Australia's Identity In The Film Gallipoli

Jindabyne utilises conventions and ideas from the drama genre to communicate these central themes exploring the film 's significance in the context of Australia as a post-colonial society.

We are told that Australia is the “blessed country”. A country where our most appealing asset is our multicultural community and diverse society. In our anthem, we sing: “for those who come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share”. Ironically, this line is in the second verse, which most people barely ever sing. Perhaps this reveals the true attitude Australia has towards asylum seekers. People who flee from countries which are oppressing them, escaping for their lives. Australia’s inhumane treatment of asylum seekers and the mandatory detention policy means that asylum seekers are locked in a detention centre until they are processed, which can take years.

Peter Weir’s Gallipoli is based on the historical events from World War One in 1915, in Gallipoli. World War One started on the 28th of July 1914 and continued until the 11 of November 1918, the movie is set in 1915 from about the start of the year until 7th of August 1915 when the Battle of the Nek took place. This essay will discuss the accuracies and inaccuracies of the film Gallipoli compared to the events of World War One in 1915. The accuracies and inaccuracies of how the war started and who started World War One will be examined along with life in the trenches and the Australian attitudes to the war and the propaganda.

As patriotic Australians we pride ourselves to be a nation that accepts and respects the beliefs of all cultures, but on this historical day majority of Australians tend to forget the true meaning behind the celebration. If you ask today’s society, what they did this Australia day mass numbers would respond with “binged on alcohol” and “indulged in a barbecue.” Consequently, this day cannot be called a national celebration when some of our fellow Australians are grieving while others are out celebrating an occasion they know little about. Giving due regard to the indigenous people and their mostly negative perspective on this issue should be a priority. A new date, not the 26th of January should be established, as rather than unite, it seems to divide Australians into different viewpoints.

Australia’s experiences of World War II were significant for Australia and impacted on the shaping of our national identity. Australia 's response to entry into World War II in 1939 differed from Australia 's entry into World War I in 1914. Reasons for this includes attitudes towards war changing after gaining the knowledge and experiencing consequences of World War I, the conditions and lead up to World War II as well as Australia’s strong support for Britain. Firstly, the attitude of Australians changed due to World War 3I proving that war was not glamourous or exciting like it was assumed. During the lead up to World War II Australians had already struggled to survive through the depression and were now required to survive at war. Finally, by 1939, Australians were questioning the validity to support and defend the 'Mother Country ' at all costs. These are just three of the World War II experiences that helped shape the nation.

Australia Day is one of the most unique national day’s in the world throughout history, celebrating the day of when our ancestors first arrived on the borders of Australia, in 1788. Rather than unite people as one whole though, the spirited outcome of this event isn’t what as anticipated by everyone and has divided the Australian society for good. And so it should be held at an alternative date, where Australian citizens feel worthy of their identity and not cheated by it. However, the celebration shouldn’t be adapted to like that of other commemorations like ANZAC day. Essentially, this day will always be a tragic memory for the indigenous and be viewed as the invasion of their homeland. Also, while it’s significant to note the ‘foundation day’ of Australia, many people say that there were many other good memories made after that that are just as or if not more important. Finally, ANZAC Day is often thought of a replacement but shouldn’t

This article discusses the speech given by an Indigenous journalist, Stan Grant who participated in a debate where he spoke for the motion “Racism is destroying the Australian Dream’’. Hence, the main points of this article are mostly evidence given by Grant in his debate to support his idea that the Australian Dream is indeed rooted in racism.

When we think of nationalism we often associate a sense of identity with stare and nation, for some the idea of there identity being connected to their nation is a positive notion, but for others this association to nation raises worry of alienation and violence.1 Nationalism can be seen as a network where individuals of a nation can have shared values, expectations and sense of self. These negative associations of nationalism “occurs when, in the process of seeing ourselves as uniquely Australian others suffer.”2

The Ngunnawal People have been living within the borders and surrounding mountains of the Australian Capital Territory for over 25,000 years. The way the Indigenous people used the land to live off was extremely efficient and sustainable. They had a bounty of knowledge about the land surrounding them, and over generations, devised resourced management skills to ensure maintenance of the animals and plants, and most importantly, the land in which provided these things. Aboriginal culture existed long before Captain Cook arrived in Australia in 1770. He claimed the land to be "Terra-Nullius", meaning that the land did not belong to any person. This claim obviously seemed ludicrous and crazy to the Indigenous people whom already lived on the land.

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.

While Australians are seen as being more relaxed, casual, and Americans are very patriotic the commonalities they share are pronounce. The Australian identity and culture is something that is unique and exclusive to its people, word like

The Gallipoli campaign had supplied for the first time a self named identity seen by many. 100 years later after the cease fire on November 11, 1918, we as a proud nation commemorate the ANZAC character every year on the 25th of April. We see that in source 12 that not only our own nation commemorates the ANZAC spirit but others also recognise the ANZAC 's. The photograph shows the Queen and the Royal Family with Prime Minister Menzies showing tribute to the ANZAC troops on the 50th Anniversary. (1923 poem by Joan Torrance source 10) this source shows the excessive emotions of dignity, and heightened awareness of fanaticism in Australia. This poem indicates its tribute to Australia instead of Britain. The poem also expresses that other nations identified Australia.

The start of the 20th century Australian history, was marked with blood, sweat and tears as the First World War raged forth. Yet, today the battles on the Western Front are remembered as an ‘ineffectual sideshow’ to those at Gallipoli which evoked devastation and captivated the Australian public. As stated by war correspondent, Charles Bean in 1919, “ANZAC achievements were never recognised by the Australians back at home, even though they were greatly appreciated by those closer to the war – the British, French and even the Germans.”(ii) However, the distorted image portrayed to the public of the Western Front contributed to the loss of recognition the battles have received today. Whilst the battles fought by the ANZAC troops at Gallipoli should be remembered, the great battles on the Western Front such as Fromelles and Pozieres should be

In the book chapter ‘ Understanding Australia’s neighbours: an introduction to east and southeast Asia’, Nick Knight briefly outlines the importance of Australia’s bilateral relationship with Asia in terms of political engagement, with the aim of foreign policy and trade. Drawing largely upon the main complications occurring with Australia’s sense of national identity and history . Knight accounts the comparisons between Asian and Australian societies, despite apprehensions and criticisms the Australian influential figures were keen to maintain a relationship in order to benefit from Asia’s economic, social and political spheres.

From the 1970’s Australians have been viewed as bush people as they were seeming as heroic and brave. Never the less, internationally, Australians have been showcased as vulgar, racist that have strong pride for their country. Consequently, Australia has also been viewed as an alcoholic nation as companies continuously push the stereotype to market their products. In turn, Australian’s collective identity is made up of multiple other stereotypes that have been fed into. Despite being incorrectly portrayed; the Australian identity has a positive effect on Australian culture. Not only does it bring commercial value, it brings personal identity in the country making it truly unique to