Challenges to the Representation of Australian Identity in Media: A Case Study of 'Red Dog'

MARKETING AND MEDIA

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Media all around the world showcase the people’s identity in an exaggerated manner
(Forsey and Low, 2014). It has been seen that the actual representation of societies all across
the globe is somehow tampered by the Australian media. This can be very often seen in the
case of Australian film and media where the “Australianess” is constructed in a very different
way as what actually Australians are. The original Australianess is often challenged in
Australian media. This can easily be seen in the case of movie ‘Red Dog’. The major part of
the movie revolves around the dog and its owner. While showcasing the dog and its owner
the film portray an image of the person in a very different way as it seem to be more
constructed than what could possibly be. While portraying the representation of Australians,
the film goes one step ahead where the owner John takes a beer very often at every
opportunity he has. This is different from what actually an Australian person is like since it is
likely not usual that a man have a beer to celebrate an occasion or just for a meal. The movie
also illustrates the image of the Australian Hamersley Iron boys to be as such that they drink
at the pub every day. This is a challenge to the Australianess.
Another representation in this regard is when the boy was at the beach and they were having
steak on the barbecue. This is again a challenge to the identity as the Australians were
stereotyped as the barbecue cooking and sun loving people (Korff, 2017).
Apart from this women Nancy’s job of a secretary show that even when this movie has a
modern background by the women secretaries were stereotyped as old job professional.
Adding to this Australians is showcased as people who love dogs. This is illustrated in the
part where all the men at the Hamersley Iron adopted Red Dog and made him as a member of
the union or council. He also is the best friend of John.
At once it portrayed Australians as a multicultural people as the workers at Hamersley Iron
are from different parts of the world. This is somehow true but not exactly represents the
Australianess (Red Dog, 2017). It is mostly influenced by the Hollywood culture and hence
most of the stereotypes in the story have been created. This has challenged the indigenous
identity of the Australians as the people in this country is more practical and it cannot be
possible that they party so much or can have such a high attachment for the dog. It is to be
understood that the domination of constructed Australianess in the movie is also due to the
fact that they have to make profitable business. Without moulding the stories and
representation in a fascinating manner it is not possible to make the story more appreciable.