In history class, we recently viewed an Australian movie that astonishingly captures a personal tale of colonisation. Rabbit-Proof Fence remarkably captures the devastating effects of colonialism, revealing an elaborate insight of an individual’s understandings of things happening around them, and instinctively building defence mechanisms and ways of dealing with oppression. The main character, Molly, is an innocent child with powerful agency who, striving for freedom of oppression, was able to achieve her goal through restless resistance. Her character effectively portrays the importance of resistance, illuminating the power agency. Molly’s character significantly sparks the watcher’s own sense of agency, and resistance.

With that being said, this movie is an excellent work of art that reminds us of the importance of arts in cultivating the collective imagination. It is through arts that people “re-charge” their own sense of agency, and power, simultaneously fostering their capacity of imagination, and power of understanding others- compassion. Though people have trouble understanding each other because they are captured by their differences, and not similarities, it is through imagination that we are able to see through these differences. Ultimately, coming to realization that these differences are simply socially constructed ideas, and in the end all humans are more alike than different. What is not available in the collective imagination cannot suddenly realize itself, and the arts is what triggers the incentive to imagine what could be. Artists, in all forms- writers, visual artists, musicians- stimulates, excites and appeals something collective in all of us. It is the ultimate catalyst, and source of nurturing the collective imagination.

This made me think of the question of genocide that we have been also discussing in anthropology and history. Is it genocide if it happened unintentionally? However unintentionally carried out, the devastating consequences it entailed was inevitable, and in the end what matters is the outcome. Focusing on intention only misdirects us from what actually matters, and serves the sides that need to take the blame. Psychological analysis of denial, and defence mechanisms can be clearly demonstrated here. The colonisers desperately seek to justify themselves, and defend themselves in every way possible because they are still in denial. It is not that simple for acceptance to override denial with the heavy burden of guilt, especially when the colonisers is a collective group. What we must focus on is reconciliation, rather than quarrelling in the ultimately unimportant question of genocide. Because in the end, focusing on the question of genocide will negatively serve the collective state of denial. However, scholarly questioning of course in the end serves good, because raising such questions will help the collective mentality to come to understanding each side of story, and realize that it is simply an unfortunate series of events, rather than seeking someone to blame. In conclusion, it is essential to keep in mind not to lose focus on what actually matters, which is the effect rather than cause, whilst attempting to understand the natures of the causes.