases which took place almost at the same time in the same country, meaning the UK. These are the cases of Michael X and ‘the trials of oz’. This was accompanied with a number of trials which were the main tool of the highest circles of the authority to persuade the fresh flow of life and unrestrained urge for freedom notwithstanding race, name, culture or real intentions while doing something which can seem obscene for authority.
Michael de Freitas, also known as Abdul Malik, was not indifferent about the attitude of Europeans to Black people and for this point this man had personal motivation. As Margaret Busby writes in her article: “Racial tensions rose to boiling point in 1958 with the Notting Hill “riots”.” (Busby, 2008). Born in Trinidad Michael moved to London and created the organization called The Black House which was constantly struggling against inequality between white and black people. His attempts to find freedom for black people in London and Notting-Hill district, in particular, caused fanatic intentions of him when making public statements that he will shoot every black woman being in close relationships with white man (Busby, 2008). Yes, he was guilty in murder, but Geoffrey Robertson in his book The Justice Game provides a more rational and delicate survey on the situation with Michael X: “since each side exaggerates their side of the case, the truth isn’t likely to come out.” (The Justice Game, 2009). Robertson tries to implement such statements in a language of better understanding and with a proper evaluation of the situation. Michael X was sentenced to death in his native country while promoting the freedom for black people far abroad. The conflict presupposes his positive goal of racism reduction in the UK, but living in the society one cannot follow the way of mob law. For an individual such example represents a dichotomy of choices and self-control which everyone can experience in life. By means of Geoffrey Robertson’s language this case seems to gain balance between different opinions about the issues of trials. The most strict and fair statement of him about the trial of Michael X follows: “if administered swiftly and justly, it saves innocent lives.” (The Justice Game, 2009). Thus, one can definitely think over the perspective of righteousness in life and rational approach toward vital things in it for further perspectives.
The provocative underground magazine Oz in 1970s was known for everyone due to the longest obscenity trial which was provided due to one publication where Bear Rupert, a symbol of British childhood maintained for years, was drawn in a so-called obscene colouring. Jim Anderson, Richard Neville and Felix Dennis were blamed by justice, but for what? The conservatism inherent to British people and its older layers was so snobbish to feel the air of changes and revolution in mindset that even did not notice the recent start for such goals achievement. That collage of two pictures definitely showed the conditions in which the country was placed in the aspect of youth development. The positive effect concerns that bear Rupert was really funny and extraordinary in that picture, it showed also the real state of things. The negative approach considered the attitude of parents being afraid of bad effects on their children after looking at the picture. One could say so without understanding of stylistic devices and the use of satire here. Pointing out the problems by hints is rather impressive than observing it straightforwardly. One observer fairly noted: “Instead of developing a political analysis of the state we live in, instead of undertaking the patient and unsparing job of education which must precede even a pre-revolutionary situation, Oz behaved as though the revolution had already happened” (OZ Obscenity Trial, 2009). Geoffrey Robertson gives an outrageous unfair attitude of the Court representatives describing defendants as “honest young men” and characterising Oz as a “harmless coffee-table magazine for the revolution that would never happen” (The Justice Game, 2009). Two cases with their controversial perspectives manifest pros and cons for a man to better evaluate the real motives in peoples’ actions. Their flow is felt when using a rational approach toward different situations.
Pointing out the theme of patriotic flow and admiration with the country sceneries and people the next two works are worth mentioning. Dorothea Mackellar and Kevin Gilbert in their poems provide a wider view on a reader as of the most beloved motives and features connected with their country. Thus Dorothea Mackellar invokes it as “Core of my heart, my country!” and “brown country” (Dorothea Mackellar) depicting the unique natural beauty of Australia in the very beginning of the twentieth century and its people. Kevin Gilbert, on the other hand, provides a wider survey on the negative activity of the European population and the environmental pollution. A contradictory approach of Gilbert provides a technique of antithesis toward what Mackellar wrote. Fairly enough, this author is the population of Australia. Perspectives of both authors tend a reader to follow the way of attitude correction in order to save the genuine nature for further generations.
Works cited
- Gilbert, Kevin. The New True Anthem.
- Mackellar, Dorothea. My Country. Web.
- The Rupert Bear Controversy: Defence and Reactions to the Cartoon in the OZ Obscenity Trial.
- Busby, Margaret. Michael X: A Life In Black And White, by John Williams. 2008. Web.
- The Justice Game. 2009. Web.