F i r s t p u b l i s h e d in 19 9 9 j o i n t l y b y

P l u to P re s s A u s tra lia
a n d C o m e r f o r d & M ille r,
3 6 G ro sv e n o r R o a d ,
W e st W ic k h a m , K e n t, B R 4 9 P Y
u n d e r th e ir R a d ic a l W r itin g Im p rin t

U K a n d Ire la n d d is tr ib u to r s
C e n tra l B o o k s,
9 9 W a lli s R o a d , L o n d o n E l I 5 L N

A ll r i g h t s r e s e r v e d .

C o p y r ig h t © M c K e n z ie W a rk 1 9 9 8

A c a t a l o g u e r e c o r d f o r t h i s b o o k is a v a i l a b l e
a t th e B r itis h L ib ra ry

C e le b ritie s , c u ltu re a n d c y b e rsp a c e

U n ite d K in g d o m IS B N I 8 7 1 2 (1 4 1 5 I
 w h a t p e o p l e a r e
s a y i n g a b o u t
M c K e n z i e W a r k ’ s
p r e v i o u s b o o k s . . .

Vi r t ual Republ i c
“W a r k m a n a g e s t o c o u c h a n e c l e c t i c a r r a y o f t o p i c s i n a l a n ­
g u a g e t h a t is p e r s o n a l , m o d e s t , a u d a c i o u s a n d p l a y f u l.” K a t e
M a c d o n e l l O v e r l a n d “K e n W a r k m a k e s p o s t m o d e r n i s m u s e f u l . ”
D a v i d C a r t e r U T S R e v i e w “Y o u a r e u n li k e l y to a g r e e . . . b u t i t w ill
c h a l l e n g e y o u r b e li e f s a n d s t r e t c h y o u r m i n d . ” L i e u t e n a n t
C o l o n e l I a n W i n g A u s t r a l i a n D e fe n c e F orce J o u r n a l “T h i s c h a l ­
le n g in g , o rig in a l w o rk p u s h e s th in k in g o n th e w ay p u b lic
d e b a t e o c c u r s . ” A n n e C o o m b s A u s t r a l i a n ’s R e v i e w o f B o o k s “W a r k
is ‘t h e c o u n t r y ’s l e a d i n g p o s t m o d e r n c r i t i c ’. W h i c h g o e s a l o n g
w ay to e x p l a i n i n g w h y h e h a s a w e i r d n a m e . ” T o w n s v i ll e B u l le t in
“W a rk w re s tl e s t h e b e a s t o f p o s t m o d e r n i s m a n d a c h i e v e s a n
a c c e s s ib le a n d e n t e r t a i n i n g b o o k . ” P e t e r M e w s A u s t r a l i a n
F i n a n c i a l R e v i e w “A b u r r u n d e r t h e s a d d l e o f m o d e r n s o c ie ty , a n
ic o n o c l a s t w h o j u g g l e s c u l t u r a l i m a g e r y w it h a d r o i t n e s s . ” R o b i n
O s b o r n e S o u t h e r n C ro ss “W a rk , w h o s e e s h i m s e l f a s a k i n d o f
sa g e o f p o p h a s a s u p p le r g ra s p o f s o m e o f t h e ... p ie tie s .” P e t e r
C r a v e n S u n d a y A g e “S o m e t h i n g o f a n a n o m a l y in A u s t r a l i a n
in te lle c tu a l lif e ... h e lo o k s m o r e th e a rc h e ty p a l b o h e m ia n
r a d i c a l t h a n a n a c a d e m i c . ” A n d r e w S t a f f o r d S t u d i o F o r M e n ‘T h e
b o o k is e a s y t o r e a d a n d t h e r e is e n o u g h c o n t r o v e r s y . .. to d r a w
a n y r e a d e r i n t o a g o o d d e b a t e w ith t h e a u t h o r . ” R a y D u p l a i n
G e e lo n g A d v e r ti s e r “R e la tiv e ly f r e e o f t h e f o o t - i n - m o u t h o b s c u ­
r a n tis m o f m u c h r e c e n t c ritic a l w r itin g .” A n d r e w R ie m e r Sydney
M o r n i n g H e r a l d “T h e N e d K e lly o f A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r a l c r i t i ­
c i s m .. . a d is t in c ti v e m ix o f h i g h - t e c h n o l o g y savvy, h i s t o r i c a l
f o c u s a n d p o l i t i c a l i n s i g h t . ” T i m W a t t s T h e B i g I s s u e “I t m u s t b e
g o o d f o r y o u b e c a u s e i t ’s n o t p l e a s i n g t o r e a d . ” S t e p h e n F e n e l y
G o o d W e e k e n d “W a r k ’s d e f e n s e o f . .. D e m i d e n k o is g e n u i n e l y o u t
o f s t e p w ith o r t h o d o x y a n d e v e n i n a s e n s e b r a v e . ” H a l
C o l e b a t c h A d e l a i d e R e v i e w “W a rk is o n e o f t h e b e t t e r k n o w n o f
t h a t p o - m o c r e w . .. b e i n g p o s i t i o n e d a s o u r n e x t g e n e r a t i o n o f
c r iti c a l t h e o r i s t s . ” G a r y D u n n e S y d n e y S t a r O b s e r v e r “I a lw a y s
k n e w I h a d m o r e to f e a r f r o m W a r k . . . ” P e t e r C r a v e n A u s t r a l i a n
“A h e a d t r i p w ith h e a r t . ” M i c h a e l A d a m s C ity W eekly “A fu ll
b lo w n , p o s t m o d e r n r o m p t h r o u g h A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r a l life i n t h e
9 0 s .” A n t h o n y E l l i o t t W e e k e n d A u s t r a l i a n ‘T h i s e l e v a t i o n o f
u n k n o w n s , o p p o r t u n i s t s , a n d t h e c a b a lis tic a lly a c a d e m i c o v e r
tra c k r e c o r d lu m in a rie s s h o u ld s e n d th e A u s tra lia n r e a d in g
p u b l i c . . . i n t o g a le s o f l a u g h t e r . G e r a r d W i n d s o r A u s t r a l i a n B o o k
R e v i e w “I t f e l t a s t h o u g h t h e b o o k w e r e i n v i t i n g m e i n t o c o n v e r ­
s a t i o n w ith i t . ” L i s a G y e M e d i a I n f o r m a t i o n A u s t r a l i a

Virtual G e o g r a p h y
“A M a d M a x , v e c t o r g u e r r i l l a a lw a y s o n c a l l . . . a q u i t e e n t e r ­
t a i n i n g t e x t . ” J o h n D o c k e r A u s t r a l i a n “A M a d M a x o f t h e i n f o r ­
m a t i o n s u p e r h i g h w a y . .. c u t s in a n d o u t o f e v e n ts a n d te x t s w ith
t h e s p e e d o f a n e d i t . ” I a n M c L e a n T h e s is 1 1 “A n i n t e r e s t i n g a n d
o r i g i n a l g r a n d n a r r a t i v e . . . a v iv id a n d e n g a g i n g p o r t r a i t . ”
S i m o n D u r i n g J o u r n a l o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o m m u n ic a t i o n “L u c i d a n d
c o m p e llin g ... a g e n u in e ly a u d a c io u s th in k e r .” D a r r e n T o f t s
M e tr o M a g a z i n e “O r i g i n a l a n d p r o v o c a t i v e .. . w i d e r a n g i n g ,
q u i r k y a n d d e x t r o u s . ” S a ll y S i n g e r T im e s L it e r a r y S u p p l e m e n t
T h e a u t h o r ’s . . . a b ility t o p r o v i d e in s i g h t s i n t o a w o r l d w h e r e
u n b o u n d e d i n f o r m a t i o n is c i r c l i n g t h e e a r t h a t t h e s p e e d o f
l i g h t is s t a r t l i n g . ” R o n C a t h c a r t C h o ice “A n i m p o r t a n t b o o k . . .
h e lp s e s ta b lis h a n e w v e c to r f o r c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s .” D a v id
M a r s h a l l M e d ia I n f o r m a t i o n A u s t r a l i a “W a rk m u s t b e c r e d i t e d f o r
t h e b r e a d t h o f h is r e s e a r c h , a n d f o r a t t e m p t i n g t o g e n e r a t e d is ­
c u s s io n o n w h a t r e m a i n s a v a s t, u n d e r e x a m i n e d t e r r i t o r y . ” B e n
G o l d s m i t h O v e r l a n d “A n u n u s u a l w o r k , e v e n f o r a f i e ld a s w ild
a n d d iv e r s e a s c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s . ” M a r k G i b s o n C u l t u r a l S tu d i e s
“T h e v e c t o r i n s p e c t o r o f t h e li t w o r l d . . . o f f e r s a s m a r t m a p
th r o u g h th e e x p e r ie n c e o f e v e ry d a y life .” G e o r g e A le x a n d e r
P h o to file “H is a c c o u n t s o f e v e n t s i n t h i s b o o k a r e in f a c t q u i t e
m a s t e r f u l : v i r t u o s o i n v e s t ig a ti o n s w h ic h w ri te m e d i a v e c t o r s
i n t o a v a ri e ty o f n a r r a t i v e s . ” A l a n M c K e e C o n t i n u u m “A c r o s s
b e tw e e n J e a n B a u d rilla rd a n d J o h n P ilg e r ... a s tim u la tin g , e v e n
m o v in g b o o k , d e n s e w ith i d e a s . ” M a r k S i n g e r N e w S ta t e s m a n
“W e ll o n t h e w a y to b e c o m i n g . . . t h e N e d K e lly o f p o p c u l t u r a l
c r i t i c a l t h e o r y . ” A d e P e a c e A u s t r a l i a n B o o k R e v i e w “A n
i m m e n s e l y e x c i t i n g a n d s t i m u l a t i n g b o o k . I t is a ls o , I t h i n k a
c o u r a g e o u s o n e . ” E l i z a b e t h J a c k a U T S R e v i e w “W a r k ’s p r o li f ic ,
f l u e n t v o ic e in a n t i p o d e a n c u l t u r a l a n d m e d i a s t u d i e s is n o t e d
f o r its o r i g i n a l i t y .” J o h n C o n o m o s C in e m a P a p e rs
 c el e br i t i es ,
culture and
cy ber s pac e
t h e l i g h t on t h e hi l l

In a p o s t m o d e r n w o r l d

M c K e n z i e Wa r k

4*
P lu to
P ress A N ft MI LLER

Pl u t o P r e s s A u s t r a l i a 19 9 9
F irs t p u b lis h e d in J a n u a r y 1 9 9 9 by
P lu to P re ss A u s tra lia L im ite d
L o c k e d B ag 199, A n n a n d a le , N S W 2 0 3 8

C o p y r ig h t © M c K e n z ie W a rk 1 9 9 8

C o v e r d e s ig n b y W e n d y F a rle y

In d e x b y N e a le T o w a rt

T y p e s e t b y C h a p t e r 8 P ty L td

P r in te d a n d b o u n d b y A ik e n P re ss
1 2 8 L o n g S tre e t, S m ith fie ld , N S W 2 1 6 4

A u s tra lia n C a ta lo g u in g in P u b lic a tio n D a ta

C e le b ritie s , c u ltu r e a n d c y b e rs p a c e

B ib lio g ra p h y .
I n c lu d e s in d e x .
IS B N 1 8 6 4 0 3 0 4 5 3

1. A u s t r a l i a n L a b o r P a r t y - H i s t o r y . 2 . C e l e b r i t i e s - A u s t r a l i a . 3 . P o l i t i c a l
c u l t u r e - A u s tr a lia . 4. S o c ia l e v o lu ti o n - A u s tr a lia . 5 . A u s tr a lia - C iv iliz a tio n -
2 0 t h c e n t u r y . 6 . A u s t r a l i a - i n t e l l e c t u a l li f e - 2 0 t h c e n t u r y
I. T i t l e

3 2 4 .2 9 4 0 7
radical writing

c e l e b r i t i e s , culture
and c y b e r s p a c e
 c o n t e n t s

7 30 years, 15 minutes 11
• It’s Tim e 11 • The W onder Years 16 • From the 60s to the 90s 17
• From Tele visio n to Cyberspace 21 • C o n ce p tu a lisin g C yberspace 25
• Intellectuals and Talking Fleads 2 8 • C u ltu re and Cyberspace 32
• D onald Florne, Intellectual C ele brity 34 • Beyond C ritic is m 37
• An Itin erary 40

c el ebr i t i es
2 the murmur of the waves 45
• A S trange Kettle o f Fish 4 5 • The Pleasure M a chin e 47
• Never Tear Us A part 4 9 • Natalie Im b ru g lia ’s H aircut 53
• Dave Graney’s M yste rio u s K in k 5 7 » N o t-M im i M acpherson 59
• A u th o risin g C e le brity 61 • Catharine L u m b y’s A ppearances 69

3 the ass and the angel 78

• Ned Kelly, M an and M yth 78
• The Im p o ssib le P rincess, K ylie M in o g u e 80
• The C ountd ow n G eneration 81 • I S ho u ld Be So Lucky 84
• Better the D evil You K now 8 6 • C onfid e In M e 87
• N ick Cave’s P ris on o f Sound 90 • A p o llo and D io n ysu s 92
• Theatre of C ruelty 93 • C ele brity P essim ism 95
• And the Ass Saw The A ngel 96

4 homage to catatonia 99
• I D on’t W ant To Be The One 9 9 • O ils A in 't O ils 100
• The Power and the Passion 106 • Rock A ga in st Rock C ritic s 107
• Best of Both W o rld s 109 • Take The H ardest Lin e 112 • The Hat 116

cul t ur e
5 subdivision cultures 121
• Paul Kelly, S on g w rite r 121 • Paul Kelly, J o u rn a lis t 123
• Reading the P u b lic 128 • R eading As P ub lic 131
• S uburban Resistance 136 • K in g s C ross Saturday N ig h t 138
• Notes fo r a New Fable 142 • B ohem ians and U rbanites 145

6 screening suburbia 149

• S uburban Television 149 • National B roadcastin g 152
• C astles in the Stream 155 • S uburban C in em a 158
• Beyond S ub u rb ia 161 • W elcom e to W oop W oop 166
• The S tockm an's H all of Fame 168
• Class S tru g g le in S ylvania W aters 172
 true believers
• That Labor Feeling 177
• Fables o f Labor and the Labours of Fables 179
• The V irtual Party 181 • The U nrepresentable H ero 182
• T hin gs W orth F ig h tin g For 185 • The Evatt E nigm a 186
• A C ertain H auteur 1 88 • Labor in Power: The M o vie 190
• The M essia h 192 • The A ccord 195 • C o n su m ptio n Tax 198
• Banana R epublic 2 0 0 • R icho the G reenie 202
• Crash Landin g 2 0 4 • P la cid o D o m in g o 2 07
• C oronatio n H ill 2 0 9 • Sweetest V icto ry o f A ll 209

' b e r s p a c e

generational ganglands
• Hugh M ackay's G enerations 2 15 • Heartbeat o f the Literati 2 19
• Richard N eville on the F ro n tlin e 221 • M ark D avis in G angland 224
• C h ris to s T siolkas Gets Loaded 2 2 9 • Essaying U rbanity 233
• G eneration M o o n w a lk 2 3 4 • Brady B un ch in g 237
• C ountd ow n G eneration Revisited 2 3 8 • C ulture G enerators 241
• The U rbane and the S ceptic 246
• Pauline P antsdow n’s D isco N ation 248

regenerating labor
• The Future of Barry Jones 2 52 • The In fo rm a tio n P role tariat 254
• B ib and B ub 2 58 • Labor in Cyberspace 26 0 • G eneration G ough 2 64
• On M y Left, Lin dsay Tanner 2 6 7 • The Left and the Leftovers 270
• S teering the T h ird W ay Leftw ards 2 72 • P ostin d u stria l C lass S truggle 277

third way, second go

• On M y R ight, M ark Latham 2 86
• The Four C o n flicts 28 8 • Labor's Response 291
• The D isenchantm ent o f the M a g ic P udding 294
• P ostin d u stria l E conom ic s 2 97 • W orkers of the W o rld D isperse 301
• The Poverty Code 3 02 • S ocia l R ationalism 303
• D em ocratising Education 3 0 8 • C iv ility and P u b lic Trust 310
• M is re co g n itio n o f the Other 3 13 • W hat Do People W ant? 318
• H anson’s C elebrity 321 • H ating the M edia 323
• The Future o f the Future 3 26

epilogue and acknowledgem ents

• The L ig h t fro m the Screen 3 2 9 • The New E m p iricism 333
• C ulture and P lu ra lism 3 37 • A cknow ledgm ents 339

endnotes 341 • index 361

 1

c h a p t e r ^

30 years, 15 minutes
The service o f philosophy, o f speculative culture,
towards the human spirit, is to rouse, to startle it to a
life o f constant and eager observation.
Walter Pater

The real trouble with intellectuals is that they are

cowards in the face o f the good.
Martin Boyd

I t ’s T im e
A s a d e d i c a t e d w a t c h e r o f n e w s o n t e l e v i s i o n , I ’m u s e d t o b a d
n e w s . T h e p a r a d o x o f n e w s is h o w c o n s t a n t a n i n d e x i t is o f
h u m a n fo lly . S o t h e r e w a s a s p e c i a l j o y f o r m e i n t h e l a t e 9 0 s
in w a tc h in g te le v is io n n e w s r e p o r t s o f th e e le c to r a l s u c c e s s o f
s o c ia l d e m o c r a t i c p a r t i e s in F r a n c e , G e r m a n y a n d B r ita in .
T h e e n d le s s ly d e f e r r e d d e m is e o f th e c o n s e rv a tiv e e th o s o f
H e lm u t K o h l a n d M a rg a re t T h a tc h e r g av e m e a fe e lin g o f
m o d e s t o p tim is m .
I t c o u l d b e t h a t I w a it f o r th e s e r a r e m o m e n t s o f h o p e a m id
th e c o n s ta n t d r o n e o f b a d n ew s b e c a u s e I w as tra in e d a t a n
e a rly a g e to e x p e c t th e m . I w as e le v e n y e a rs o ld w h e n G o u g h
W h itla m w on th e 1 9 7 2 A u s tra lia n F e d e ra l e le c tio n , a n d
b e c a m e P r im e M in is te r. I h a d to w a it a n o t h e r e le v e n y e a rs
f o r a n o t h e r m o m e n t l i k e it. B o b H a w k e w o n t h e 1 9 8 3 e l e c ­
tio n f o r L a b o r w h e n I w as 22.
30 years, 15 m inutes

T h e r e m a y b e l i t t l e a n y o n e c a n d o a b o u t h u m a n fo lly , b u t
th e in c r e m e n ta l o v e r c o m in g o f h u m a n m is e ry s e e m s to m e ,
e v e n in p o s tm o d e r n tim e s o f a tte n u a te d s c e p tic is m , to b e
s o m e t h i n g f o r w h i c h o n e c a n s till h o p e . T h e i n c r e m e n t a l o v e r ­
c o m i n g o f h u m a n m i s e r y is t h e “l i g h t o n t h e h i l l ” o f w h i c h
a n o t h e r la b o u r m o v e m e n t h e r o u s e d to s p e a k . A s th e h is to ­
r i a n J i l l R o e p o i n t s o u t , A u s t r a l i a n L a b o r l e a d e r B e n C h if le y
p r o b a b l y b o r r o w e d t h a t p h r a s e f r o m M a t t h e w 5 :1 4 . “Ye a r e t h e
l i g h t o f t h e w o r l d . A c ity w h i c h is s e t o n a h i l l c a n n o t b e h i d . ”1
T h e l i g h t o n t h e h i l l is a f i g u r e o f f a b l e i n A u s t r a l i a n l a b o u r
m o v e m e n t c u l t u r e , b u t g i v e n its o r i g i n s , I d o n ’t t h i n k i t ’s
s t r e t c h i n g t h i n g s t o o m u c h to t h i n k o f a n y a n d e v e r y s o c ia l
d e m o c r a t ic g o v e r n m e n t t h a t a c h ie v e s s o m e s m a ll s te p to
o v e rc o m in g a v o id a b le h u m a n m is e ry a n d s u ffe rin g as a n
i n s t a n c e o f t h e l i g h t o n t h e h i l l . I t is h a r d l y f a s h i o n a b l e t o
th in k o f Bob H a w k e ’s L a b o r g o v e rn m e n t as a s h in in g
in s ta n c e o f th e lig h t o n th e h ill. M a y b e in th e p o s tm o d e r n
e th o s o f th e 8 0 s, it w a s j u s t th e h ill. T h e r e w a s a f a ir s h a r e o f
hum an f o ll y in H a w k e ’s g o v e r n m e n t . P e rh a p s th a t w as
in e v ita b le , in th a t it c o n f r o n te d a ra p id ly c h a n g in g in t e r n a ­
tio n a l s tra te g ic , e c o n o m ic a n d c o m m u n ic a tio n e n v ir o n m e n t.
The ris e o f a n o p tim is tic rh e to ric about a “t h i r d w a y ”
b e tw e e n m a rk e t c a p ita lis m and s ta te s o c ia lis m am ong
E u r o p e a n a n d A m e ric a n c o m m e n ta to r s c o m e s as n o s u rp ris e
to m e . O n e o f th e few p r o p h e c ie s I e v e r m a d e a s a w r ite r th a t
c a m e tr u e w as th a t th e c o lla p s e o f c o m m u n is m w o u ld b e a
c r i s i s f o r t h e r i g h t , n o t t h e le f t . A s I w r o t e w h e n t h e B e r l i n
w a ll f e ll: “H a r d c o n s e r v a t i s m a lw a y s w o r k e d i n a p a r a n o i d
w ay , b y d r a w i n g a l i n e t h r o u g h r e a lit y , a n d p u t t i n g e v e r y o n e
to t h e le f t o f C h u r c h i l l o n t h e o th e r s id e . T h a t o t h e r s id e w a s
a f e a r f u l t h i n g , t h r e a t e n i n g , s u b v e rs iv e , m a n ip u la tiv e , i n d e ­
f a t i g a b l e , a h o r r i b l e t h i n g w h i c h m u s t b e r e s i s t e d a t a ll c o s ts .
N o w th a t th is p a r a n o id f e a r h a s re v e a le d its e lf as a m ira g e ,
c o n s e rv a tis m o f t h i s k i n d m u s t e n t e r i n t o d e e p c r is is . S o
m u c h t h e w o r s e f o r t h e m ! ”2 W i t h o u t t h e c o l d w a r t o h o l d it
to g e th e r , th e lib e r a l a n d c o n s e rv a tiv e c o m p r o m is e th a t so
o f t e n k e p t s o c ia l d e m o c r a c y o u t o f p o w e r u n r a v e lle d . O ld
c o l d w a r r i o r s l o o k e d f o r n e w s c a r e - m o n g e r i n g c a m p a i g n s to
k e e p th e m s e lv e s g a in fu lly e m p lo y e d .
O n e o f t h e l e a s t d i s c u s s e d a s p e c t s o f t h e t h i r d w a y is a s a t h i r d
w a y t o f o llo w t h e f i r s t tw o v e c t o r s a l o n g w h i c h s o c ia l d e m o c r a c y
 i t ’s t i m e 1

c o m m u n ic a te d a n d o r g a n is e d its e lf as a c u ltu r e . T h e lig h t o n

t h e h i ll is a b o u t b e i n g a n e x a m p l e t o t h e w o r l d , a n i n s t a n c e o f
h o p e f o r t h e o v e r c o m i n g o f m i s e r y f o r a ll t o s e e . C o n s e r v a t i s m
m a y f l o u r i s h , a s i t d i d d u r i n g t h e c o l d w a r, o n f e a r a n d i g n o ­
r a n c e . S o c ia l d e m o c r a c y c a n o n l y f l o u r i s h a s a c u l t u r e o n t h e
b a s is o f t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n b y e x a m p l e o f w h a t c a n b e d o n e to
o v e r c o m e m is e ry . T h e f i r s t w a y s o c ia l d e m o c r a c y f o u n d t o c o m ­
m u n ic a te its e lf w a s tie d to th e p r in te d w o rd a n d th e u se s th a t
c o u l d b e m a d e o f it .3 T h e s e c o n d w a y w a s v ia t h e e l e c t r o n i c
m e d i a . T h e t h i r d w a y is a b o u t t a k i n g s o c i a l d e m o c r a c y i n t o t h e
e m e r g i n g p o s t b r o a d c a s t w o r l d . F ittin g ly , I ’v e f o u n d a p a r t i c u ­
la r ly s u c c i n c t d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e t h i r d w ay, n o t i n d e a d t r e e
f o r m a t , b u t o n a w e b s i te , c a l l e d N e x u s .4
I ’m n o t e n tire ly c o n v in c e d t h a t s o c i a l d e m o c r a c y f u l ly
u n d e r s ta n d s th e w ay th a t it h a s b e e n c h a n g e d b y th e b r o a d ­
c a st e ra , le t a lo n e h o w it c a n c h a n g e in th e p o s tb r o a d c a s t e r a
o f m u l t i - c h a n n e l b r o a d c a s t i n g a n d t h e i n t e r n e t . T h a t is w h y
in th is b o o k I w a n t to lo o k a t th e c u ltu r e o f th e b r o a d c a s t e r a ,
a n d s e e w h a t a s tu d y o f th e m e d ia , w ith in w h ic h p o s tw a r
s o c ia l d e m o c r a c y h a d to p u b lic is e its e lf, c a n te ll u s a b o u t th e
o n g o in g s tr u g g le to p r o v id e s o m e lig h t o n th e h ill in a p o s t­
m o d e r n w o rld .
W h e n G o u g h W h i t l a m w o n o f f i c e i n 1 9 7 2 , i t f e l t a b i t li k e
A u s tr a lia w a s fin a lly c a tc h in g u p w ith th e w o rld , a n d t h a t th e
r a d ic a l o p tim is m o f t h e 6 0 s h a d fin a lly r e a c h e d t h e c o lo n ie s .
B u t i t is n o t a lw a y s t h e c a s e t h a t t h e p e r i p h e r y l a g s b e h i n d
th e c e n tre . T h e A u s tra lia n L a b o r P a rty f o r m e d th e firs t
m in o rity g o v e r n m e n t le d b y th e la b o u r m o v e m e n t, a n d g o v ­
e r n e d i n it s o w n r i g h t w h i l e m o s t o f E u r o p e a n s o c i a l d e m o c ­
r a c y w a s s t ill s t r u g g l i n g f o r p o w e r . E a r l y i n th e c e n tu ry ,
A u s tr a lia w as s e e n a s a s o c ia l l a b o r a t o r y f o r th e w o rld .
T h i s is n o t b e c a u s e A u s t r a l i a n L a b o r h a s d is p la y e d a n y
m o r e w is d o m th a n o t h e r l a b o u r m o v e m e n t p a r tie s , a n d it h a s
c e r t a i n l y h a d m o r e t h a n its f a i r s h a r e o f h u m a n fo lly . R a t h e r ,
A u s t r a l i a n L a b o r ’s p r e c o c i o u s a c h i e v e m e n t s a r e m o r e lik e ly
j u s t a s y m p to m o f th e u n e v e n c o s ts th a t th e g lo b a lis a tio n o f
th e c a p ita lis t e c o n o m y h a s e x tr a c te d o v e r th e la s t c e n tu r y o f
it s a c c e l e r a t e d d e v e l o p m e n t . ‘G l o b a l i s a t i o n ’ is n o t a n e w i d e a
in th e f o r m e r c o lo n ie s a n d p e r ip h e r ie s . E c o n o m ic e x is te n c e
t h e r e h a s a lw a y s b e e n p r e d i c a t e d o n a s o b e r g r a s p o f t h e c e n ­
tra lis a tio n o f e c o n o m ic p o w e r — e ls e w h e re .
30 years, 15 m inutes

