Baz Luhrmann Belonging

Through the use of poetic devices, the author has successfully encouraged the audience to explore their thoughts on Australian identity and to reflect on our nation’s history.

I am Fiona Collins with Infilm here today to convince you that the classic 1981 Australian film The Man From Snowy River deserves to be included in your Hall of Fame. I shall educate you all in this film’s cultural and cinematic value with regards to its portrayal of Australian values. We will delve into the cultural context, plot, characters and settings, and how they were able to be directed into the film by George Miller, making the Australian values paramount. This 100 minute adventure produced by Geoff Burrowes and staring Tom Burlinson, Sigrid Thorton, Kirk Douglas and Jack Thompson generated a massive following in which it held the title of Australia’s most popular film for five years. Additionally it received two prestigious awards: Montréal World Film Festival 1982 “Most Popular Film of the Festival” and the AFI’s 1982 “Best original Music Score”. These awards cement the successful reception of the film, reinforced greatly by

Curious is the word that usually comes to mind when one thinks of Australian cinema; it’s wacky and unique styles can be seen across many if not all films that are considered ‘Australian’. It should be of note that some Australian films are produced overseas or with an international cast, they are still generally considered Australian because they are often predominantly funded by Australian funding schemes. This essay's focus will be the 1986 film, Crocodile Dundee. Crocodile Dundee is a classic Australian film, it is the cornerstone of most Australian stereotypes today and often the first point of call in the topic of Australian films overseas.

In the 2011 Australian film ‘Red Dog’ directed by Kriv Stenders many issues relating to Australian identity are addressed including the stereotypical Australian values such as conflict with authority and mateship. Stenders uses skilful camera and visual techniques to portray a realistic 1970’s context throughout the movie. Throughout the movie it is evident that Stenders portrays his values and attitudes such as rebellion against authority that abuses power and independence.

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.

The portrayal of Australia as a ancient, dramatic, and somewhat spiritual landscape, is not only shown in the exposition, but also in many landscapes to follow, one of these being the gorges encountered by Jedda and Marbuck towards the end of the film. This landscape was not only used as a representation of beauty, drama and the primeval nature of Australia, but also to create a sense of awe and wonder at the mysterious, almost supernatural qualities of this particular setting. To achieve this feeling of wonder, Chauvel has used extreme long shots to his advantage, placing Marbuck and Jedda against the towering background of high, rocky gorges, thus making them look, and creating a sense to the audience, that they are insignificant in this landscape. The use of soft European choral music also highlights the supernatural aspects of this landscape, representing the landscape as being one of high spiritual significance to the Aboriginal people. Although Chauvel has incorporated the music into this

How each character’s relationship relates to native Australians grows for better or worse throughout the novel. The novel also shows how Grenville has incorporated each personal lifestyle and how it co-exists with the other. The novel incorporates past and modern views about each society and brings to attention controversial issues about Australia’s convict past and how Aborigines are being ostracized for their way of life and skin pigmentation.

The concept of the “Australian legend” is an idea that has been altered many times throughout history, however the common conception of this interpretation has remained the same. This perception of a typical Australian legend is of someone who is extremely strong, independent and very capable in a natural outdoor environment such as the bush or outback. Many different sources display this idea and include the same or related characteristics. Russel Ward, author of “The Australian Legend”, focuses on an examination of the development of the "Australian character" and it’s influence on Australian culture. This was very significant in creating and supporting this idea. Crocodile Dundee, a famous Australian movie, references many aspects of what

Therefore, the closeness her and Nullah share symbolises how un-threatening Aboriginals really are and subverts the tropes colonial perspective. The pair’s bond also challenges another element of the trope; the ‘construction of Aboriginals as figures haunting the Australian landscape’ (Turcotte, G. 1998). Not even four minutes into the film, the audience is given a scene in which Nullah and his grandfather, King George, are wandering the land and learning to hunt. This establishes the relationship Aboriginal people share with the land; as if the land is their ‘home’ and ‘backbone’ (Korff, J. 2016). Later in the film, Nullah is drawn to ‘go walkabout’ with his Grandfather, but held back for a while by Lady Ashley and the Drover.

Included in the film are the vast and open outback landscapes which signifies the freedom of aboriginals land and how they belong to it as the are physically and emotionally affected when they are taken away from it. The rabbit fence was built to keep the Aboriginals in one place therefore symbolising the division between the Aboriginals and the Europeans. Also a representation of a map, as it is a symbol of home for the girls and provides a way in order for them to get home (by following the fence). The eagle guides the girls home, they believed that it was the spirt of the wind. There is a clear that the link aboriginals have to the land is spiritual. The clothing the aboriginals wore was dirty, while the white people had fancy, clean clothes. The presentation Mr Neville makes to the women explains why his intentions are educated and rational.

“The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” is important to Australian culture not only for a great laugh but because it teaches people that there are many different types of Australian men and to embrace our diversity. Elliot used the AIDS epidemic as inspiration for this movie and did a very good

Language serves as a central motif throughout the film, highlighting its profound impact on individual and communal identities. The film's evocative soundtrack, featuring Indigenous songs juxtaposed with Western musical motifs and hymns, accentuates the thematic motifs of cultural diversity. Through its fusion of indigenous and non-indigenous musical traditions, the soundtrack becomes a metaphor for the potential for cross-cultural dialogue and reconciliation. Specifically, the songs “This Land Is Mine” and ”Unfinished Business”. “This land is mine” serves as one of the largest contrasts between white and Indigenous society in Australia in the 1930s.

The Australian cinema in the 1960’s failed to communicate with the audience due to their lack of promotional messages that weren’t disseminated. Media is formed by cultural, political, economic and social conditions. These influenced or even directed its characteristics and its intended meaning. After a devastating blow to the film industry in the 1960’s, filmmakers of Australia had stopped creating and making quality Australian films. However, the Australian New Wave brought a revival of the Australian film industry during the 70's, 80's and 90’s. It introduced Australian qualities into film, including larrikinism, mateship and a classless social hierarchy. The Castle and Gallipoli confirm, promote and explore features of Australian identity

The notion of the contemporary indigenous identity and the impact of these notions are both explored in texts that have been studied. Ivan Sen’s 2002 film ‘Beneath Clouds’ focuses on the stereotypical behaviours of Indigenous Australians highlighting Lina and Vaughn’s journey. This also signifies the status and place of the Australian identity today. Through the use of visual techniques and stereotypes the ideas that the Indigenous are uneducated, involved in crime and the stereotypical portrayal of white people are all explored. Similarly the notion of urban and rural life is represented in Kennith Slessor’s ‘William Street’ and ‘Country Towns’.

An Australian Short Story, written by Ryan O’Neill, is such an in-depth piece of literature. The story’s artistic format brings a new meaning to Australian literature, and the typical stereotype. Ryan O’Neill took a chance on this story, because he isn’t an Australian. But after living in Australia for many years, he took the time to really notice things. And with that, he chose to write what he saw and