Over the past 100 years stories and images of war have been heavily associated with the core values within Australian society. Many of these values have militaristic roots stemming from foreign conflicts involving Australian defence forces and feature heavily in modern notions of what it is to be “Australian”. Images and stories of war feature prominently in constructions of Australian National Identity due to the glorification and emphasis of war in Australia’s short history. Throughout history there is a particular focus on the development of the larrikin attitude during World War 1 and ANZAC Day as a prominent celebration of Australianness as well as the concept of Australia “coming of age” as an independent nation during the Gallipoli Campaign …show more content…
of 1915. However, many stories of war have been mythologised over time and often have positive connections with Australian National Identity. Nonetheless, many of these stories demonstrate the iconic “underdog” spirit famously associated with Australian National Identity. Thus, through historical glorification and emphasis on conflict, constructions of Australian National Identity are often associated with stories and images of war. Benedict Anderson (1983) defines national identity as the imagined political community that exists in both limited and sovereign capacities, stemming from a nations collective sense of character. Anderson (1983) proposes that a nation is a community in which individual members are linked to one another through imagined ties. The concept of these communities having no physical being stems from the notion that even in the smallest of national communities not all individual members will interact with or become acquainted with one another (Anderson, 1983 p.6). This imagined interaction between members of a nation makes it difficult to draw commonality between them, a sentiment that is particularly true in modern constructions of Australian National Identity. The concept of a community as being sovereign, that is it is governed by an internal uniform political body, further defines Australian National Identity as a closed yet dynamic system. Anderson (1983, p.7) also further explains that a nation has boundaries that are either physical or imagined, fixed of flexible. This idea is also central to Australian National Identity in that it is widely accepted that outside of these sovereign boundaries exists other nation-states. Thus Australian National Identity is a concept limited largely by imagined boundaries (Anderson, 1983 p.7). This difficulty in defining exactly what draws Australians together is a demonstration of the concept that Australian National Identity exists as a dynamic entity that does not centre on any one common theme. Larrikinism, a trait now inextricably linked to Australian National Identity, was popularised by the soldiers of World War 1. In the mid to late 1800’s to be called a larrikin was an insult. The term was originally attributed to rowdy and unruly members of youth gangs on the streets of Melbourne (Bellanta, 2012 p.xiv). These youths tended to be from the lower working class or living on the streets and would often conduct themselves in an irreverent and disorderly manner, causing trouble on the streets of lower class neighbourhoods. The concept of larrikinism being an insult extended well into the 1910’s up to the outbreak of World War 1, after which the negative connotations surrounding larrikinism began to lift (Bellanta, 2012 p.xv), thanks to the adoption of the term by Australian soldiers prior to beginning their overseas campaigns and during their time abroad. This change in the Australian public’s perspective, directly influenced by the happenings of the war in Europe between 1914 and 1918, led many to begin to associate larrikinism with the positivity of the ANZAC Values. In contemporary society the term larrikin, popularised during World War 1, continues to be a label of endearment with many sporting stars, politicians and celebrities attempting to embody the larrikin spirit in the hope that it will make them more attractive to the Australian public (Bellanta, 2012 p.xiii). It is through the glorification of Australian soldier’s participation in World War 1 that larrikinism has evolved to become synonymous with Australian in constructions of Australian National Identity. ANZAC Day, commemorating war and conflict, is one of very few national occasions which unify the community.
April 25 holds an almost revered and solemn place in society and has become one of few, if not only, nationally unifying event on the Australian calendar (Inglis, 1998 p.429). The day itself is a celebration of one of the few common heritages shared most Australians. Contradictory to Anderson’s definition of Australian National Identity (1983, p.5) in that there is no real physical unifying theme in concepts of national identity, the celebration of the sacrifice made during times of war and the stories which have survived the last 100 years could be considered a commonality amongst most Australians. In recent years commemorative services have been increasingly militarised, moving away from the traditional purpose of remembrance of fallen comrades and further into celebrations of triumph and comradery in war and conflict (McKenna, 2007). The notion of the commemoration of ANZAC Day being a central theme in Australian National Identity is further discussed by McKenna (2007) who states that the ANZAC Myth has become a central component in explanations of what it is to be Australian. The celebration of ANZAC Day is a nationwide demonstration of the prevalence of images and stories of war and conflict in constructions of National …show more content…
Identity. Stories and images of war also feature heavily in notions of Australian National Identity as international theatres of war have provided Australia with an opportunity to prove itself as an independent nation. World War 1, particularly the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915, has long been viewed as a “coming of age” for Australia as a nation independent of Britain (McKenna, 2007 p.1). It is through our participation in global conflict that Australia has successfully been able to establish itself as a nation of its own rather than as a colony of the British Empire (Inglis, 1998). Through the emphasis of military valour and triumph Australia has also been able to position itself as a prominent power in a global cultural by establishing itself as a multicultural nation far removed from Britain. In ANZAC Day marches across capital cities French, Dutch, Greek, Polish, Serbian, Italian and Vietnamese servicemen and women now march proudly alongside their Anglo-Saxon allies from various conflicts (Inglis, 1998). ANZAC Day is celebrated as a triumph in Australia’s short history, a testament to the emphasis and glorification of war. Many Australians view ANZAC Day as “the most powerful expression of their identity and values” – Australian, not British, values forged in battle (McKenna, 2007 p.2). Australia has sought to prove itself through war and conflict, the result of which can been found in the inseparable link between stories and images of and Australian National Identity. However, stories and images of war are often mythologised when associated with Australian National Identity, leading to a skewed rendition of history.
