What does it really mean to be Australian? Is Australia really just: bushland, hot sunny beaches, native animals and having to have a laid back attitude? These are just common stereotypes about the ‘land down under’. With Australia settled by the British colony many of its inhabitants were the leftover convicts from Europe. After world war 2 boat people and asylum seekers arrived in Australia hoping for a new life. This change in the 1960’s led to a change in Australian identity and the idea of a white Australia. One literary text that reflects the issues and challenges faced in the 1960’s is Michael Gow’s play, Away. Dealing with the challenges of this time, Away focuses on the lives of three different families and the idea of reconciliation and self-discovery. Through themes, language and characterisation Away challenges ideas …show more content…
The storm especially impacts Jim, Gwen and Meg ‘JIM, GWEN and MEG are driven out by the FAIRIES, who wreak havoc with noise, light and frenzied activity’ the storm destroys Gwen’s old way of life. The water has a healing aspect for Gwen as Vic says ‘The water’s very warm today. We had a quick paddle.’ after they had come back from ‘crying and are supporting each other’ At the very end of the play the class come together, like in the beginning, and Mrs. Latrobe ‘I’d bring you all out here under the trees to read this’ bring them under the trees, after each character has been healed and Tom reads the beginning lines of William Shakespeare’s King Leah. This final place is the final healing aspect of the play and the play King Leah also naturalises the healing power of nature ‘the struggle between Man and Nature, as well as between Man and Man, and between Man and Himself… And it is the power of Nature’ and although Tom has been able to ‘heal’ everybody else around him, he is unable to heal himself showing the struggle between Man and
The provocative vivid image of the Australian outback emphasise the loneliness, solidarity and emotional and mental impact of the bushmen. In ‘the drover’s wife’, Lawson depicts the hardships and isolation of the drover’s wives living in the Australian Outback during the early 1900’s. The distinctively visuals explore the woman’s power and courage developed whilst raising her children in the isolated environment. In Maus, Spigelman exhibits the holocaust memoir by his father and a holocaust survivor, Vladak. The provoking images of the war and survival conveys the hardships and the suffering gained from the
Australia was settled by the British in 1788 as a convict colony but without the Aboriginal contact and consequences, experience of non-Europeans, the gold rushes and their political, social and economical impact on the nation, the Depression in the 1890’s and living and working conditions all contributed to what our nation is today. Within 120 years as a result of aboriginal contact with Europeans the experience of non-Europeans, the social, political and economical impacts of the gold rushes of the 1850’s, the depression in the 1890’s and the living and working all contributed to what Australia became in 1914. As the colony of the nation expanded, some settlers came into conflict with the aboriginal people. The aboriginal people reacted
Theatre reflects the society in which it is in. Use of particular elements of drama and production in Harrison’s Stolen and Keene’s Life Without Me and evokes the audience’s engagement and understanding of the dramatic meaning that is created. By exploring the development of the character’s personal concerns the audience can effectively engage with and consider the cultural issues expressed in these two plays. By highlighting and exploring these key issues the audience is challenged and confronted with a representation and reflection on parts of Australian culture. The thematic issues and concerns of both plays include – Racism, Discrimination, Persecution, Lack of Respect, Identity, Belonging (or lack of), Discovery and the issues of Home.
The Australian outback acts as a significant cultural symbol that embodies the essence of Australian life. The outback takes centre stage in both Wake In Fright and Picnic At Hanging Rock, standing as a powerful backdrop against which both narratives unfold. Through their portrayal of the outback, Wake In Fright and Picnic At Hanging Rock communicate themes of isolation, danger, and the unknown. The vastness and unforgiving nature of the outback represent the physical and emotional isolation experienced by Australians. It reflects the immense challenges faced by those in remote areas, emphasising the sheer resilience and resourcefulness required to survive.
A cultural artefact that portrays the distinct characteristics of the Australian Legend is the television serious, Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War. This popular television series was broadcasted in 2012 and enjoyed by people throughout Australia and England as it represented Australian talent in cricket. This series was also viewed in England as well as all over the world to show and represent Australia’s talents in the game of cricket. In Howzat!
