POP

CULTURE

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WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIA AFTER WWII?

WHAT IS CULTURE AND WHAT ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN A COUNTRY

WHEN DOES CULTURE BECOME POPULAR?

POPULAR CULTURE

• Popular Culture refers to the beliefs, attitudes and lifestyle shared by a group of people.

• These are reflected in their actions and in the products they choose to consume

• After WWII, improvements to communications through technology created a direct connection between the mass media (newspaper, television and radio) and their target audience, many of whom were teenagers.

POST WAR AUSTRALIA

• During the 30’s Australia suffered a depression, that at it’s peak saw 32% of people out of work

• Then WWII broke out

• When the war ended, Australia rejoiced, but Australians still faced years of hardship

POPULATE OR PERISH

• The Australian government believed that the only way to protect itself from against foreign invasion was to dramatically increase the population.

• Australia had a population of only 7 million at the time

• While many realised this need, others feared that this would lead to a flood of undesirable immigrants.

• With an influx of migrants, projects such as the Snowy Mountain Hydro Scheme were built by the immigrants brought into country to improve the lives of regular Australians.

• Australia was on the move.

PROSPERITY AT LAST

• As the 50’s began, unemployment was down and manufacturing was up and Australia was growing steadily.

• Australians at the time, loved to go to the movies, bonded over sport and attendeded community events such as dinner dances and church services.

• Australians learned about their current affairs from radio, newspaper and the Movietone news

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6RJ_986xqY (5 minutes)

PROSPERITY AT LAST

• When this generation family ‘settled down’ it was in comfortable, purpose built suburbs, with quarter acre blocks with a driveway for a new car

• Women were not encouraged to work (Home Maker, Mum)

• But affordable whitegoods such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, promised these homemakers that chores would become less tedious

• What did they do before these?

ACTIVITY TO HELP YOU FOR YOUR EXAM

Using 2 pages in your book

Create a popular culture concept map that you will maintain throughout the next couple of weeks

Break down your map into 6 categories

MUSIC

FILM & TELEVISION

FASHION

FOOD

SPORTS

BELIEF AND CULTURE

As we go through the unit – write down anything interesting or significant information that you learn.

HOW DID CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY SHAPE THE LIVES,WORK AND CULTURE OF AUSTRALIANS DURING THE 1950S AND 1960S?

Life Video

FADS & FASIONS

Start reading fads & fashions on page 162