Today we’ll learn about Songlines, an incredible form of Aboriginal Australian oral storytelling that combines not only history, mythology, spirituality and culture, but also navigation and spatial knowledge.
Songlines remind us that we are completely enmeshed with the world around us, which includes our history and our relationships. These stories are ancient repositories of information to help the people live on the land and learn to be together and live well as human beings. These stories go far beyond being just navigational aids, and stretch to the deepest reaches of the human spirit.
Thanks to all who helped to make this video possible.
Awesome links:
- https://songlines.nma.gov.au/ (Seven Sisters online)
- https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/songlines-on-screen (Songlines on Screen)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUcbbPS1z6E
Images and Art
- Pexels and Pixabay
- Images from my own trips to Australia
- Art from the Art Gallery in Sydney 2019: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/487.1995/, https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/artists/tjangala-uta-uta/
- Flag animation by @FlagFootage - https://www.youtube.com/c/Flagfootage... Check out their channel for more awesome content!
Research:
- https://www.commonground.org.au/article/songlines
- https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/articles/songlines-important-aboriginal-art/
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/04/indigenous-songlines-a-beautiful-way-to-think-about-the-confluence-of-story-and-time
- https://theconversation.com/how-ancient-aboriginal-star-maps-have-shaped-australias-highway-network-55952
- https://www.sea.museum/2016/05/31/songlines-the-art-of-navigating-the-indigenous-world
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songline
- https://deadlystory.com/page/culture/Life_Lore/Songlines
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSHZHnnhMjk
A nod to Great Art Explained (https://www.youtube.com/@GreatArtExplained) for helping me come up with the idea for this series.
And of course, thanks to all the many hands along the course of history that created and shared such works, so we can all learn more from the past.
Love,
Victor
00:00 - 01:16 Introduction
01:17 - 03:43 The Meaning of Land
03:44 - 05:58 What are Songlines?
05:59 - 07:25 The Depth of Songlines
07:26 - 09:42 Songlines and Spatial Awareness
09:43 - 11:37 Ancient Stories and History
11:38 - 13:38 Respecting Songlines
13:39 - 16:08 What Can We Learn From Songlines?
