1970's Australian Films example essay topic

The legacy of this government was that it instigated major changes in the social and cultural fabric of Australia but it also challenged the philosophy of what an Australian is and what Australia represented. The late 1960's and early 1970's were times of great change. Perspectives and acceptances about imperialism, women's liberation, racism, ideology, religion, war, morality, social responsibility and the natural environment were changing for a great many people throughout the world. Some issues were long term political debates that had been presented previously but not received enough support for legislative change. The first Bill introduced to the Senate on March 1, 1972, the Death Penalty Abolition Bill was by not a new issue (1). The abolition of the death penalty had been a tenet of the ALP since 1919 although the Scull in, Curtin and Chifley ALP governments had not introduced any Bill (2).

It was the second reading of the third introduction of the Bill that was passed on May 8, 1973 (3). This Bill was opposed by the Country Party but supported by the ALP and over half the Liberal members that voted on the Bill when it was carried on the September 13, 1973 (4). Other examples of issues of change that had been previously presented by the Whitlam opposition were the lowering of the age to vote from 21 to 18 and the lowering of the age when a person could marry without parental consent from 21 to 18. These two Bills were the first to be presented in the Whitlam Government's House of Representatives (5). This empowerment of youth was an important social and political step by the Whitlam lead ALP. The children of the post war baby boom were reaching or nearing adulthood, Australia had a large youth population and in typically ALP seats like Whitlam's own seat of Werriwa the youth population was very high (6).

The withdrawal of troops from Viet Nam and the end of conscription were also issues that affected the youth of Australia. Another legacy of the Whitlam Government is found in the support and improvements offered to women. Soon after the Whitlam government came to power issues relating to rights and status of women were either supported or addressed by the Government. This included the rights and requests for equal pay for equal work, for maternity leave, amendments to the Public Services Act, grants for family planning centres, more affordable availability of the contraceptive pill and a supporting mothers pension for women who were the sole parent (7).

The anti-racist philosophy forwarded by the Whitlam Government marked a major change in the ALP and the White Australian ideology. The Racial Discrimination Bill 1975 represented a major achievement of the Whitlam Government that effected immigration, indigenous affairs and rights, international politics and the beginning of the multiculturalism policy. Two other of the major policy changes instigated by the Whitlam Government were the introduction of free tertiary education and the introduction of free medical services under Medicare. The Whitlam Government also brought changes in the arts, Australian culture and nationalism. Under the Whitlam Government funding for every area of the arts was increased, this included the Australian Opera, the Australian Ballet, the Australian National Gallery and its international and nation collection, this injection of funding to the arts also included the formation of the Australia Council and an increased support for Australian literature, film, drama and indigenous art (8). Yet by far the greatest cultural legacy of the Whitlam Government was the changing of the National Anthem from 'God Save the Queen' to 'Advance Australia Fair', this was a cultural and nationalist change that would affect every Australian. web time/23/horning. html web council / about us / who and why we are / web and Art/244 There was a vibrant Australian film industry during the 'silent' era, which catered for the domestic market and provided Errol Flynn with his first taste of screen acting.

However, the coming of sound, with its associated costs, the economic depression, and growing competition from the US industry, had brought about its decline by the 1930's. Film-making then became primarily a state activity, based on the production of documentaries and propaganda. The Australian Commonwealth Film Unit (established 1958), however, proved a vital training ground for the film-makers who, supported by state funding, emerged in the 1970's to bring about a renaissance of the Australian feature film. They included directors like Peter Weir, whose Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) was one of the first films of the new generation to garner an international audience. Since the 1970's Australian films have proved remarkably successful, both at home and abroad.

They include George Miller's Mad Max series (1978, 1981, 1985) which made a top Hollywood star of Mel Gibson; the first Mad Max film, was also the first Australian feature to gain a mainstream release in the United States. Crocodile Dundee (Peter Fai man; 1985) was also a huge hit in the United States. More recent successes include; Strictly Ballroom (Baz Lurhmann; 1991), released internationally in 1992; and Muriel's Wedding (P.J. Hogan; 1993) and The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Stephen Elliot; 1993), both released internationally in 1995. Apart from Errol Flynn and Mel Gibson, Australian actors who have gained Hollywood success include Judy Davis, and Nicole Kidman.

The scope and diversity of international initiatives and activities supported by the Australia Council is extensive. Fostering greater exposure overseas for contemporary Australian art has been a priority for Council since its inception, towards which considerable resources have been invested for more than three decades..