Australia, the smallest and youngest continent, has the lowest population density. It often struggles to define its national identity due to its British descent, which limits its originality in culture and heritage. However, Tim Winton’s narrative style article “Tide of Joy” highlights one aspect of Australian identity: spending summer by the sea with family. On the other hand, Danny Katz discusses the disparity in celebrating Australia Day between those deemed ‘worthy’ and those who do not meet the criteria in his editorial “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie? No, No, No.”
These two texts contribute to the exploration of the question “How do we define Australian identity?” However, they both depict a limited scope of individuals within Australian society. Consequently, by solely relying on these texts, one may develop a biased perception of the Australian stereotype.
Summer
Lovin’ Tim Winton’s article “Tide of Joy” captures the joyous essence of Australian summer, triggering nostalgic memories and providing entertainment for Australian readers. Winton’s text showcases the sensory experiences associated with each season and emphasizes the impact of seasons on the Australian lifestyle, as well as highlighting the significance of family.
Winton presents a romanticized portrayal of the Australian identity, centering on summer and its related pastimes such as surfing and sunbathing. Nevertheless, this depiction overlooks the challenging nature of Australia’s climate.
Sea, Summer, and Senses
In the text, the author utilizes vivid imagery and analogies to vividly evoke the sensations related to summer. In the initial paragraph, Winton introduces a multitude of senses such as the sense of smell by referencing “The first whiff of sunscreen” and the sense of taste by mentioning “The buffering, throat-filling force of an easterly wind fresh from the desert.”
The author uses taste and smell to evoke nostalgic memories of Australian summers. The lines “Grapes heavy overhead. The sighing of curtains at night and the feel of sheets on your skin” incorporate the senses of sight, sound, and touch, adding to Winton’s vivid portrayal of summer. He includes every aspect of summer memories in the beginning of the article to introduce its topic. Winton refers to other seasons as “merely trials to be endured, time-out in the seasonal waiting room.”
However, the focal point is summer, which symbolizes Australian summers as a profound encounter, almost a long-awaited tradition for which the remainder of the year builds up to. The article investigates the significance of prioritizing Australian summer events over everything else. It explains the occurrence of “joining the rest of the population at the beach,” indicating the priorities of Australians during summer.
The author describes the weather in personified terms, suggesting that it holds more promise rather than threat. As a result, people begin to wear less and smile more, indicating an increase in body confidence. This personification reflects Australians’ strong association with summer and how it can affect their overall demeanor, appearance, and behavior.
Catch you, mate!
The use of both first and second person by Winton in his writing creates a personal tone and allows him to connect with readers on a more empathetic level. By addressing readers directly as ‘you,’ Winton engages them directly, effectively persuading them to embrace his vision of Australian identity and his viewpoint on the Australian summer.
The article highlights a specific aspect of Australian identity, which revolves around sensation and taking action, as mentioned in the fourth column. According to Winton, Australians are depicted as individuals who have a strong enthusiasm for nature and physical activities, constantly striving to accomplish as much as they can within a single day. The author recounts his personal experience of going crayfishing early in the morning and then joining his family for a swim. Eventually, they cooked dinner using the crayfish they caught and, as a family, reminisced about their day while going for a late-night swim.
Australian days are filled with excitement and adventure, with a constant focus on new activities and journeys. This concept of Australian youth enjoying the outdoor coastal lifestyle during the summer is depicted in Tim Winton’s fictional children’s novels, Lockie Leonard, set in Western Australia. The same coastal setting is also featured in his article Tide of Joy. Foreigners, including Europeans, can also catch a glimpse of this beach-centric lifestyle through watching the TV show Home and Away on Channel 7.
The media frequently presents Australians as beach-dwelling surfers, although this may not accurately reflect Australian identity. Nonetheless, Australians strive to project this image to the global community.
The Worst
Australian Danny Katz examines the separation between individuals considered worthy of being Australian and those who are not in his editorial titled “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie? No, no, no.” To outsiders, Australians are often seen as a lively crowd that relishes in beer, Pavlova, cricket, and frequenting the beach.
In his article, Katz presents a stereotype that exaggerates and satirizes certain traits to create a perceived image of Australian identity. However, not all Australians agree with this portrayal. Some may prefer AFL over cricket and may not enjoy the beach. It is worth noting that Katz’s exploration is limited, just like Winton’s exploration of the Australian population. These aspects are minor in the overall context of Australian society but play a role in shaping a distinct Australian identity.
The Ingredients for a True Australian
Katz’s editorial starts off with a strongly negative tone as he argues that he does not deserve to celebrate Australia Day on Monday. This sentiment is expressed repeatedly throughout the text with the phrase, “I’M PROBABLY THE WORST AUSTRALIAN OF ALL TIME,” standing out as a focal point. Katz then proceeds to outline his view on what qualities deem someone a “worthy” Australian, including the act of consuming Pavlova.
He then criticizes Tim Winton’s article, using emotive similes to convey his thoughts. He compares it to biting into a polystyrene cup filled with shaving cream. Katz also refers to certain foods and drinks as components of Australian identity, contrasting with Winton’s focus on the activities that define being a “true” Australian. Katz employs hyperbole to emphasize his feeling of isolation, describing how he has witnessed newborn babies simultaneously breastfeeding and attempting to ignite a barbecue. In this way, Katz suggests that true Australian identity is something inborn rather than acquired through learning.
Cheeky Aussie, Lazy Aussie, Angry Aussie.
When Katz introduces the text, it becomes evident that his tone is satirical as he talks about other Australian stereotypes and how he does not conform to any of them. The peak of Katz’s mocking tone is exposed when he likens tea breaks during a cricket match to a Tupperware party. Throughout the discussion, Katz emphasizes the central idea of not deserving to celebrate Australia Day by repeatedly stating “I don’t deserve to celebrate Australia Day.” He even prompts his intended Australian audience to question if they meet Katz’s criteria for who deserves to celebrate Australia Day.
Katz’s final statement, “But I’ve decided to take the day off anyway. So I guess that makes me Australian enough,” is the pinnacle of his cheeky remarks about the Australian persona. This insinuation about Australians being lazy angers targeted Australian readers and prompts them to question the text’s credibility and seriousness.
The article’s satirical tone and exaggerated stereotypes, conveyed through imagery, hyperbole, and analogies, suggest that its purpose was entertainment rather than providing an accurate portrayal of Australian identity. It is crucial to recognize that the article represents only a subset of society and may not reflect the beliefs of the author or most Australians.
In summary, Australia is a youthful and ethnically diverse country with a range of different perceptions of its identity.
According to me, texts like Tide of Joy by Tim Winton and his children’s novels, like Lockie Leonard, support the idea of Australians being inclined towards outdoor activities, being active, and residing on the coast with their families. This portrayal is often presented to foreigners through TV shows like Home and Away and Bondi Rescue, which focus on a beach lifestyle. Nevertheless, these representations only depict a fraction of the population and exclude other societal groups like immigrants or the elderly. It solely showcases younger generations who have a fondness for the beach.
Danny Katz’s satire piece, titled “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie? No, No No,” critiques the stereotypes prevalent in Australian culture. Both Katz and numerous Australian readers do not conform to the narrow “Aussie” stereotype. These texts underscore the idea that Australia encompasses various identities within its multicultural social groups. Regardless of the media’s portrayal of Australia as a nation centered around beach activities, beer consumption, and cricket zeal, there exists a plethora of distinctive identities.