During the play Away, Gwen realizes how easily possessions are disoriented, thus readjusting her views on what is authentically important in life. By utilizing the storm as one of the main turning points for Gwen, Gow explores the power of nature in solving
We all know that Australia is a multicultural country but what many don’t know is what impact these different cultures have on the Australian identity. Australia was first used as a place to send convicts from England’s over crowded prison so our identity come from the many people who came to Australia in those first hundred years. The Irish are just one of many cultures that came to Australia while it was being settled. The first Irish people came to Australia in the late 18th century but by the late 19th century about a third of the population was Irish, this is why Australia’s history and culture was so heavily impacted by the
In her book Nanberry, Jackie French portrays colonial life as a very confusing and perplexing time for both the Indigenous Australians and the White British Settlers, albeit in different ways. With the Indigenous Australians confused by the sudden invasion of the white settler (ghosts), and the British Settlers becoming confused by the new sights, smells and culture of ‘Sydney Cove’. Through the characters of Nanberry, Surgeon White and Bennelong, the viewer is shown just how confusing their life was at the time of the first settlement in Australia. Nanberry is one of the main characters in French’s book, and is a prime way through which she portrays colonial life as perplexing and confusing. Nanberry was born into, and partially raised by an Indigenous Australian family, however he was adopted by Surgeon White at the tender age of eight or nine.
Question 1 Barbara Baynton’s characters demonstrate a contrast with gender stereotypes as she is described as bringing her “subjective obsession” to her writing where she portrays men as being violent and unsympathetic to women, cowards, weak and carless (Iseman 20). This contradicts the traditional bush legend identity of a masculine hardworking, caring man, as seen in Peter Hennessy’s character in “The Chosen Vessel” and in the “Squekers Mate” where the men are seen to be weak, violent and carless towards women. (Baynton) These negative views of men come across in the harsh Australian landscapes demonstrating a brutal and lonely place with a lack of compassion for women (Hourigan 15). Women are portrayed as victims of men and are left vulnerable
Australian identity and what constitutes Australian culture are prominent ideas explored by Peter Goldsworthy’s Maestro. Throughout the novel, there is a strong sense of cynicism towards Australian culture as it is painted as ambiguous and indefinite. This is established through the analogy of Paul representing Australian society and his parents representing the British influence on Australian culture. Goldsworthy also explores the European influence on Australia through Kellar’s character. Goldsworthy’s broader message is that Australian identity is in fact quite complex and open to interpretation due how culturally diverse it is.
No matter what changes are made, as long as their skin colour isn’t pure white, they will never be regarded as “Australian”. This puts stress on the requirement for migrants to completely dispose of their own identity for an “Australian” identity. The fact that the protagonist claims that he or she has provided the migrants with equality is also ironic. “Learn English to Distinguish ESL from RSL”, the utilisation of assonance and internal rhyme
Well, Australia is a lucky country. A lucky country for white men born into middle class society. Australia is the lucky white man’s land.
Through the use of dialogue, “Cause she’s got no right bein’ in this country in the first place. She’s the reason me old man got shot in the leg. Now piss off, both of you!” , Eaton portrays to the audience the frustration and impatience that Australian people have towards foreigners; the basis of such repulsion being a result of the exposure to historical events that have directly affected their families. By representing migrants in such a manner, the
The novel ‘Jasper Jones’ by Craig Silvey is centred around a young man named Charlie Bucktin living in the little Australian town of Corrigan in the late 1960 's. Charlie is presented with the issues of racial prejudice, shamefulness, and moral dishonesty. He is tested to address the idealism of right from wrong and acknowledges that the law doesn 't generally maintain equity. The thoughts are depicted through Silvey 's utilization of story traditions which are to either challenge or reinforce our values, states of mind and convictions on the issues brought before us. The 1960 's was an extremely dull period for numerous individuals whose race was recognizably unique - different to that of the “white” population.
Some Australians felt threatened by the amount of non – Europeans in Australia even though Europeans made up about 98% of the population. There was also a huge surge of nationalism at the time which made people want Australia for what they considered the Australians. The nationalism caused them value a ‘pure’ race of Australians in which there was no room for the migrants who had been living in Australia happily until that point. Many countries were greatly offended after Australia enacted the Immigration Act of 1901 but particularly Japan.