T h e d e p r e s s io n s c a u s e d b y s e tb a c k s in g lo b a l e c o n o m ic
d e v e lo p m e n t in th e 1 8 8 0 s a n d 1 9 3 0 s w e re e s p e c ia lly sa v a g e
in A u s tra lia . W h a t m a d e it w o rs e w as th e r e a lis a tio n o f th e
pow er th a t in te rn a tio n a l c a p ita l h e ld over a p e rip h e ra l
econom y. T h is e x p e rie n c e o f b e in g a lw a y s and a lre a d y
s u b je c t to g l o b a l flo w s o f c a p i t a l a n d in fo rm a tio n w as a
s tro n g p a r t o f la b o u r m o v e m e n t c u ltu re .
R e a d in g th e s u m m a r y o n th e N e x u s w e b s ite o f d is c u s s io n s
a m o n g E n g l i s h a c a d e m i c s a b o u t t h e t h i r d w ay , I c a n ’t h e l p
th in k in g th a t, lik e e a r lie r in th e c e n tu r y , A u s tr a lia n L a b o r
h a s b e e n th e r e a n d d o n e th a t. T h e p r o je c t th a t e m e r g e d fo r
A u s tra lia n L a b o r a t th e e n d o f th e 9 0 s w as h o w to h a v e a
s e c o n d g o a t t h e t h i r d w ay . A t t h e 1 9 9 6 e l e c t i o n , t h e e l e c ­
t o r a t e p u n i s h e d L a b o r f o r i n f l i c t i n g its b r a n d o f t h e t h i r d
w ay o n it d u r in g th e p re v io u s th ir te e n y e a rs. A u s tra lia sw u n g
r ig h t j u s t as m u c h o f E u r o p e a n d A m e ric a s w u n g m o r e o r
l e s s le f t . W h e n A u s t r a l i a e l e c t e d a L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t in
1 9 7 2 , it f e lt lik e la g g in g b e h i n d t h e s o c ia l t r e n d in th e r e s t o f
t h e ‘o v e r - d e v e l o p e d ’ w o r l d . W h e n A u s t r a l i a e l e c t e d a c o n s e r ­
v a tiv e g o v e r n m e n t i n 1 9 9 6 , i t f e l t m o r e l i k e w h a t m a y c o m e
i f t h e t h i r d w a y is n o t m a n a g e d w i t h o u t a s m u c h a t t e n t i o n t o
th e c u ltu r a l f a llo u t f r o m e c o n o m ic c h a n g e a s to th e r e f o r m
o f th e ec o n o m y .
P e r h a p s a n o t h e r m e a n i n g o f t h e t h i r d w a y is t h a t b e s i d e s
p a y i n g a t t e n t i o n t o e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l m a t t e r s , s o c ia l
d e m o c r a c y a l s o h a s t o u n d e r s t a n d c u l t u r e , f o r i t is t h r o u g h
c u ltu r e t h a t th e s tre s s o f e c o n o m ic r e f o r m is l ik e ly t o b e
e x p re sse d . C u ltu re in a p o s tm o d e rn w o rld m e a n s m e d ia
c u l t u r e . T h e c u l t u r e o f e v e r y d a y lif e h a s its r u s e s a n d g u i s e s
f o r r e s i s t i n g o r i g n o r i n g t h e m e d i a ’s b a d n e w s , b u t f o r s o c i a l
d e m o c ra tic p a rtie s in th e p o s tm o d e rn w o rld , access to
e v e ry d a y c u ltu re is m o s tly m e d ia te d by b ro a d c a s t, and
in c r e a s in g ly b y p o s tb r o a d c a s t, v e c to rs . T h e s e d a y s , s o c ia l
d e m o c ra tic p a rtie s o fte n h a v e q u ite te n u o u s lin k s to th e
c u l t u r e o f e v e r y d a y li f e , a n d f i n d t h e m s e l v e s r e l i a n t o n t h e i r
m e d ia p r o f ile to k e e p a lig h t t h e l ig h t o n t h e h ill.
In th is b o o k , I w a n t to lo o k in s o m e d e ta il a t h o w a p a r tic ­
u la r n a tio n a l sp a c e o f m e d ia te d , p o s tm o d e r n c u ltu re , a c tu ­
a ll y w o r k s . R a t h e r t h a n t r a d e i n t h e s e e m i n g l y t r a n s n a t i o n a l
j a r g o n o f s o c ia l t h e o r y o r c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s , th is b o o k d e a ls
w ith th e p a rtic u la rs o f b o th m e d ia c u ltu re a n d e v ery d ay
 i t ’s t i m e 1

e x p e r i e n c e . O n e l i t t l e - d i s c u s s e d a s p e c t o f g l o b a l i s a t i o n is t h e
ris e o f p r o f e s s io n a l a n d s c h o l a r l y j a r g o n s t h a t a p p e a r to
a b s tra c t fro m p a r tic u la r n a tio n a l- c u ltu r a l s p a c e s . S c h o la rs
d e v e lo p c o n c e p ts t h a t c a n b e a p p li e d a n y w h e r e , a s a s o c ia l
r a tio n a lis t c o m p a n io n to th e e c o n o m ic r a tio n a lis t th o u g h t
th a t p r o v id e s th e le g itim a tin g r h e to r ic f o r e c o n o m ic g lo b a li­
s a tio n . T h e s e p la c e le s s ja r g o n s m a y s u it th e m u ltin a tio n a l
p u b lis h in g in d u s try , b u t th a t d o e s n o t m e a n th e y c a n a r tic u ­
la te t h e p e c u lia r itie s o f a c tu a l c u l tu r a l s p a c e s .5 B r o a d c a s tin g ,
i n p a r t i c u l a r , s till c r e a t e s p o w e r f u l n a t i o n a l z o n e s w h i c h a r e
u n lik e ly to b e d is s ip a te d b y tr a n s n a tio n a l m e d ia f o r s o m e
t i m e y e t.
W h ile a p p lic a b le , in th e o r y , a n y w h e re , a b s tr a c t a n d p la c e -
le s s i n t e l l e c t u a l w o r k r e a l l y s e e m s t o f i n d t h e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e
o ld im p e ria l h e a r tla n d m o r e c o n g e n ia l. T h e s e a re th e sp a c e s
f r o m w h ic h th e c r e d e n tia llin g o f s c h o la r s h ip , th e p u b lis h in g
o f in te r n a tio n a lly d is tr ib u te d w o rk a n d th e le g itim is in g o f
r a t i o n a l i s i n g w a y s o f t h o u g h t a ll e m a n a t e . W h i l e t r a n s n a ­
tio n a l s o c ia l t h e o r y a n d c u l t u r a l s tu d ie s o f t e n p a y lip s e rv ic e
to th e u n e q u a l d if f e r e n c e s th a t flo a t a c ro s s th e s u rfa c e s o f a
p o s tm o d e r n w o rld , in p r a c tic e , th e s e w ays o f th in k in g a n d
s p e a k i n g s t il l s u b s u m e t h e m u n d e r c o n c e p t s c o n v i v i a l t o a n
im p e r ia l p r a c tic e o f th in k in g f r o m th e c e n tr e o u tw a rd s .
B u t th e 9 0 s a re a tim e w h e n g lo b a lis a tio n h a s c o m e h o m e
to ro o s t. T h e p o p u la tio n s o f th e o ld im p e ria l c e n tr e s a r e as
s u b j e c t t o c o l o n i s a t i o n b y flo w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d a l m o s t a s
v u l n e r a b l e t o t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f fl o w s o f c a p i t a l , a s t h e p o p u ­
l a t i o n s o f t h e p e r i p h e r y h a v e a lw a y s b e e n . E v e n s o c i a l d e m o ­
c r a tic g o v e r n m e n ts c a n n o l o n g e r re ly o n im p e r ia l p riv ile g e ,
a n d p r o te c t t h e ir p o p u la tio n s f r o m g lo b a l fo rc e s . I n th is th e y
c a tc h u p w ith w h a t th e p e r i p h e r y h a s e x p e r ie n c e d a n d h a d
to m a n a g e f o r s o m e tim e .
T h is w e a k e n in g o f t h e c a p a c ity o f s o c ia l d e m o c r a c y in th e
‘p o s t i m p e r i a l ’ w o r l d t o e x p l o i t f o r n a t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n s t h e
b e n e fits o f b e in g h o s t to c e n tr e s o f c a p ita l a n d in f o r m a tio n
is o f c o u r s e o n l y p a r t i a l . T h e E u ro p e a n C o m m u n i t y s till
f u n c t i o n s e ffe c tiv e ly to sk e w p o w e r in w o r ld t r a d e to th e
a d v a n t a g e o f E u r o p e a n p o p u l a t i o n s . A ll t h e s a m e , t h e w e a k ­
e n in g o f th is p riv ile g e m a y in th e lo n g r u n b e a s s ig n if ic a n t
as th e e n d o f th e c o ld w a r to th e f u tu r e o f s o c ia l d e m o c ra c y .
T h e 6 0 s s e e m to m e to h a v e b e e n a tim e in w h ic h th e lig h t
30 years, 15 m inutes

o n t h e h ill c o m m u n i c a t e d its e lf a r o u n d t h e w o r ld v ia t h e
im a g e s o f s o c ia l c h a n g e . T h e 8 0 s s e e m to m e to h a v e b e e n a
tim e w h e n m a n y f e a r e d th e c a n d le s n u f f e d a n d th e tim e s
u n fa v o u ra b le f o r th e in c r e m e n ta l o v e rc o m in g o f s u ffe rin g .
I n th is b o o k , I w a n t to w rite a b o u t th e 8 0 s a n d th e 9 0 s a s I
e x p e r ie n c e d th e m in A u s tra lia , as a tim e in w h ic h th e e c o ­
n o m ic im p a c t o f g lo b a lis a tio n and th e re fo rm o f s o c ia l
d e m o c r a c y its e lf p r o d u c e d a d is tin c tiv e e x p e r im e n t in th e
t h i r d w ay.

The W onder Years

A l o t c a n h a p p e n i n t h i r t y y e a r s . I t ’s j u s t o v e r t h i r t y y e a r s , a s
I w r i t e , s i n c e P r i m e M i n s t e r H a r o l d H o l t d r o w n e d . I t ’s t h i r t y
y e a rs s in c e P a ris r e b e lle d and r i o t e d . I t ’s t h i r t y y e a r s , i n
s h o r t , s i n c e t h e h i g h t i d e s a n d g r e e n g r a s s o f ‘t h e l a t e 6 0 s ’.
O n e ’s f i r s t d e c a d e is l i k e o n e ’s f i r s t lo v e . Y o u liv e i t i n t u ­
itiv e ly , a t o n c e e x c i t e d a n d s e r e n e . I w a s a l i t t l e k i d d u r i n g t h e
6 0 s, p la y in g h a n d b a ll in th e p la y g r o u n d o f L a m b to n P r im a r y
S c h o o l, in s u b u r b a n N e w c a s tle . T h e V ie tn a m M o ra to riu m
w a s to m e a re a lly f a b r e d a n d b lu e b a d g e , th e f ir s t o f w h a t
w o u ld b e c o m e a c o lle c tio n . I liv e d t h e 6 0 s u n c o n s c io u s ly ,
h a v in g n o t t h e n y e t g r o w n m u c h s e lf-a w a re n e s s . N o w I h a v e
t o t e a c h c l a s s e s o n t h o s e t i m e s t o p e o p l e f o r w h o m i t is e v e n
m o r e r e m o te . A s I w rite th is , p e o p le b o r n in t h e 8 0 s a r e
e n t e r i n g u n iv e r s it y .
C e le b ritie s, C u l t u r e a n d C y b e r s p a c e is t i t l e d i n h o m a g e t o a
book C ra ig M c G re g o r p u b lis h e d t h i r t y y e a r s a g o , P e o p le ,
P o l i ti c s a n d P o p , 6 T h a t w a s a b o o k I f o u n d u se fu l w h e n I
w a n te d to re fle c t o n t h e d e c a d e I h a d li v e d i n tu i t i v e l y . I
w o u l d s a y o f m y b o o k w h a t M c G r e g o r s a i d o f h i s , t h a t i t is “a
p u r e ly p e r s o n a l, im p re s s io n is tic b o o k , a s o r t o f c o lla g e o f th e
c o n t e m p o r a r y ”. C e le b ritie s, C u l t u r e a n d C y b e r s p a c e is d e d i c a t e d
to m y n ie c e K a tie a n d m y n e p h e w s S c o tt a n d T im . I h o p e
so m e day i t w ill e x p l a i n s o m e th in g to th e m a b o u t th is
d e c a d e , th e 9 0 s, n o w n e a r ly p a s s e d — t h e i r firs t in th e w o rld .
M c G r e g o r is o n e o f t h e f e w w r i t e r s o f t h e 6 0 s w h o I f i n d I
c a n a d m i r e t o d a y w i t h o u t i n v o k i n g a s e n s e o f ir o n y . U n l i k e
s o m e o f h i s c o n t e m p o r a r i e s , h e d i d n ’t g e t s t u c k i n a g r o o v e
b a c k t h e n . H i s l a t e r w r i t i n g s a r e a liv e t o t h e c h a n g e s a s w e ll
a s t h e c o n tin u itie s o f th e 70 s, 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s. W r itin g in th e la te
 from the 60s to the 90s

9 0 s , M c G r e g o r d e c l a r e s t h a t “m o d e r n i s m is n o l o n g e r c o n ­
te m p o r a r y . I t w a s th e n a m e g iv e n to a p a r tic u la r c u ltu r a l
e p o c h .. .. lik e th e o th e r s , it h a d a b e g in n in g , a m id d le a n d
an end. In its p l a c e , a s a d o m i n a n t c u l t u r a l p a r a d i g m ,
b la z o n s p o s tm o d e rn ity . I t is c h a r a c t e r i s e d , a m o n g o th e r
th in g s , b y c o n flic t, d is s o n a n c e , p lu ra lity , d is c o n tin u ity , a sy m ­
m e try , c o n tra d ic tio n , d e c e n trin g , fra g m e n ta tio n , s u b je c ­
tiv ity , a m b iv a le n c e , p o p u lis m , and a cacophony of
s i m u l t a n e o u s d i s c o u r s e s ”.7 1 d o n ’t n e c e s s a r i l y a g r e e w i t h a ll
o f M c G r e g o r ’s d i a g n o s e s h e r e , b u t t h e p o i n t is h i s e n g a g e ­
m e n t . T h e r e is n o s h o r t a g e o f g e n t l y g r e y i n g p u n d i t s w h o
r e j e c t t h e a t t e m p t t o t h i n k t h e p r e s e n t i n its o w n t e r m s . T h e
le s s o n th is b o o k se e k s to le a r n f r o m t h e 6 0 s is a b o u t t h e
n e e d to s ta r t o v e r, to tr y f o r a m e n ta l le a p c le a r a c ro s s th e
p re s e n t, r a th e r th a n to b u rro w s n u g in to th e w o rn w a rre n o f
th e p a s t.
I n th e la te 9 0 s th e r e w as a lin k b e tw e e n th e c o m p la c e n c y
and re a c tio n d is p la y e d by m any c o n te m p o ra ry o p in io n
m a k e r s a n d th e ris e o f a n e v e n m o r e r e a c tio n a r y a n d p u n i­
tiv e m o o d i n A u s t r a l i a n p o l i t i c s a n d c u l t u r e . T h i s is w h y I
th in k it is im p o rta n t to a c k n o w le d g e and c e le b ra te
A u s tr a lia n t h in k e r s w h o d id n o t lo s e t h e i r n e r v e w h e n c o n ­
f r o n t e d b y c h a n g i n g r e a l i t i e s . C r a i g M c G r e g o r is o n e s u c h
t h i n k e r ; D o n a l d H o r n e is a n o t h e r .

From the 60s to th e 90s

W h a t p e o p l e t h i n k o f a s ‘t h e 6 0 s ’ i n c l u d e s a b i t o f t h e e a r l y
7 0 s a s w e ll. I t w a s a d e c a d e w i t h s o m u c h e n e r g y t o b u r n t h a t ,
lik e a n o v e rly e n th u s ia s tic s p o r t i n g e v e n t, it s p ille d o v e r i n t o
e x tr a tim e . I n A u s tra lia , I th in k it c o n v e n ie n t to d a te th e e n d
o f t h e 6 0 s t o t h e e l e c t i o n o f G o u g h W h i t l a m ’s L a b o r g o v e r n ­
m e n t in 1972. T h a t w as w h e n th e e n th u s ia s m fo r ch an g e
a c h ie v e d e le c to r a l su c c e ss a n d m a in s tr e a m e x p re s s io n in th e
p e r s o n o f W h itla m . By c o n tra s t, th e 9 0 s w e re a b it o f a w ash
o u t . I t ’s o n l y 1 9 9 8 a s I w r i t e , b u t a l r e a d y t h e 9 0 s s e e m t o b e
o v e r. I d a te th e e n d o f th e 9 0 s f r o m th e e le c tio n o f O n e
N a tio n c a n d id a te s in th e Q u e e n s la n d e le c tio n o f 1 9 9 8 . T h a t
w as w h e n th e p o p u lis t re a c tio n a ry c u ltu re o f th e 9 0 s f o u n d
m a in s tre a m e x p re s s io n in th e p e rs o n o f P a u lin e H a n s o n .
W h a t e v e r h a p p e n s f r o m t h i s p o i n t o n , i n s o m e w a y s i t ’s a
30 years, 15 m inutes

w h o l e n e w b a l l g a m e . H a n s o n ’s s u p p o r t d e c l i n e d i n t h e 1 9 9 8
F e d e r a l e l e c t i o n , b u t s h e s t ill h a d a n i m p a c t . W h a t C h a n d r a n
K u k a t h a s a n d W i l l i a m M a lle y , a c a d e m i c s f r o m t h e A u s t r a l i a n
D e f e n c e F o r c e A c a d e m y , c a ll ‘s o f t H a n s o n i s m ’ b e c a m e m a i n ­
s tre a m p o lic y : d e n y in g re fu g e e s th e ir hum an rig h ts ,
r e s tr ic tin g w e lfa re a c c e ss f o r m ig r a n ts , f u d g in g A b o r ig in a l
r e c o n c ilia tio n .8 J o h n H o w a r d ’s c o n s e r v a t i v e L ib e ra l and
N a d o n a l P a rty c o a litio n g o v e r n m e n t, w h ic h c a m e to p o w e r
in th e 1 9 9 6 F e d e r a l e le c tio n , d id so b y a p p e a r in g to e m b o d y
th e r e a c tio n a ry m o o d ris in g o n th e r ig h t. W h ile H o w a r d
m a d e c o n c i l i a t o r y n o i s e s o n r e c o n c i l i a t i o n a f t e r w i n n i n g in
1 9 9 8 , it lo o k e d lik e a n o t h e r t e r m w ith t h e T V c a r t o o n S o u th
P a r k ’s M r G a r r i s o n r u n n i n g t h e c o u n t r y .
I w rite at a d iffe re n t tim e in C e le b r itie s , C u ltu r e and
C y b e rsp a c e , t o t h a t i n w h i c h M c G r e g o r w r o t e P e o p le , P o l iti c s
a n d P op. T h e la te 9 0 s, lik e t h e la te 6 0 s, w e r e a tim e w h e n th e
le g itim a c y o f m a in s tr e a m p o litic s a n d c u ltu r e c a m e u n d e r
a t t a c k . I n o t h e r w a y s, t h e l a t e 9 0 s w e r e d i f f e r e n t . I n t h e 6 0 s ,
t h e a t t a c k w a s f r o m t h e r a d i c a l le f t . I n t h e 9 0 s , i t w a s f r o m t h e
p o p u lis t rig h t. My in te re s ts a re a ls o a b it d iffe re n t to
M c G r e g o r ’s. He so u g h t s ig n ific a n c e in th e su b u rb a n ,
w h e r e a s i t is t h e u r b a n i t y o f A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r e t h a t I f i n d fa s ­
c i n a t i n g . I t w a s s ti ll n e w s i n t h e l a t e 6 0 s t h a t t h e s u b u r b a n i t e
w a s a m o r e r e s o n a n t im a g e o f A u s tr a lia n s e lf-id e n tity th a n
t h e s w a g g ie . I t w a s s t ill n e w s i n t h e 9 0 s t h a t w i t h t h e m o v e t o
a p a r t m e n t l iv in g , c l o s e t o t h e c ity , u r b a n s e lf-id e n tity w as
fo rm in g , in p a r t as a r e a c tio n a g a in s t s u b u rb ia .
C o n flic t m o v e d fr o m th e c la s h b e tw e e n b u s h a n d s u b u r b a n
v a lu e s to one b e tw e e n u rb a n and bush v a lu e s , w ith th e
s u b u r b s p o is e d a s th e s w in g in g v o te in b e tw e e n . T h is s h o w e d
c l e a r l y i n t h e 1 9 9 6 f e d e r a l e l e c t i o n , w h e r e L a b o r h e l d it s v o t e
in w h a t j o u r n a l i s t T e r r y M cC ran n c a lls t h e tria n g le , th e
u rb a n a n d u rb a n e sp ace o f S y d n e y /M e lb o u rn e /C a n b e rra ,
b u t lo s t g r o u n d in th e o u t e r s u b u r b s a n d th e c o u n tr y .9 T h e
1 9 9 8 Q u e e n s la n d e le c tio n d e m o n s tr a te d th e s tr e n g th o f th e
re s is ta n c e and re s e n tm e n t in th e h in te rla n d s to u rb a n
c u l t u r e a n d its v a l u e s .
T h e 1 9 9 8 F e d e r a l e le c tio n , w h e r e O n e N a tio n w o n o n ly
o n e S e n a te s e a t b u t p o lle d a r o u n d 8 % a c ro ss th e c o u n try ,
s h o w e d th a t th e v e r n a c u la r c u ltu r e a n d h in te r la n d p o litic s o f
H a n s o n is m h a d n a t io n a l a p p e a l. L a b o r a ls o m a d e a c o m e ­
 from the 60s to the 90s

b a c k i n 1 9 9 8 . A s c o l u m n i s t G e r a r d H e n d e r s o n n o t e d , “L a b o r
w on back p a rt o f u rb a n , p ro v in c ia l and r u r a l A u s tra lia
o u ts id e th e S y d n e y / M e l b o u r n e / C a n b e r r a a x is .... H o w e v e r,
L a b o r ’s f a i l u r e to w in s u ffic ie n t s e a ts in Sydney and
M e l b o u r n e p r o v i d e s a n ill o m e n f o r t h e f u t u r e . ”10 I t m a y n o t
b e p o s s ib le to p u t to g e t h e r th e u r b a n b lo c k w h o v o te d f o r
P a u l K e a tin g a n d th e p a r ts o f th e s u b u r b a n f r in g e w h o v o te d
f o r h i s s u c c e s s o r a s L a b o r l e a d e r , K im B e a z le y . T h i s is w h y I
r e v i s i t t h e c u l t u r a l c o n s t r u c t o f ‘s u b u r b i a ’ i n t h i s b o o k , t h e
s tu d y o f w h ic h M c G r e g o r w as a n e a rly a d v o c a te .
In p la c e o f th e p e o p le M c G re g o r u s e d as h is to u c h s to n e s o f
c u l t u r a l f l u x , I w r i t e a b o u t c e l e b r i t y . S i n c e t h e 6 0 s , i t is c l e a r
t h a t a n y p u b l i c l i f e is o n e t h a t t h e m e d i a b o t h s h a p e s a n d
s h a d o w s . A n d y W a r h o l ’s p r o p h e c y , b a c k i n t h e 6 0 s , t h a t “i n
t h e f u t u r e , e v e r y o n e w ill b e f a m o u s f o r f i f t e e n m i n u t e s ”,
c a m e t o p a s s b y t h e 9 0 s . 11 H o p e f u l l y , t h e f a m e o f p o p u l i s t
c e l e b r i t y P a u l i n e H a n s o n w ill l a s t o n l y f i f t e e n m i n u t e s , b u t
w h e th e r th a t c o m e s to p a ss d e p e n d s in p a r t o n im a g in in g a
p o s itiv e a n d p o p u l a r a lte r n a tiv e to th e p o p u lis t r e a c tio n t h a t
w o u l d d r a g u s b a c k t h i r t y y e a r s a n d m o r e . H a n s o n i s m is t h e
h e r p e s o f t h e b o d y p o l i t i c . I t is a n i t c h t h a t r e t u r n s i n t i m e s
o f s tr e s s .
A f o r e ta s te o f th e p o litic a l s ig n ific a n c e o f c e le b r ity w as ro c k
s t a r P e t e r G a r r e t t ’s s t r o n g s h o w i n g i n t h e 1 9 8 4 f e d e r a l e l e c ­
tio n , in w h ic h h e c a m e c lo s e to w in n in g a S e n a te s e a t f o r th e
N u c l e a r D i s a r m a m e n t P a r ty . W h i l e G a r r e t t m a d e t h e t r a n s i ­
tio n fro m e n te rta in m e n t c e le b rity to p o litic a l c e le b rity ,
P rim e M in s te r B o b H a w k e re v e rs e d th e p ro c e s s in 1 9 8 6 w h e n
h e a p p e a r e d o n t h e p o p u l a r T V d r a m a A C o u n t r y P r a c t ic e —
g iv in g a s p e e c h in t h e im a g in a r y c o u n t r y to w n o f W a n d o n
V a lle y a b o u t n u c l e a r , d i s a r m a m e n t . 12 B y t h e 9 0 s , c e l e b r i t y w a s
p e rm a n e n tly in te rtw in e d w ith p o litic s . T h e G re e n s c a p i­
ta lis e d on G a r r e t t ’s in itia tiv e by ru n n in g h ig h p ro file
T a s m a n ia n a c tiv is t a n d c e le b r ity B o b B ro w n . T h e c a r e e r s o f
A u s tra lia n D e m o c r a t S e n a to rs N a ta s h a S to tt D e s p o ja a n d
C h e r y l K e r n o t s h o w e d j u s t h o w e ffe c tiv e it c o u ld b e h a v in g a
b a s e i n t h e m e d i a r a t h e r t h a n i n t h e o l d s ty le p a r t y m a c h i n e
o f th e L ib e ra l a n d L a b o r p a rtie s .
K e r n o t ’s d e f e c t i o n t o t h e L a b o r P a r t y i n 1 9 9 8 t h e n p r o v e d
a n in te r e s tin g te s t o f th e a b ility o f a m o r e tr a d itio n a l p a r ty to
e x p lo it th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n c e le b rity , p o litic s a n d th e
30 years, 15 m inutes

m e d ia . A te s t th e L a b o r P a r ty fa ile d , w ith K e r n o t g o in g d o w n
to th e w ire a g a in s t L ib e ra l c a n d id a te Rod H enshaw , a
p o p u l a r r a d io b r o a d c a s te r , in t h e i r c o n te s t f o r th e s e a t o f
D ic k s o n o n th e s u b u r b a n n o r t h w e s te r n e d g e o f B ris b a n e .
I n d e p e n d e n t c a n d id a te P e te r A n d re n , a ru ra l te le v is io n
jo u r n a lis t, w o n C a la r e , a d iv e rs e e le c to r a te in c lu d in g N S W
c o u n try to w n s o f B a th u rs t, L ith g o w and O ra n g e . J o h n
S c h u m a n n , f o r m e r s in g e r w ith th e r a d ic a l fo lk r o c k g r o u p
R e d g u m , r a n o n th e A u s tr a lia n D e m o c r a t tic k e t. H e g a v e
L ib e ra l f r o n t b e n c h e r A le x a n d e r D o w n e r a ru n f o r h is
m o n e y in M a y o , a s e a t t h a t in c lu d e s a b r a c e o f s u b u r b s a t th e
f o o t o f th e A d e la id e H ills in S o u th A u s tra lia .
I f th e r e w as a le s s o n in th o s e re s u lts , it w as th a t c e le b rity
c a n d i d a t e s c a n d o w e ll i n d i v e r s e e l e c t o r a t e s i f v o t e r s f e e l
t h e y a r e s til l a l o c a l c a n d i d a t e w h o c a r e s a b o u t t h e m , b u t
c e l e b r i t y i t s e l f d o e s n o t g iv e a c a n d i d a t e a w i n n i n g e d g e . S o
w h ile c e le b r ity p r o v id e s a s h a r e d , p u b lic im a g e f o r p e o p le to
th in k a b o u t v o tin g fo r, o r in m y c a s e , w rite a b o u t, th e w ay th e
p u b l i c r e s p o n d s t o c e l e b r i t i e s is c o m p l e x . T h e c u l t u r e o f
ev e ry d a y life c o n ta in s a re m a rk a b le d e p th o f sk ill in
‘r e a d i n g ’ m e d i a i m a g e s , w h e t h e r i n p o litic s o r e n te r ta in ­
m e n t , a n d p e r h a p s p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e n t h e tw o o v e r l a p .
R a th e r th a n w rite a b o u t p o litic s , th e second te rm of
M c G r e g o r ’s t i t l e , I w r i t e m o s t l y a b o u t c u l t u r e . A s c u l t u r a l
s tu d ie s s c h o la r M e a g h a n M o rris o n c e s u g g e s te d , in th e 6 0 s
e v e r y th in g s e e m e d a r r e s tin g ly p o litic a l, b u t t h e n e v e r y th in g
s e e m e d t o t u r n o b s c u r e l y c u l t u r a l . ” S o m e t i m e s r e l i g i o n is
t h e b a t t l e g r o u n d f o r c o m p e t i n g v ie w s o f t h e w o r l d , s u c h a s
in th e m id 50s, w h e n th e C a th o lic -in s p ire d D e m o c ra tic
L a b o r P a r ty s p lit f r o m th e L a b o r m a in s tr e a m . S o m e tim e s it
is p o l i t i c a l i d e o l o g y , s u c h a s t h e c h a l l e n g e p o s e d b y t h e n e w
le f t a n d l i b e r a t i o n i s t s o c ia l m o v e m e n ts o f t h e 6 0 s. I n t h e 8 0 s,
c u ltu re b e c a m e th e a re n a .
In e a c h in s ta n c e th e c o n flic t o v e r th e d e fin itio n o f th e
g o o d l i f e s e e m s t o m e t o b e w h a t is a t s t a k e . T h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s
f o r l e a d i n g t h e g o o d l if e a r e e x p r e s s e d a t d i f f e r e n t t i m e s in
re lig io u s , p o litic a l, o r c u ltu r a l in s titu tio n s a n d te rm s . In
A u s tra lia n c u ltu r e , th e e x p re s s io n “f a i r g o , m a t e ” is o f t e n
c i t e d a s t h e c la s s i c v e r n a c u l a r a r t i c u l a t i o n o f t h e g o o d li f e ,
a lth o u g h p r a c tic a lly e v e r y o n e w h o m a k e s th e d e m a n d f o r a
f a i r g o h a s a d i f f e r e n t v ie w o f w h a t m i g h t c o n s t i t u t e a f a i r g o .
 from televisio n to c y b e rs p a c e

A s D o n a l d H o r n e w r o t e i n t h e 6 0 s , f a i r g o is “w h a t h a p p e n e d
in A u s tr a lia to th e id e a ls o f L ib e rty , E q u a lity a n d F ra te rn ity .
A s m ig h t b e e x p e c te d , in th e tr a n s m u ta tio n th e s e id e a ls h a v e
b e e n k n o c k e d a b o u t . B u t t h e w h o l e t h i n g c o s t n o liv e s a n d i t
is i n g r a i n e d i n t o t h e t e x t u r e o f A u s t r a l i a n l i f e . ”14
In th e 9 0 s, H o r n e w ro te a b o o k th a t im a g in e d a th e m e
p a r k c a l l e d T h e A v e n u e o f t h e F a i r G o. I n t h i s t o u r o f A u s t r a l i a n
p o litic a l c u ltu re , H o rn e had a re p re s e n ta tiv e s a m p le of
A u s t r a l i a n ‘t y p e s ’ o f f e r t h e i r d i f f e r i n g v ie w s o n w h a t k i n d o f
good lif e t h e f a ir g o p o s its . W h e n a y o u n g w o m a n w ith
b a d g e s c ritiq u e s it as a te r m “t o o W h i t e a n d to o M a l e ”,
H o rn e has h is A b o rig in a l c h a ra c te r re p ly th a t h is
G r a n d m o t h e r , w h o w a s b r o u g h t u p i n t h e b u s h , w o u l d say,
“w e ll a f a i r g o w o u l d d o f o r a s t a r t . ” 15 H o r n e ’s p a r t i c u l a r
i n s i g h t i n h i s w r i t i n g s o f t h e 9 0 s is t h a t t h e f a i r g o is a c u l t u r a l
m a t t e r b e f o r e i t is a p o l i t i c a l o n e , a n d t h a t i t is s o m e t h i n g
t h a t e x is ts o n ly in t h e d i f f e r e n t w ay s p e o p l e c o n s t r u e it a n d
a r g u e a b o u t it, r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g s o m e i d e n t i f i a b l e e s s e n c e
c o m m o n to a ll A u s tr a lia n s .
T h e ris e o f P a u lin e H a n s o n s h o w e d h o w p o litic a l o p e r a to r s
c o u ld m o b ilis e a p o p u lis t m o v e m e n t w ith th e h e lp of a
l e a d e r w ith a n in s tin c tiv e g r a s p o f c e le b r ity p o w e r a n d a d is ­
t i n c t i v e a r t i c u l a t i o n o f a v ie w o f t h e f a i r g o . H a n s o n ’s q u a ­
v e r i n g v o i c e a n d o u t e r s u b u r b a n s ty le c o n n e c t e d t h e l u n a r
r i g h t to a w id e s p r e a d q u e s tio n in g o f th e le g itim a c y o f p o lit­
ic a l c u ltu re . The m a in s tre a m p u n d its p o in te d o u t w ith
in c r e a s in g e x a s p e r a tio n t h a t h e r p o lic ie s w e re r a c is t a n d d is ­
c r i m i n a t o r y a n d m a d e n o e c o n o m i c s e n s e . A ll o f w h i c h w a s
t r u e , b u t m i s s e d t h e p o i n t . P o p u l i s m is n e v e r a b o u t p o l i c i e s
a n d p o l i t i c s , i t ’s a b o u t c u l t u r e a n d c e l e b r i t y . H a n s o n ’s t a l e n t
w a s in u s in g th e m e d ia to c r e a te a n im a g e t h a t a r tic u la te d
th e f e e lin g s o f p e o p le w h o n o lo n g e r b e lie v e d th e p o lic ie s o f
th e L a b o r, L ib e ra l, o r N a tio n a l p a rtie s .

