What's your 'Straya?!

By Marcus Thompson · 

Australia is a relatively young country, particularly in regards to collective culture forming. Do you feel the culture celebrated on Australia day is representative of Australia at large?

Watch this first- http://bit.ly/WYWH6M

When we celebrate something annually, whether it’s a birthday or a new year, it gives us a chance to reflect. To critically analyse where we are in that moment. How we got there and where we would like to be in the following year. The older we get, typically the less change there is between years. When you’re young a year can almost transform who you are as a person, reshape and redirect your ideals.

So when we celebrate Australia Day, what do we reflect on? What do we critically analyse? Is the way we celebrate designed to replicate how we view the Australian lifestyle? Is it exclusive or inclusive? Is it a fair representation of a Australia at large?

Popular Australian culture draws heavily from the being jocular and relaxed- think beach, thongs beer – What I would like you to do is make a list in your head. Make a list of all the traits you associate with being Australian on Australia Day.

Then using your imagination copy+paste transfer these character traits on to a single individual. Is this an individual you would associate with? Is it someone you would be happy representing you? Do you think this is representative of Australian society at large?

Tell us what your Australian looks like.

Published 15 Jan 2013.  Mount Gambier SA 5290


  • Marcus Thompson

    Is the role of subcultures to influence and reshape popular culture? Or simply to provide an alternative or 'counter culture'? Does new media spell end of the collective conscience? Do you think it can sustain in a ghettofied form or will one dominant media/POV always rise to the top and be the strongest influence in shaping culture?

  • Nick Clarke

    The ongoing democratization of the media means that as more and more people satisfy their own media/entertainment tastes, by their own means, the media monopoly here will dissipate; to some degree anyway. Ignorant, banal, buffoon culture subsists in Australia because it is nurtured and sustained by the media, which informs the culture. There more Australians that choose to be something other than a cliched, white trash ignoramus, the more the media demand increases for content that both appeals to people like that and reflects them. People with a social conscience in Australia can (within reason) make every attempt to rally against the 'dominant culture' here, not by hating it because there are parts of it that are charming, but by presenting or just supporting an alternative.

  • Wiriya Sati

    That's what sub-cultures are for I guess, through the creative media we can create our own culture, broadcast it online... we have the skills, the technology - just need the ideas :D

  • Marcus Thompson

    What happens if it's only dominating because it's the most dominate culture? What if there is no major cultural alternative? Is it a matter of adapting or dying? You can't beat them join them?

  • Lisa Clarke

    That's a hilarious video, but I'm not sure if that's the way I want the rest of the world to think of us as being.

  • Wiriya Sati

    hmmm, when I think of Australia day I think of the flag flying, beer drinking, loud shouting, boardies thongs and wife-beater wearing, drive ya 4WD on the beach and set up the canvas chairs type characters. But should this stereotype dominate our popular culture and view of ourselves as a nation? Perhaps we can start a new meme collectively, and celebrate our innovative, adventurous and progressive thinking qualities of a young nation ready to shape a new future in a rapidly changing world. No value judgments intended here.

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