What Effect has Stereotypical Contradictions had on Developing the Australian Identity?
Jarrod Melmeth (c3202088)
The University of Newcastle

Tutor’s Name: Jennifer Saunders
Due Date: 12 October, 2014
Word Count:

Table of Contents
Abstract
2 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………... 4
3 The Typical Aussie……………………………………………………………………… 5
3.1 The Rugged Bushman………………………………………………………………. 5
3.2 The Alcoholic……………………………………………………………………….. 5
4 The Landscape………………………………………………………………………….. 6
4.1 Red Dirt and Deadly Creatures…………………………………………………….. 6
4.2 Beach Bums, Tans and Thongs……………………………………………………... 7
5 The Way of Life…………………………………………………………………………. 7
5.1 Beers, Barbeques and Footy………………………………………………………… 7
5.2 Patriotism,
3 The Landscape

When someone thinks of the Australian landscape they imagine a dry, barren, unforgiving desert as seen in pop culture films like ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ and ‘Crocodile Dundee’ and also songs such as Men at Work’s ‘Down Under’ where all of the listed works show only the harshest parts of Australia in which according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics eleven percent of Australia’s population live. This statistics once again overthrows the concept of these pieces of work that Australia is allowing to be put out into the world about the harsh land in which according to these stereotypes Australian’s live.
3.1 Red Dirt and Deadly Creatures

Once again the image in the minds of those who have never actually visited Australia and only create their perceptions of the country off stereotypes would describe the landscape using the words ‘red dirt’. Not only is the visual imagery used but the notion that kangaroos and deadly creatures are free to roam around the country. Australia is home to some of the most venomous and deadliest creatures in the world but, in saying that in contrary to the popular stereotype that these deadly animals are just running crazy around Australia, the country is actually a civilised society that is intellectual enough to keep these creatures under control. In Australia the last recorded death by spider was in 1979