Backbencher

Lecture 6, entitled "All Blacks vs. Wallabies", was basically a discussion pertaining to the composition of culture in Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Isern discussed the many founding myths that helped to define the cultures today. In Australia, these myths include their convict settlement, their insistence on not being thought of as English, the overthrow of squattocracy, and the reign of the bourgeoisie. These myths led to the formation of a culture that defies authority and values mateship. In New Zealand, founding myths of a planned settlement, retaining ties to Britain, a classless society, and the insistence on not being thought of as Australian have contributed to a society that has a smaller gap between high and low classes but is very self congratulatory. It was also interesting to see how despite being urban societies, both the Australians and New Zealanders prefer a rural image. This has actually caused a clash between farmers and urbanites in Nw Zealand wanting to commune in nature.


I thought a very interesting discussion point of this lecture was that of Australia's defiance of authority. Australians are so fascinated with their criminal history that many museums are criminal oriented. It reminds me a lot of the fascination many U.S. citizens have of famous criminals such as Jesse James. Just a small example of this fascination is the "Jesse James Days" celebration in Northfield, MN that marks Jesse James' gangs bank robbery and ensuing manhunt in Northfield. Even movies such as The Assisination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford seem to sympathize with the character of Jesse James despite being a murderous thief. However, it seems in Australia the obsession with criminals such as Ned Kelly seems to be to the point of martyrdom. Things must always be a little more extreme in Australia.