From T elevision to Cyberspace

W h e r e M c G r e g o r w r o te o f p o p , I w rite o f c y b e rs p a c e . P o p
w a s h is w o r d f o r th e je ts a m t h a t d r if te d th r o u g h th e e x p e r i­
e n c e o f e v e r y d a y li f e , a s t h e d o m i n a n t m e d i a o f t h e p o s t w a r
w o r ld c r a n k e d u p to to p s p e e d . B u t th e v e c to r s a lo n g w h ic h
im a g e s a n d s o u n d s c o m e to u s u n d e r w e n t s u b tle c h a n g e s
30 years, 15 m inutes

b e tw e e n th e 6 0 s a n d th e 9 0 s. P o p w as a p r o d u c t o f a m a ss
m e d ia age, w h e re in d u s tria l s c a le d is trib u tio n c h a n n e ls
c h u r n e d o u t b r ig h t, s h a r p , h ig h c o n tr a s t im a g e s , a im e d a t
t h e m o s t g e n e r a l q u a l i t i e s o f its a u d i e n c e . C y b e r s p a c e is a n
e m e r g e n t c u ltu re b o r n o f a p o s tb ro a d c a s t a g e , w h e re th e
d ig ita l q u a lity o f a ll i n f o r m a tio n b r e a k s d o w n th e m a s s m e d ia
im a g e in to m a n y m u ltip le a n d s h if tin g c o a le s c e n c e s o f s e n s e .
W hen M c G re g o r w ro te a b o u t p o p , it w as a to p ic th a t
in c ite d c o n flic tin g p a s s io n s . T h e c ritiq u e o f m ass m e d ia
o f f e r e d b y m a n y m o d e r n i n t e l l e c t u a l s w a s o f it s c o m p l e t e
a n d i r r e d e e m a b l e b a n a lity . M c G r e g o r w a s m o r e s u b tle . H e
d i d n o t g o a ll t h e w ay w ith C a n a d ia n lite r a r y c r itic M a rs h a ll
M cL uhan, w ho becam e a c e le b rity by e m b ra c in g it.
M c L u h a n i m a g i n e d p r i n t m e d i a a s a s o r t o f f a ll f r o m g r a c e ,
and b ro a d c a s t m e d ia as tra n s c e n d in g th e lim its o f p r i n t
c u ltu r e a n d la u n c h in g u s in to th e c o lle c tiv e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f
t h e “g l o b a l v i l l a g e . ”16 I n t h e 9 0 s , t h e p r o m i s e o f c y b e r s p a c e
a l s o i n c i t e d a r a n g e o f r e s p o n s e s . M c L u h a n ’s p r o p h e c i e s
a b o u t t h e c o m i n g o f t h e g l o b a l v i l l a g e e n j o y e d a re v iv a l,
la r g e ly s p o n s o r e d b y th e C a lif o r n ia n c y b e r c u ltu r e m a g a z in e
W ir e d . N e w Y o rk c ritic M a r k D e r y ’s c a u s t i c te rm f o r th is
M c L u h a n i t e r e v iv a li s m is “t h e o l o g y o f t h e e j e c t o r s e a t . ” 17
W h i l e t h e r e is m u c h t h a t is i l l u m i n a t i n g i n M c L u h a n ’s i n s t a -
m a tic a p h o ris m s , I fin d M c G r e g o r ’s i n q u i r i n g s c e p tic is m
m o r e c o n s is te n tly e d ify in g .
A u s tr a lia n w r ite r s w e re r a r e ly e v a n g e lic a l in th e ir e m b r a c e
o f c y b e rs p a c e . A m o r e p r a c tic a l a n d s c e p tic a l h a n d lin g o f it
p r e v a ile d a m o n g w r ite r s s u c h as D a le S p e n d e r , J o n C a s im ir,
D a n i e l P e t r i e a n d D a v i d H a r r i n g t o n . 18 A s i f t o ( o v e r ) c o m ­
p e n s a te , J o h n N ie u w e n h u iz e n r a n te d a g a in s t c y b e rsp a c e as
“c u l t u r a l A I D S ”. 19 B o t h N i e u w e n h u i z e n a n d h i s o p p o n e n t s in
th is d e b a te te n d e d to o v e r-e s tim a te th e n o v e lty o f th is p a r tic ­
u l a r ‘i n f o r m a t i o n r e v o l u t i o n ’, a s i f t h e r e h a d n o t b e e n a
w h o le s e rie s o f in f o r m a tio n r e v o lu tio n s in th e p a s t c e n tu ry ,
e a c h o f w h i c h b r o u g h t a u n i q u e s e t o f c h a n g e s i n its w a k e .
I t is s i m p l y n o t t h e c a s e t h a t c y b e r s p a c e b o o t s - u p o u t o f
n o w h e r e w i t h t h e i n t e r n e t . N o r is t h e i n t e r n e t a u n i q u e o r
r a d ic a l b r e a k in v e c to r a l h is to ry . E v e n b e f o r e t h e f e d e r a tio n
o f th e c o lo n ie s , A u s tra lia w as c a u g h t u p in a w h o le s e rie s o f
te c h n o lo g ic a l c h a n g e s th a t g e n e r a te d n e w v e c to rs f o r s to r in g
o r d i s t r i b u t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n . C o m m u n i c a t i o n s h i s t o r i a n K .T .
 from te lev is io n to c y b e r s p a c e

L i v i n g s t o n lis ts t e l e g r a p h y ( 1 8 4 0 s ) , r o t a r y p r i n t i n g ( 1 8 4 0 s ) ,
th e ty p e w rite r (1 8 6 0 s ), tr a n s a tla n tic c a b le ( 1 8 6 6 ), te le p h o n e
(1 8 7 6 ), m o ti o n p ic tu r e s ( 1 8 9 4 ) , w ire le s s te le g r a p h y (1 8 9 9 ),
m a g n e tic ta p e r e c o r d i n g ( 1 8 9 0 s ), r a d i o (1 9 0 6 ) a n d te le v is io n
(1 9 2 3 ) a s s ig n ific a n t in v e n tio n s th a t c r e a te d n e w c o m m u n i­
c a t i o n p o s s i b i l i t i e s . 20 C y b e r s p a c e is a n e m e r g e n t p r o p e r t y t h a t
a ris e s o u t o f th e c u m u la tiv e g ro w th o f e v e r m o r e s u p p le ,
s u b t l e , p e r v a s i v e a n d in v a s i v e v e c t o r s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n .
R a th e r th a n see th in g s in a te c h n o lo g ic a l d e te rm in is t
fa s h io n , w h e r e th e s e n e w v e c to rs d riv e c h a n g e s in e v e r y th in g
e l s e , I t h i n k i t m a k e s m o r e s e n s e t o a d o p t a ‘t e c h n o l o g i c a l p o s -
s ib ili s t’ view . L i v i n g s t o n e h a s a n i n t e r e s t i n g t a k e o n t h e e x t e n t
t o w h i c h t h e p o s s i b i lit y o f t e l e g r a p h y m a d e i t p o s s i b l e f o r t h e
c o m p e tin g c o lo n ie s o n th e A u s tr a lia n c o n t i n e n t to th in k a b o u t
c o o p e r a tio n . H e p o in ts o u t th a t te le g r a p h y w as a s ig n ific a n t
t o p i c o f d e b a t e a m o n g p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s in i n t e r - c o l o n i a l f o r u m s
i n t h e l o n g , s lo w p r o c e s s o f f e d e r a t i n g t h e c o l o n i e s . N e w t e c h ­
n o lo g ie s m a k e p o s s ib le n e w v e c to rs , a lo n g w h ic h in f o r m a tio n
c a n tr a v e l m o r e q u ic k ly , m o r e r e lia b ly , m o r e a c c u r a t e l y o r i n
g r e a t e r q u a n t i t y . T h e s e v e c t o r s c r e a t e a m a t r i x w h i c h m a k e s it
p o s s ib le to g e n e r a te n e w f o r m s o f p o litic a l o r c u ltu r a l a c tio n .
T h e s e f o r m s o f p o litic a l a n d c u ltu r a l a c tio n c a n in t u r n s h a p e
t h e w a y t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n o f v e c t o r s is i m p l e m e n t e d .
T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t e l e g r a p h y a n d f e d e r a t i o n is a n
in te r e s tin g la te 1 9 th c e n t u r y in s ta n c e o f s u c h a c o n n e c tio n
b e tw e e n a v e c to r a n d th e k in d s o f a c tio n it e n a b le s , a n d
w h ic h in tu rn fu rth e rs th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e v e c to r.
T e le g ra p h y b r o u g h t b u s in e s s a n d p o litic a l e lite s in to an
e m e r g i n g n a t i o n a l s p a c e , w h i l e m a n y o r d i n a r y p e o p l e liv e d
in a m o r e lo c a l m a tr ix o f v e c to rs . I n t h e 2 0 th c e n tu r y , te le v i­
s io n a n d th e t e le p h o n e e x te n d e d th e n a tio n a l s p a c e in to
o r d i n a r y p e o p l e ’s liv e s , w h i l e b u s i n e s s a n d p o l i t i c a l e l i t e s
c o n n e c te d in to a g ro w in g g lo b a l n e tw o rk o f c o m m u n ic a tio n .
T e le v is io n m akes it p o s s ib le to g e n e ra te v a st p u b lic s ,
a t t u n e d s im u lta n e o u s ly to th e s a m e m e s s a g e ; th e te le p h o n e
m akes it p o s s ib le to c o o rd in a te p e rso n a l c o n n e c tio n s ,
e x c h a n g in g p a rtic u la r and s e lf g e n e ra te d m e s s a g e s . 21
T h r o u g h t h e te le v is io n a n d t h e t e l e p h o n e , q u ite d i f f e r e n t
k in d s o f c u ltu re c o a le s c e : o n e based on n o rm a tiv e and
m a jo r ita r ia n m e ssa g e s; th e o t h e r a t le a s t p o te n tia lly e n a b lin g
th e fo r m a tio n o f m a r g in a l a n d m in o rity c u ltu re s .
30 years, 15 m inutes

T h ro u g h th e te le v is io n and te le p h o n e , q u ite d iffe re n t

fo rm s o f p o litic a l a c tio n c a n b e g e n e r a te d . T h e e le c tio n c a m ­
p a ig n s o f th e m a jo r p a r u e s u s e te le v is io n to s p ra y m e s s a g e s
a s w i d e ly a s p o s s i b l e , t r y i n g t o c a t c h t h e t r a n s i e n t a t t e n d o n
o f u n c o m m itte d v o te rs . T h e te le p h o n e , o n th e o t h e r h a n d ,
is t h e w e a p o n o f c h o i c e o f t h e m a c h i n e p o l i t i c i a n , l o b b y i n g
a n d p e r s u a d in g o n e o n o n e . O r a s th e c o n s e rv a tiv e p a r tie s
l e a r n e d , i t c a n b e u s e d f o r a g g r e s s i v e ‘p u s h p o l l i n g ’, w h e r e
p a r ty o p e r a tiv e s c a ll v o te r s a n d a s k l e a d i n g q u e s t i o n s t h a t a r e
c a r e f u l l y t a r g e t e d t o p a r t i c u l a r l o c a l is s u e s . P u s h p o l l i n g d o e s
n o t tr y to g a t h e r in f o r m a tio n o n v o te r in te n tio n s , b u t to
c h a n g e t h o s e i n t e n t i o n s . 22
C o m m u n ic a tio n s h is to ria n s G ra e m e O s b o r n e and G le n
L e w is a r g u e t h a t t h e r e h a v e b e e n t h r e e p e r s i s t e n t t h e m e s i n
A u s t r a l i a n d e b a t e s a b o u t c o m m u n i c a t i o n . T h e f i r s t is a t e c h ­
n o c r a tic c o n c e r n w ith b u ild in g in f r a s tr u c tu r e f o r n a tio n a l
d e v e lo p m e n t. F o r a lo n g tim e d e b a te c e n tr e d o n w h ic h k in d s
o f g o v e r n m e n t in s titu tio n o u g h t to im p le m e n t w h ic h k in d s
o f te c h n o lo g y , b u t th e ris e o f a n a r g u m e n t in fa v o u r o f
m a r k e t- le d d e v e lo p m e n t in th e 8 0 s w a s n o t u n p r e c e d e n t e d .
A s e c o n d t h e m e is t h e v ie w o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n a s a n a g e n t o f
s o c ia l c o n tr o l. T h e c r itic a l li t e r a t u r e w h ic h d e c r ie s t h e c o n ­
tr o llin g in f lu e n c e o f m e d ia th a t ro s e to p r o m in e n c e s in c e
th e 6 0 s re a lly j u s t re v e rs e s th e v a lu e o f lo n g - h e ld a s s u m p tio n s
a b o u t th e p o w e r o f c o m m u n ic a tio n . W a rtim e p r o p a g a n d a
m a n a g e r s o f th e 4 0 s saw c o n tr o l a s a g o o d th in g , w h ile j o u r ­
n a lis ts o f th e 9 0 s w h o h a d to w o rk in th e s h a d o w o f c o r p o r a te
m e d i a i n t e r e s t s t o o k t h e c o n t r a r y v iew . T h e t h i r d t h e m e is
th e c o n c e r n o v e r th e r o le o f c o m m u n ic a tio n in c o m m u n ity
a n d c u ltu r e . S o m e saw c o m m e r c ia l m e d ia a s h a v in g a p a r tic ­
u la rly p o is o n o u s e ffe c t on c o m m u n ity ; o th e rs , such as
M c G r e g o r , a d o p t e d a m o r e s u b t l e v ie w o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p
b e tw e e n c o m m u n ic a tio n a n d c u ltu re .
E a c h o f th e s e t h r e e th e m e s ta k e s o n a n e w in f le c tio n as
p o p g iv e s w a y t o c y b e r s p a c e . F o r O s b o r n e a n d L e w is , t h e
te c h n o lo g ic a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e v e c to r, f r o m th e te le ­
g r a p h t o t h e i n t e r n e t , “d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o h a v e o v e r c o m e
th e s e n s e o f s o c ia l is o la tio n o r th e e x is te n c e o f a n in a r tic u ­
l a t e c i t i z e n s h i p . ” I t is n o t e n o u g h , t h e y a r g u e , t o i m p r o v e
t h e t e c h n o l o g y . T h e r e is a l s o “a f u n d a m e n t a l s e n s e i n w h i c h
th e q u e s tio n o f v a lu e s n e e d s to b e a d d r e s s e d b y s tu d e n ts o f
 concep tu alising cybersp ace

c o m m u n i c a t i o n i f it s r o l e i n c o m m u n i t y c r e a t i o n is t o b e
b e t t e r u n d e r s t o o d . ”23 I n C e le b r itie s , C u l t u r e a n d C y b e r s p a c e , m y
a im is l i m i t e d t o l o o k i n g i n t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f v a l u e s
w ith in th e c o m m u n ic a tio n s m a tr ix e m e r g in g a t th e e n d o f
th e c e n tu ry .
I a g re e w ith w rite rs such as K .T . L iv in g s to n , G ra e m e
O s b o r n e a n d G l e n L e w is t h a t t h e h i s t o r i c a l d i m e n s i o n t o
c o m m u n ic a tio n h a s b e e n u n ju s tly ig n o r e d , b u t I w o u ld a d d
t h a t i t is a l s o n e c e s s a r y t o d e v e lo p c o n c e p ts o u t o f th a t
h i s t o r y . I ’m l o o k i n g f o r c o n c e p t s t h a t n o t o n l y g r a s p t h e p a s t ,
b u t c a n a r tic u la te p o s s ib le f u tu r e s ; c o n c e p ts th a t n o t o n ly
g r a s p t h e te c h n ic a l a n d s o c ia l a s p e c ts o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n , b u t
t h e s u b j e c t i v e a n d e x p e r i e n t i a l s i d e a s w e ll; c o n c e p t s t h a t
m ig h t h e lp a r tic u la te a d e b a te a b o u t th e fa ir g o o n th e c u s p
b e tw e e n th e b r o a d c a s t e r a o f r a d io a n d te le v is io n , a n d th e
p o s tb ro a d c a s t e ra o f c y b e rsp a c e .

C o n cep tu a lisin g Cyberspace

“I b e l o n g t o t h e f i r s t g e n e r a t i o n i n A u s t r a l i a b o r n i n t o a
w o rld in w h ic h te le v is io n a l r e a d y e x i s t e d ”, w r i t e s D e a k i n
U n i v e r s i t y a c a d e m i c S c o t t M c Q u i r e . 241 t h i n k h e a l s o b e l o n g s
to th e firs t g e n e r a tio n o f A u s tra lia n m e d ia th e o r is ts u s in g
th is life tim e o f e x p e r ie n c e a s a b a c k g r o u n d fo r th in k in g
a b o u t h o w m e d ia te c h n o lo g ie s tr a n s f o r m b o th o u r c o n s c io u s
a n d u n c o n s c i o u s liv e s i n a n o n g o i n g w ay. F o r t h o s e o f u s
r a i s e d b y t e l e v i s i o n , t h e s o - c a l l e d G e n e r a t i o n X , i t is c l e a r
t h a t o u r p e r c e p tio n s a r e d if f e r e n t to th o s e w h o p r e c e d e d u s,
w h o w e re w e a n e d o n c in e m a a n d ra d io . W e a re n o b e tte r, n o
w o r s e , j u s t d i f f e r e n t . W h a t is e m e r g i n g i n A u s t r a l i a n m e d i a
s t u d i e s is a d e s i r e t o c o n f r o n t t h e c h a n g e s t o m e d i a f o r m
s in c e te le v is io n o n th e b a s is o f th is e x p e r i e n c e o f a p r i o r
tr a n s f o r m a tio n o f w h ic h w e a r e th e p r o d u c t.
“C y b e r s p a c e is t h e d e f i n i n g f i g u r e f o r a s e n s i b i l i t y p r o ­
duced by m e d ia te d c u l t u r e s ”, w r i t e s D a rre n T o fts f r o m
S w in b u rn e U n iv e rs ity , a n o t h e r o f t h e TV g e n e ra tio n of
m e d i a t h e o r i s t s . 25 I n h i s e x p e r i e n c e , “c y b e r s p a c e . . . i n v o k e s a
ta n ta lis in g a b s tr a c tio n , th e s ta te o f in c o rp o re a lity , o f d is e m ­
b o d i e d i m m e r s i o n i n a ‘s p a c e ’ t h a t h a s n o c o - o r d i n a t e s in
a c t u a l s p a c e ”. W h i l e i t m a y a p p e a r t o s o m e t h a t t e c h n o l o ­
g ie s lik e th e in te r n e t, m u ltim e d ia , h y p e rte x t a n d so o n
30 y e a rs , 15 m in u te s

c r e a t e d t h i s s p a c e e x n i h i l , T o f t s i n s i s t s t h a t “c y b e r s p a c e h a s
its o w n s e d i m e n t a r y r e c o r d , a n d a c c o r d in g ly r e q u i r e s a n
a r c h a e o l o g y ”. T h e s e a r e j u s t t h e l a t e s t g a d g e t s i n a l o n g
p ro c e s s o f te c h n o lo g is in g th e p e r c e p tio n s th r o u g h w h ic h
o u r b o d ie s n e g o tia te th e w o rld .
M c Q u ir e a n d T o fts g o l o o k in g in d i f f e r e n t p la c e s f o r th e
c o n c e p t u a l p r e h i s t o r y o f c y b e r s p a c e . T o f t s is i n t e r e s t e d i n
t e c h n o l o g i e s o f w r i t i n g , f r o m t h e c la y t a b l e t t o t h e t y p e w r i t e r
to th e in te r n e t. M c Q u ire tra c e s th e e ffe c ts o f p h o to g r a p h y :
“T h e a b i l i t y t o w i t n e s s t h i n g s o u t s i d e a l l p r e v i o u s l i m i t s o f
t i m e a n d s p a c e h i g h l i g h t s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e c a m e r a d o e s n ’t
o n l y g iv e u s a n e w m e a n s t o r e p r e s e n t e x p e r i e n c e : i t c h a n g e s
t h e n a t u r e o f e x p e r i e n c e ”. W h i l e h e is s h y o f u s i n g t h e t e r m ,
h e s e e s i n p h o t o g r a p h y a c a u s e f o r t h e “a n x i o u s f a s c i n a t i o n
w i t h c y b e r s p a c e ”.
I n m y f ir s t b o o k , V ir tu a l G eo g ra p h y, I t r i e d to ta c k le a d if­
f e r e n t a s p e c t o f t h e e v o l u t i o n o f c y b e r s p a c e . 26 E v e r s i n c e t h e
te le g ra p h , te c h n o lo g ie s have d e v e lo p e d th a t p e rm it th e
tra n s m is s io n o f in fo rm a tio n th a t can m ove m o re q u ic k ly
t h a n p e o p l e o r t h i n g s . 27 T h e t e l e g r a p h , t e l e p h o n e , t e l e v i s i o n
a r e s te p s in th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f te le s th e s ia , o r p e r c e p tio n a t
a d is ta n c e . B e in g a b le to p e rc e iv e e v e n ts e ls e w h e re m a k e s it
p o s s ib le to t h i n k a n d a c t o n a s c a le f a r b e y o n d t h e lo c a l b u t
w ith th e s p e e d o f th e im m e d ia te . T h e i n t e r n e t e x te n d s a n d
r e f in e s th e s e c a p a c itie s .
W h ile I ta k e a d if f e r e n t a s p e c t o f th e p a s t e v o lu tio n o f
m e d i a f o r m a s th e b a s is f o r t h in k i n g a b o u t t h e e m e r g e n c e
a n d p o te n tia l o f c y b e rs p a c e to T o fts a n d M c Q u ir e , I s h a r e a
s i m i l a r e x p e r i e n c e t o t h e s e o t h e r tw o c h i l d r e n o f t e l e v i s i o n .
I t is s i n c e t e l e v i s i o n b r o u g h t s o u n d a n d p i c t u r e s r i g h t i n t o
t h e li v i n g r o o m t h a t t h e d e g r e e t o w h i c h m e d i a p e r v a d e a n d
t r a n s f o r m s o c i a l s p a c e h a s r e a l l y s t a r t e d t o s i n k i n , b u t i t is
o n l y o n t h e b a s i s o f b e i n g i m m e r s e d i n t e l e v i s i o n t h a t i t is
p o s s ib le to th in k a b o u t th e f u r t h e r p o te n tia l f o r th e tr a n s ­
f o r m a tio n o f c u ltu r e b y th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e s e v e c to rs .
T h e r e is a c h a r m i n g e n t h u s i a s m i n C r a i g M c G r e g o r ’s e x p e ­
r i e n c e o f p o p t h a t I t h i n k is a b i t l o s t o n m e . P o p w a s a l r e a d y
g o i n g s t a l e i n m y t i m e , a n d li k e T o f t s a n d M c Q u i r e I ’m t o o
o ld to e x p e r ie n c e th e c y b e rh y p e a b o u t th e in te r n e t w ith o u t
s o m e ir o n y . F o r M c G r e g o r , p o p w a s a p o t e n t i a l l y l i b e r a t i n g
fo rc e ; f o r s o m e p e o p le c y b e rs p a c e w a s a ls o m e a n t to lib e r a te
 conceptualising cybersp ace

us — fro m t h e t y r a n n y o f p o p c u l t u r e a n d it s m a s s m e d i a
v e c to rs . T h e a r t o f w r itin g m e d ia t h e o r y in th e 9 0 s, h a v in g
e x p e r ie n c e d m o r e th a n o n e w av e o f m e d ia c h a n g e fire u p
t h e i m a g i n a t i o n , is t o s t e e r b e t w e e n t h e e x t r e m e s o f c y b e r ­
h y p e a n d t e c h n o f e a r . B u t t h i s ‘t h i r d w a y ’ is n o t j u s t a m a t t e r
o f m u d d lin g th r o u g h to a m id d le o f th e r o a d p o s itio n . T h o s e
w h o s t a n d i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e r o a d g e t r u n o v e r . I t is a q u e s ­
tio n o f e x a m in in g w h a t th e re a l p o te n tia ls a r e th a t lu r k as y e t
u n d i s c o v e r e d i n t h e m e d i a ’s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s o f c u l t u r e . T h e
w rite rs w h o g a th e r e d a r o u n d th e M e lb o u rn e -b a s e d 2 1 C m a g ­
a z i n e , i n c l u d i n g D a r r e n T o f t s , M a r k D e r y a n d m y s e lf , t r i e d
to a r tic u la te a h is to r ic a lly a n d c u ltu r a lly s e n s itiv e r e a d i n g o f
c y b e r c u ltu r e th a t c o u ld b e c ritic a l b u t n o t to o n e g a tiv e , c r e ­
a t i v e b u t n o t t o o n a i v e . 28
T h ir ty y e a rs a g o th e r e w as s o m e th in g o f a n u n h o ly a llia n c e
o f t h e n e w l e f t a n d t h e o l d r i g h t ‘i n t e l l e c t u a l s ’ a g a i n s t n e w
f o r m s o f m e d i a - d r i v e n c u l t u r e . T h i s r a i s e d it s h e a d a g a i n in
th e 90 s. T h e c o n s e r v a tiv e p u n d i t a n d v e te r a n c o ld w a r r io r
R o b e r t M a n n e c o m m a n d e d s u p p o r t o n b o th le ft a n d r ig h t
b y r e v a m p i n g t h e b o g e y o f “p e r m i s s i v e n e s s ” a n d a r g u i n g i n
fa v o u r o f a r e tu r n to c e n s o rs h ip . H e th o u g h t th e s c re e n v e r­
s i o n s o f J a n e A u s t e n ’s n o v e l s t h a t w e r e p o p u l a r i n t h e 9 0 s
w e r e g o o d m o d e l s o f fa m ily lo v e . H e s e e m e d n o t to n o t i c e
th a t th e y p o r tr a y e d a n e r a w h e n w o m e n w e re b a r r e d f r o m
re a l jo b s , fro m p u b lic life a n d c o u ld n o t even ow n an d
t r a n s m i t p r o p e r t y . 29
M e a n w h ile , S e n a to r R ic h a rd A ls to n , as M in is te r fo r
C o m m u n i c a tio n s a n d t h e A rts , e x e r t e d in f l u e n c e to r e s tr ic t
o u r lib e r ty t o c h o o s e w h a t w e w a n t to s e e o n te le v is io n , film
a n d v id e o . H e r e lie d o n r a t h e r c r u d e r a n d m o r e th e o lo g ic a l
s c a re m o n g e rin g th a n M anne. T h e re w o u ld be no m o re
“e l e c t r o n i c S o d o m a n d G o m o r r a h ” , l i k e t h e p o p u l a r c o m ­
m e r c ia l T V s e x a n d r e la tio n s h ip s h o w S e x /L ife , if A ls to n h a d
h i s w ay . A s c o l u m n i s t B r i a n T oohey re m a rk e d , “S a d ly , a
w r a th f u l G o d h a s y e t to t u r n S e x /L ife v ie w e rs i n t o p illa r s o f
s a l t . ”30
R o b e r t M a n n e ’s k i n d o f n o s t a l g i a f o r a n o n e x i s t e n t p a s t is
no le s s a b su rd th a n th e M c L u h a n ite c y b e rh y p e fo r an
im p o s s ib ly u to p ia n f u tu r e . B u t a lo n g s id e th e s e tir e d th e m e s
o f c o n tro l a n d d e v e lo p m e n t, th e th ir d th e m e O s b o r n e a n d
L e w is i d e n t i f y , t h e t h e m e o f c o m m u n i t y a n d i d e n t i t y , h a s
30 years, 15 m inutes

o p e n e d u p in to a m u c h m o re p ro d u c tiv e d e b a te . W h a t I
w o u ld c a ll t h e v ir tu a l d i m e n s i o n o f c h a n g e , th e c re a tiv e
p o te n tia l to m a k e th in g s o th e r w is e , h a s o p e n e d u p w ith in
th e s p a c e c r e a te d b y c h a n g in g m e d ia v e c to rs . C y b e rs p a c e
c o n ta in s w ith in it m a n y p o s s ib le f o r m s o f c o m m u n ity a n d
c u l t u r e t h a t h a v e y e t t o b e a c t u a l i s e d . W h a t I c a l l u r b a n i t y is
th e a r t, c u ltu r e a n d p o litic s o f tr y in g to r e a lis e th e v irtu a lity
th a t c e le b ritie s e m b o d y , th a t c u ltu re e x p re sse s, th a t c y b e r­
s p a c e e n a b le s .