These stories often focus on the ANZAC values of courage, valour, mateship, decency and a willingness to do the right thing, leading to a sentimentalised and often untrue account of historical events being recounted (McKenna, 2007). The remembrance of a positive history has led to an emphasis on and glorification of Australian military engagement, particularly in relation to its place within constructions of Australian National Identity. Nevertheless, these stories and images often embody the infamous “underdog” spirit so commonly linked with Australian National Identity. Stories and images from World War 2, particularly Kokoda and the military engagement with the Japanese in Papua New Guinea, have largely cemented the idea of Australia rising to victory against the odds in Australian National Identity (McKenna, 2007). The Gallipoli Campaign has also contributed to the notion of Australian’s as underdogs however its impact has been less influential in reinforcing the idea in relation to Australian National Identity (McKenna, 2007). Thus, through the idolisation of the ANZACs and their values, images and stories of war now feature heavily on concepts of Australian National
Identity. Hence, through emphasis on and glorification of war and military achievement in Australian history, images and stories of conflict feature heavily in constructions of Australian National Identity. The popularisation of larrikinism during the Gallipoli Campaign, along with the unifying power of ANZAC Day as well as the opportunity through war for Australia to prove itself an independent nation have all contributed to images and stories of war being heavily associated with Australian National Identity. In addition to these factors, the mythologisation of war and the development of the underdog spirit through accounts and descriptions of war have led to close associations between war and Australian National Identity. Constructions of Australian National Identity often feature images and stories of war as there is an emphasis in Australian history on military victory and involvement. References Anderson, B 1983, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, Verso, London Bellanta, M 2012, Larrikins: A History, University of Queensland Press, St Lucia Inglis, KS 1998, War Memorials in the Australian Landscape, Miegunyah Press at Melbourne University Press, Carlton McKenna, M 2007, ‘Patriot act – THE ANZAC MYTH – PART 1 OF 2’, The Australian, 6 June McKenna, M 2007, ‘Patriot act – THE ANZAC MYTH – PART 2 OF 2’, The Australian, 6 June
On September 3, 1939 Prime Minister, Robert Gordon Menzies, declared the commencement of Australia's involvement in the Second World War on every national and commercial radio station. From 1942 until early 1944, Australian forces, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders played a key role in the Pacific War forming the majority of Allied strength throughout the South West Pacific. Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders affected Australia’s World War Two efforts in their extended volunteering and willingness to fight and die in the war. Aboriginal people were a crucial part of defending the Australian home front, in which they had limited or no rights. Many experienced equal treatment to white Australians for the first time in their
The soldiers are remembered for maintaining courage and determination under hopeless conditions. The ANZAC legend owes much to wartime correspondents who used the Gallipoli landing to generate a specifically Australian hero. Among the many reports, which reached Australia, were those of Ashmead-Bartlett. His Gallipoli dispatches described Australians as a 'race of athletes ... practical above all', whose cheers, even in death, 'resounded throughout the night'. Ashmead-Bartlett helped in...
Aboriginal soldiers returned to their country where they had no citizenship rights, controlled by the government policies which prevented them from living in towns, socialising with other Australians and voting. This is evident in phrases such as, “He returned to the outback, no mates did he find. If he had a beer he was jailed and then fined,” and, “Confused and alone he wandered around, Looking for work though none could be found. The Anzac marches he badly neglected, Would show to his comrades how he was rejected.” This informs the reader about how the Aboriginal soldiers did not receive the same benefits as the European soldiers did, even though they made the same sacrifices during the
Good morning, Ms Dowdeswell and 9b, today let us have a look at how much have contemporary historians challenged the ANZAC legend, my hypothesis is some contemporary historians do challenge the ANZAC legend to a great extent. Wait, what is ANZAC? ANZAC is the acronym formed from the initial letters of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. This was the formation in which Australian and New Zealand soldiers in Egypt were grouped before the landing on Gallipoli in April 1915. Everything started with WWI. But, how WWI began? Well, the direct cause of WWI was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. However, historians feel Militarism (Main),Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism are the main factors which contributed to the rivalry between the Great powers that allowed war on such a wide-scale to break out. As we know during WWI, Europe was divided into two alliances — Triple Entente (Britain, Russia and France) and
I will also discuss how the young, naive soldiers arrived at war, not knowing what warfare entailed. They were shocked by the conditions and the casualties. I will also discuss the bravery shown by the ANZACS in the most dangerous conditions. I will conclude with my reasons for why the Gallipoli campaign holds such value and importance in Australian history and ideology. Australian men were very keen to get involved in the war because they felt that it was their duty and if they didn’t go to war it would make them look cowardly.
