Americanisation of Australia
Americanisation in Australia BY JANE PARSONS Copyright © 2002 “The car radio is spewing out Jennifer Lopez, Offspring, Sheryl Crow, Anastacia and retro Nirvana. ... On the front seat a magazine photo of Bob Dylan accepting his Oscar by satellite from Australia (at least Russell got Best Actor). ... Is Australia Americanised? ... (McGregor, 2001, p1) According to White (1980, p275), the term ‘Americanisation’ was originally used to describe the assimilation of migrants to America. ... However, Bell and Bell describe Americanisation as a process by which an alien country acquires American language, citizenship, customs and ideals. ... Americanisation is the spread of American ideas, beliefs and more specifically American culture. Quite early in the twentieth century, Australia began the assimilation process into an Americanised culture, and increasingly drew from Americanised images, forms and styles. In Australia, it is a common belief that there is an ‘Australian way of life’, which is often regarded as one of the best in the world. Many say that it is unique, and in a way it is but, since Australia was settled in 1788 Australia has never had a way of life, or culture uniquely their own. Australia has always been a hybrid of other cultures. Originally, and not surprisingly, Britain heavily influenced Australia. Early Australian way of life reflected British culture so much, that prior to the twentieth century; Australia could simply and accurately be described as a transported British culture. ... America’s institutions, from military/political, to the economic/cultural were uniquely placed to promote ‘Americanisation’ as the rational alternative to authoritarian communism. ... (White, 1980, p276) In only a short period of time Australia was covered in the blanket of Americanisation. As Australia became increasingly Americanised, there were people that thought it was beneficial and greeted it with a positive attitude, but there were also those who greeted it with a very negative attitude. ... “For Australians, Americanisation meant improved methods of mining, transportation and lighting, more efficient farm machinery, labour-saving household gadgets, sewing machines, the Model T Ford and Hollywood’s dream-world of romance and adventure.” (Bartlett, 1976, p181) However, not all Australians happily and readily accepted Americanisation. ... To such groups, Americanisation was described in terms of either “…flood, deluge, or some other natural catastrophe; of invasion or cultural aggression; of sexual perversion or corruption; or finally of disease, or even infection of the Australian mind by a mental plague no less serious than cholera morbus.” (White, 1980, p286) Some even questioned how Australia’s voice was supposed to be heard amongst America’s overpowering voice. Despite the opposition, Australia was unable to withstand the effects of Americanisation and it rapidly expanded. ... (White, 1978, p6) Australia was very responsive to new technological change, resulting in a strong influence by American culture. Film was one of the most prominent forms of Americanisation in Australia. ... In Australia, Hollywood film achieved a position of overwhelming dominance. ... American films became widely popular in Australia because they seemed to cater for Australians’ taste for sensational drama, where the majority of Australian audiences were initially attracted to the Western genre. ... Australians readily endorsed this formula-Australia’s history could after all, be seen as evidence for such a view.” (Collins, 1987, p47) This is another reason that could explain the popularity of the Western genre in Australia, namely the fact that it could be equated with Australia’s own history. Collins (1987, p47) even goes so far as to write: “…cowboy and Indian movies also presented a drama of racial conquest and annihilation which could be interpreted as paralleling and legitimising Australia’s own subjugation of native people.” Hollywood films rapidly became the most successful and popular in Australia. ... Charlie Chaplin further increased Hollywood’s dominance in Australia as he proved to be very popular in that all his films became box office successes. ... In Australia there was public outcry about the bad influence they apparently had on audiences. In 1917, this resulted in the Federal Government establishing its own film censorship, which became one of the most important ways to regulate what films were shown in Australia.