In tellectu a ls and T a lk in g H ea d s

I n th e la te 9 0 s m a n y o n w h a t w as o n c e th e le f t e ith e r a c q u i­
e s c e d t o t h e m o r a l a u t h o r i t a r i a n v ie w s o f A l s t o n a n d M a n n e ,
o r a c t iv e ly s u p p o r t e d t h e m . T h e i d e a o f l i b e r t y s e e m e d t o
h a v e r u n o u t o f ju ic e b e tw e e n th e 6 0 s a n d th e 9 0 s. O n th e
r o a d t o b u i l d i n g a f a i r a n d j u s t a n d f r e e s o c ie ty , m a n y s e e m e d
to d e c id e s o m e w h e r e t h a t th e r e w as n o t e n o u g h p e tr o l to g e t
u s th e r e . S e e in g th e g a u g e w a v e r a r o u n d th e h a lf w ay m a rk ,
‘i n t e l l e c t u a l s ’ o n b o t h t h e l e f t a n d t h e r i g h t d e c l a r e d t h e
ta n k h a lf e m p ty , a n d a d v o c a te d t u r n i n g b a c k . F e w o n th e le ft
o r th e r i g h t r e a lis e d t h a t t h e ta n k c o u ld a ls o b e s e e n a s h a l f
f u ll — w ith e n o u g h to p r e s s o n . B e tw e e n t h e 6 0 s a n d t h e 9 0 s,
c ritic is m b e c a m e a p e rv a s iv e f o r m i n w h i c h ‘i n t e l l e c t u a l s ’
a s s e r te d th e m s e lv e s .
I ’m n o t h a p p y w i t h t h e t e r m ‘i n t e l l e c t u a l ’. A s b r o a d c a s t e r
R o b e r t D e s s a ix d i s c o v e r e d w h e n h e c o n d u c t e d i n t e r v i e w s f o r
a b o o k a n d r a d io p r o g r a m o n th e to p ic , A u s tra lia n in te lle c ­
tu a ls a r e w ary o f b e in g c a lle d in te lle c tu a ls . U n lik e th e ir
F re n c h c o u n te rp a rts , “A n y A u s tra lia n w hose nam e w as
i n c l u d e d i n a D i c t i o n a r y o f A u s t r a l i a n I n t e l l e c tu a ls w o u l d v e r y
lik e ly s u e f o r l i b e l . ”31 D e s s a ix d a r e d t o e x t e n d t h e t e r m t o a
n u m b e r o f i n t e r v i e w e e s , i n c l u d i n g m y s e lf , w h o o f f e r e d s o m e
m e e k p r o t e s t , b u t n o w rits . N o - o n e s e e m e d t o o p r o u d t o p r o ­
h i b i t D e s s a ix f r o m b e s to w in g s u c h a title o v e r t h e p r e t e n c e o f
o b je c tio n s , b u t p e r h a p s A u s tra lia n in te lle c tu a ls p r o te s t to o
li ttl e .
W e c a n a ll o b s e r v e t h a t h e a d s a n d s h o u ld e r s f r e q u e n t ly
a p p e a r , o n t e l e v i s i o n a n d b e h i n d l e c t e r n s a t w r i t e r ’s f e s tiv a ls
a n d o t h e r l i t e r a r y p o p fe s ti v a ls . T h e s e h e a d s m a y o r m a y n o t
b e a t t a c h e d to b o d ie s . T h e s e h e a d s a r e g iv e n tim e in w h ic h
 intellectuals and talking heads

th e to p h a l f o f th e h e a d m a y h in g e u p a n d d o w n r e la tiv e to
th e b o tto m h a lf, a llo w in g s o u n d s , e m itte d f r o m th e m o u th ,
to f o rm w h a t ta lk in g h e a d s q u a lifie d to s p e a k a b o u t th e s e
m a t t e r s c a ll s p e e c h . T h is s p e e c h m a y o r m a y n o t b e a t t a c h e d
t o a n i n t e l l i g e n c e , b u t t h a t t o o is a m a t t e r f o r c o n j e c t u r e .
H ence th e te rm in te lle c tu a l c a lls fo r an u n w a rra n te d
a s s u m p tio n . O n th e e v id e n c e R o b e r t D e s s a ix p r o v id e s , in te l­
l i g e n c e is n o t c o n s i s t e n t l y d e m o n s t r a t e d b y t h e u t t e r a n c e s o f
ta lk in g h e a d s — in c lu d in g m y o w n . E m p iric a lly s p e a k in g ,
th e te r m ta lk in g h e a d s s e e m s m o r e a c c u r a te th a n th e te r m
in te lle c tu a ls .
F r o m th e 6 0 s to th e 9 0 s, th e v a lu e o f w h a t ta lk in g h e a d s say
c a m e to d e p e n d o n th e ir a b ility to say w h a t w a s la c k in g in
w h a t th e y saw a r o u n d th e m . N e g a tiv e e v a lu a tio n b e c a m e th e
n o r m ; t h e t a lk in g h e a d b e c a m e a n a y -s a y in g c e le b r ity . W h a t
fe ll b y t h e w a y s id e w a s a c r e a tiv e a n d p o s itiv e a s s e s s m e n t o f
th e p o te n tia l th a t th e a c tu a l s ta te o f th in g s m ig h t c o n ta in f o r
im p r o v e m e n ts in ju s tic e , lib e r ty a n d fa irn e s s , o r e v e n f o r n e w
a n d u n p r e c e d e n t e d v a lu e s .
T h e 6 0 s sa w th e ris e o f a r a d ic a l a tta c k o n th e c o n s e r v a ­
tiv e m a i n s t r e a m o f t h e M e n z i e s e r a ; t h e 9 0 s s a w a c o n s e r v a ­
tiv e c o u n t e r a t t a c k a g a i n s t t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l i s e d f o r m s o f
u r b a n e lib e rta ria n is m th a t e x is te d d u r in g th e H a w k e y e a rs.
The 60s w as w hen e c o n o m ic lu c k seem ed s till to be
h o ld in g ; th e 9 0 s w as w h e n e v e ry o n e re a lis e d th e lu c k h a d
r u n o u t. I n th e 6 0 s, r a d ic a ls c o n f r o n t e d t h e i r s o c ie ty w ith
o p t i m i s m a n d m a r s h a l l e d a w ill f o r c h a n g e ; i n t h e 9 0 s , c o n ­
s e rv a tiv e s s h o u t e d d o w n a n y ta lk o f m a k in g life b e tte r , a n d
p re a c h e d c o m p u ls o ry m o ra lity as th e o n ly w ay to s to p
th in g s g e ttin g w o rse .
I s u s p e c t th a t w ritin g in th e w a k e o f th e 9 0 s m ig h t b e h a r d e r
th a n w ritin g a f te r th e 60s. T h e s e a r e b o th p e r io d s w h e n a
w r ite r o f th e le ft c o u ld n o t a s s u m e t h a t h e r o r h is p o s itio n in
A u s t r a l i a n s o c i e t y c a r r i e d a n y le g it im a c y . T h e d i f f e r e n c e is
th a t in t h e 6 0 s th e r e w a s a le g itim a c y to b e w o n . A s th e bon
v i v a n t d i n A g a y a d v e n t u r e r P e t e r B la z e y w r o t e o f M e l b o u r n e in
t h e 6 0 s : “a s t h e V i e t n a m w a r g a t h e r e d p a c e , C a r l t o n ’s s o c i a l
l e p e r s b e c a m e m o r a l l y s u p e r i o r t o S o u t h Y a r r a ’s s il v e r ta il s
w h o h a d m a n i f e s t l y b a c k e d t h e w r o n g h o r s e ”.32
I n th e 9 0 s, it w a s le f t- le a n in g ta lk in g h e a d s , th e w r ite r s a n d
t h i n k e r s , B la z e y ’s ‘C a r l t o n ’, w h o w e r e t a g g e d w i t h t h e b l a m e
30 y ea rs , 15 m in u te s

f o r t h e s o c i a l ills o f t h e t i m e s . T h e C a n b e r r a e c o n o m i s t s t h a t
s o c io lo g is t M ic h a e l P u se y la b e lle d “e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s t s ”
had to c a rry th e can fo r th e e c o n o m ic in e q u a litie s a n d
u n c e r t a i n t i e s o f t h e 9 0 s .33 T h e s o c i a l r a t i o n a l i s m t h a t a c c o m ­
p a n ie d it w as s h e e te d h o m e to th e u r b a n e in s tin c ts o f th e
le ft. The p o p u la rity of th e re a c tio n a ry w ritin g o f Paul
Sheehan is s y m p t o m a t i c o f t h i s . 34 B e t w e e n th e u n tim e ly
d e a t h o f t h e f r e e t h i n k i n g a n d f r e e w h e e l i n g B la z e y a n d t h e
ris e o f th e a c c u s a to r y a n d s c a p e g o a tin g S h e e h a n , th e tim e s
w e re a -c h a n g in g — b a c k .
O r so th e new re a c tio n a ry c e le b rite s , f ro m H anson to
S h e e h a n , im a g in e d . B u t in s o m e r e s p e c ts th e d y n a m is m o f
te c h n ic a l c h a n g e in m e d ia v e c to rs , f r o m th e 6 0 s to th e 9 0 s,
irre v e rs ib ly a lte r e d th e c u ltu r a l la n d s c a p e o f A u s tra lia . T h e
e r a o f m a s s ifie d p o p m e d ia b e g a n g iv in g w ay to a n e r a o f
d i v e r s i f i e d c y b e r s p a c e . W h e r e t h e r e ’s a v e c t o r a l o n g w h i c h
p e o p l e m i g h t i m a g i n e n e w w a y s o f li f e , t h e n t h e r e is h o p e .
T e c h n o l o g i e s d o n o t c r e a t e u t o p i a s a ll b y t h e m s e l v e s . R a t h e r ,
th e y o f f e r th e p o te n tia l f o r p r o p o s in g n e w im a g e s a n d id e a s
o f t h e g o o d lif e w i t h w h i c h p e o p l e m i g h t c h o o s e t o t h i n k a n d
a c t o f th e ir o w n a c c o rd .
T h e o p e n in g u p o f s u c h p o s s ib ilitie s d o e s n o t m e a n th a t
o n ly g o o d p o s s ib ilitie s e v e n tu a te . T h e f lo u r is h in g o f th e p o p ­
u lis t r ig h t o w e s a s m u c h to th e o n g o in g m e d ia r e v o lu tio n as
d o es G re e n p o litic s a n d o t h e r r a d ic a l s o c ia l m o v e m e n ts .
C h e a p a n d fa s t m e d ia v e c to rs , f r o m d e s k to p p u b lis h in g to
th e in t e r n e t , e n a b le d a m u c h m o r e d iv e rs e f r in g e o f c u ltu r e s
to c o o r d in a te a n d o r g a n is e th e m s e lv e s . T h e w e b s ite f o r
P a u l i n e H a n s o n ’s O n e N a t i o n P a r t y L t d , e s t a b l i s h e d i n A p r i l
1 9 9 7 , h a d 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 h i t s o v e r t h e f o l l o w i n g 1 4 m o n t h s . 35
T h e d is p e r s e d m e d ia v e c to rs o f c y b e rs p a c e w e re o n e f a c to r
th a t e n a b le d p o p u lis t m o v e m e n ts to r e a c h th e p o in t in th e
9 0 s w h e r e th e y c o u ld c h a lle n g e th e le g itim a c y o f m a in s tr e a m
p o litic a l c u ltu re fro m b o th rig h t and le f t . The G re e n s
b r o u g h t d o w n th e Q u e e n s la n d G o ss L a b o r g o v e rn m e n t, a n d
O n e N a tio n b r o u g h t d o w n th e B o rb id g e N a tio n a l g o v e rn ­
m e n t t h a t s u c c e e d e d it. T h e m a j o r p a r t i e s a r e n o l o n g e r i n a
m o n o p o ly p o s itio n in c a p tu r in g g ra ss ro o ts e le c to ra l s u p p o r t
o n t h e g r o u n d a n d c o m b i n i n g it w ith m e d i a c lo u t.
I n t h i s b o o k , I ’m p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e e f f e c t s
o f th is tr a n s f o r m a tio n o n th e f o r tu n e s o f th e A u s tra lia n
 intellectuals and talking heads

L a b o r P a rty , a n d h o w i t m i g h t r e s p o n d to th e m . I th i n k
L a b o r s till o f f e r s t h e b e s t c h a n c e f o r r e c o n c i l i n g j u s t i c e
w ith lib e rty , g o v e r n m e n t w ith m a r k e t, a n d a d a p t i n g th e f a ir
g o to a c h a n g in g w o rld . I n th is b o o k I s id e w ith th e a g e n d a
f o r r a d ic a l e c o n o m ic r e f o r m a n d w ith th e f o r c e s f o r r a d ic a l
c u ltu r a l c h a n g e , b u t I te m p e r th is w ith a p r u d e n t a f f ir m a ­
tio n o f th e v a lu e o f t r a d itio n a l s o c ia l in s titu tio n s , s u c h as
p a rlia m e n ta ry d e m o c ra c y , a n d th e in s titu tio n o f th e L a b o r
P a rty w h ic h s e e k s p o w e r b y c o m p o s in g e le c to r a l m a jo ritie s
a c ro ss u rb a n , s u b u rb a n and r u r a l e le c to ra te s . L a b o r h a s
a lw a y s b e e n t h e p r a c t i c a l m e a n s o f a d v a n c i n g c h a n g e , b u t i f
L a b o r is t o r e m a i n t h e p a r t y o f t h e p e o p l e , i t h a s t o u n d e r ­
s ta n d th e c u ltu r e o f th e p e o p le . T h e lig h t o n th e h ill, th e
tr a d itio n a l im a g e o f L a b o r in s p ir a tio n a n d a s p ira tio n , m ay
e m a n a te fro m th e c a th o d e ra y tu b e ra th e r th a n th e
k e r o s e n e la m p .
In th e 9 0 s, L a b o r f a c e d c h a lle n g e s , n o t j u s t fro m th e o th e r
in s titu tio n a lis e d p a rtie s , b u t f r o m n e w p o p u lis t fo rc e s o n
b o th th e le f t a n d th e r ig h t. W h a t m a d e it p o s s ib le to o r g a n is e
e ffe c tiv e ly o u ts id e o f b ig m e d i a a n d b ig p o litic s w as, b r o a d ly
s p e a k i n g , c y b e r s p a c e . T h i s is a n o t h e r f a c t o r t h a t m a d e t h e
9 0 s a h a r d tim e to w rite a b o u t. I th in k th e s h a p e a n d s p e e d
o f m e d ia in th is p o s tb ro a d c a s t a g e m a k e it a d if f e r e n t k in d o f
c u ltu r e , b u t b e c a u s e th e s e m e d ia b r e a k d o w n m a ss c o m m u ­
n i c a t i o n i n t o s m a l l e r c h a n n e l s , i t ’s v e r y h a r d t o g e n e r a l i s e a s
t o w h a t t h a t c u l t u r e m i g h t l o o k lik e .
W h a t m a d e th e p o s s ib ility o f c h a lle n g in g m a in s tr e a m p o li­
t ic s a n d c u l t u r e a r e a l i t y i n t h e l a t e 9 0 s w a s t h e s e l f - i n f l i c t e d
lo s s o f l e g i t i m a c y o f t h e m a in s tre a m . T h e p u b lic s ta rte d
c h o o s in g th e ir o w n ta lk in g h e a d s fr o m o u ts id e th e m ass
m e d ia ta n k , a n d th e m a ss m e d ia h a d n o c h o ic e , in th e e n d ,
b u t to a c c e p t B o b B ro w n a n d P a u lin e H a n s o n . B o th a re
c u r io u s e x a m p le s o f v e r y d i f f e r e n t k in d s o f a c tiv is t c e le b rity ,
c o m in g in to th e m e d ia fro m th e p ro v in c e s r a th e r th a n fro m
th e u r b a n c e n tre .
G r e e n p o litic s a n d O n e N a tio n p o p u lis m a rtic u la te v e ry
d i f f e r e n t v i s i o n s o f t h e r u r a l g o o d lif e . O n e c a m e e q u i p p e d
w ith tro u ty stre a m s , th e o t h e r w ith s e m i - a u t o m a t i c r i f le s .
B o th w e re a c h a lle n g e to th e S y d n e y /M e lb o u r n e /C a n b e r r a
tria n g le a n d th e u n e a s y m o d u s v iv e n d i b e tw e e n e c o n o m ic a n d
s o c i a l r a t i o n a l i s m s p o n s o r e d b y t h e c o u n t r y ’s u r b a n t a l k i n g
30 years, 15 m in u tes

h e a d s . I n t h e 9 0 s , t h e b u s h a n d t h e c it y j o i n e d b a t t l e f o r t h e
h e a r ts a n d m in d s o f th e s u b u rb s .

C u ltu re and Cyberspace

H o w is i t p o s s i b l e t h a t A u s t r a l i a e x i s t s ? T h e g e o g r a p h y o f
A u s t r a l i a is r e a l e n o u g h . T h e s t a t e t h a t c o n t r o l s t h e s p a c e
o f t h a t g e o g r a p h y is r e a l e n o u g h t o o . S o t o o t h e e c o n o m y
t h a t p r o d u c e s a n d d i s t r i b u t e s its w e a lth . B u t n e i t h e r g e o g ­
ra p h y , p o litic s n o r e c o n o m ic s m a k e A u s tra lia re a l to u s as
s o m e th in g p re se n t in our s u b je c tiv e e x p e rie n c e . W hat
m a k e s ‘A u s t r a l i a ’ s e e m r e a l t o ‘A u s t r a l i a n s ’, a s a n a b s t r a c t
o b j e c t o f t h o u g h t a n d a b s t r a c t s u b j e c t t h a t is s u p p o s e d t o
b e t h i n k i n g a b o u t i t , is t h a t t h e r e a r e c e l e b r i t i e s , c u l t u r e s
a n d cy b e rsp a c e.
In s u b je c tiv e e x p e rie n c e , th is th in g c a lle d ‘A u s t r a l i a ’
a p p e a r s a s a ‘v i r t u a l r e p u b l i c ’. I t is a r e p u b l i c i n t h e s e n s e o f
b e in g a re s p u b l i c a , a p u b lic th in g , w ith th e a d d itio n a l
m e a n in g o f a p u b lic re a lity th a t e v e ry b o d y s h a r e s in m a k in g ,
i f n o t e q u a l l y s o . W h a t m a k e s i t a v i r t u a l p u b l i c t h i n g is t h e
p a r a d o x t h a t w h i l e i t is s h a r e d b y a ll w h o m a k e i t r e a l b y
i m a g i n i n g i t a n d a r t i c u l a t i n g it, e v e r y o n e i m a g i n e s a n d a r t i c ­
u l a t e s i t a s s o m e t h i n g d i f f e r e n t . I t s e x i s t e n c e is n o t p r e d i ­
c a t e d o n a n y a g r e e m e n t a s t o it s e s s e n t i a l f e a t u r e s , a s t h e
H a n s o n i t e s w o u l d h a v e it. R a t h e r , its e x i s t e n c e , l i k e t h e e x i s ­
t e n c e o f t h e ‘f a i r g o ’, is p r e d i c a t e d o n l y o n t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f
d i s a g r e e m e n t a b o u t its q u a l i t i e s . A u s t r a l i a is t h a t w h i c h
A u s tra lia n s d is a g re e a b o u t; A u s tra lia n s a re th e p e o p le w h o
d is a g r e e a b o u t th e p o s s ib le p a s ts , p r e s e n ts a n d f u tu r e s o f
A u s tra lia . O r a t le a s t so I a r g u e d in m y s e c o n d b o o k , T h e
V ir tu a l R e p u b lic ? 6
W h a t m a k e s it p o s s ib le to b e c o m e th is p e o p le w h o d is a g r e e
a b o u t t h i s p u b l i c t h i n g is t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a m a t r i x o f v e c t o r s
t h a t th r e a d im a g e s a n d s to rie s to g e th e r , a n d th r e a d th e m
a l s o i n t o p e o p l e ’s liv e s . I m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s , w e a v i n g i n a n d
o u t o f e v e r y d a y li f e , c o n n e c t p e o p l e t o e a c h o t h e r . F r o m t h e
te le g r a p h to th e te le p h o n e , to te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s , th e s e
v e c to r s c h a n g e , a n d in th e p r o c e s s th e y c h a n g e th e w ay s u b ­
je c tiv e e x p e r ie n c e o f re a lity g e ts m a d e . T h e s u b tle s h ift f r o m
a m o d e r n w o r l d e x p e r i e n c e d v ia p e o p l e , p o l i t i c s a n d p o p , t o
a p o s t m o d e r n w o r l d e x p e r i e n c e d v ia c e l e b r i t y , c u l t u r e a n d
 culture and c yb e rsp ac e

c y b e r s p a c e is a n e f f e c t o f c h a n g e s i n t h e m e a n s o f c o m m u ­
n ic a tio n , b u t a ls o in t h e a c c u m u l a t e d t e c h n i q u e s a v a ila b le in
e v e r y d a y l i f e f o r r e a d i n g w h a t is c o m m u n i c a t e d . M o v i n g
f r o m p o p to c y b e r s p a c e , A u s tr a lia n s s ta r t to s e e th e ir c o lle c ­
ti v e a n d i n d i v i d u a l i d e n t i t i e s d i f f e r e n t l y .
A u s tra lia n s have m any d if f e r e n t w ays o f th in k in g and
fe e lin g , b u t n e v e r th e le s s s h a r e a c y b e rs p a c e w ith in w h ic h c u l­
tu r a l d if f e r e n c e s a r e n o t o n ly n e g o tia te d a n d a d ju d ic a te d ,
but c re a tiv e ly c o m b in e d . The m o s t v is ib le s ig n s o f th is
p ro c e s s a re c e le b ritie s . T h e y e m b o d y n o t ju s t th e p a r tic u la r
c u l t u r e s f r o m w h ic h th e y c o m e , th e y e m b o d y a ls o s o m e t h i n g
b e y o n d . W e m a y n o t lik e t h e s a m e c e le b r itie s , w e m a y n o t
li k e a n y o f t h e m a t a l l , b u t i t is t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a p o p u l a t i o n
o f c e le b ritie s , a b o u t w h o m to d is a g r e e , th a t m a k e s it p o s s ib le
to c o n s titu te a se n s e o f b e lo n g in g . T h r o u g h c e le b r a tin g (o r
d e r i d i n g ) c e l e b r i t i e s i t is p o s s i b l e t o b e l o n g t o s o m e t h i n g
b e y o n d th e p a r tic u la r c u ltu r e w ith w h ic h e a c h o f u s m ig h t
id e n tify . C y b e r s p a c e p r o v id e s t h e v e h ic le , c e le b r itie s p r o v id e
t h e f u e l , a n d c u l t u r e is t h e j o u r n e y .
C y b e rs p a c e m ix e s im a g e s a n d s to r ie s f r o m th e c u ltu r e s o f
d i f f e r e n t p l a c e s . W h a t c e l e b r i t i e s d o is a r t i c u l a t e t h e p o s s i b l e
p o in ts o f d iffe re n c e and c o m b in a tio n th a t a ris e b e tw e e n
th o s e c u ltu re s . B o th th e r e c o g n itio n o f d iffe re n c e s , a n d th e
p o s s ib ility o f r e c o n c ilin g th e m , a r e th in g s t h a t c o m e a b o u t
b e c a u s e o f c y b e rs p a c e . T h e e m e r g in g v e c to rs o f c y b e rs p a c e
a r e w h a t m a d e i t p o s s i b l e i n t h e 9 0 s f o r t h e r e t o b e ‘p u b l i c
th in g s ’ in a w o rld th a t lo n g a g o o u tg r e w th e s p a c e o f th e
to w n h a l l o r m a r k e t s q u a r e . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f c y b e r s p a c e
is w h a t m a d e i t p o s s i b l e t o p a r t i a l l y b y p a s s t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f
te l e v i s i o n a s a s u b s t i t u t e s p a c e f o r t h e p u b l i c s q u a r e .
C e le b rity , c u ltu r e a n d c y b e r s p a c e a r e th e c o n c e p ts t h r o u g h
w h i c h I w a n t t o e x p l a i n h o w ‘A u s t r a l i a ’ c o m e s i n t o e x i s t e n c e
a s s o m e th in g p e o p le k n o w in t h e ir b o n e s , b u t a b o u t w h ic h
t h e r e is a c o n s t a n t f r i c t i o n o f d i f f e r e n c e , s i n c e n o tw o p e o p l e
e v e r e x p e r ie n c e it as th e s a m e th in g . O u t o f th is c h a o tic
d a n c e o f i n f o r m a t i o n p a s s in g b e tw e e n p u b lic life a n d p r iv a te
w o r l d s , h o w is i t p o s s i b l e t o c r e a t e a m a j o r i t y t h a t h a s a p o s i ­
tiv e s e n s e o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r a n o p e n , d y n a m i c , u r b a n e
A u s t r a l i a ? T h a t is t h e p r o b l e m f o r t h e L a b o r P a r t y a t t h e e n d
o f th e 9 0 s. It h a s to fin d a th ir d w ay b e tw e e n u n p o p u la r
r e f o r m a g e n d a s a n d p o p u lis t h o s tility to c h a n g e .
30 years, 15 m inutes

D on ald, H o rn e, In tellectu a l C elebrity

T h e 6 0 s t e e m e d w ith n e w c o n c e p ts . I n th e 9 0 s, th e r e w e re
p le n ty o f o p in io n s , s to rie s a n d r h e to r ic s a t w o rk in A u s tra lia n
p u b l i c li f e , b u t i t s e e m e d t o m e t h a t f e w e r c o n c e p t s w e r e
c r e a t e d . L i k e S y d n e y U n i v e r s i t y ’s E l s p e t h P r o b y n , I w a n t t o
“e n g a g e le s s i n t h e n e g a t i v e c r i t i q u e s ”, b u t r a t h e r “t a k e u p a n
i d e a a n d p u s h i t a l o n g a n d s e e w h e r e i t g e t s y o u ”, s o a s t o
“b r i n g t o g e t h e r a s e n s e o f t h e e m p i r i c a l w i t h d i f f e r e n t t h e o ­
r i e s t h a t a r e a b s t r a c t i o n s o f t h e o b s e r v a b l e ”.37 C o n c e p t s a r e
m a d e b y l o o k i n g i n t o a ll o f t h e d i f f e r e n t e x p e r i e n c e s w e h a v e
a n d a s k in g o u rs e lv e s w h a t m a k e s th e s e d if f e r e n c e s p o s s ib le .
A c o n c e p t a tte m p ts to e x p r e s s th e p r o c e s s b y w h ic h d if f e r ­
e n c e s g e t m a d e . I t ’s a w a y o f a b s t r a c t i n g s o m e t h i n g f r o m a ll
o f th e p a r tic u la r s o f e x p e rie n c e .
C o n c e p ts a r e to o ls f o r th in k in g n o t o n ly a b o u t h o w re a lity
g e ts m a d e , b u t a b o u t h o w e ls e it c o u l d p o s s ib ly b e m a d e .
T h i s is w h y t h e r e c a n b e n o r a d i c a l t h o u g h t w i t h o u t c o n ­
c e p t s , f o r w i t h o u t c o n c e p t s i t is n o t p o s s i b l e t o t h i n k c o n ­
s tru c tiv e ly a b o u t h o w th in g s m ig h t b e o th e r w is e . W ith o u t
c o n c e p t s a l l w e h a v e is n o s t a l g i a f o r h o w t h i n g s o n c e w e r e , o r
im p o s s ib le , u n o b t a i n a b l e id e a ls . C o n s e r v a tiv e s a n d U to p ia n s
c a n g e t by w ith o u t c o n c e p ts , b u t n o t ra d ic a ls . R a d ic a ls , a s th e
n a m e im p lie s , w a n t to g e t to t h e r o o t o f h o w th in g s w o rk in
o r d e r to th in k r a tio n a lly a n d c re a tiv e ly a b o u t h o w th in g s
m ig h t w o rk b e tte r.
B e tw e e n t h e 6 0 s a n d t h e 9 0 s, m a k in g c o n c e p t s f o r a n d w ith
a n A u s tr a lia n p u b lic b e c a m e a b it d iffic u lt. T h e lib e r a tio n
m o v e m e n ts o f th e 6 0 s p r o p o s e d c o n c e p ts , b u t th e y w e re
m a r k e d b y a te n d e n c y to r e a d lo c a l e x p e r ie n c e t h r o u g h c o n ­
c e p ts fro m e ls e w h e re . W h ile som e lib e ra tio n is ts such as
A n n e S u m m e r s a n d D e n n is A ltm a n tr ie d in v a ry in g d e g r e e s
to a d a p t lib e ra tio n is t th in k in g to A u s tra lia n e x p e rie n c e ,
t h e s e w e r e s ti ll t h o u g h t o f a s l o c a l v a r i a n t s o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l
m o v e m e n t s . 38
T h e f a t e o f c o n c e p t u a l w o r k i n A u s t r a l i a is t h a t i t is o f t e n
p e rc e iv e d as to o in te lle c tu a l by th e m e d ia a n d to o p o p u la r by
th e a c a d e m y . T h e m e d ia a re u n th in k in g b u t re a d a b le ; th e
a c a d e m y is t h o u g h t f u l b u t u n r e a d a b l e . T h e m e d i a p r e f e r s
ta lk in g heads w ho te ll s to r ie s o r e v o k e f e e lin g s t h a t a r e
im m e d ia te ly re c o g n is a b le . T h e h u m a n itie s a n d s o c i a l s c i­
 don ald h o m e , intellectual celebrity

