The Magic Pudding Analysis

Australia’s new dependence on America resulted in a large influx of American soldiers to Australia and while Australian society was initially accepting and welcoming of their unorthodox culture, behaviours and morals, this quickly turned to contempt and created an unsavoury relationship between Australians and Americans whom they saw as being a bad influence on the women and youth of Australia. Australians regarded Americans as being, “overpaid, oversexed and over-here”. However, while this had the possibility to cause influential divides in society, Australians realised the necessity for the American presence in their country and the security they had provided, overruling any irritation felt towards them. The Australian war effort in the pacific regions had also served to amplify and fuel the ‘Anzac legend’ creating a national sense of pride and unity during the war. Australia’s involvement in the Second World War thus served to create a more independent Australia, in charge of its own policies and decisions in foreign affairs, creating cohesion within society.

Mateship is a key Australian characteristic: always having your mates back through thick and thin is vital. Mateship embodies the loyalty and friendship especially between men and women. The sense of mateship is demonstrated throughout the film, “The Last Cab to Darwin”, when Tilly travels with Rex to Darwin. Tilly does this out of genuine kindness, Rex was traveling to Darwin to get a procedure done to end his life. Along the way Tilly makes him realise the worth of life, and how having a mate to confine in helps with the choices we make. This can be shown in Australia today through ANZAC spirit, mateship is a

In today’s Australian society it has now become almost commonplace for us to question our beliefs and what it means to be an Australian. We have always turned to consider our cultural aspects and how they determine a strong Australian identity. The voice of a hot climate, the tone of the red sand, the indifference of man and woman and even the lifestyle of the Australian people all play important parts within our community. However to be an Australian is truly shaped by the kind acts of mateship that we possess within our relationships with friends and family. The mateship of society should not be affected by gender but really truly lie upon the relationships in our lives, which is why I have chosen Priscilla and Red Dog,

Australian people and culture are often stereotyped in the media in different forms, one of them being film. The two films being examined, ‘Red dog’ (2011) and the ‘Sapphires’ (2012), are an example of the Australian identity but from different points of view. ‘Red dog’ shows the kind and positive side which exemplifies mateship and loyalty. The film ‘Sapphires’ ,which takes place in the 1950’s through to the 1960’s, shows a negative and racist view towards the indigenous people. Both the films show different aspects of the Australian identity, not all insights of the films accurately represent contemporary Australian identity as the Australian identity has changed by the evolution of people and their lifestyle.

World War One is regarded as a major turning point in history and modern warfare which has impacted Australia monumentally, scarring the nation’s history. Australia played a significant role in World War One and the Gallipoli campaign, which is considered the birthplace of the ANZAC legend. These events have immensely shaped Australia as the nation we know of today. World War One began in 1914 from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and ended in 1918 on November the 11th which is now recognised as a day of mourning and a time given recognition to the lives taken on the battlefield. To a prominent extent, the ANZAC legend is significant to the concept of Australian identity and nationalism through the origins of the ANZAC legend, the key events that have helped form Australia as an independent nation, and in addition to how ANZAC day is commemorated today.

Mateship is a big part of Australian culture as us as Australians live and breathe the words of friendship and that is why this film is so successful, because it brought an un unlikely hero and made the character bond with an entire town. As Australians, we love a good animal story and due to the bond between the main character John and his companion Red dog was so strong it was as if the pair were inseparable. The Australian notion of mateships is portrayed in the film when the character Joko is talking about the type of man that should have a statue for all to admire as he states “It should be somebody who lives and breathes desolation, somebody that has red dust stuck up their nose and in their eyes and in their ears

‘A massive increase in the popularity and national significance of ANZAC Day’ (Source 1), grew throughout the twenty-first century. Since the landing of Gallipoli, it has been celebrated and as it continued, it quickly adapted to the cultural change of the media and technology which further improved the growth of its popularity. This day joins all Australians as one, in celebration to show their respect, compassion and pride for those people who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Damian Morgan conveyed the change in society, but also the well-kept, treasured ANZAC Spirit.

The Plumb-pudding in Danger by James Gillray depicts British Prime Minister William Pitt, sitting on the left, and French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who is seated on the right, both tearing haphazardly into a plum pudding shaped like the globe. This cartoon is one of Gillray’s most famous satirical pieces covering the Anglo-French rivalry during the Napoleonic wars of the 19th century. Published by Hannah Humphrey on February 28, 1805, The Plumb-pudding in Danger first appeared in London.

Australians are known for their bravery and mateship. Defending our country at war is a significant part of the Australian identity. Donald Bruce Dawe who was a soldier during the Vietnam War has written about the horrors that these soldiers faced in his poem “Homecoming”. Jeff Cook’s “Grandpa what did you do in the war?” also highlights the struggles associated with being involved in war. This piece was written for the soldiers who returned home and the ones that lost their lives fighting for Australia.

‘We’re all Australians now’ draws the reader to see the war from a positive Australia home front perspective. Texts from

Almost a century has passed but Australia still identifies strongly with the Anzac ‘legend' that emerged during the First World War. Entering the war as a small outpost of the British Empire, no one would have anticipated the courage and tenacity displayed by the Australian troops or the extent to which their war efforts would become the foundation of our national identity.

Since, WWI was one of the biggest events in Australian history, it led to another change in attitudes for Australians. One of the long lasting impacts that affect Australia today is ANZAC day. This is a day which commemorate the fallen soldiers who had fought for Australia during WWI. “…What the ANZAC legend did do by the bravery and sacrifice of our troops, was reinforce our cultural notions of independence, mate ship and ingenuity…”, is a quote by former Prime Minister of Australia, Paul Keating (2013), who was giving a speech concerning the Australian ANZACS. Contrary to the attitudes of war after WWI, Keating viewed WWI as a day to respect the “bravery and sacrifice of our troops”.

The Australian Identity, it’s to believe we have the freedom of rights, speech and the independency of a nation since 1901 when legalisation from Great Britain confirmed that the six Australian colonies were allow to govern in their own right as part as the Commonwealth. But what about women? Or as we were called ‘Sheilas’. Not until 1924, all the states in Australia gave the authorities for women to vote which demonstrates a simple spotlight shine that Australia shows sexism towards women. The disrespect and disempowerment that Australian men show towards females illustrates the main identity of the Australian culture as it leads to the discrimination of our heritage.

The Anzac (short for Australia New Zealand Army Corps) Spirit may not appear much in popular culture, but it refuses to die. The Anzac Day, which is held annually to honour the Anzac soldiers, appears over-zealously Australian than Kiwi when in fact, it should be both. But in spite of such observations, the history of Anzac and its exploits in World War I bears important lessons, which future generations, regardless of politics, race and creed, should reflect upon.

Attempting to define the Australian identity along cultural, ethnic or religious lines, gender, class, or ideology is impossible. “In Australia, the religious, cultural and ethnic complexity of our society is particularly diverse” (ABC, 2014). In the midst