It is well known that Captain Arthur Philips landed in Australia on 26th of January and took over the land and is referred to as “invasion Day”. Yet little do people know, Captain Arthur Phillip didn’t land in Australia on 26 January. He first landed in Australia between the 18th and 20th of January 1788 in Botany Bay, however where he landed he couldn’t find fresh water so he then sailed into Sydney Cove on the 26th where he found a Tank Stream…..problem solved. Australia day today celebrates our diverse society, our remarkable achievements, our future as a nation and how we can make Australia a better
Peter Weir’s 1981 film Gallipoli can in every sense of the phrase be called an ‘Australian classic’. The impact and effect this film has had upon the psyche and perspective of several generations of Australians has been significant. Whilst it can be argued that every Australian is aware of the ANZAC legend, and the events that occurred on the Turkish beaches in 1915, Weir’s film encapsulates and embodies a cultural myth which is now propagated as fact and embraced as part of the contemporary Australian identity. The film projects a sense of Australian nationalism that grew out of the 1970’s, and focuses on what it ‘means’ to be an Australian in a post-colonial country. In this way Gallipoli embodies a sense of ‘Australian-ness’ through the depiction of mateship and through the stark contrast of Australia to Britain. A sense of the mythic Australia is further projected through the cinematic portrayal of the outback, and the way in which Australia is presented in isolation from the rest of the world. These features combined create not only a sense of nationalism, but also a mythology stemming from the ANZAC legend as depicted within the film.
Anzac Day is a significant national event within Australia and it commemorates the anniversary of the foremost military battle that took place on the 25th of April 1915 in Gallipoli. ANZAC signifies Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Furthermore, Anzac Day was battled by the Australian as well as the New Zealand armies throughout the First World War. Moreover, through the articles, “The Anzacs: Military influences on Australian identity”, written by Jed Donoghue and Bruce Tranter, “Postscript: Remembering the Fallen or Reflecting on Fallen-ness?” written by Tom Frames, as well as “ANZAC Day to VP Day: arguments and interpretations” written by Joan Beaumont, Australians appear to be emotionally attached towards Anzac Day, which is a military
Gallipoli is the tragic tale of two Australian men, Frank Dunne and Archie Hamilton, who both enlisted to join the Gallipoli campaign overseas. The film follows the two men from their time as competitors in a sprint races to Perth for enlistment the light horse. The film itself isn’t so much a ‘war’ film as it is a film dealing with attitudes of Australians through particular individuals towards war in 1915.
Malouf has highlighted the virtual aspects of the Australian national discourse, where he states the understanding of ‘war’ being a tragic experience. Whereas, ‘masculinity’ depicts where Australian soldiers were been stereotyped as diggers. Therefore, Malouf presents the way of Australian national
World War One was to be a morale raiser for Australia – her first war as a nation. It was seen as a chance to show to the world what Australia could be, the first step in breaking away from the restraints ...
Peter Weir, the director of the 1981 dramatic film “Gallipoli” clearly makes evident that there are significant contrasts between, the battles and experiences of Gallipoli in the film and in contemporary primary sources. However on the other side the film also does share some similarities to those of primary sources. Events from the film such as, the landing at Anzac Cove, life at Gallipoli and the Battle of the Nek distinctly outline that the film portrays the battles and experiences of Gallipoli in a different way compared to those of contemporary primary sources.
At the request of The Australian Journal of Poetry, young people have analysed how poetry is representative of World war One’s socio-cultural and historical contexts in preparation for centenary celebrations. John Le Gay Brereton’s poem “For Valour” invites readers to read and respond to subject matter that explores Australian society during World War One, which reveals the poet’s attitudes, values and ideas. Poetic devices produce an educated tone and an angry, ominous and pitiful mood which conveys John Le Gay Brereton’s strong anti-militarist attitude. The purpose of the poem, to present a truthful account of World War One, is achieved through imagery, oxymoron and juxtaposition. Symbolism presents the poet’s belief that war is a futile
Waltzing Matilda in 1915 is bring Australian arms thoughts of the massacres at Gallipoli (Turkey). Massive unskillfulness British in terms of politicians (chiefly Winston Churchill) and generals resulted in the death toll that knockout every town and every city, even the place is a small country at that time.
It was the morning of the 25th of April, Anzac day. The day where the whole country comes to together to remember those who died fighting for their homeland. All the survivors stand proudly in front of the crowd in their