e n c e s a c a d e m y p r e f e r s w o rk t h a t d e v e lo p s r e c e iv e d id e a s
w ith in th e fr a m e w o r k o f in te r n a tio n a lly a c c e p te d la n g u a g e s
a n d s ty le s . M a i n s t r e a m m e d ia c e a s e d tra n s m is s io n o f n e w
c o n c e p ts fro m th e a c a d e m y in th e 9 0 s, a n d a tta c k e d th e
a c a d e m y f o r its p o s t m o d e r n i s m a n d p o litic a l c o rre c tn e s s .
S o m e 6 0 s th in k e r s w ith e n t r e n c h e d p o s itio n s in th e m e d ia
w e re b y th e 9 0 s n o lo n g e r p r o d u c in g n e w c o n c e p ts .
T h e r e is n o s h o r t a g e o f A u s t r a l i a n t a l k i n g h e a d s , b u t r a r e l y
do th e y e n c a s e th in k in g m in d s . A m o r e s t r i n g e n t t e s t is
r e q u i r e d to d is tin g u is h th in k in g c a p a c ity f r o m m e r e ta lk in g
c a p a c it y . F o r a t a l k i n g h e a d t o b e c o m e a t h i n k i n g m i n d — a n
in te lle c tu a l — r e q u ire s a p ra c tic e o f m a k in g c o n c e p ts th a t
a r e s h a r e d , v ia t h e m e d i a , w i t h a p u b l i c , w h e r e t h e c o n c e p t s
a tte m p t to a rtic u la te th e e x p e r ie n c e s o f th a t p u b lic , a t th a t
m o m e n t. J u s t as th e r e c a n b e ta lk in g w ith o u t th in k in g , th e r e
c a n b e th in k in g w ith o u t ta lk in g , o r a t le a s t w ith o u t th e k in d
o f p u b l i c s p e e c h a c t s t h a t I t h i n k d e f i n e a n i n t e l l e c t u a l ’s
h a b it o f th in k in g o u t lo u d .
T h e t a l k i n g h e a d is a r a r e k i n d o f c e l e b r i t y ; t h e i n t e l l e c ­
t u a l is a n e v e n r a r e r k i n d o f t a l k i n g h e a d . T h e r e a r e t a l k i n g
h e a d s th r o u g h w h ic h p e o p le fe e l a n d d r e a m , w h o a r tic u ­
la te th e e m o tio n a l o r e r o tic d e s ire s o f a p u b lic . T h e r e a re
ta lk in g h e a d s t h r o u g h w h ic h p e o p le n a r r a te a n d m o ra lis e ,
w h o s a ti s f y a n i n s t i n c t f o r s t o r i e s a n d r h e t o r i c s t h a t p r o v i d e
t h e c o m f o r t o f b e lo n g in g . B u t t h e r e a r e a ls o ta lk in g h e a d s
w h o a rtic u la te th e c o n c e p tu a l d e s ire s o f a p u b lic — in te l­
le c tu a ls . T h e y a r tic u la te th e d e s ir e s f o r c r itic a l q u e s tio n in g
a n d c re a tiv e r e th in k in g o f w h a t m ig h t o th e r w is e b e ta k e n
fo r g ra n te d a b o u t e v e r y d a y li f e . I n t e l l e c t u a l s m a y b r i n g
w ith th e m i n t o p u b lic life th e a u th o r ity o f a n in s titu tio n ,
s u c h as a u n iv e rs ity o r a n e w s p a p e r o r a c h u r c h , b u t w h a t
d e f i n e s t h e i r c e l e b r i t y is t h a t t h e y r i s k t h i s l e g i t i m a c y . T h e y
s ta k e it o n th e c o m m u n ic a tio n o f a n id e a to a p u b lic th a t
p r o p o s e s to t h a t p u b l i c a n e w w a y o f t h i n k i n g a b o u t its v e r y
e x is te n c e .
T h e i n t e l l e c t u a l is a r a r e e v e n t i n A u s t r a l i a , b u t o n e o f t h e
m o st e n d u rin g , a n d e n d e a r i n g , is D o n a l d H o r n e . W h ic h
b e g s t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h a t i t is a b o u t H o r n e ’s s ty le o f t h i n k i n g
t h a t m a d e t h i s p o s s i b l e . T h e a n s w e r , I t h i n k , is c l e a r l y l e g i b l e
o n t h e s u r f a c e o f H o r n e ’s m i d - 6 0 s b o o k , t h e L u c k y C o u n t r y .
I n t h a t c la s s ic b o o k , H o r n e s t r e s s e d “t h e n e e d t o b u i l d u p a
30 years, 15 m inutes

c e r t a i n k i n d o f c l e v e r n e s s ”.39 I n t h e 9 0 s i t w a s n o l o n g e r q u i t e
th e case, as H o rn e w ro te in th e 60s, th a t “a l m o s t a ll
A u s tra lia n w rite rs — w h a te v e r th e ir p o litic s — a re re a c ­
ti o n a r i e s w h o s e a t t i t u d e to t h e m a s s iv e d iv e r s itie s o f s u b ­
u r b a n lif e is t o i g n o r e i t o r c o n d e m n i t r a t h e r t h a n d i s c o v e r
i t ”. B u t t h e d e s i r e t o r e s e a r c h a n d c o n c e p t u a l i s e e v e r y d a y lif e
h e r e a n d n o w s t ill m e t d e r i s i o n a n d i n d i f f e r e n c e f r o m t h o s e
f o r w h o m t h e t e r m ‘c u l t u r e ’ w a s r e s e r v e d f o r o t h e r t i m e s a n d
p la c e s .
H o r n e ’s c r u c i a l o b s e r v a t i o n is t h a t “A u s t r a l i a n s ‘l e a r n ’
t h e i r c u l t u r e ”, a n d t h i s f o r m a l l y a c q u i r e d s e n s e o f c u l t u r e is
r e m o t e f r o m l iv e d c u l t u r e . T h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f w i s d o m i n
th e p r a c t i c e s o f e v e r y d a y lif e fro m b e lo w re c e iv e s s c a n t
re c o g n itio n am ong th e a u th o ritie s w ho te a c h or r e v ie w
c u ltu re fro m a b o v e . T h e se e d s o f th e p o p u lis t re je c tio n o f
‘p o l i t i c a l c o r r e c t n e s s ’ i n t h e 9 0 s a r e a l r e a d y p r e s e n t i n t h i s
d iv id e , to th e e x te n t th a t re s is ta n c e to it w as a p o p u la r
f lo u tin g o f th e te rm in o lo g y a n d c o n v e n tio n s o f le g itim a te
ta lk in g h e a d s . 40 W h a t is o f e n d u rin g s ig n ific a n c e about
H o r n e is t h a t h e t r i e d t o d e v e l o p c o n c e p t s o u t o f A u s t r a l i a n
e x p e rie n c e , r a th e r th a n im p o rtin g c o n c e p ts a n d s tic k in g
th e m o n to p o f th a t e x p e r ie n c e . T h e th in g to le a r n fro m
E u r o p e a n c u ltu r e w as th a t th e r e a s o n E u r o p e a n w rite rs a n d
th in k e r s m a tte r e d w as th a t th e c o n c e p ts th e y c r e a te d h a d
o r g a n ic c o n n e c ti o n s to t h e c u ltu r e o f e v e ry d a y life — e v e n
w h e n i n o p p o s i t i o n t o it.
R a t h e r t h a n o p p o s e t o e v e r y d a y li f e h e r e a n d n o w t h e c o n ­
c e p ts e m a n a tin g f r o m R o m e o r M o sc o w , L o n d o n o r P a ris o r
N e w Y o r k , i t ’s a q u e s t i o n o f s e e in g h o w th e p ra c tic e s o f
e v e r y d a y li f e a l r e a d y h a v e d i s t i n c t i v e w a y s o f t h i n k i n g i m m i ­
n e n t in th e m . T h e f a ir g o , f o r in s ta n c e , m ig h t n o t b e j u s t a
c r u d e r e n d e r i n g o f L ib e rty , E q u a lity a n d F r a te r n ity . I t m i g h t
h a v e a c q u i r e d s o m e d i f f e r e n t s e n s e s o f i ts o w n . T h e r e is s till
a lo n g w ay to g o in r e f in in g th e e x p e r ie n c e s th r o w n u p b y th e
A u s t r a l i a n m i l i e u i n t o c o n c e p t s a n d p e r c e p t i o n s . T h e r e is
s t ill a l o n g w a y t o g o i n a d d i n g t o t h e v e r n a c u l a r l a n g u a g e a
c o n c e p t u a l d i m e n s i o n . T h e s e a r e e s s e n tia l ta s k s i f w h a t t h e
p o p u l i s t r e a c t i o n d u b s A u s t r a l i a ’s ‘c u l t u r a l e l i t e s ’ a r e t o o v e r ­
c o m e H o r n e ’s m e l a n c h o l y d i a g n o s i s o f t h e s e c o n d - r a t e , a n d
a ls o o v e r c o m e th e r e s is ta n c e o f a la r g e p a r t o f t h e A u s tr a lia n
p e o p le to th e v e ry id e a o f th in k in g .
 b eyo nd criticism

Beyond C riticism

I f t h e r e is a p a r t o f p u b l i c lif e i n m o s t n e e d o f t h e c h a l l e n g e o f
i n t e l l e c t u a l r e t h i n k i n g i t is t h e m e d i a , a s t h e m e d i a a r e t h e
v e ry m e a n s o f c o m m u n ic a tio n b y w h ic h p u b lic s f o r m in th e
firs t p la c e . T h e r e a r e in te lle c tu a ls w h o c ritic is e th e m e d ia in
t e r m s o f w h a t is w r o n g w i t h it. T o t h e m th e re c a n b e n o
a d v a n c e t o w a r d s t h e g o o d lif e w i t h o u t f i r s t f i x i n g t h e c h a n n e l s
w i t h i n w h i c h t h e p u b l i c a r g u e s w i t h i t s e l f a b o u t it. B u t w h a t
s e e m s t o m e le s s c o m m o n a r e i n t e l l e c t u a l s w h o c a n c o n c e p t u ­
a l is e w h a t c a n b e d o n e w i t h i n t h e a c t u a l m e d i a . O r i n o t h e r
w o r d s , t h e r e is m o r e o f a c r i t i c a l t h a n a c r e a t i v e c u l t u r e o f
th in k in g a b o u t A u s tra lia n m e d ia . S h iftin g th e b a la n c e m o r e
to w a r d th e c re a tiv e s id e r e q u ir e s a b it o f a r e t h i n k a b o u t w h a t
th e p o i n t o f s tu d y in g th e m e d ia m ig h t b e in th e firs t p la c e .
C r itic a l m e d ia s tu d ie s f lo u r is h e d in th e w a k e o f th e 60 s. I t
w as th e m e a n s b y w h ic h a r a d ic a l m in o r ity e x p la in e d to its e lf
w h y t h e m a j o r i t y d i d n o t a g r e e w i t h it. T h e m a s s e s h a d b e e n
duped by th e m e d ia . F ro m th is s im p lis tic s ta r tin g p o in t,
o fte n q u ite e n lig h te n e d a n d s o p h is tic a te d k n o w le d g e a b o u t
t h e m e d i a d e v e l o p e d . T h e i r o n y is t h a t w h i l e t h e t h e o r i e s
im p r o v e d , c r itic a l m e d ia t h e o r y lo s t its p o litic a l e d g e . I n th e
6 0 s, c ritic is m a tta c k e d th e le g itim a c y o f j o u r n a lis m e i t h e r in
th e n a m e o f its s ta te d id e a ls o f o b je c tiv ity a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e ,
o r in th e n a m e o f a r a d ic a l a lte r n a tiv e . B y th e 9 0 s, c ritic is m
s t ill a t t a c k e d t h e l e g i t i m a c y o f j o u r n a l i s m , b u t m o s t l y t h i s
se rv e d to le g itim is e th e a u th o rity o f th e a c a d e m ic c ritic
r a th e r th a n a d v a n c e a r e f o r m in g o r ra d ic a l a g e n d a .
I n t h e 9 0 s , c r i t i c i s m o f t h e m e d i a t o o k tw o m a i n f o r m s .
S o m e ta lk in g h e a d s c ritic is e d w h a t w as la c k in g in th e m e d ia
i n t e r m s o f t h e s t a t e d i d e a l s o f l i b e r a l d e m o c r a t i c s o c ie ty .
O t h e r s c ritic is e w h a t w as la c k in g in lib e r a l d e m o c r a t i c s o c ie ty
in te r m s o f a m o r e r a d ic a l id e a l. J u l i a n n e S c h u ltz , f r o m th e
C e n tr e fo r I n d e p e n d e n t J o u r n a lis m , a r g u e d th a t th e a c tu a l
p ra c tic e o f jo u r n a lis m c o m p a r e s b a d ly to th e s ta n d a r d s o f
in d e p e n d e n c e , ra tio n a lity a n d s e rio u s n e s s e m b o d ie d in th e
i d e a l o f a j o u r n a l i s t i c “f o u r t h e s t a t e ”.41 V i c t o r i a U n i v e r s i t y
a c a d e m ic J o h n L a n g e r c r itiq u e d th is k in d o f c r itiq u e o f th e
m e d i a i n t u r n . 42 H e s a w i t a s a “l a m e n t ” w h i c h w a s o b s e s s e d
w i t h p o l i c i n g t h e b o u n d a r i e s b e t w e e n h i g h a n d lo w f o r m s o f
jo u r n a lis m . T h e la m e n t w a s p o p u l a r w ith j o u r n a lis ts a n d
 30 y e a rs, 15 m in u te s

f o r m e r jo u rn a lis ts , fro m S c h u ltz to fo rm e r c o m m e rc ia l

c u r r e n t a f f a i r s c e l e b r i t y J a n a W e n d t a n d t h e A B C ’s m e d i a
c r i t i c S t u a r t L i t t l e m o r e . 43 L a n g e r ’s c r i t i q u e o f i t w a s m o r e
c o m m o n a m o n g m e d ia s tu d ie s a c a d e m ic s .
L a m e n tin g ta lk in g h e a d s d e c r ie d th e in c u rs io n o f ‘s o f t
n e w s ’ i n t o t h e w o r l d o f ‘h a r d n e w s ’. T h e y w e r e a g a i n s t a n y ­
t h i n g c o m m e r c i a l , tr i v i a l, e m o t i o n a l o r e x p l o i t a t i v e . T h e y
w e re in f a v o u r o f n e w s t h a t is i n th e p u b lic i n t e r e s t , is
r a tio n a l a n d d is p a s s io n a te . B u t as L a n g e r p o in te d o u t, th e
l a m e n t s ty le o f c r i t i q u e t a k e s f o r g r a n t e d t h a t n e w s r e a l l y c a n
g r a s p t h e w o r l d i n a f a c t u a l a n d i m p a r t i a l w ay . T h e l a m e n t a ­
tio n c h o r u s w e re th e b ig g e s t s u c k e rs f o r th e a s s u m p tio n s
n e w s m a k e r s a n d j o u r n a lis ts h a v e a b o u t th e m s e lv e s . T h e y
a s s u m e d a n i d e a l w o r l d i n w h i c h n e w s is j u s t a b o u t t r a n s m i t ­
t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n t o c i t i z e n s . T h e r e is n o e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e
m e d i a h a v e e v e r w o r k e d t h a t w ay , a n d g o o d r e a s o n s t o d o u b t
t h a t it e v e r c o u ld . A s L a n g e r p o i n t e d o u t, r itu a l, sy m b o l a n d
m y th p la y as m u c h a p a r t in n e w s a s a n y o t h e r p a r t o f th e
m e d ia .
O n e a lte r n a tiv e to th e la m e n t w a s c r itic a l m e d ia s tu d ie s .
T h i s h a d its r o o t s i n t h e 6 0 s , w h i c h i n s p i r e d it s r e j e c t i o n o f
th e c la im th a t n e w s c o u ld a s p ire to b e im p a r tia l a n d o b je c ­
tiv e . I t s a w n e w s a s a p u r v e y o r o f t h e d o m i n a n t id e o l o g y .
F r o m t h e 6 0 s t o t h e 9 0 s , t h i s v ie w b e c a m e le s s s i m p l i s t i c . I t n o
lo n g e r saw n e w s a s j u s t a tra n s m is s io n b e lt f o r th e d o m i n a n t
i d e o l o g y o f t h e r u l i n g c la s s . I t s a w n e w s a s a m e a n s b y w h i c h
t h e r u l i n g c la s s s e e k s c o n s e n t f o r its p o l i c i e s b y a c c o m m o ­
d a t i n g s o m e o f t h e a s p i r a t i o n s o f s u b o r d i n a t e g r o u p s . 44
L ik e th e p o p u la r A B C c o m e d y F r o n tlin e , r a d i c a l m e d i a
c r itic s lik e L a n g e r w e n t b e y o n d t h e l a m e n ta t io n , a n d a s k e d
w h a t t h e t r a s h y w o r l d o f l o w j o u r n a l i s m is a l l a b o u t . L a n g e r
a r g u e d t h a t “o t h e r n e w s ”, s u c h a s c e l e b r i t y g o s s i p , h u m a n
in te r e s t fe a tu re s a n d d is a s te r c o v e ra g e a r e a n in te g r a l p a r t o f
th e c u ltu r a l u n iv e r s e o f n e w s a n d c u r r e n t a ffa irs . L a n g e r
e x t e n d e d a s u b t l e v ie w o f t h e w a y i d e o l o g y w o r k s t o s e c u r e
w id e s p re a d c o n s e n t fo r th e r u lin g o r d e r to th e o th e r n ew s.
J o u r n a l i s m ’s p r o c e s s e s o f s e l e c t i o n , c l a s s i f i c a t i o n a n d r e p r e ­
s e n t a t i o n p r o d u c e t h e m e a n i n g o f e v e n t s i n s u c h a w a y a s to
n a tu r a lis e th e d o m in a n t w ay o f lo o k in g a t th e w o rld . B u t
L a n g e r t h o u g h t t h e v ie w s o f s u b o r d i n a t e g r o u p s a r e m o r e
l i k e l y t o b e d e a l t w i t h i n t h e o t h e r n e w s . I t ’s t h e “c r u c i a l
 beyo nd criticism

r e g i o n w h e r e s o m e o f th e c o n tr a d i c t o r y t e n d e n c ie s in te le v i­
s i o n g e t p l a y e d o u t ”.
I th in k L a n g e r w a s r ig h t to d ra w a tte n tio n to p h e n o m e n a
l i k e c e l e b r i t y , b u t t h e t r o u b l e w i t h h i s c r i t i q u e is t h a t i t s e e m s
to a s s u m e th a t n o b o d y u n d e r s ta n d s th e s e le c tio n a n d p r e ­
s e n ta tio n s te c h n iq u e s o f th e m e d ia e x c e p t th e m e d ia s tu d ie s
s c h o l a r s w h o c r i t i q u e it . B o t h S c h u l t z a n d L a n g e r d i s c o u n t
th e c re a tiv e u s e s p e o p le m a k e o f m e d i a i n e v e r y d a y life .
T h e i r v ie w s a r e s e l f - l e g i t i m a t i n g , i n t h a t i n t h e i r c r i t i q u e , t h e
p u b lic a r e a s s u m e d to b e u n a b le to r e a d th e m e d ia w ith o u t
th e in te r v e n tio n o f ta lk in g h e a d s lik e L a n g e r a n d S c h u ltz
w ith t h e s p e c ia l a b ility to s e e w h a t t h e m e d i a la c k s . L a n g e r
a ls o ig n o r e s t h e in f lu e n c e m e d ia s tu d ie s its e lf h a s h a d o n
v i e w e r t a s t e s . I t h i n k i t u n l i k e l y t h a t a s h o w l i k e F r o n t l in e , o r
t h e E n g lis h n e w s r o o m c o m e d y D ro p th e D e a d D o n k e y , c o u l d
b e c o m e so p o p u la r if th e c ritic a l id e a s o f m e d ia s tu d ie s h a d
n o t th e m s e lv e s b e c o m e a p a r t o f e v e r y d a y c u l t u r e . F r o n tlin e
p o k e d f u n a t w h a t e v e r y o n e a l r e a d y k n o w s is w r o n g w it h
c u r r e n t a ffa irs jo u r n a lis m .
W h a t a lo t o f ta lk in g h e a d s w h o c la im e d a u th o r ity to s p e a k
a b o u t t h e m e d i a s til l a s s u m e d i n t h e 9 0 s w a s t h a t t h e w a y
p e o p l e r e a d t h e m e d i a a n d m a k e u s e o f i t is j u s t s o m e s o r t
o f n a tu r a l g iv e n . S c h u ltz a s s u m e d y o u j u s t h a v e to b r in g th e
p r o d u c t i o n o f m e d i a in l in e w ith its o w n id e a l o f its e lf a n d
t h e p u b l i c w ill b e b e t t e r i n f o r m e d . L a n g e r a s s u m e d y o u c a n
j u s t s tu d y th e te x ts o f th e m e d ia a n d f r o m th e m y o u c o u ld
a n t i c i p a t e t h e m e a n i n g s p e o p l e m a k e o f it. O t h e r s , s u c h a s
Ie n A n g a n d V irg in ia N ig h tin g a le f r o m th e U n iv e rs ity o f
W e s te r n S y d n e y , p a i d m o r e a t t e n t i o n to w h a t p e o p l e d o w ith
t h e m e d ia , s h o w in g t h a t t h e p u b lic c a n b e a c tiv e r e a d e r s
w h o c a n r e s is t a n d n e g o t i a t e a s w e ll a s c o n s e n t t o w h a t t h e
m e d i a s a y s .45
W h i l e t h i s w a s a b i g a d v a n c e , t h e r e is s til l r o o m f o r a f o u r t h
w ay o f w ritin g a n d s p e a k in g a b o u t th e m e d ia . R a th e r th a n
a s s u m e t h a t t e x t s g e n e r a t e m e a n i n g a ll b y t h e m s e l v e s , o r t h a t
p u b l i c s m a k e t h e m e d i a m e a n w h a t e v e r t h e y li k e , w h y n o t s e e
m e d ia s tu d ie s as th e b u s in e s s o f e n h a n c in g th e c a p a c ity
p e o p l e a l r e a d y h a v e f o r r e a d i n g , n o t j u s t c r i tic a l ly , b u t a l s o
c r e a t iv e ly ? A s w e ll a s s h o w i n g h o w t h e m e d i a d o e s n o t liv e u p
t o its o w n i d e a l s , l e t a l o n e t h e i d e a l o f a r a d i c a l a l t e r n a t i v e
v is io n , w h y n o t e q u i p a p u b lic w ith th e in t e r p r e t iv e to o ls to
30 years, 15 m inutes

m a k e o th e r k in d s o f se n se o u t o f th e m e d ia th a t c o n fro n ts
t h e m i n e v e r y d a y lif e ?
I t ’s a q u e s t i o n o f a p p l y i n g t o t h e p o p u l a r r e a d i n g o f j o u r ­
n a lis m a n d n e w s th e k in d o f c o n c e p t m a n y in te lle c tu a ls n o w
a c c e p t as a fa ir r e n d e r in g o f th e w o rk in g s o f p o p u la r re a d in g s
o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t c u l t u r e . M c G r e g o r a lw a y s s a w t h e p o p u l a r
a r t s a s c o n t a i n i n g p e o p l e ’s “u n e x p r e s s e d p o t e n t i a l ”, a n d h e
w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y d r a w n t o “D i o n y s i a n r i t u a l s o f c e l e b r a t i o n ”,
f r o m t h e j i t t e r b u g t o d i s c o . 46 I n h i s e n d u r i n g i n t e r e s t i n j a z z
m u s i c , t h e r e is a c e r t a i n e t h i c a l v ie w o f p o p u l a r c r e a t i v i t y a t
w o r k . J a z z is a g r e a t e x a m p l e o f a s p o n t a n e o u s , p o p u l a r c r e ­
a tiv ity , o n e t h a t t a k e s t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e m a s s m e d i a f o r m o f
p o p u l a r m u s i c , d e c o n s t r u c t s i t i n t o its c o n s t i t u e n t e l e m e n t s ,
a n d c r e a te s o u t o f it a n e w le x ic o n o f e x p re s s io n .
F ro m th e 6 0 s to th e 9 0 s, th is b e b o p a r t o f r e le a s in g th e
v ir tu a l w o r ld o f c re a tiv ity f r o m th e a c tu a l m a te r ia l o f a m a ss
m e d ia c u ltu re sp re a d fro m m u s ic to a ll k i n d s o f m e d i a
c u l t u r e . C e le b ritie s, C u l t u r e a n d C y b e r s p a c e is m e a n t a s a c o n t r i ­
b u tio n to th is a r t o f m a k in g o t h e r k in d s o f s e n s e , n o t j u s t o u t
of pop tu n e s b u t a ls o o u t o f c e le b r ity im a g e s a n d new s
s t o r i e s . I t is a l s o a b o o k t h a t w a n t s t o m a k e a m o d e s t c o n t r i ­
b u tio n to th e p ro b le m o f g ro w in g c o n c e p ts o u t o f th e
e v e r y d a y e x p e r i e n c e o f t h i s j i g s a w j a z z o f p o p u l a r c re a tiv it y .

A n Itin era ry
O v e r th e n e x t n i n e c h a p te r s , I w a n t to lo o k in m o r e d e ta il a t
h o w th e m e d ia c o n s titu te a c o m m o n w o rld , w ith in w h ic h
c u ltu re s n e g o tia te v ia i m a g e s and s to rie s th a t b e a r th e
im p r in t o f f a m o u s fa c e s. T h o s e fa c e s a r e a m ix o f p o litic a l
a n d c u l t u r a l c e l e b r i t i e s . I ’m i n t e r e s t e d i n b o t h t h e p o l i t i c s o f
c u ltu r e a n d th e c u ltu r e o f p o litic s . O n e e f f e c t o f th e p r o lif ­
e r a t i o n o f m e d i a v e c t o r s is t h a t t h e s e t h i n g s a r e n o l o n g e r
q u ite so s e p a ra te .
I n c h a p t e r tw o , I l o o k a t t h e g e n e r a l c o n t o u r s o f t h e p h e ­
n o m e n a o f c e le b rity . B y lo o k in g a t p a r tic u la r in s ta n c e s o f
c e l e b r i t y , I w a n t t o s h o w h o w s u b t l e t h e m a c h i n e r y a t w o r k in
t h i s p h e n o m e n a c a n b e . C e l e b r i t y is a k e y w i t h w h i c h t o
u n d e r s ta n d n o t o n ly h o w p o p u la r c u ltu r e w o rk s, b u t h o w th e
s e lf - p e r c e p tio n s a n d s e lf-in te re s ts o f th e p e o p le w h o p a r tic i­
p a te in p o p u la r c u ltu r e fo rm .
 an itinerary

I n c h a p t e r t h r e e , I l o o k i n d e t a i l a t tw o c o n t r a s t i n g s t o r i e s
a b o u t c e l e b r i t i e s — K y lie M i n o g u e a n d N i c k C a v e . T h e y a r e
c e le b r itie s f r o m th e w o rld o f m u s ic w h o e m b o d y q u ite d if f e r e n t
c o n c e p t s o f w h a t i t is t h a t p e o p l e d e s i r e , a n d w h a t k i n d s o f
p o p u l a r im a g e s a n d s t o r i e s c a n e m b o d y a n i d e a o f t h e ‘f a i r g o ’.
I n c h a p t e r fo u r, I lo o k a t h o w a c e le b r ity a c q u ir e s le g iti­
m a c y w ith a p u b lic , a n d h o w th is c a n b e u s e d to c ro s s th e
in v is ib le b o r d e r b e tw e e n th e p o litic s o f c u ltu r e and th e
c u l t u r e o f p o l i t i c s . L i k e K y lie a n d N i c k C a v e , P e t e r G a r r e t t
s ta rte d o u t as a p o p u la r e n te r ta in e r. H e tr a n s f e r r e d th e id e a
o f th e fa ir g o e m b o d ie d in h is m u s ic a n d h is p e r s o n a in to
p o p u lis t e n v ir o n m e n ta l p o litic s . I e x a m in e h o w h e m a d e th is
tra n s itio n .
M o v i n g o n f r o m c e l e b r i t y t o c u l t u r e , I l o o k i n c h a p t e r fiv e
a t t h e w a y c u l t u r e is e x p e r i e n c e d a s s t r a t i f i e d . I p r o p o s e a w a y
o f t h i n k i n g a b o u t c la s s d i f f e r e n c e t h a t is b a s e d n o t o n p r o p ­
e rty o r w e a lth b u t o n a c c e s s to in f o r m a tio n . I lo o k a t th e te n ­
s io n s in A u s tra lia n c u ltu r e b e tw e e n th e c o s m o p o lita n a n d
t h e s u b u r b a n a s a l a t e n t c la s s d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw e e n p e o p l e
w ith th e c a p a c ity to b e n e f it f r o m a c c e s s to in f o r m a tio n a n d
p e o p l e d e n i e d t h a t c a p a c ity , a n d h e n c e t h a t b e n e f it.
I n c h a p t e r s ix , I a r g u e t h a t t e n s i o n s a b o u t t h e c o s t s a n d b e n ­
e f i ts o f a c c e s s t o n e w i n f o r m a t i o n i n a n i n c r e a s i n g l y m e d i a s a t­
u r a te d , g lo b a lis e d w o rld has been a c o n s is te n t th e m e in
A u s t r a l i a n m o v i e s a n d t e l e v i s i o n i n t h e 9 0 s . M o v ie s li k e T h e
C a stle , M u r i e l ’s W e d d i n g a n d I d i o t B o x a r e r e a d i n t e r m s o f w h a t
th e y h a v e to say a b o u t n e g o tia tin g th e c h a n g e s t h a t c o m e in a
c u l t u r e m o r e a n d m o r e i m m e r s e d i n flo w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n .
I f t h e r e is a c u l t u r e t h a t o u g h t t o b e a b l e t o a r t i c u l a t e , f r o m
t h e b o t t o m u p , a v is io n o f t h e f a ir g o t h a t e m b r a c e s t h e i n f o r ­
m a t i o n p o o r , i t is t h e c u l t u r e o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n L a b o r P a r ty .
B u t L a b o r l o s t it s h o l d o n t h e p o p u l a r i m a g i n a t i o n i n t h e
8 0 s , d e s p i t e it s r e c o r d e l e c t o r a l s u c c e s s e s . I n c h a p t e r s e v e n I
e x a m in e th r e e o f th e m o s t s u b s ta n tia l m e d ia p o rtra y a ls o f
t h e h i s t o r y o f L a b o r c u l t u r e , T r u e B e lie v e r s , T h e D i s m i s s a l a n d
L a b o r i n P o w e r. H e r e I f i n d t h a t p o l i t i c s , n o le s s t h a n c u l t u r e ,
s t r u g g l e s t o m a i n t a i n its c o n f i d e n c e a n d it s b e a r i n g s a s g l o b ­
a lis a tio n a n d c y b e rs p a c e b e c o m e m o r e a n d m o r e c o n c r e te
d e t e r m i n a n t s o f t h e s h a p e o f e v e r y d a y lif e .
In c h a p te r e ig h t, I a p p r o a c h th e p ro b le m o f th in k in g
a b o u t c y b e r s p a c e t h r o u g h t h e p r i s m o f ‘g e n e r a t i o n a l i s m ’. I
30 years, 15 m inutes

tr y to sh o w h o w th e s y n c h r o n is in g e ffe c ts o f b r o a d c a s t m e d ia
p r o d u c e g e n e r a t i o n a l i s m a s a n e f f e c t. B u t r a t h e r t h a n s tic k
w ith th e r a t h e r c lu m s y d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n B a b y B o o m e r s
a n d G e n e r a t i o n X , I s h o w h o w te le v is io n p r o v id e s a m o r e
s u b tle d e t e r m i n a n t o f w h o m ig h t s h a r e a g iv e n r e p e r to ir e o f
s to rie s a n d im a g e s .
T h e a c a d e m ic d is c ip lin e s in w h ic h I w o rk , m e d ia s tu d ie s
a n d c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s , lik e to th in k th e y h a v e a n e th ic a l a n d
e v e n p o l i t i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n . T h e p r o b l e m is t h a t I t h i n k t h i s
p o litic a l o r i e n ta tio n h a s o s s ifie d a n d b e c o m e a s e s tr a n g e d
fro m new in fo rm a tio n as m o s t o th e r k in d s o f s u b u rb a n
A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r e . S o i n t h e l a s t tw o c h a p t e r s , I t r y a n d o p e n
u p so m e sp a c e fo r n e w d e b a te a b o u t th e k in d o f c o n n e c tio n
th a t c a n b e im a g in e d b e tw e e n th e p o litic s o f c u ltu r e a n d th e
c u ltu r e o f p o litic s .
C h a p te r n in e lo o k s a t th e p a s s in g o f th e to r c h f r o m B a rry
J o n e s , L a b o r ’s o r i g i n a l t h i n k e r o f t h e 9 0 s , t o a n e w g e n e r a ­
tio n o f L a b o r ta lk in g h e a d s — a n d o n e h o p e s , in te lle c tu a ls .
A n e x a m in a tio n o f th e id e a s o f L in d s a y T a n n e r a n d M a rk
L a th a m , fro m th e le ft a n d th e rig h t o f th e L a b o r P a rty
re s p e c tiv e ly , ta k e s u p m o s t o f c h a p t e r s n i n e a n d te n . I n p a r t,
I ’m l o o k i n g f o r a t h i r d w ay , n o t j u s t b e t w e e n r i g h t a n d l e f t
w ith in s o c ia l d e m o c r a t i c c u l t u r e , b u t a t h i r d w ay t h a t m i g h t
c o m e a f te r th e o ld le ft o f th e la b o u r m o v e m e n t a n d th e n e w
le f t o f th e s o c ia l m o v e m e n ts .
W h a t I h o p e t h e r e a d e r m i g h t g e t o u t o f t h e s e e s s a y s is a
s e n s e t h a t r a d i c a l a n d p r o g r e s s i v e c h a n g e is s t ill p o s s i b l e .
W h a t I h o p e t o s h o w is t h a t r e - e n e r g i s i n g t h e m o v e m e n t f o r
c h a n g e m i g h t b e a m a t t e r o f e x p l o r i n g w h a t is t o b e d o n e
w i t h t h e m e a n s a c t u a l l y a t p e o p l e ’s d i s p o s a l f o r t h i n k i n g
a b o u t c u ltu r e a n d th e c o m m o n w o rld — c e le b ritie s , c u ltu r e
a n d c y b e r s p a c e . W h a t I h o p e f o r t h e f u t u r e is t h a t p e o p l e
b o r n a b o u t n o w , w h o a r e n o t y e t p a r t o f th is c o m m o n w o rld ,
w ill l o o k b a c k o n w h a t w e d i d a n d s a i d a n d w ill n o t c o m p l a i n
t h a t w e s p e n t a ll o u r tim e c o m p la in in g .
 43

cel ebr i t i es
 45

c h a p te r 2

The murmur of the waves

The barbarians are no longer at the gate, they are
inside the castle, redecorating.
Catharine Lumby

