Film Analysis: The Common Australian Stereotypes

How is the typical Australian depicted in Television? Is this accurate?

Popular Culture Assignment: Television – Option 3

Nicholas Jankovic

When televisions arrived on the shores of Australia in 1956, it opened doors in Australia’s popular culture establishing some of the most iconic television dramas such as Crocodile Dundee which depicted the typical Australian. Although, the stereotypes being created by these iconic shows, were not depicting Australians as working class people rather as those in the lower class, which according to the Australian National University only make up a proportion of 6.2% of all Australians. Being one of the worlds most urbanised countries, society constantly forget that the Australian population are not ‘Foster 's

Paul Hogan portrays his protagonist ‘Mike’ as a laid back individual constantly willing to help out were needed. Although, he is also represented as a beer drinking individual which links back to Russell Ward 's view. Crocodile Dundee implemented most of the qualities and traits which in Ward’s view created the ‘typical Australian male.’ The film catalysed the dispersion of this stereotype rapidly to international countries, which transmitted the incorrect view of Australians. As the film was such a global hit, the lower class figure which was being portrayed was seen as entertainment to the world; therefore, then enforcing the character to appear on other numerous platforms such as international tourism advertisements with the intention of entertaining the overseas

Russell Ward’s examination of a typical Australian ‘The Australian Legend’ identifies the stereotypical male as having characteristics of masculinity, doubted authority highly as well as being: restless, heavy alcohol drinker, foul mouthed and an uncontrollable gambler. Paul Hogan in the hit movie Crocodile Dundee was quite an accurate representation of Ward’s examination which catalysed the transportation of the stereotype internationally. Tourism Australia’s 1980 's campaign featured Paul Hogan in an attempt to attract the United States of America population to the nation, although the advertisement was seen as being quite controversial as it didn’t accurately represent the typical Australian to the world. However, the organisations 2016 campaign featuring Chris Hemsworth portrays some elements of the lifestyle of the average Australian being one of their most accurate representations yet. Network Ten’s television program 'Wonderland ' depicts the typical Australian as working class people emphasising the similarities in the lifestyles of other cultures around the world. Although, all media platforms failed to implement the accurate element of urbanisation of the typical Australian. The colonisation and urbanisation of Australia first began when the first European settlers arrived and since then, the population has constantly been urbanising and developing. The thought of making the nation a more suitable location for future generations is constantly portrayed by