Megan Weintraub
After exploring three cities in Australia, I have gathered many similarities and differences between what was represented in the films watched in class and what was seen. Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns were three amazing places that taught us a lot about Australian culture.
Sydney was a city filled with tourism, beauty and culture. By going to all of the popular sights in Sydney, I was able to see that the people there are very interested in the arts. I saw many people going to Operas, concerts and art galleries with my exploration. Going to the opera at the Sydney Opera House was a very unique experience because I got to see how devoted Australians are to the arts. This was noted in some of the films studied, such as The Piano. Although some would argue that The Piano is a New Zealand masterpiece, there are many parts of the movie that are tied to Australia also. The importance of music and expression in The Piano was similar to the attitude about the arts from the people I met throughout Sydney. Something else I noticed was that the people of Australia are very nice. All of our tour guides, sight guides and drivers were very upbeat and excited to share parts of their culture. This was different than what I envisioned, as I pictured the people to be like those in Muriel’s Wedding. Instead of judgmental and rude, the people I met were all very kind and helpful towards my traveling. Sydney had tons to do and see, making exploring it so much fun.
Another place that I made these comparisons was in Cairns. Cairns was filled with adventure and spontaneous activities, something I related to the Australian culture upon arrival. Seeing all of the wildlife and adventure there existed was exactly what I thought that part of the country would be like. A difference I noted was that the divide between the Aboriginal people and the whites luckily was not nearly as segregated as shown in the films. Australia and Rabbit Proof Fence showed this separation in a very historically saddened light, showcasing the true past for many in this culture from Australia. Cairns was the place I saw the most of the Aboriginal people, making it exciting to see how they continue their customs to date. I loved going to the culture center because it showed me how an Aboriginal tribe is off screen. The Aboriginal people are very proud, spiritual and musically gifted, allowing us to see all of the beauty that comes with it.
Overall, there were many similarities and differences between what was seen in the films studied in class and the true Australian culture. I loved being able to compare the two and see it from my own eyes. The culture in Australia is very unique, making it exciting to explore.
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