A S tran ge K ettle o f F ish

M y b r o t h e r l i k e s t o p h o t o g r a p h f is h . H e ’s a n a c c o m p l i s h e d
u n d e rw a te r p h o to g ra p h e r, a n d m o re th a n o n c e h a s m a n a g e d
to m a k e im a g e s th a t c o n v e y s o m e th in g o f th e s e r e n e u b iq u ity
o f t h e s e a , a c r o s s w h i c h s o m e f i s h s w im s i n t o v ie w , s u b l i m e l y
o b liv io u s o f b e in g m a d e in to a n im a g e b y th e c a m e r a .
M y b r o t h e r a l s o t a k e s p i c t u r e s o n d r y l a n d . I t ’s a s t a n d a r d
fa m ily j o k e t h a t w h ile h e h a s t h e m o s t u p - to - d a te c a m e r a
g e a r , i t s ti ll s e e m s t o t a k e h i m f o r e v e r t o s n a p t h e s h o t . N o t
th a t I c a n c o m p la in to o m u c h , a s h e h a s p r o d u c e d a b e a u ­
t i f u l r e c o r d o f m y f a m i l y ’s p r o g r e s s t h r o u g h t i m e .
T h e r e is s o m e t h i n g v a g u e l y e m b a r r a s s i n g a b o u t h a v i n g a
c a m e r a p o i n t e d a t y o u . I ’m o n e o f t h o s e p e o p l e w h o s q u i r m
w h ile w a itin g f o r th e fla s h to p o p . T h a t m y b r o t h e r ta k e s so
l o n g a b o u t i t g iv e s m e p l e n t y o f t i m e t o d w e l l o n t h i s a c u t e
k i n d o f u n c o m f o r t a b l e s e l f - a w a r e n e s s . I t r y t o i m a g i n e I ’m a s
b lis s f u lly u n a w a r e o f t h e i n t r u d i n g l e n s a s a f i s h .
A s y o u c a n im a g in e , I w as e v e n m o r e e m b a r r a s s e d to fin d
m y s e l f b e f o r e t h e c a m e r a i n a f a s h i o n p h o t o g r a p h e r ’s s t u d i o ,
s ta n d in g b e f o r e h im in m y b e s t s u it, b e c o m in g o n e o f th e
e n d le s s s e rie s o f im a g e s o f p e o p le th a t c lu tte r u p th e p a g e s
the m u rm u r of the w a ves

o f m a g a z i n e s . I n t h i s c a s e , a p h o t o o f t h e h u g e c r o w ’s f o o t
a r o u n d m y l e f t e y e a n d m y s t u b b l y c h i n e n d e d u p i n a s ty li s h
f a s h io n m a g a z in e c a lle d S tu d io f o r M e n .' I f e l t le s s lik e a fis h
in th e o c e a n , m o r e lik e a s a l a m a n d e r in a b o w l, e x is tin g
s o l e l y t o b e s e e n b y s o m e o n e e ls e .
M y e x p e rie n c e as s o m e th in g b e n e a th e v e n w h a t b ro a d ­
c a s t e r H e l e n R a z e r c a l l s a “m e d i a c e l e b u t a n t e o f o n l y m i n o r
n o t o r i e t y ” w a s m e r c i f u l l y b r i e f . 2J u s t t h e s o r t o f t h i n g y o u d o
t h e s e d a y s a t t h e b e h e s t o f a p u b l i s h e r ’s p u b l i c i s t . B u t i t m a d e
m e th in k a b o u t h o w L a b o r p a r lia m e n ta ria n C h e ry l K e rn o t
m u s t h a v e fe lt, b e c o m in g th e c o v e r g irl f o r th e A p ril 1 9 9 8
e d i t i o n o f A u s t r a l i a n W o m e n ’s W eekly. W h i l e K e r n o t is p r o b ­
a b l y w e ll a c c u s t o m e d t o s w i m m i n g i n t h e a q u a r i u m , t h i s w a s
a l i t t l e d i f f e r e n t . K e r n o t is a c e l e b r i t y b e c a u s e o f h e r p r o m i ­
n e n t r o l e i n p o l i t i c s , b u t w h a t t h e W o m e n ’s W e e k ly c o v e r m a d e
j u s t t h a t l i t t l e b i t m o r e o b v i o u s is t h a t s h e is a l s o p r o m i n e n t
i n p o l i t i c s b e c a u s e s h e is a c e l e b r i t y .
R o b e r t H u g h e s o n c e w r o t e o f A n d y W a r h o l t h a t “h e w e n t
a f te r p u b lic ity w ith th e s in g le - m in d e d v o ra c ity o f a f e e d in g
b l u e f i s h ”.3 A g r e a t l i n e , b u t o n e t h a t b e g s t h e q u e s t i o n : w h a t
k in d o f fis h t h a t w o u ld m a k e H u g h e s ? A s C a t h a r i n e L u m b y
p o in ts o u t, th e a r t c ritic h a s a n a lto g e th e r d if f e r e n t r e la tio n
to p u b lic ity a n d c e le b r ity th a n th e a r tis t, b u t a r e la tio n to it
a l l t h e s a m e . 4 P e r h a p s H u g h e s a n d W a r h o l a r e s p e c i e s o f f is h
th a t n e e d e a c h o th e r — c e le b rity a rtis t o f p o p a n d c e le b rity
a r t c ritic o f q u a lity ; b o tto m f e e d in g b lu e f is h a n d p r e d a to r y
c ritic a l s h a rk .
T h e r e a r e p ro b a b ly as m a n y d if f e r e n t k in d s o f c e le b rity as
t h e r e a r e o f f is h . T h e r e a r e c e l e b r i t i e s w h o a r e li k e y o u r s t a n ­
d a r d g o l d f i s h — s t o c k i m a g e s o f w h a t is g o o d t o l o o k a t. T h e r e
a r e c e le b ritie s w h o h a v e s o m e s u b s ta n c e to th e m , r a n g in g f ro m
t h e f la k y s a l m o n ty p e s t o t h e s t r o n g m e a t o f s w o r d f is h . T h e r e
a r e c e le b ritie s th a t b e c o m e c e le b ritie s b y p r e d a to r y b e h a v io u r
a m o n g t h e i r o w n k i n d , lik e s h a r k s . T h e r e a r e b o t t o m f e e d e r s ,
t h r i v i n g o n m u c k , lik e f l o u n d e r ; t h e r e a r e r a r e e x o t i c s , lik e t h e
t r o p i c a l fis h ; t h e r e a r e c e l e b r i t i e s w ith a c a p a c i t y t o s h o c k , lik e
s tin g ra y s ; t h e r e a r e c e l e b r i t i e s s o w e ll a r m o u r e d y o u k n o w v e r y
l i t d e a b o u t w h a t m a k e s t h e m tic k , lik e y a b b ie s . S o m e p r e f e r b i g
ta n k s , s o m e s m a ll; s o m e l ik e t h e i r w a t e r w a r m , s o m e a e r a t e d .
S o m e p e r f o r m tr ic k s , lik e s e a ls ; s o m e a p p e a l t o u s a s m u c h f o r
t h e i r i n t e l l i g e n c e a s t h e i r lo o k s , lik e d o l p h i n s .
 the pleasure m achine

T h e m e d i a ’s w o r l d is l i k e S e a w o r l d , o n l y i t is c e l e b r i t i e s ,
r a t h e r t h a n m a r i n e li f e , t h a t i t t u r n s i n t o s o m e t h i n g t h a t
e x is ts o n ly so t h a t w e m i g h t s e e t h a t it e x is ts , a n d m ig h t e x p e ­
r i e n c e o u r s e lv e s , o u r d e s i r e s , o u r p o s s i b i l i t i e s , a n d o u r i n t e r ­
e s t s v ia t h e i r f i s h y e x i s t e n c e . A n y d e s i r e , f r o m c o m f o r t to
p a s s i o n a n d b e y o n d , c a n b e e x p e r i e n c e d v ia t h e a c t o f c e l e ­
b r a tio n , by p u ttin g o n e s e lf in s o m e r e la tio n to th e im a g e o f
c e l e b r i t y . E v e n t h e d e s i r e f o r a n i d e a o r tw o a b o u t c e l e b r i t y
its e l f . I n th is c h a p te r , I w a n t firs t to c e le b r a te im a g e s o f
c e le b r ity th a t m ig h t p r o d u c e id e a s a b o u t c e le b rity , a n d th e n
I w a n t to lo o k a t c e le b ritie s w h o a r e th e m s e lv e s p r o d u c e r s o f
id e a s .

The P lea su re M a c h in e
F o r a l l o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e s t h e c e l e b r i t y k e t t l e o f f i s h d i s p la y s ,
a ll th e s e b r i g h t s p e c ie s c a n b e g r a d e d a l o n g a c o n t i n u u m . A t
o n e e n d a r e th e ta lk in g h e a d s , a t th e o th e r , th e m o v in g
b o d ie s . T h e r e a r e c e le b r itie s w h o s e im a g e s a p p e a r b e c a u s e
o f w h a t t h e y say, a n d c e l e b r i t i e s w h o a r e a s k e d t o s a y t h i n g s
a s a n a d j u n c t t o t h e i r a p p e a r a n c e . T h i s is w h y t h e r e is a c o n ­
tin u u m fro m ta lk in g h e a d to m o v in g b o d y , r a th e r th a n a
d iv id e . T h e a p p e a r a n c e s o f ta lk in g h e a d s m a tte r , a n d w h a t
m o v in g b o d ie s say m a tte r s .
T ake, fo r in s ta n c e , a c e le b u ta n te of 1998, G a b rie lle
R ic h e n s . S h e b e c a m e a n o b je c t o f a tte n tio n w h e n th e R u g b y
L e a g u e fo o tb a ll s ta r S o lo m o n H a u m o n o b r o k e h is c o n tr a c t
a n d b o lte d f r o m S y d n e y to b e w ith h e r in L o n d o n . R ic h e n s
w as a m o d e l w h o a p p e a r e d as a g y ra tin g p o le - d a n c e r in a
te le v is io n a d f o r V ir g in A tla n tic a ir lin e , in w h ic h th e a ir c r a f t
w a s r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e “p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e ”. I n t h e c o v e r a g e o f
t h e s to r y , R i c h e n s q u i c k l y b e c a m e “t h e m o d e l k n o w n a s t h e
p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e ”, s u g g e s t i n g i n n o n e t o o s u b t l e t e r m s t h a t
s h e w a s s o h o t a n d s e x y H a u m o n o c o u l d n ’t r e s i s t h e r . S h e
w as, in s h o r t, a b o u t a s f a r u p th e m o v in g b o d y e n d o f th e
c e le b r ity s p e c tr u m a s y o u c a n g e t.
Y e t R i c h e n s w a s s til l r e q u i r e d to s p e a k , to th e p o p u la r
w o m e n ’s m a g a z i n e C le o a n d i ts m a l e c o u n t e r p a r t R a l p h , b o t h
o f w h o m p u t h e r p i c t u r e o n t h e c o v e r w ith T H E P L E A S U R E
M A C H I N E b la z o n e d u n d e r n e a t h . T h e o n ly s ig n if ic a n t d if­
f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e tw o w a s t h a t C le o w a s m o r e i n t e r e s t e d i n
the m urm ur of the w aves

her sex u al sty le and R a lp h w as m o re in te re s te d in

S o l o m o n ’s .5 A ll c e l e b r i t i e s , w h e t h e r t h e y a r e m o v i n g b o d i e s
lik e G a b r ie lle R ic h e n s a n d S o lo m o n H a u m o n o , o r ta lk in g
h e a d s li k e C h e r y l K e r n o t , m u s t p r o d u c e b o t h a p p e a r a n c e s
a n d s p e e c h , a lth o u g h a tte n tio n m a y n o t fo c u s e q u a lly o n
th e m . R ic h e n s b e c a m e a c e le b rity as s o o n as s h e w as o b lig e d
to s p e a k . S h e w as a m o d e l w h o b e c a m e a s p o k e s m o d e l. T h e
s p o k e s m o d e l is a c e l e b r i t y w h o h a s to speak because it
a p p e a r s ; a t a l k i n g h e a d is a c e l e b r i t y w h o h a s t o a p p e a r
b e c a u se it sp eak s.
C e le b rity , a s t h e w o r d im p lie s , in v o lv e s t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f
s o m e o n e , v ia th e c irc u la d o n b e fo re m any eyes o f th e ir
im a g e . I t m ig h t a p p e a r a t firs t t h a t w h a t c e le b r ity c e le b r a te s
is w e i r d n e s s . C e l e b r i t i e s f o r m a f r e a k s h o w o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y
a p p e a r a n c e s a n d o u t r a g e o u s s o u n d b i t e s . P o p u l a r c u l t u r e is
n e v e r w i t h o u t it s w ile s , a n d w h a t is a l s o b e i n g c e l e b r a t e d v ia
c e l e b r i t y is n o t j u s t t h e e x o t i c a n d s t r a n g e q u a l i t i e s o f a n
im a g e e lite b u t a ls o t h e e v e ry d a y a n d o r d i n a r y q u a litie s o f
th e p e o p le w h o c h o o s e to p a r tic ip a te in th e c e le b ra d o n .
C e le b ritie s b e c o m e c e le b ritie s o n ly p a rtly b e c a u s e o f th e ir
e x tra o rd in a ry a p p e a ra n ce s or s ta te m e n ts ; th e y becom e
c e le b r itie s a ls o b e c a u s e , n o m a tte r h o w o th e r w o r ld ly th e y
m a y a p p e a r , th e y c a n n o t b u t p a r tic ip a te in th e o r d i n a r y as
w e ll. T h i s is w h y p e o p l e w e r e i n t e r e s t e d le s s i n t h e p o l i c i e s
C h e r y l K e r n o t m ig h t ta lk u p a n d m o r e in o b s e r v in g h o w s h e
re a c te d w hen a tru c k p lo w e d in to her h ouse. L ik e w is e ,
p e o p le w e re in te r e s te d in th e o rd in a ry , e v e ry d a y r o m a n tic
f o lly o f S o l o m o n H a u m o n o — t h e b a n a l h e a r t o f t h e p l e a ­
s u r e m a c h i n e s to r y .
C e le b r itie s a f f ir m b o th in d iv id u a l a m b itio n a n d c o lle c tiv e
b e l o n g i n g . A c e l e b r i t y is a t o n e a n d t h e s a m e t i m e s o m e o n e
w h o b r o k e f r o m h e r o r h is c o m m u n ity b u t w h o a ls o a f f ir m s
t h e c a p a c i t y a n d i d e n t i t y o f t h a t c o m m u n i t y . “I d o n ’t k n o w
w h e r e p e o p l e g e t t h e i d e a f r o m t h a t I ’m t r o u b l e ”, G a b r i e l l e
R i c h e n s sa y s t o C le o m a g a z i n e ’s P a u l a M c F a d d e n , “I ’m j u s t a
k i d f r o m K e n t . ” T h i s is t r u e n o t o n l y o f a c e l e b u t a n t e l i k e
R ic h e n s , b u t e v e n o f E lle M a c p h e r s o n , a m o d e l w h o b e c a m e
n o t ju s t a s p o k e s m o d e l, b u t a s u p e r m o d e l, a ta lk in g h e a d ,
a n d e v e n a n ir o n ic v e r s io n o f a n in te lle c tu a l, w ith h e r fa m o u s
q u i p t h a t “I o n l y r e a d b o o k s I ’v e w r i t t e n m y s e l f . ”
E lle M a c p h e r s o n w a s a n im a g e o f a m b itio n f u lf ille d , a n d
 n e v e r t e a r us a p a r t

y et she w as s ti ll o u r s u p e rm o d e l. She b e lo n g e d to th e
A u s tra lia n p e o p le . She s to o d , w ith in i ts lim its , fo r th e
c a p a c ity to e x t e n d lim its . S h e e m b o d i e d a c e r ta i n k i n d o f
d e s i r e f o r t h e g o o d lif e . C e l e b r i t y m a y b e a ll a b o u t a p p e a r ­
a n c e s , b u t i t a lw a y s i n v o k e s s o m e t h i n g b e y o n d a p p e a r a n c e s .
C e le b ritie s a r e th e a lm o s t ta n g ib le e v id e n c e th a t o n e o f o u rs
c a n b e c o m e s o m e th in g th a t m ig h t re d e f in e w h a t w e th in k w e
c a n b e c o m e . C e l e b r i t i e s e m b o d y t h e v i r t u a l i n e v e r y d a y lif e .
T h e a p p a r a tu s t h a t p r o d u c e s th e a p p e a r a n c e o f c e le b rity ,
f r o m t h e p u b l i c i s t t o t h e s ty lis t , f r o m t h e c o p y w r i t e r t o t h e
p h o t o g r a p h e r , is t h e p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e . W h a t t h e c e l e b u -
ta n te G a rie lle R ic h e n s w as s u p p o s e d to e m b o d y w as a c tu a lly
a q u a lity o f c e le b r ity in g e n e r a l. T h e p le a s u r e o f c e le b rity
e m b r a c e s th e r e c ip ro c a l lin k b e tw e e n th e e v e ry d a y a n d th e
f a n ta s tic , th e b a n a l a n d th e m a g ic a l. I m a g in e a n o r d in a r y
s u b u r b a n lo u n g e ro o m . T h e c e le b rity o n th e c o v e r o f th e
m a g a z in e o n th e c o f f e e ta b le , lik e th e g o ld f is h s w im m in g in
th e b o w l o n th e m a n tle , fla s h e s a g lin t f r o m a n o t h e r w o rld ,
s o m e s t r a n g e a q u a li f e . C e l e b r i t y is n o t j u s t a t r a c e o f t h e
e x t r a o r d i n a r y i n t h e o r d i n a r y . W h a t m a k e s i t t a n g i b l e is t h a t
i t is a l s o a t r a c e o f t h e o r d i n a r y i n t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y . T h e
g o l d f i s h m a y f a s c i n a t e , b u t i t s ti ll n e e d s a r e g u l a r f e e d . T h e
c e le b rity m a y fa s c in a te , b u t th e tra c e o f th e o r d in a r y h a b its
o f li f e , f r o m d o m e s t i c f r i c t i o n t o e a t i n g d i s o r d e r s , c o n n e c t s
e v e n th e m o s t w o rld ly c e le b r ity to th e m u n d a n e .

N ever Tear Us A p a rt

W h e n ro c k s in g e r M ic h a e l H u tc h e n c e w as f o u n d d e a d , th e r e
w e re m a n y s to r ie s . K in g s C ro s s p a r t ie s b u z z e d w ith i n s ta n t
fa b le s . A n d ju ic y g o s s ip it w a s to o , f o r it c o m b in e d d e a th
under c u rio u s c irc u m s ta n c e s w ith a v e ry h ig h p ro file
c e le b rity . I n 1 9 8 7 , H u t c h e n c e ’s b a n d I N X S s o l d 9 m i l l i o n
c o p i e s o f t h e i r a l b u m K ic k w o r ld w id e . I n 1 9 9 7 , f o r a m o m e n t ,
a t le a s t, H u tc h e n c e le f t th e r a n k s o f g o ld e n h a ire d R o ck
G o d s, a n d jo in e d th e e x a lte d c o m p a n y o f th e m u ltip la tin u m
i m m o r t a l s . T h e i r o n y o f c e l e b r i t y is t h a t i t o f f e r s t h e c l o s e s t
th in g to in s ta n t g lo b a l im m o rta lity , b u t o n ly o n a te m p o r a r y
b a s is .
M o s t c e le b ritie s , w e a r e c o n s ta n tly r e m in d e d , a r e m o rta l.
T h e y a g e a n d th e y d ie , j u s t lik e u s. T h e y h a v e fa u lts a n d
the m urm ur of the w aves

f o i b l e s , j u s t l i k e u s . A n d y e t t h e y a r e l i v in g p r o o f t h a t o n e c a n
a s p ire to s o m e th in g beyond. Som e c e le b ritie s becom e
i m m o r t a l . F o r a t i m e . M i c h a e l H u t c h e n c e liv e s o n . H e liv e s ,
j u s t a s m a n y h o u s e h o l d g o d s a n d s a i n t s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d liv e ,
so lo n g a s th e r e a r e p e o p le to id o lis e a n d w o rs h ip h im , w h o
p l a y h i s r e c o r d s , w h o k e e p h i s p i c t u r e b l u - t a c k e d t o t h e w a ll.
T h i s is t h e p a r a d o x o f i m m o r t a l i t y : i t c a n l a s t f o r e v e r , b u t o n l y
so lo n g as th e r e a re h u m a n s to p e r p e tu a te th e m e m o ry .
C e le b r itie s a r e v a m p ir e s t h a t s u c k t h e i r e x is te n c e o u t o f u s.
O n l y i t is n o t b l o o d t h e y d e m a n d a s a s a c r i f i c e , b u t g r e y
m a tte r, a c o r n e r o f m e m o ry . B u t c e le b ritie s d o n o t c o lo n is e
o u r m e m o rie s m e re ly o n b e h a lf o f th e ir o w n a p p e a l. T h e y
a r e th e e m b o d im e n t o f a c tio n s , s ta te m e n ts , s to rie s , a b o u t
h o w s o m e o n e w ith s o m e m ix o f o r d i n a r y a n d e x t r a o r d i n a r y
q u a litie s r e s p o n d e d to e v e n ts th a t h a p p e n e d a r o u n d th e m ,
a n d m a d e s o m e th in g h a p p e n o u t o f th o s e c irc u m s ta n c e s .
T h e liv e s o f c e l e b r i t i e s a r e f a b l e s , i n w h i c h t h e y a p p e a r a s
w o r t h y o f t h e e v e n t s t h a t h a p p e n t o t h e m . “S u c h is l i f e ”, t h e
b u s h r a n g e r N e d K e lly s a y s, w h e n h e k n o w s h i s e n d is n e a r .
H e is w o r t h y e v e n o f t h e e v e n t o f h i s o w n d e a t h .
S o , p e r v e r s e l y , is a n o t h e r l a r r i k i n — M i c h a e l H u t c h e n c e ,
f o u n d d e a d in a r o o m a t S y d n e y ’s R i tz C a r l t o n H o t e l . H e
m a d e t h e f r o n t p a g e o f t h e D a i l y T e le g r a p h . “H u t c h e n c e ’s
b o d y w as f o u n d n a k e d , h a n g in g b y a le a th e r b e lt fro m th e
s e lf-c lo s in g m e c h a n is m on th e d o o r o f ro o m 5 2 4 ... He
c h o k e d h im s e lf b y k n e e lin g d o w n a n d ta k in g th e s tra in o n
th e b e l t . ”6 I t m ig h t have been s u ic id e , as th e c o ro n e r
d e c i d e d ; o r a s W h o W e e k ly s p e c u l a t e d , i t m i g h t h a v e b e e n a n
a c c i d e n t t h a t h a p p e n e d “w h e n a u t o e r o t i c s e x w e n t w r o n g ”.7
F o r J u i c e m a g a z i n e ’s T o b y C r e s w e l l , i t w a s l i k e a p l o t p o i n t i n
a tra s h y a irp o rt n o v e l: “S o w h a t w o u ld m ake M ic h a e l
H u t c h e n c e , a m a n w h o h a d e v e r y t h i n g , t a k e h i s o w n l if e —
a m is ta k e in a s e x u a l g a m e o r a m o m e n t o f d e p r e s s i o n , a s u i­
c id a l im p u ls e b r o u g h t o n b y a r a f t o f e m o tio n a l, n e u r o lo g ic a l
a n d e m o t i o n a l c a u s e s ? ”8
T h e a m b ig u ity a b o u t m o tiv e g o e s to th e h e a r t o f th e a m b i­
g u i t y o f H u t c h e n c e ’s c e l e b r i t y . T h e a u t o e r o t i c a s p h y x i a t i o n
s t o r y f its w i t h h i s R o c k G o d p a s t , b u t t h e s u i c i d e s t o r y f its
w ith t h e s a g a o f h is a t t e m p t to b e c o m e a fa m ily m a n . I n t h a t
v e r s i o n , M i c h a e l w a n t e d t o b e w i t h P a u l a Y a te s a n d h e r c h i l ­
d r e n , b u t t h e i r f a th e r , B o b G e ld o f , w a s w i n n in g th e le g a l
 n e v e r t e a r us a p a r t

b a t t l e t o w r e s t c u s t o d y f r o m t h e w a y w a r d Y a te s . A ll o f w h i c h
a re p riv a te m a tte rs , u ltim a te ly u n fa th o m a b le , b u t w h ic h
b e c a m e p u b l i c p r o p e r t y t h e i n s t a n t H u t c h e n c e c a r k e d it.
“A l m o s t a s s o o n a s M i c h a e l ’s b o d y w a s d i s c o v e r e d , ” w r i t e s
b i o g r a p h e r E d S t J o h n , “a R i tz C a r l t o n s t a f f e r b o u n d e d o n t o
th e f o o tp a th o u ts id e th e h o te l a n d b lu r te d th e n e w s to a
h a n d fu l o f re p o rte rs a n d p h o t o g r a p h e r s . B e fo re a s in g le
m e m b e r o f th e IN X S e n to u r a g e k n e w a n y th in g a b o u t th e
s i n g e r ’s d e a t h , t h e n e w s — i n i t i a l l y r e p o r t e d a s a r u m o u r —
w a s s p r e a d i n g l i k e w i l d f i r e t h r o u g h t h e e l e c t r o n i c m e d i a . ”9
On ta lk b a c k ra d io , I h e a rd m any a rg u m e n ts about
H u tc h e n c e , Y a te s , G e ld o f, c h ild c u s to d y , re s p o n s ib ility ,
p ri v a c y , a w h o l e h o s t o f e t h i c a l q u e s t i o n s . C e l e b r i t i e s p o p u ­
l a t e o u r e t h i c a l lif e . T h e y a r e n o t n e c e s s a r i l y m o r e m o r a l
t h a n o r d i n a r y p e o p l e , o f t e n t h e y a p p e a r m u c h le s s s o . T h e
w o r l d c e l e b r i t i e s i n v o k e is c l o s e r t o a p a g a n w o r l d t h a n a
C h r i s t i a n o n e . 10 A l o t o f c r i t i c i s m o f c e l e b r i t y s t e m s f r o m a
C h ris tia n re v u ls io n to w a rd s th is c e le b r a tio n o f fig u re s w h o s e
p u n i s h m e n t s a n d r e w a r d s a r e a ll v e r y m u c h s o u g h t i n t h i s
w o r ld r a t h e r t h a n th e n e x t. L ik e th e a n c i e n t G r e e k h e r o e s ,
c e le b ritie s c o m b in e s tro n g p a s s io n s and a b ilitie s w ith
m u n d a n e fa ilin g s . T h e y m a y b e r e m e m b e r e d a s m u c h f o r
h o w th e s e q u a litie s le d to t h e i r u n d o i n g a s f o r h o w th e y
m a d e it. B u t w h e t h e r t r a g i c o r h e r o i c , a m e m o r a b l e c e l e b r i t y
is s o m e o n e c e l e b r a t e d f o r b e i n g w o r t h y o f w h a t h a p p e n e d t o
th e m .
I t ’s h a r d t o s p e c i f y t h e c o m m o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f c e l e b r i t y .
B y d e f i n i t i o n o n e o f t h e t h i n g s a c e l e b r i t y a c h i e v e s is s o m e
k i n d o f n o v e lty , s o m e n e w q u a l i t y . B u t t h e r e a r e s o m e c h a r ­
a c te r is tic s t h a t d e f i n e a s o r t o f r a n g e o f fa m ily r e s e m b la n c e s
a m o n g c e le b r itie s . L ik e m e m b e r s o f a fa m ily in a s n a p s h o t,
e a c h h a s s o m e c h a r a c te r is tic in c o m m o n w ith a n o t h e r , b u t
n o t a lw a y s t h e s a m e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c . I m i g h t h a v e t h e s a m e
c h in a s m y b r o th e r b u t a d if f e r e n t n o s e , a n d th e sa m e ey es as
m y s is te r b u t d if f e r e n t h a ir, a n d so o n .
C e le b r itie s , lik e g o ld f is h o r h u m a n s , a r e a s p e c ie s . L ik e
e a c h s p e c ie s , e a c h n e w in d iv id u a l m e m b e r o f th e s p e c ie s
e m b o d i e s a n e w c o m b i n a t i o n o u t o f t h e g e n e p o o l , w h i c h is
th e v ir tu a l s u m o f a ll p o s s ib le n e w m e m b e r s o f th e s p e c ie s . A
s p e c ie s o f tr o p ic a l fis h in t h e i r s p e c ia lly h e a t e d ta n k s a n d
c e l e b r i t i e s i n t h e i r s p e c i a l l y l i t m e d i a e n v i r o n m e n t m i g h t fa s ­
the m urm ur of the w aves

