Aussie Pop Culture

privignus · 08-11-24 20:13:10

So obviously Australia produces the best porn in the world. What other antipodean culture do we enjoy?

I watched that Brokenwood mystery series from NZ and have heard that What We Do In The Shadows became a TV series (is that the same as Wellington Paranormal?) I have seen the odd episode of a cop show set in the Australian outback and one about air paramedics in the outback.

I am sorry if I asked this a few years ago. I am just desperately looking for something in the world to be happy and enthusiastic about.

Last edited by privignus (08-11-24 20:13:53)

Hangdog90 · 08-11-24 23:07:44

privignus wrote:

So obviously Australia produces the best porn in the world. What other antipodean culture do we enjoy?
I watched that Brokenwood mystery series from NZ and have heard that What We Do In The Shadows became a TV series (is that the same as Wellington Paranormal?) I have seen the odd episode of a cop show set in the Australian outback and one about air paramedics in the outback.
I am sorry if I asked this a few years ago. I am just desperately looking for something in the world to be happy and enthusiastic about.

How about Neighbours and Kylie Minogue, Shortland Street, Secret City, Pine Gap, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Walkabout, Don's Party, Dead Calm and Gallipoli?

richard · 09-11-24 00:17:23

Personally I think we have low standards here when it comes to comedy and drama, particularly in the writing, but it might be partly a lack of money. So much of it is designed for an international audience and is inauthentically Australian. And comedians to a large extent adopt the idea "dont' worry about putting effort into making your jokes funny, just say them louder".

HOWEVER there's a couple of gems, from the same production team, late 90's: A 3-series comedy about a current affairs production team featuring a dumb, narcissistic host, called "Frontline". And a movie called "The Castle" which is a piss take on the working class but captures it very well, however, it's full of "in" jokes, so post your questions for explanation They may be on some local streaming platforms but otherwise you'll probably figure out other ways of getting them.

By the same team, "The Dish" is a very sentimentalised but amusing telling of the guys who ran the radio telescope that was receiving the signal from the moon for the Apollo missions, specifically the first moon walk. It really plays up the Australian "simple but principled rural folk".

Oh another good movie is "Chopper", about a local gangster with a comedic personality (but a sadistic murderer). People excused his violence to some extent because he kept it within the drug dealer community. After finishing his jail terms he went on the road doing comedy about his crime career. He lived down the road from our office in his later years actually, and wanted to get him on BA but couldn't find him when we needed to. There's a scene in the film where he shoots a guy outside a Melbourne nightclub in self defence, but on his death bed he admitted it was just murder. Anyway Eric Banna does an awesome job in the title role.

richard · 09-11-24 00:22:28

Hangdog90 wrote:

How about Neighbours and Kylie Minogue, Shortland Street, Secret City, Pine Gap, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Walkabout, Don's Party, Dead Calm and Gallipoli?

Shortland St is from NZ. I couldn't personally recommend those others, especially Picnic, it's a film about feelings where nothing happens. Of course plenty of people love it, so who am I to judge. (And despite popular opinion no it isn't based on a true story). Pine Gap and Gallipoli are a typical dramatisations that use plenty of license because nobody who was there is still alive to dispute it. Neighbours, just LOL! Although early episodes before it got a political conscience are probably a fairly realistic portrayal of life in suburban Melbourne. I always wondered when they'd write a plotline centered on a young woman who hears about this naked selfie project and decides to give it a go...

privignus · 11-11-24 08:30:47

CSI and Law and Order loved that "ripped from the headlines" type of plot! I am sure other shows stole from Twitter like so many journalists did.

I saw that "Breaker Morant" film long ago.

Harmony_Admin · 13-11-24 00:50:36

"The magic pudding" is an ODD Aussie Children's story. Victorian Opera performed the Opera version a few years ago. It's a classic though.

Picnic at Hanging Rock gave me nightmares...

Food wise, Au claimed NZ's Pavlova. I think it's amazing. Gooey meringue filling, crunchy exterior, topped with lavishes of cream, passion fruit pulp, berries and mint. YUM.

lorbtim · 13-11-24 20:35:42

I watched "The Bureau of Magical Things", an Australian series. Kids show about elfs, fairies, that sort of thing, intersecting in the real world. I thought it was adorable.

I really like "What We Do in the Shadows" but that started in NZ. I have the impression that NZ doesn't like to be lumped in with AU, but I have no real reason to believe that. How right/wrong am I about that?

Harmony_Admin · 14-11-24 00:01:42

NZ just want credit for what originated there that AU adopted and... maybe loves more...? Like pavlovas.

I would say we're like cousins who look alike right now, but NZ was born brunette and AU blonde. Then the blonde AU dyed their hair dark and the NZ natural brunette feels like their thunder was stolen a bit and so brings it up at family get-togethers, but doesn't really mind at other times.
I hope that makes sense.

#1 08-11-24 20:13:10

Aussie Pop Culture

#2 08-11-24 23:07:44

Re: Aussie Pop Culture

#3 09-11-24 00:17:23

Re: Aussie Pop Culture

#4 09-11-24 00:22:28

Re: Aussie Pop Culture

#5 11-11-24 08:30:47

Re: Aussie Pop Culture

#6 13-11-24 00:50:36

Re: Aussie Pop Culture

#7 13-11-24 20:35:42

Re: Aussie Pop Culture

#8 14-11-24 00:01:42

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