Identity Comparision - My Country (1904) and Australia (1939) by Dorothea Mackellar and A.D Hope. The Ship Song Project (2011) a music video composed by Guy Pearce, shows the beauties of Australia

How have your texts explored different perceptions of identity?

The identity of Australia may be portrayed in countless different aspects as the people and land are classified to be the most unique and unlike any other in the world. ‘My Country’ (1904) and ‘Australia’ (1939) by composers Dorothea Mackellar and A.D Hope depict their own subjective view on the evolving and dynamic identity of Australia. The composers reveal the Australian environment as a fixed identity, as well as the passion and hardships the people undergo in their land. ‘The Ship Song Project’ (2011) a music video composed by Guy Pearce, shows the beauties of Australia and welcomes the audience to take the part in the culture and identity that is passed unseen to the society. The composers convey their view on the diverse perceptions of the Australian identity through techniques such as paradox, juxtaposition and imagery in their texts.

The Australian environment is an ingrained aspect of the Australian identity as well as people that have a strong connection with their land. Mackellar portrays a brighter perspective of the splendours of the Australian environment in the second stanza of ‘My Country’, the extremity of the Australian landscape is described, ‘a land of sweeping plains.. ragged mountain ranges’. Mackellar opens up an abundant and opulent image of Australia, ‘the sapphire-misted mountains’ this imagery describes the richness of the environment. Her love takes in and encompasses the bad, ‘of droughts and flooding rains.. and her terror’. This paradox represents the realism of the environment, which helps the audience to believe that the place she describes is real, not imagined. Throughout the poem, Mackellar’s tone is much an overtly romanticised view on the land. She expresses her passion and love for the country through the repetition of “Core of my heart, my country!” Through this, the audience sees that the Australian people are proud of their land. The generosity of the land is noted as it ‘pays us back threefold’, this personification shows the intimate relationship Australia and its people have. Mackellar openly represents the different views of the Australian identity as inhabiting a bizarre environment, and a people that have an intimate connection with their country.

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A.D. Hope also depicts the Australian environment as a key aspect of the Australian identity, as well as the lack of culture within the country. However he sees a people that are not easily put down, even through hard times. Hope portrays his perspective in the poem ‘Australia’, depicting the dull and colourless environment in the first line of the poem, “drab green and desolate grey”. This implies that there isn’t much to expect from a country like Australia, portraying that the Australian identity holds no worth. Hope also creates a paradox in the second stanza ‘a young country… but they lie’; he believes that Australia is a country that is old. To him it is the “last of lands, the emptiest… a breast Still tender but within the womb is dry.” Hope uses the metaphor to convey that Australia may be considered young by the world, however it lacks its own culture. Hope’s view on the Australia identity is seen as having only external beauty but no inner one. However Hope complements and acknowledges the Australian people, as they are “survivors” of the harsh environment. “Whose boast is not: ‘we live’ but ‘we survive’”, this imagery portrays that Australians are be able to overcome struggles and hardships. Different perceptions of the Australian identity are portrayed in the poem ‘Australia’; A.D Hope depicts the colourless environment and openly criticises the nation’s lack of its own culture, however he sees a people with extreme resilience that strive daily to survive.

The identity of Australia is portrayed through ‘The Ship Song Project’ composed by Guy Pearce, persuades the audience to take part and experience the unique Australian culture. The video takes the viewer on a voyeuristic journey through the rehearsal and backstage chasms of the Opera House. The Project begins with a friendly gesture with a close up shot of a piece of cardboard with ‘please step quietly everyone can hear you’. This represents the welcomeness of the cultural landscape, The Opera House, which can be implied as the Australian society. This first scene demonstrates the role of Opera House as an accessible cultural hub for all. It calls the community at large to come and experience ‘The House’, to come and ‘make a little history’ with the artists at the Opera House. Portraying the accepting identity of Australians, despite any particular differences. The Project depicts the beauties of the talents in Australia that is passed unnoticed to the society and to open doors to the Australian identity. This is represented through the protagonist, and the way she takes the audience on a tour of her workplace, giving the viewers an insight on the splendid performances. The audience may realise that there are no set viewers present during the performances that indicates that these unique talents are not simply given, however they are discovered within our workplaces, schools, or even our families. Guy Pearce cleverly creates a unique mise-en scene of all the artists in different locations; therefore they do not play together. This implies the aspect of Australian identity as an integrated community of different people. The Project exemplifies perceptions of the Australian identity as accepting, a country with a unique culture and talents.

The identity of Australia can be portrayed in numerous different perceptions, depending on the text. The poem ‘My Country’ by Dorothea Mackellar depicts the splendid Australian environment as a major aspect of the identity, along with a people that are profoundly in love with their land. However the ‘Australia’ by A.D Hope reveals a contrasting view of the environment, seen as empty and also the lack of the country’s own culture. Yet Hope complements the hardship Australians undergo daily, showing the identity of Australians as a resilient people. ‘The Ship Song Project’ composed by Guy Pearce represents the inimitable cultures and proposes the society to associate with the unique Australian culture. The composers convey their views through the use of techniques such as effective camera angles; imagery and juxtaposition to evidently show texts explore different perceptions of identity.