c i n a t e u s f o r m u c h t h e s a m e r e a s o n s . A n e x o t i c f i s h i n v iv id
c o l o u r s is a s t r i k i n g e x a m p l e o f j u s t h o w m a n y a n d v a r i e d a r e
t h e t h i n g s t h a t f i s h m i g h t b e c o m e . A n e x o t i c c e l e b r i t y is e v e n
m o r e f a s c i n a t i n g , f o r i t is r u m o u r e d th a t c e le b ritie s as a
s p e c ie s b e a r s o m e g e n e tic r e la tio n to h u m a n s . H u m a n s a n d
c e l e b r i t i e s b e l o n g t o t h e s a m e g e n u s ; h o m o s a p ie n s a n d h o m o
c e le b r a tu s . C e l e b r i t i e s a re a v irtu a l w o rld o f e x o tic th in g s
t o w a r d w h i c h h u m a n s m i g h t ‘e v o l v e ’. T h e b o d i e s o f a t h l e t e
C a t h y F r e e m a n o r f o o t b a l l e r I a n R o b e r t s , t h e m i n d s o f s c i­
e n t i s t P a u l D a v ie s o r p o e t J u d i t h W r i g h t — t h e s e a r e i m a g e s
o f w h a t, o n e w ay o r a n o th e r , w e c o u ld b e c o m e .
C e le b ritie s e m b o d y th e o r d in a r y c h a ra c te ris tic s o f s o m e
k i n d o f c o m m u n i t y . N e d K e lly is a n I r i s h A u s t r a l i a n o f t h e
1 8 8 0 s ; K y lie M i n o g u e is a s u b u r b a n M e lb o u rn ia n o f th e
1 98 0 s. C e le b r itie s p r o d u c e im a g e s o f th e in te r a c tio n o f th e
q u a litie s o f s o m e o n e fro m a p a r t i c u l a r c o m m u n ity w ith
o t h e r k i n d s o f p e o p l e . K y lie M i n o g u e is t h e s u b u r b a n g i r l
li k e u s w h o g e t s t o r u b s h o u l d e r s w i t h t h e r i c h a n d f a m o u s
w h o a r e n o t li k e u s . M i c h a e l H u t c h e n c e is t h e S y d n e y l a r ­
r i k i n w h o t a k e s t h a t c i t y ’s e a s y g o i n g c o s m o p o l i t a n s ty le o n t o
t h e w o r ld s ta g e .
C e le b r itie s h a v e a n a b ility in a p a r t i c u l a r fie ld , b u t th e y e n d
u p c ir c u la tin g a m o n g im a g e s o f p e o p le w h o h a v e a b ilitie s in
w id e ly d i f f e r i n g f i e l d s . E l l e M a c p h e r s o n ’s s k ill w a s a s a m o d e l ,
b u t n o w w e s e e h e r im a g e a lo n g s id e a c to rs , b u s in e s s p e o p le ,
p o l i t i c i a n s . H u t c h e n c e ’s s k ill w a s a s a s i n g e r , b u t w e s e e h i m
a rm in a r m w ith a s u p e r m o d e l. W h a te v e r t h e i r m a n y a n d
v a r ie d a t t r i b u t e s , c e le b r itie s s h a r e t h e q u a lity o f a p p e a r i n g in
t h e p u b lic w o r ld o f c e le b rity . I n a w o r ld w h e r e e v e r y o n e le a d s
in c re a s in g ly s p e c ia lis e d liv e s , c e le b ritie s s p e c ia lis e in
a p p e a r i n g t o liv e liv e s o f g e n e r a l a p p e a l t o a l m o s t e v e r y b o d y .
C e l e b r i t i e s c o m e i n t o t h e w o r l d e n d o w e d w i t h ‘t r u e s t o r i e s ’
a b o u t th e ir e x p lo its th a t re v e a l s o m e th in g o f th e ir c h a r a c te r
and s ig n ific a n c e , b u t b e f o r e lo n g o th e r s to rie s a tta c h to
th e m w h ic h , w h e th e r tr u e o r n o t, d e f in e th e m — r u m o u r s .
“N e l l i e M e l b a ”, s a i d M a n n i n g C l a r k , “h a d a g a r d e n e r — o r
t h a t w a s h is o ffic ia l d e s ig n a tio n , a lth o u g h h is p u r p o s e w a s
m a r k e d ly d if f e r e n t. H e w o u ld w a it b a c k s ta g e a t th e th e a tr e
a n d M a d a m M e lb a w o u ld su c k h im o f f im m e d ia te ly b e fo r e
s h e w e n t o n s ta g e a n d s a n g b e c a u s e it r e la x e d h e r tu b e s , y o u
s e e , i m p r o v e d h e r m o d u l a t i o n ”. 11
 n a t a l i e i m b r u g l i a ’s h a i r c u t

C e le b ritie s r e q u ir e in te r m e d ia r ie s w h o re la y to u s s to rie s o f
th e ir g r e a t a n d o r d in a r y d o in g s . S o m e tim e s th e r e a r e w h o le
c h a in s o f in te rm e d ia rie s . The s to ry a b o u t N e llie M e lb a
c o m e s f r o m s c r e e n w r i t e r B o b E ll is , w h o is q u o t i n g h i s t o r i a n
M a n n in g C la rk w h o in t u r n re lie s o n in te r m e d ia r ie s w h o ,
w h e n p re sse d , h e c a n n o t ev en n a m e . T h ro u g h in te rm e d i­
a rie s , c e le b r itie s s p r e a d t h e i r im a g e a c ro s s tim e a n d s p a c e ,
a c h ie v in g n o t o n ly te m p o r a r y im m o rta lity b u t te m p o r a r y
u b iq u ity . T hese in te rm e d ia rie s cannot be tru s te d . M any
r u m o u r s c i r c u l a t e d a b o u t H u t c h e n c e ’s d e a t h , a ll s u p p o s e d l y
o r i g i n a t i n g w i t h a f r i e n d o f a f r i e n d w h o w o r k e d a t t h e R itz
C a rlto n H o te l.
T h e i r o n y is t h a t i t is n o t t h e im a g e o f a n y p a r tic u la r
c e le b r ity w h ic h a c h ie v e s th is u b iq u ity a n d im m o rta lity , b u t
th e p le a s u r e m a c h in e o f c e le b rity . W h e n M ic h a e l H u tc h e n c e
sang ‘N e v e r T e a r U s A p a r t ’, i t s o u n d e d lik e a ro m a n tic
b a l l a d , b u t i t m i g h t j u s t a s w e ll b e a s o n g a b o u t t h e s t r a n g e
lo v e o f p u b l i c s a n d c e l e b r i t i e s f o r e a c h o t h e r . T h i s is a n o t h e r
s i d e t o t h e p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e , q u i t e d i f f e r e n t t o its c e l e b r a ­
t io n o f t h e lin k b e tw e e n c e le b r ity a n d b a n a lity . C e le b r ity a ls o
l u r e s a p u b lic w ith t h e p r o m is e o f t h e i n e x p lic a b le , in e f f a b le
s i d e o f li v in g . C e l e b r i t i e s b e c o m e im m o rta l th r o u g h d is ­
p la y in g p u b lic ly th a t th e y a r e w o rth y o f th e e v e n t o f m o r ta lity
i t s e l f , o f lif e its e l f . T h e y liv e i n p u b l i c t h e s u r p r i s e o f l i f e t h a t
th e re s t o f u s c o n f r o n t o n th e q u ie t.

N a t a l i e I m b r u g l i a ’s H a i r c u t

W h e n f o r m e r N e ig h b o u r s s o a p ie s t a r N a ta lie I m b r u g l i a h a d a
h i t w ith h e r r e c o r d L e ft o f th e M id d le , h e r fa c e a p p e a r e d e v e r y ­
w h e r e ; o n T V a n d in m a g a z in e s , f r a m e d w ith a d is tin c tiv e
a n d f e t c h i n g s h a g h a i r c u t . 12 A s t h e s ty lis t s p l a y e d a r o u n d w i t h
h e r im a g e , th e fa c e b e g a n to a p p e a r w ith o u t th e h a ir c u t. B u t
th e h a i r c u t a ls o s t a r te d a p p e a r i n g w ith o u t t h e fa c e . T h e d is ­
t i n c t i v e N a t a l i e I m b r u g l i a h a i r c u t a p p e a r e d o n tw o m a g a z i n e
co v e rs, b u t a tta c h e d to th e g e n e r ic fa c e s o f m o d e ls , r a th e r
th a n to th e d is tin c tiv e fa c e o f N a ta lie I m b r u g lia .
C e le b r itie s , lik e h u m a n s , h a v e b o d ie s , a n d lik e h u m a n s
th e y h a v e fa c e s to o . U n lik e h u m a n s , th e fa c e s o f c e le b ritie s
c a n b e d e t a c h e d f r o m t h e i r b o d ie s , a n d a t t a c h e d to a ll k in d s
o f i n h u m a n t h i n g s . N a t a l i e I m b r u g l i a ’s f a c e w a s d e t a c h e d
the m urm ur of the w aves

f r o m h e r b o d y a n d a tta c h e d to m a g a z in e s , C D s, p o s te r s s tu c k
u p in r e c o r d s to re s . O n e n ig h t s h e b e c a m e th e fa c e o f m y
te l e v i s i o n . I h a d t h e e e r i e f e e l i n g t h a t h e r h e a d w a s f l o a t i n g
i n m y t e l e v i s i o n , l i k e a g o l d f i s h i n its b o w l. B u t t h e n I r e a l i s e d
t h a t t h i s is w h a t is a t o n c e s o s t r a n g e a n d s o f a m i l i a r a b o u t
t h e p o s t m o d e r n w o r l d . A ll k i n d s o f w e i r d t e c h n o l o g i e s i n s e r t
th e m s e lv e s in to o u r liv e s , b u t t h e y s e e m so n o rm a l a n d
frie n d ly b e c a u s e th e y h a v e r e c o g n is a b le fa c e s o n th e m . I
h a v e v e ry little id e a h o w a C D o r a T V w o rk s, b u t th e fa c e s
th a t m ask th e ir s tra n g e w o rk in g s m ake th e m seem li k e
fa m ilia r if so m e w h a t d e m e n te d frie n d s .
T h i s ‘f a c i a l i t y ’ is a s t r a n g e b u s i n e s s . 13 I t is a s o r t o f m a s k f o r
d e s ir e , b u t n o t j u s t s e x u a l d e s ire . S u re , th e fa c e o f N a ta lie
I m b r u g lia o r M ic h a e l H u tc h e n c e m ig h t a p p e a l b e c a u s e w e
w a n t to f u c k th e m . T h e y a ls o a p p e a l b e c a u s e w e m i g h t w a n t
to b e t h e m , o r b e lik e th e m , o r w a n t t h e m to lik e u s. W e
m ig h t w a n t to fu c k th e b o d y b e h in d th e m a sk , o r w e m ig h t
w a n t th is a ttra c tiv e m a s k f o r o u r o w n b o d y , o r w e m ig h t w a n t
th is m a s k to w a n t o u r b o d y . O r p o s s ib ly e v e n a b i t o f e v e ry ­
th in g a t o n c e — th e d e s ire s c e le b ritie s e m b o d y a n d th a t th e ir
fa c e s m a s k a re n o th in g if n o t p o ly m o rp h o u s ly p e rv e rs e .
T h e m a s k o f t h e c e le b rity , th e fa c e w e w a n t, s e d u c e s u s
a w a y f r o m s e x u a l d e s i r e . T o s e d u c e is t o l e a d a s t r a y o r t u r n
a s id e , a n d c e le b rity c e rta in ly tu r n s d e s ire aw ay f r o m any
s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d s a t i s f a c t i o n . T h i s is w h a t c e l e b r i t i e s s h a r e
w ith m o d e ls . T h e i r fa c e s d iv e r t u s , u s u a lly to w a r d s o t h e r
im a g e s , o r to p r o d u c t s — o r s e rv ic e s . A f a s h io n m a g a z in e , a
s p o rts m a g a z in e a n d a p o r n o m a g a z in e m ig h t b e a b o u t v e ry
d if f e r e n t k in d s o f in te re s ts , a d d re s s e d to d if f e r e n t k in d s o f
p e o p l e — b u t o n t h e c o v e r o f a ll t h r e e is a w o m a n ’s f a c e . H e r
f a c e o n t h e c o v e r m i g h t c h a n n e l t h e b u y e r ’s d e s i r e s t o p i c ­
tu r e s o f h e r b o d y , in s id e . B u t it m ig h t e q u a lly c h a n n e l th e
r e a d e r ’s d e s i r e t o p i c t u r e s o f m e n p l a y i n g f o o t b a l l i n t h e c a s e
o f t h e s p o r t s m a g a z i n e , o r w o m e n i n f r o c k s , i f t h e g e n r e is
fa s h io n .
A m o d e l ’s f a c e is s u p p o s e d t o s e d u c e , b u t w h e n t h e i n q u e s t
in to th e d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f m o d e l R e v e lle B a lm a in r e v e a le d a
d a r k e r s id e o f d e s ir e , it b e c a m e a w id e ly r e p o r t e d ta b lo id
s to r y . “M s B a l m a i n , w h o w a s 2 2 w h e n s h e d i s a p p e a r e d , h a s
o f t e n b e e n d e s c r i b e d a s a m o d e l a n d , i n d e e d , tw o w e e k s a f t e r
s h e w e n t m is s in g , a g o r g e o u s p o r t r a i t o f h e r a p p e a r e d o n th e
 n a t a l i e i m b r u g l i a ’s h a i r c u t

c o v e r o f t h e u r b a n s ty le m a g a z i n e , O y s te r ." S u n d a y A g e j o u r ­
n a l i s t C a r o l i n e O v e r i n g t o n r e p o r t s t h a t “R e v e l l e m i g h t h a v e
d o n e s o m e m o d e l l i n g , b u t s h e w a s a p r o s t i t u t e f o r tw o a g e n ­
c ie s , V IP H o s te s s e s a n d S e le c t C o m p a n i o n s . S t a t e m e n t s f r o m
h e r c lie n ts , t e n d e r e d to th e c o u r t, d e s c r ib e d h e r v a rio u s ly as
a n e s c o r t a n d c a l l g i r l , a n d a s a ‘n a s t y l i t t l e g o l d - d i g g e r w i t h
a b a d c o k e h a b i t ’, w h o w a s p a i d t o a t t e n d s e x p a r t i e s f o r b u s i ­
n e s s m e n a t t h e R itz C a r l t o n h o t e l . ”14 T h e s t o r y g o e s o n t o
s p e c u la te th a t B a lm a in m a y h a v e b e e n m u r d e r e d b y a c lie n t,
o r p e rh a p s so m e o n e sh e ow ed m oney.
The p ic tu r e s t h a t w e n t w ith th e R e v e lle B a lm a in s to ry
sh o w e d a g e n e ric m o d e ls ’ fa c e , a m a sk o f m a k e u p , in te r ­
c h a n g e a b le w ith a h o s t o f o th e rs . T ra in e d as a d a n c e r,
B a lm a in had n o t succeeded in p a rla y in g th a t fa c e in to
c e le b rity , o t h e r th a n a s a p o s th u m o u s c e le b u ta n te , a n im a g e
fo r a m o ra l o n th e d a r k s id e o f d e s ire . H e r fa c e w as th e
g e n e r ic fa c e o f W h ite G irl, th e s ta n d a r d f r o m w h ic h e v e ry
o th e r m e d ia face is a d e v ia tio n . G a b rie lle R ic h e n s , fo r
in s ta n c e , d e v ia te s f r o m it in b e in g E u ra s ia n .
F a r fro m b e in g e x c lu d e d fro m th e e v e r e x p a n d in g e m p ire
o f c y b e rs p a c e , m in o rity fa c e s a r e in c re a s in g ly in c lu d e d , b u t
t h e y s til l a p p e a r a s d e v i a t i o n s f r o m th e s ta n d a rd , a n d th e
s t a n d a r d is s t ill t h e f a c e o f W h i t e G i r l . E v e n t h e f a c e s o f m a l e
m o d e ls a p p e a r a s d e v ia tio n s f r o m W h ite G irl. I n A u s tr a lia n
c u ltu r e in th e 9 0 s, W h ite G irl w a s th e a b s tr a c t im a g e n o t
o n l y o f w h a t is d e s i r a b l e , b u t o f d e s i r e i t s e l f — a l t h o u g h s h e
w as in e v ita b ly s h a d o w e d by h e r iro n ic d o u b le , th e D ra g
Q ueen.
W h e r e W h i t e G i r l is t h e g e n e r i c a p p e a r a n c e o f s e d u c t i o n ,
t h e R o c k G o d p u r v e y s t h e s o u n d o f s e d u c t i o n . H i s is a m o r e
a c tiv e m a g n e t f o r s tra y d e s ir e s t h a n W h ite G irl. H e to o h a s
h is i r o n ic d o u b l e , t h e B a d G irl, w h o p r o d u c e s t h e a g g re s s iv e
s o u n d o f a n a c tiv e d e s ir e , b u t w ith a f e m a le r a t h e r t h a n a
m a le b o d y . B a d G irls t u r n e d c e le b r itie s in c lu d e M a d o n n a
a n d C o u r tn e y L o v e , w h o s ta g e th e m s e lv e s a s e la b o r a te d r a g
p a r o d ie s o f th e R o c k G o d p e r s o n a . In s h o rt, b o th m a le a n d
fe m a le im a g e s a n d s o u n d s a p p e a r in th e m e d ia a s a ttr a c to r s
f o r d e s i r e , b u t t h e w a y t h e y w o r k is n o t q u i t e t h e s a m e .
I t w o u ld b e w ro n g to th in k th a t th o s e g e n e ric , in te r ­
c h a n g e a b le fa c e s o f W h ite G irl a r e a ll t h e r e is t o th e
e m p ir e o f d e s ir e . B e s id e s a lm o s t s ile n t, a lm o s t a n o n y m o u s
the m urm ur of the w aves

W h i t e G i r l ( i t ’s s t r i k i n g h o w m a n y m o d e l s h a v e o n l y f i r s t
n a m e s), a n d th e w a ilin g t h r e e c h o rd w o n d e rs, th e R o ck
G o d s, th e r e a r e c e le b ritie s . T h e fa c e s o f c e le b ritie s m a sk
m u c h m o r e p a r t i c u l a r , m u c h le s s a b s t r a c t k i n d s o f s e d u c t i o n .
B r o w s i n g t h r o u g h m y c l i p p i n g s f ile s , I f i n d t h e s e A u s t r a l i a n
faces g ra c in g th e c o v ers o f p o p u la r p u b lic a tio n s : E rn ie
D in g o , D o n a ld H o rn e , P a u lin e H anson, K e rri-A n n e
K e n n e d y , K e rry P a c k e r, N ic o le K id m a n , T im C o s te llo , C a th y
F r e e m a n , D a v id W illia m s o n , I a n R o b e rts , I n d ir a N a id o o ,
J u d i t h W r i g h t , G e o r g i e P a r k e r , N a t a l i e I m b r u g l i a — a n d tw o
a p p e a r a n c e s o f th e N a ta lie Im b r u g lia h a ir c u t, f r a m in g th e
f a c e s o f a n o n y m o u s W h ite G irl m o d e ls .
I n th is s c h o o l o f o d d fis h , o n ly N ic o le c o u ld b e s a id to
e m b o d y th e im p o s s ib le p r o p o r t i o n s o f W h ite G irl. N ic o le w as
once a m o d e l, not s u rp ris in g ly , b u t w hat m akes her a
c e l e b r i t y r a t h e r t h a n a m o d e l is t h a t s h e n o t o n l y a p p e a r s ,
s h e s p e a k s , s h e b e c a m e a s p o k e s m o d e l, a n a c to r , a c e le b rity .
T h e p a r a d o x o f c e l e b r i t y is t h a t w h i l e i t d e p e n d s l i k e m u c h
o f th e m e d ia o n th e fa c e as th e m a s k o f s e d u c tio n , c e le b rity
fa c e s c a n c o n n e c t d e s ir e to a w id e r a n g e o f p o s s ib ilitie s , b o th
in te r m s o f w h a t k in d s o f c o m m u n ity p e o p le a r e fro m a n d
w h a t k in d s o f p e o p le o n e m ig h t b e c o m e . In th e w o rld o f
a p p e a r a n c e s , W h i t e G i r l r e i g n s , a n d e v e r y o t h e r i m a g e is a
d e v ia tio n f r o m h e r id e a l. B u t in th e w o r ld o f c e le b rity , d if­
fe re n c e h a s, I th in k , m a d e m o re p ro g re ss.
W h i t e G i r l is a m a s k t h a t h i d e s t h a t t o w h i c h i t s e d u c e s .
T a k e o f f th e m a sk — tu r n th e c o v e r o f th e m a g a z in e — a n d
w h a t c o n f r o n t s u s n e x t is a n o t h e r m a s k , a n o t h e r i m a g e . H e r
e y e s o f te n lo o k b a c k a t u s. T h o s e e y e s a r e n o t th e w in d o w to
t h e s o u l , t h e y a r e a s h o p f r o n t w in d o w , i n w h i c h w e s e e o u r
d e s ire r e fle c te d in th e fo r m o f c o m m o d itie s . Y o u c a n n o t b u y
h e r — u n le s s y o u f r e q u e n t p ro s titu te s — b u t y o u c a n b u y th e
t h i n g s f o r w h i c h s h e is t h e m a s k .
A nd you can buy N a ta lie I m b r u g l i a ’s h a irc u t. F ro m
I m b r u g l i a ’s h e a d t o t h e h e a d o f a m o d e l W h i t e G i r l t o t h e
h e a d o f a n y o n e w h o w a lk s i n t o a s a l o n w i t h t h e p i c t u r e a n d
a s k s t o h a v e i t c o p i e d , a s i g n o f w h a t is d e s i r a b l e c h a n g e s
h a n d s , o r ra th e r, m o n e y c h a n g e s h a n d s — a n d th e h a ir c u t
c h a n g e s h e a d s . N o t j u s t a s i g n o f w h a t is d e s i r a b l e , b u t a s ig n
o f d e s i r e it s e lf . A s a c e l e b r i t y , I m b r u g l i a e m b o d i e s a h o s t o f
s ig n s , th e c o m b in a tio n of w h ic h c o n s titu te s N a ta lie
 dave g ra n e y ’s mysterious kink

I m b r u g lia . B u t n o t o n ly c a n th is b e th e m a s k f o r m a n y d if­
f e r e n t p a th w a y s o f s e d u c tio n , le a d in g to th e p u r c h a s e o f a
m a g a z in e o r a C D , th e m a s k its e lf c a n b e w h a t s e d u c e s , by
b e c o m i n g a s ig n o f t h e v e r y p r o c e s s o f a tt r a c ti o n .
I th in k I m b r u g lia w o u ld r a th e r th e p u b lic b o u g h t h e r C D
t h a n c o p i e d h e r h a i r c u t . T h i s is t h e p r o b l e m w i t h t h e w a y
d e s ir e w o rk s th r o u g h m e d ia im a g e s — it g o e s o f f o n a n y a n d
e v e r y t a n g e n t . T h e m a s k o f t h e f a c e is a n i m a g e t h a t a p p e a r s
in s h a r p re lie f, a d e s e r t b le a c h e d b y th e lig h t o f th e c a m e r a
fla s h , m a g n e t f o r o u r d e s ire s . B u t th e v o ic e o f th e c e le b r ity
can s p e a k o f i ts o w n d e s i r e s . P u t a p o p CD lik e N a ta lie
I m b r u g l i a ’s A R IA a w a r d w i n n i n g L e f t o f t h e M i d d l e o n th e
W a lk m a n , e n c lo s e y o u r e a r s w ith th e h e a d p h o n e s ; p u t a s e a
s h e ll to y o u r e a r, lis te n to th e m u r m u r o f th e w av es.

D ave G r a n e y ’s M y s t e r i o u s K in k
I p u t o n a n o t h e r C D a n d lis te n , lis te n in g f o r c lu e s a s to th e
s tra n g e a r t o f s e d u c tio n th a t p a sse s b e tw e e n c e le b ritie s a n d
p u b l i c s . F o r m y m o n e y t h e c la s s i c A u s t r a l i a n t e x t o n t h e p l e a ­
s u r e m a c h i n e o f f a m e , a n d t h e s e d u c t i o n o f c e l e b r i t y , is D a v e
G r a n e y ’s s o n g ‘R o c k ’n ’R o l l is W h e r e I H i d e ’. 15 I t n a r r a t e s t h e
f a b le o f th e in v is ib le R o c k G o d . H e re v e a ls th e s to r y o f h is
“m y s t e r i o u s k i n k ”, h i s s t r a n g e p o w e r o v e r u s , h i s p u b l i c . I t a ll
s t a r t e d b a c k i n t h e d a y w h e n h e r e a l l y b e l i e v e d h e w a s in v is ­
ib le . T h e in v is ib le R o c k G o d w o u ld m a te r ia lis e e v e r y n o w
a n d th e n , j u s t f o r a n in s ta n t, a n d la u n c h in to s o n g , j u s t to
s u r p r is e u s, j u s t f o r a la u g h .
A n d t h e n w e s ta r t to n o tic e . W e s ta r t ta lk in g a b o u t th is
i n v i s i b l e r o c k s i n g e r . T h e p r o b l e m is, h e f i n d s h i m s e l f m a t e ­
r ia lis in g u n in te n tio n a lly . M o re a n d m o r e w e c o m e to s e e th e
in v i s i b l e r o c k s i n g e r , b u t w e m a k e f u n o f h i m , t a u n t i n g h i m .
H e t h i n k s h e is i n v i s i b l e , w e s a y t o e a c h o t h e r , e x p e c t i n g h i m
t o o v e r h e a r u s . I t ’s n o t w o r k i n g a n y m o r e . H e r e m a i n s v is i b l e .
H e h a s lo s t th e k n a c k .
B u t th e n h e s t a r t s t h i n k i n g , m a y b e i t ’s n o t s u c h a b a d
t h i n g , t o a p p e a r t o h i s p u b l i c a s a s i n g e r w h o t h i n k s h e c a n ’t
b e s e e n , e v e n th o u g h h e k n o w s in h is o w n m in d t h a t h e c a n .
I t ’s a s p e c i a l t a l e n t . E v e n b e t t e r t h a n b e i n g k n o w n f o r b e i n g
in v i s i b l e is b e c o m i n g k n o w n a s a s i n g e r w h o w ill d o a n y t h i n g
s o l o n g a s n o b o d y is w a t c h i n g . W e w a n t t o w a t c h , b e c a u s e w e
the m urm ur of the w a ves

t h i n k t h a t h e t h i n k s w e c a n ’t s e e h i m . A n d w e k e e p w a t c h i n g ,
b e c a u s e w e a l s o t h i n k h e c a n ’t s e e u s a s w e w a t c h . W e t h i n k
h e ’s b l i n d ; w e t h i n k h e ’s in v i s i b l e .
W e ’r e a l l l o o k i n g n o w , b e c a u s e w e t h i n k h e t h i n k s n o b o d y
is l o o k i n g . N o w h e c a n ’t n o t b e s e e n . H e ’s n o t l o o k i n g a t u s
n o w th a t h e k n o w s w e a r e th e r e , lo o k in g . E v en if h e w e re
v i s i b le , w e c a n ’t s e e h i m . W e a r e n o t w a t c h i n g h i m , w e a r e
w a itin g to w a tc h h im d e m a te r ia lis e , r i g h t b e f o r e o u r eyes.
T h e in v i s i b l e r o c k s i n g e r a n d h i s i n v i s i b l e p u b l i c , e a c h m is -
r e c o g n i s i n g t h e o t h e r , e a c h s e e i n g w h a t is n o t t h e r e a n d n o t
s e e i n g w h a t is t h e r e . E a c h c e l e b r a t i n g t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e
o t h e r ’s a b s e n c e i n t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e i r p r e s e n c e .
W h e re b e tte r to d is a p p e a r? , G ra n e y c o n c lu d e s . T h e fa b le d
s in g e r, a d d ic te d to a n u n k n o w n , lo n g lo s t d e s ir e , r e m e m ­
b e r e d o n ly as th a t w h ic h a p p e a r s w h e n th e p e r s o n b e c o m e s
t h e c e le b rity . F o r w h e n t h e p e r s o n d is a p p e a r s i n t o c e le b rity ,
w h a t r e m a i n s is t h e f a b l e o f d i s a p p e a r a n c e . G r a n e y li s ts s o m e
o f th e f a b le d a ttr ib u te s le f t b e h in d b y fa m o u s s in g e rs , f r o m
M e l T o r m e , w h o b e c a m e t h e V e lv e t F o g , t o J o h n n y C a s h , w h o
b e c a m e t h e M a n i n B la c k , t o I g g y P o p w h o is r e m e m b e r e d a s
t h e W o r l d ’s F o r g o t t e n B o y . H e a d d s t h e s i g n a t u r e o f h i s o w n
d is a p p e a r a n c e : D a v e G ra n e y , w h o d is a p p e a r e d a n d b e c a m e
th e B e st D re sse d C h ic k e n In T o w n .
A p p ro p ria te ly en o u g h , w hen he a p p e a re d on s ta g e to
a c c e p t h is A R IA a w a rd f r o m th e m u s ic in d u s try fo r th e
r e c o r d o n w h ic h th is fa b le a p p e a rs , h e w as in a c r u s h e d p in k
v e l v e t d o u b l e b r e a s t e d s u i t a n d a b l a c k 7 0 s s ty le a f r o f r i g h t
w ig . H e w a s a f a b u l o u s , a l m o s t c a m p , p a r o d y o f a R o c k G o d .
T h e j o k e w as o n h im . G ra n e y k n e w to o m u c h a b o u t c e le b rity
to becom e one. C o m m e rc ia l ra d io a v o id e d h is a ll to o
k n o w in g r e c o g n itio n o f th e d o u b le g a m e o f m is re c o g n itio n
p la y e d o u t b e tw e e n c e le b r ity a n d c e le b r a n ts .
I n G r a n e y ’s f a b l e , i t is n o t t h e p u b l i c w h o a r e d u p e d b y
c e l e b r i t y , i t is t h e c e l e b r i t y w h o d u p e s h i m o r h e r s e l f w i t h a
c e l e b r a t i o n o f a q u a l i t y t h a t is b e y o n d m o r t a l l i m i t s . W h a t
th e p u b lic c o m e s to c e le b ra te is n o t t h e q u a l i f i e s o f t h e
c e l e b r i t y , b u t t h e q u a l i t y o f t h e c e l e b r i t y ’s b e l i e f i n h i s o r h e r
q u a l i t i e s . C e l e b r i t y is t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f w h a t is i n h u m a n i n
t h e h u m a n . C e l e b r i t y is t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e v i r t u a l i t y o f
h u m a n i t y . C e l e b r i t y s t a r t s w i t h t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e s e lf ­
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e h u m a n i n t o s o m e t h i n g o u t s i d e it s e lf .
 not-mimi macpherson

I t is a m i s r e c o g n i t i o n , b e c a u s e t h i s s e l f t r a n s f o r m a t i o n is
m e re ly a n a c t o f f a ith , a n d o n e d o u b le d b y th e a c t o f c e le ­
b r a t i n g it. T h e t r i c k is t h a t t h e r e is n o t r i c k t o t h i s m o s t
s tra n g e a n d m o s t c o m m o n p la c e k in d o f s e d u c tio n .

