Australian Popular Culture

Popular culture is a vital component in the story of humanity where history warrants exploration. Human experience is hard to define without the many facets of human behaviour, revealed from popular culture, throughout history. “Having a fair go” and the great outdoors are pivotal aspects in the formation of what is define as Australian popular culture. Australia also defines itself by its Aboriginal heritage, innovative ideas and a thriving arts scene. But it is never mentioned or included how the influence of overseas developments have impacted Australian culture and identity. Many countries have influenced Australia’s culture. It has been especially evident that the popular culture of Australia has advanced overtime, however it is clear
British settlers arrived in Australia in 1788 and the extent of the British influence is still evident today. New South Wales was the first colony which was settled as a penal colony – a place where Britain could send convicted criminal’s because their prisons were overcrowded. In 1810, a British man founded a system of labour in which people, whatever their crime, were employed according to their skills. From 1810, Australian convicts were seen as a major source of labour to help advance and develop the British colony. The British Union Jack is a feature that is shown predominantly on our national flag. As well as this is the Queen, Australia’s Head of State. The domination of the British extended beyond the legal, civil and political systems. British pastimes such as drinking tea, playing cricket, eating yourself silly, and bell ringing, cultural activities such as maypole dancing, bog snorkeling and gurning, and also religious practices, dominated society. Up until World War 2, Britain remained the dominating cultural influence in Australia dominating the make-up of Australian society. It has been obvious that Great Britain has and is playing a major role in not only Australia’s system of government and culture but also Australian political
“Thatcherism” and British MP Margaret Thatcher’s local influence reflected the persistence of British-Australia into the 1980s on both the left and right sides of politics. Both sides of Australian politics were influenced by the example of Thatcher, but her influence was most significant on the Labor party and broader left. Even in 1976, three years before she became prime minister, there was an Australian fascination with Margaret Thatcher. Since then, her governing philosophy and economic creed have come to be enthusiastically embraced by Australian politics. In a country more than 10 000 miles away from Westminster, the legacy of Thatcherism can be