Does Australia have a culture, if so what is it, where do we see it, where did it evolve from, what changes do you aee, and where is it going?
I honestly think that this is the personification of Australian culture... not quite knowing what it is and wanting to define it. I think it's sort of unhealthy to go too far that it becomes an insecurity and it can become that. Sometimes, I think, Australian culture involves bashing other countries as a result of this insecurity. A really strong argument I can make as an American would be "Pfff.. that's so freaking American," and even if it's not a true statement it would make an effective tool because the presumption is that I'm an authority on the subject and that it must be bad.
Switzerland long prided itself, or Swiss people did, on being a neutral country that doesn't meddle in the affairs of the world, that even has mediated peaceful arangements. Australians on the other hand can pride themselves on feeling that Australia is a force to be reckoned with in the world (I think it's a funny prospect when I hear it though). All countrymen pride their country on values that they feel are those of integrity and those values can change from time to time. Revenge has become more of a virtue than it ever was in my homeland, to the extent that I'm embarrased to call it my homeland.
Whatever makes Australian culture what it is, I don't think it's actually for Australians to say but for foreigners to experience. Australian culture is what it is and why ask why? More accurately, given the insecurity associated with the question, it's better not to ask it unless really having a good headscratch and not a self defeating moment collective self-consciosness.
I think that over time every country periodically finds a person that personifies what they feel is a reflection of their country. It can be a person of controversy, still doesn't matter because over time everyone gets their day. In the US I had my day with Clinton and now the other half of the nation has had their day (and good lord let's hope that day is over for a very long time after the next election). When I was a kid, that person was daredevil Evel Kneivel. I think Australia lacks any strong person at the moment but big deal. All I can say is that I hope it doesn't mean we will run blindly into propoganda at the first chance we can get causing people to die. The truth is that support for wars is just great if involves answering the question put forth in the thread. I think the first Gulf War was a success in the US, with it's public acceptance and support, on this alone as it was about "Good and Evil, Right ad Wrong," and nothing more. It played into peoples idealistic integrity really well and without anyone questioning it. When I'm eligable to be Australian I'll hopefully still find some pride in it. I'll hopefully even be willing to renounce the US if I have to but I'de rather be Swiss than dead.
Trying to define Australia's persona/culture is like trying to describe a flower before it blooms.
Australia has not yet bloomed and is still growing, still changing, it is dynamic. Then once it blooms it will be beautiful for a while before it starts to wilt and dry up as has every nation before it. The important question is: Will our flower bear fruit or will it be sterile? But lets hope it is not poisonous!
Does Australia have a culture, if so what is it, where do we see it, where did it evolve from, what changes do you aee, and where is it going?
My answer to your question is 'No Australia does not have a culture' because we are so Multi-Cultural as a result of our immigration laws in the past. We are a melting pot of humanity and cultures. The British invaded this country and never mind the fact that the Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants of this beautiful country and never mind that they are the traditional and righful owners of this land. Funny how white man (British, French, American, and some other white caucasians) believes they are THE superior race and all other races should bend to their will as they are the mighty conquerers, especially in the past. Now it's the USA who act like they are the 'Boss' of the world. But I digress, sorry. Australia was 'founded' by the British and our culture reflects that. With that dull and boring background we don't really have a culture. Maybe, just maybe, if we cut ties with Britain and became independant from 'her' we could cultivate a culture that is atypically Australian.
I'd have to say no too. We are becoming quite Americanised. More and more kids go door to door asking for candy on the last day of October. It never used to be that way. In a few years, I'm sure we'll all be carving delicious turkeys towards the end of November, watching oversized balloons float by Sydney Harbour on our TV's during half time of the Grand Final...
Australian Culture is still very much what it used to be 30 years ago.
Australia culture is first about sport. Australian are sport addicts. Football and cricket are top of the list. Young men spend a lot of time in the gym. Older men spend a lot of time on the golf course.
The beach and the sea is a favourite pastime for relaxation. Having a party usually mean having a barbecue. Beer is still the favourite drink amongst the true Aussies. But wine is now a close second.
Australian love their car and they like fast cars despite the fact that you cannot speed anywhere.
The true Aussie is emotion less and likes everyone else to be the same. Aussies hate 1. arrogant people 2. whinging people 3. people making excuses for themselve 4. people crying 5. people not coping
Being successful is a sin and the true Aussie will try to bring you down (tall poppy syndrome).
Being an Aussie is about being Politically correct these days. It is seen everywhere amongst the younger generation who took to it like a fish to water. But the older generation is still strugling with the concept and many will never be converted.
When it come to music, movies and television, young Australians embrace everything coming from America. The music scene revolves around hip-hop (the new word for "rap" which had its days). Action movies with blood and violence are popular, so are science fiction movies. Australians don't like smart comedies. They like stupid idiotic comedies. Reality TV is big and the population takes great delight at criticising and hating every contestants on the show. Their excuse is that the contestants are asking for it by having the audacity to get their face on television.
When it comes to fashion, Australians have no dress sense and are still the same looking slobs that they were 40 years ago.
Australia is paradise for gay people. Being gay is almost a religion. And it is coming to the stage where gay people will soon have more rights than anyone else.
Thanks to the removal of children discipline from parents and teachers, Australia is on the verge of having a generation of teenagers living in complete anarchy. Our teenagers are very confused people. On one hand, they are extremely politically correct and are demanding equality for everyone. On the other hand, they do not respect anyone or anything and refuse to have anyone telling them what to do.
And of course, all of the above is a generalisation.
Most Australians are just American wannabees. If you want to define Australian culture then that just about sums it up for me. The cultural cringe is alive and well.
If you gauge this by the popularity of their entertainment industry then I would have to agree. Unfortunately, a lot of people are unable to separate entertainment from reality.
Gee, I am astounded at the responses to this topic, it really sounds like not one of you are proud to be Australian and all you can do is knock. Of course Australias cullture is multicultural, it could not be any other way with this great country of ours being made up of so many nationalities. That is what australia is ,and always will be, a land of mixed nationalities with different cultures which added together make this country of ours what it is today... I came here in 1972, of English and Swiss heritage, and believe me, there is no country in this world I would rather be today..........
Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.
Does anybody truly think Australia has its own identity/culture?
Even the first settlers were migrants with their own ways, so since them with Italian, Greek German etc in the 50 & 60's. . now middle Eastern and Asian in the last 20 - 30 years. . the line must be really blurred. Who is 'Australian"? . .we all are, those that eat Pizza.(yum) and Thai and sauerkraut (sic),
Just can't get past those that like warm beer though . .*shivers*.
DEMOCRACY = Voters deciding by Poll on who will be the local member that "Big Business" will push around.
Sadly on the news tonight there was a report on how Aussies (mainly young) think that getting/being drunk is part of the Aussie Culture. Some children as young as 13 have a drinking problem! I hope that in the next 10-15 years we can change that absurd idea. I was married to an alcoholic this last time. he wasn't like it in the beginning but let himself go year by year and became an absolute drunk by the end of 19 plus years. I hated it and him for being so weak. He has an 'addicts personality' he gambled to excess, drank to excess and played golf to excess. Some people are like that, I know, but a culture of drunkards is just frightening.
Logged
but not oleander.