N o t-M im i M acp h erso n

A s c y b e rsp a c e deepens and th ic k e n s , s p r e a d in g o v e r th e

s o c ia l w o rld , it b r in g s im a g e s o f c e le b r ity in to a n y a n d e v e ry
c o r n e r o f o u r p r i v a t e liv e s . T h e v e c t o r c a r r i e s t h e m e v e ry ­
w h e r e : D a v e G r a n e y ’s f a c e o n t h e T V ; N a t a l i e I m b r u g l i a ’s
s o n g o n t h e r a d i o . F r o m s t a t i o n t o s t a t i o n , v ia s a t e l l i t e a n d
fib re o p tic , o n a n y a n d e v e ry fre q u e n c y — th e e le c tro n ic
m u r m u r o f th e w aves.
T h e v e c to r a ls o w o rk s in re v e rs e . A s if in r e v e n g e f o r th e
in tru s io n in o u r p riv a te w o rld s , m e d ia v e c to r s c r e e p e v e r
m o re in tim a te ly in to th e liv e s o f c e l e b r i t i e s . L i g h t w e i g h t
c a m e r a s a n d s e n s itiv e m ic r o p h o n e s o f f e r u p to th e p u b lic
th e o c c a s io n a l s a c rific ia l im a g e o f th e p r i v a t e lif e o f t h e
p u b lic im a g e . T h is a ffe c ts n o t o n ly e n t e r t a i n m e n t c e le b r itie s .
A s S t e p h e n L o o s e ly , o n c e a p o w e r f u l b a c k r o o m f i g u r e in t h e
N S W L a b o r P a r t y o n c e r e m a r k e d : ‘T h e d i r e c t i o n a l m i c r o ­
p h o n e is t h e e n e m y o f m a c h i n e p o l i t i c s . ”16
W h e r e t e c h n o l o g y f a ils , t h e r e is s t ill r u m o u r a n d g o s s i p ,
w h i c h f ill i n t h o s e p a r t s o f t h e f a b l e w h e r e t h e p u b l i c f a b l e
fa ils . G o s s i p is t h e p o r n o g r a p h y o f t h e s o u l .
F o r in s ta n c e : t h e s to r y to t h e e f f e c t t h a t M im i M a c p h e r s o n ,
s is te r o f E lle , a lle g e d ly a p p e a r e d b u c k n a k e d in a ta c k y h o m e
m a d e s e x v i d e o w i t h a n a l l e g e d c o c a i n e d e a l e r . 17 T h e c o p i e s
t h a t c ir c u la te d a r o u n d S y d n e y w e re to o d e g r a d e d to te ll, a n d
s h e v i g o r o u s l y d e n i e d it. T h e w o m a n i n t h i s t a p e i s n ’t M i m i
M a c p h e r s o n . B u t t h e p o i n t is t h a t r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e f a c t t h a t
i t i s n ’t M i m i M a c p h e r s o n , c e l e b r i t y e n c o m p a s s e s i m a g e s o f
p u b lic a n d p r iv a te b e h a v io u r , r e la y e d b y i n t e r m e d i a r i e s , in
w h ic h e le m e n ts o f f a c t a n d f a b le m ix . T h e d e n ia l c a n n o t
c o u n t e r m a n d t h e w ill t o s u s p e n d d i s b e l i e f .
T h e t a p e i n q u e s t i o n is a s t r a n g e a r t e f a c t . I ts i n t e r e s t is
d o u b l y d i s p l a c e d . M i m i s t a t e d t h a t t h e w o m a n i n t h e t a p e i s n ’t
h e r . T h e r e is n o r e a s o n t o d o u b t h e r d e n i a l . T h i s N o t- M im i
w h o a p p e a r s i n t h e v i d e o is t h u s tw ic e r e m o v e d f r o m c e le b r it y .
S h e is n o t s u p e r m o d e l c e l e b r i t y E ll e M a c p h e r s o n . S h e is n o t
the m urm ur of the w aves

E l l e ’s c e l e b u t a n t e s i s t e r M im i. S h e is j u s t a N o t - M i m i , N o n -
p h e r s o n . A ll t h e r e is t o i t is t h a t s h e h a s e y e s r e m a r k a b l y l ik e
b o t h M a c p h e r s o n s is te r s . I t ’s a s h o c k w h e n s h e l o o k s s t r a i g h t
i n t o t h e c a m e r a a n d w e r e c o g n i s e w h o i t i s n ’t.
V ie w in g th e ta p e can be a re p u ls iv e e x p e rie n c e . The
w o m a n w h o is N o t - M i m i s e e m s p r e t t y d r u g - f u c k e d . S h e li e s
la n g u id ly o n t h e b e d w h ile a m a n s e ts u p t h e v id e o c a m e r a .
I t ’s h a r d n o t t o t a k e a n i n s t a n t d i s l i k e t o h i m . H e a s k s N o t -
M i m i r e p e a t e d l y w h a t h e r n a m e is, a n d s h e r e f u s e s t o s p e a k
h e r n a m e . S h e d e c i d e s i t ’s a g a m e a n d t h a t s h e is s u p p o s e d
t o m a k e u p a p o r n s t a r n a m e . P e r h a p s t h i s is t h a t p a r t y g a m e
w h e re y o u ta k e th e n a m e o f y o u r firs t p e t, a n d th e n a m e o f
s t r e e t w h e r e y o u liv e d a s a c h ild , p u t t h e m to g e th e r , a n d it
m akes your p o rn s ta r n a m e . (W h ic h w o u ld m ake m in e
R a s t u s H i g h ) . N o t - M i m i d o e s n ’t w a n t t o p la y .
T h e zoom le n s lu n g e s g ro g g ily in to N o t - M i m i ’s c r o t c h ,
w h i c h s h e c o v e r s w i t h h e r h a n d s a n d t h e s h e e t . “F i n i s h e d
n o w ”, s h e c h i m e s . ‘W h a t ’s f i n i s h e d ? ”, h e a s k s . ‘T h e m o v i e ”,
s h e sa y s. O n l y t h i s is n o t a g a m e a n d t h e m o v i e i s n ’t f i n i s h e d .
H e ta k e s a g e s g e ttin g th e c a m e r a s e t u p o n th e tr ip o d , w h ile
N o t-M im i m a s tu r b a te s n o n c h a la n tly . H e ta k e s e v e n lo n g e r
p e e lin g h e r o u t o f th e s h e e ts a n d p r o p p in g h im s e lf o n to p o f
h e r , s o t h e c a m e r a w ill w i t n e s s h i s c o c k b o b b i n g u p a n d d o w n
a s h e fu c k s h e r . A h a i r y b u m m o o n s t h e c a m e r a f o r a w h ile ,
and h e ’s d o n e . He w a n d e rs a ro u n d o u t o f v ie w . “W a n t
a n o t h e r lin e ? ” a v o ic e a sk s f r o m s o m e w h e r e o u t o f f r a m e .
N o t - M i m i is l e f t t o j e r k h e r s e l f o f f , s lo w ly b u t s u r e ly . W h e n
s h e c o m e s , h e d o e s n ’t e v e n n o t i c e .
W h o g e t s o f f o n w h a t h e r e ? A s p o r n o g r a p h y t h e t a p e is d u l l
a n d a m a t e u r . I t h a s v a l u e o n l y i n its f a l s e l i n k t o a f a m o u s
n a m e . T h e m o s t g e n u in e ly in tim a te a n d th e m o s t s p e c ta c u ­
la rly p u b lic n e v e r q u i te c o m e t o g e th e r . T h e d e s ir e f o r th e
m o s t o p e n c e l e b r a t i o n o f w h a t is m o s t c l o s e d n e v e r c o m e s t o
p a s s . T h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f its r e a l i s a t i o n o n l y f u e l s t h i s d e s i r e .
W h a t d o e s th is m a n w h o d o e s t h e t a p i n g w a n t? T o p r o f i t b y
p r o x i m i t y , o n e c a n ’t h e l p s u s p e c t i n g . B u t i t m i g h t j u s t b e t h e
d e s i r e t o r e c o r d a n i n t i m a c y , t o n o t l e t i t p a s s . T h e t r o u b l e is
th a t th e r e c o r d in g g e ts in th e w ay o f th e p le a s u re . H e fid d le s
w ith t h e c a m e r a m o r e t h a n w ith N o t-M im i. T h e d e s ir e f o r
t h e d o c u m e n t m a k e s t h e d o c u m e n t f a il t o r e c o r d t h e d e s i r e .
W h y d o e s N o t- M im i c o n s e n t t o t h e c a m e r a ? P e r h a p s s h e is
 authorising celebrity

t o o s t o n e d t o k n o w w h a t ’s g o i n g o n . P e r h a p s s h e j u s t lik e s t h e
a t t e n t i o n . T h e i r o n y is t h a t h e r d e s i r e s a n d h i s d o n o t r e a ll y
m e e t. S h e g e ts o f f o n t h e g a m e o f re fu s in g to p e r f o r m f o r th e
c a m e ra . T h e n sh e g e t s h e r s e l f o f f w i th h e r in d e x f in g e r .
N e i t h e r h a s a n y t h i n g m u c h t o d o w i th w h a t h e w a n ts . H e r
r e f u s a l t o p e r f o r m f r u s t r a t e s h i s d e s i r e t o f i lm . H e r i n d i f f e r ­
e n c e to h im fu c k in g h e r m a k e s n o d iffe re n c e to h im . H e c o m e s
a ll b y h i m s e l f , m a s t u r b a t i n g h i m s e l f i n h e r b o d y . S h e c o m e s b y
h e r s e lf a n d f o r h e rs e lf. S h e c o m e s f o r th e c a m e ra , b u t n o t by
t h e c a m e r a . I t s its id ly b y , r e c o r d i n g its o w n i m p o t e n c e .
C e l e b r i t y is j u s t l i k e b a d s e x . D a v e G r a n e y ’s s o n g p u t s t h e
b e s t lig h t o n th e b a d s e x o f c e le b rity , m a k in g th e m is m a tc h
o f d e s ire s b e tw e e n th e c e le b rity a n d th e p u b lic in to a n a c t o f
m a g i c . B u t t h e N o t - M i m i s h o w is t r u l y b a d b a d s e x . G r a n e y
s in g s o f t h e a b ility o f t h e c e le b r ity - e f f e c t to in v o k e s o m e th i n g
b e y o n d t h e w o r ld o f h u m a n a p p e a r a n c e s . C e le b r ity c a lls i n to
e x is te n c e th e v irtu a l aspect o f o u r n a tu re , its a b ility to
b e c o m e s o m e th in g d iffe re n t, s o m e th in g beyond w hat we
e x p e c t o f o u r s p e c ie s . N o t-M im i p e r f o r m s th e s id e o f th is
a l c h e m y i t is b e s t n o t t o s e e — f o r i n t h e N o t - M i m i s h o w w e
s e e t h e i n t e r c o u r s e o f c e l e b r i t y a n d p u b l i c it s e lf . I t d r a w s
a t t e n t i o n to th e o n e t h i n g t h a t b r e a k s t h e s p e ll: th e c o m p le te
in c o m p a tib ility of th e p u b l i c ’s d e s ire w ith th a t of th e
c e le b rity . T h e s o r d id f a c t t h a t b o t h j e r k o f f o n t h e o t h e r , b u t
c a n n e v e r c o m e to g e th e r.

A u th o risin g C elebrity
“I t s e e m s M e l b o u r n e j u s t c a n ’t g e t e n o u g h o f S a m N e w m a n
— o n o r o f f t h e t e l e v i s i o n s c r e e n . H e is, a s f a r a s t h i s c i t y ’s
o b s e s s io n s g o , b ig g e r th a n th e w e a th e r ” says s p o r ts w r ite r
W e n d y T u o h y . 18 A f t e r c a n v a s s i n g s e v e r a l e x p l a n a t i o n s f o r
N e w m a n ’s p u b l i c r i s e a n d f a ll, s h e d e c i d e s t o a s k a n e x p e r t :
“F o r D a v i d M a r s h a l l , t h e a u t h o r o f a n e w b o o k , C e le b rity a n d
P ow er: Fam e in C o n te m p o r a r y C u ltu r e , N ew m an ty p ifie s
A u s tr a lia n s ’ lo v e o f a c c e s s ib le h e r o e s . ” A n d s h e g o e s o n to
q u o t e M a r s h a l l : “W e lo v e t o s e e t h e m fly, b u t g e t a b i g k i c k
w h e n th e y f a ll... T h a t m a k e s t h e m j u s t lik e u s . ” H e n c e t h e
d e s i r e t o b e l i e v e , c o n t r a r y t o t h e f a c t s , t h a t N o t - M i m i is M im i
— t o s e t h e r u p a n d s e e h e r f a ll.
T u o h y g o e s o n to q u o te M a rs h a ll a t illu m in a tin g le n g th :
the m urm ur of the w aves

“B e c a u s e t h e y h a v e b e e n g i v e n t h i s k i n d o f c e l e b r i t y s t a t u s ,
u n l i k e o t h e r th i n g s r e l a t e d to a m e r i t s y s te m , w e b e g i n to
l o o k f o r w a y s t o s e e h o w t h e y m i g h t f a ll , w h i c h p u l l s t h e m
back to our s ta tu s ... T h e r e ’s a b it of a d e a th -w is h in
A u s tr a lia n ic o n s ; w e w a n t to s e e s o m e th i n g v a in g lo r io u s —
a n d t h a t o f t e n p r o d u c e s b l o o d . I t ’s a b i t l i k e t h e a t t r a c t i o n t o
m o to r s p o r t s . ” M a r s h a l l ’s e x p la n a tio n s seem p la u s ib le
e n o u g h t o m e , b u t w h a t I f i n d m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g is t h a t a j o u r ­
n a lis t w o u ld c a ll u p th is U n iv e rs ity o f Q u e e n s l a n d a c a d e m ic
a n d a s k h i m i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . T h e h u m a n i t i e s a n d s o c i a l s c i­
e n c e s h a v e b e e n a s o u rc e o f a u th o rita tiv e ta lk in g h e a d s fo r
j o u r n a l i s t s s e e k in g a ll k in d s o f e x p e r t- s o u n d i n g o p i n i o n o n
a ll k in d s o f s o c ia l a n d c u l t u r a l to p ic s , b u t n o t u s u a lly o n t h e
t o p i c o f t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e m a s s m e d i a v e c t o r it s e lf .
A n o th e r n e w s p a p e r a rtic le q u o te s M a rs h a ll as a n a u th o r ity
o n th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n c e le b ritie s a n d m e d ia , w h ic h h e
d e s c r i b e s a s “a f r a n t i c , d e s p e r a t e d a n c e .” T h e jo u rn a lis t,
C h ris C obb, th e n adds, on M a r s h a l l ’s a u t h o r i t y : “W h e n
c e l e b r i t i e s a l l o w m e d i a i n s i d e t h e i r p r i v a t e liv e s , a s t h e y o f t e n
d o , t h e l i n e b e t w e e n t h e p u b l i c a n d p e r s o n a l is b l u r r e d , o r
d i s a p p e a r s a l t o g e t h e r ”. 19 W h a t I f i n d i n t e r e s t i n g is t h a t t h e
jo u rn a lis t C o b b and th e a c a d e m ic M a rs h a ll s e e m to be
s p e a k in g th e s a m e la n g u a g e , a n d a b o u t a to p ic o f in te r e s t
t h e y b o t h s h a r e w i t h C o b b ’s r e a d e r s h i p — t h e w o r k i n g s o f
c e le b r ity in th e m e d ia . T h e d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n m e d ia a n d
a c a d e m ia is b l u r r e d , b u t does n o t d is a p p e a r a lto g e th e r.
R a th e r, lik e th e r e la tio n b e tw e e n th e p u b lic a n d th e p riv a te
liv e s o f c e l e b r i t i e s , t h e y f o r m a m o r e i n t i m a t e r e l a t i o n . O r a t
l e a s t t h e y c o u l d . M a r s h a l l is a n i n t e r e s t i n g i n s t a n c e o f w h a t
th e h u m a n itie s u s u a lly re s is ts — p r o x im ity to th e m e d ia .
“D i a n a r e c o g n i s e d t h a t c e l e b r i t y p o w e r w a s m u c h m o r e
p o t e n t t h a n th e f o r m e r s y m b o lic p o w e r o f t h e m o n a r c h y ,”
C o b b q u o t e s M a r s h a l l a s s a y in g , a p r o p o s t h e l a t e P r i n c e s s o f
W a l e s . “C e l e b r i t y p o w e r is l i q u i d , c h a n g i n g a n d c o n n e c t e d
c l o s e l y t o t h e p o w e r o f t h e p e o p l e . R o y a lty r e l i e s o n s y m b o l i c
p o w e r a n d d is ta n c e to m a in ta in th e ir r e n o w n .” T h e r e w as a
tim e w h e n th e s a m e c o u ld b e s a id a b o u t jo u r n a lis m a n d th e
h u m a n itie s a c a d e m y . T h e f o r m e r s o u g h t o rg a n ic c o n n e c ­
tio n s to p o p u la r c u ltu r e , th e la tte r d is ta n c e d its e lf fro m it
and in s is te d on it s s u p e rio rity . W hat is s trik in g about
M a r s h a l l ’s b o o k is t h a t i t b r i d g e s t h i s g a p , b r i n g i n g c o n c e p ­
 authorising celebrity

tu a l j u d g e m e n t a b o u t c e le b r ity b a c k in c o n ta c t w ith j o u r ­
n a lis m , w h ic h p e r p e tu a te s c e le b rity .
I t w a s n ’t a lw a y s t h e c a s e t h a t e d u c a t e d o p i n i o n s o u g h t t o
d is ta n c e its e lf fro m th e p le a s u r e m a c h in e o f c e le b rity . In
1 7 5 0 , S a m u e l J o h n s o n t h o u g h t t h a t c e l e b r i t y h a d its u s e s .
“F a m e m a y b e u s e d t o s m o o t h t h e p a t h s o f li f e , t o t e r r i f y
o p p o s itio n , a n d fo rtify tr a n q u illity .” H is c o n c lu s io n w a s t h a t
“u p o n a n a t t e n t i v e a n d i m p a r t i a l r e v ie w o f t h e a r g u m e n t , i t
w ill a p p e a r t h a t t h e lo v e o f f a m e is t o b e r e g u l a t e d , r a t h e r
th a n e x tin g u is h e d ; a n d th a t m e n s h o u ld b e ta u g h t n o t to b e
w h o lly c a r e le s s a b o u t t h e i r m e m o r y , b u t to e n d e a v o u r t h a t
t h e y m a y b e r e m e m b e r e d c h i e f l y f o r t h e i r v i r t u e s . ”20 W h i c h is
a s g o o d a r a tio n a le as a n y f o r te a c h in g c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s .
W illia m H a z litt, n o f a n o f J o h n s o n , w a s r a t h e r m o r e c ritic a l
o f p o p u l a r i t y : “T h e m u l t i t u d e w ill a g r e e w i t h u s , i f w e a g r e e
w i t h t h e m ”, h e w r o t e i n 1 8 1 7 . H i s p e s s i m i s t i c v ie w w a s t h a t
“m a n is a t o a d - e a t i n g a n i m a l . T h e a d m i r a t i o n o f p o w e r i n
o t h e r s is a s c o m m o n t o m a n a s t h e lo v e o f i t i n h i m s e l f : t h e
o n e m a k e s h i m a t y r a n t , t h e o t h e r a s l a v e . ”21 N e v e r t h e l e s s ,
H a z litt w a s a n a c tiv e p a r t i c i p a n t in t h e p u b lic d is c u s s io n o f
c e le b rity , s e e k in g to ju d g e and c o m p are c o n te m p o ra ry
c e l e b r i t y b y t h e y a r d s t i c k o f t h e c la s s i c a l G r e e k h e r o e s . O v e r
tim e , as lite ra ry a u th o rity passed fro m th e p ro fe s s io n a l
w r i t e r s s u c h a s J o h n s o n a n d H a z l i t t t o t h e a c a d e m y , le s s o f
t h e i r a c tiv e a n d c r itic a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n in t h e w o r ld o f c e le b r ity
s u r v i v e d . W h a t m a t t e r s a b o u t D a v i d M a r s h a l l is t h a t h e is o n e
of th o s e w ith in th e h u m a n itie s academ y a lm o s t b ra v e
e n o u g h to w o rk f o r a r e tu r n to s u c h a n e n g a g e m e n t.
C e n tra l to th e b r o a d c a s t e r a w as th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n
th e c e le b rity a n d th e d e m o g r a p h ic . C e le b rity w as a k in d o f
h y p e r-in d iv id u a l, s o m e o n e w h o a p p e a r e d u n iq u e , b u t w h o
p a ra d o x ic a lly h a d to a p p e a r u n iq u e to v e ry m a n y d if f e r e n t
p e o p le f o r m a n y re a so n s. T h e d e m o g ra p h ic , o n th e o th e r
h a n d , w as th e w ay th e in s tr u m e n ta l k n o w le d g e a tta c h e d to
th e c u ltu re in d u s trie s u n d e r s to o d th e p e o p le w h o r e a d a n d
l i s t e n t o t h e m e d i a . I n h i s b o o k C e le b rity a n d P o w e r , M a r s h a l l
c a l ls th is d e v e lo p m e n t o f c e le b rity and d e m o g ra p h ic a
d o u b l e r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n . 22 T h e d e m o g r a p h i c is r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n
fro m a b o v e , p a r t o f th e w ay th e p e o p le w h o r u n th e c u ltu re
in d u s trie s try to g e t a h a n d le o n th e ir c u s to m e rs as a n o b je c t
o f k n o w l e d g e . B u t c o u n t e r t o t h i s t r e n d is r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n
the m urm ur of the w aves

fr o m b e lo w — th e p ro c e s s b y w h ic h p e o p le fe e l t h e ir w ay
t h r o u g h w h a t is h a p p e n i n g i n t h e w o r l d i n t e r m s o f t h e p l e a ­
su re m a c h in e of c e le b ritie s a p p e a rin g in th e m e d ia .
M a rs h a ll, w h o w a s lik e T o fts a n d M c Q u ir e , b o r n i n t o a w o r ld
w h e r e te le v is io n a lr e a d y e x is te d , w a n ts to o p e n u p w ays o f
t h i n k i n g a b o u t , a n d t h i n k i n g t h r o u g h , t h e ‘m a s s ’ i n m a s s
m e d ia . H e w a n ts to o p e n th e r e la tio n s h ip o f th e a u d ie n c e to
t h e c e l e b r i t y a n d e x p l o r e i ts c o m p l e x i t i e s .
T h e v e ry w o r d c e le b r ity h a s a c u r i o u s h is to ry . Its r o o ts r e f e r
u s t o b o t h w h a t is s o l e m n a n d w h a t is n o t o r i o u s . T h e w o r d
e n c o m p a s s e s i n its o w n h i s t o r y t h e a m b i g u i t y o f c e l e b r i t y
it s e lf . I t c o v e r s t h e s o l e m n i t y o f M i c h a e l H u t c h e n c e ’s f u n e r a l
a t S t A n d r e w s in S y d n e y ; b u t it a ls o c o v e rs t h e n o t o r ie t y o f
R e v e l l e B a l m a i n ’s a l l e g e d p r o s t i t u t i o n a t t h e R itz C a r l t o n
H o te l. The p ra c tic e s o f th e p le a s u re m a c h in e , M a rs h a ll
r e m in d s u s , h a v e a h is to ry , a n d q u i te a lo n g o n e . W h e n
p e o p le c o m p la in th a t in th e 9 0 s p o litic ia n s h a v e to a c q u ire
t h e t e l e v i s i o n s k il ls o f c e l e b r i t i e s , t h e y f o r g e t t h a t p o l i t i c i a n s
h a v e a lw a y s h a d t o h a v e t h e a b i l i t y t o a p p e a r e f f e c t i v e l y i n t h e
m e d ia o f th e day. R o n a ld R e a g a n m ig h t h a v e b e e n a m a s te r
o f th e in tim a te te le v is io n c h a t, b u t G e o r g e W a s h in g to n w as
n o s lo u c h w h e n it c a m e to p a r a d in g d o w n m a in s tr e e t o n a
h o r s e . 23 B o t h a re s k ills in m a n a g in g a p p e a ra n ce s. W hat
c h a n g e s is t h a t t h e p u b l i c s p a c e h a s b e c a m e a p a r t o f b r o a d ­
c a s t s p a c e , w h i c h is n o w b e c o m i n g p a r t o f c y b e r s p a c e .
M a r s h a l l ’s m a i n t h e m e is c e l e b r i t y a n d p o w e r , a n d h e p r o ­
v id e s a n illu m in a tin g h is to r y o f th e w ay g e n e r a ti o n s o f ta lk in g
h e a d s h a v e s p o k e n a b o u t th e n a tu r e o f p o p u la r c u ltu re a n d
p o litic s to th e p o w e rfu l. I n th e la te 1 9 th c e n tu r y , th e o r is ts o f
t h e c ro w d , p a r tic u la r ly G u s ta v L e B o n , id e n tif ie d th e c ro w d
w it h t h e f e m i n i n e a n d t h e i r r a t i o n a l . 24 T h e c r o w d o p e r a t e s ,
h e a r g u e d , b y s e n tim e n t a n d in s tin c t. T h e c h a ris m a tic le a d e r
c o u ld m a in ta in p o w e r b y a p p e a lin g to th e c ro w d f o r le g iti­
m acy, b y a p p e a r in g as th e sy m b o l o f u n ity a n d a s p ira tio n —
a l l t h e w h i l e s t e e r i n g t h e c r o w d t o w a r d s t h e l e a d e r ’s o w n
e n d s . A t a tim e o f o p tim is m a n d r a tio n a l p ro g re s s , L e B o n
i n t r o d u c e d a p e s s im is tic n o te , s e e in g in th e c ro w d a n u n c o n ­
s c io u s fo r c e th a t h a d to b e h a r n e s s e d a n d c o n tr o lle d .
M a rs h a ll a r g u e s th a t th e 1 9 th c e n tu r y a n x ie ty a b o u t th e
b e h a v io u r o f th e c ro w d c o n tr ib u te d to th e 2 0 th c e n tu r y
a n x i e t y a b o u t t h e c u l t u r e o f m a s s s o c ie ty . W O ie re t h e f o r m e r
 authorising celebrity

f e a r e d t h e a c tiv ity o f t h e c r o w d , t h e l a t t e r d e c r i e d t h e p a s ­
s iv ity o f t h e m a s s e s . W h e r e t h e f o r m e r i d e n t i f i e d t h e b a d
in flu e n c e as th e p o p u lis t le a d e r, th e la tte r a ttr ib u te d p a s­
s iv ity t o t h e e f f e c t o f t h e m a s s m e d i a . N o t a b l e a n t i - m e d i a
ta lk in g h e a d s in th e E n g lis h s p e a k in g w o r ld in c lu d e d th e
p o e t a n d c r i t i c T . S . E l i o t a n d l i t e r a r y c r i t i c F. R . L e a v i s . 25
The G e rm a n p h ilo s o p h e r-c ritic s T h e o d o re A d o rn o and
M ax H o r k h e im e r c o n tr ib u te d a m o re rig o ro u s c o n c e p tu a l
f r a m e w o r k f o r c r i t i q u i n g t h e c u l t u r e i n d u s t r i e s . 26 I n b o t h
c a se s, th e le g itim a c y o f a c r itic a l a n d lite r a te c u ltu r e c a m e to
r e s t o n its a b i l i t y t o a s s e r t i t s d i s t a n c e f r o m p o p u l a r t a s t e . A n
in e v ita b le c o n s e q u e n c e w as a g ro w in g ig n o ra n c e am ong
th o s e tr a in e d in lite r a r y c u ltu r e a s to h o w th e c u ltu r e o f
e v e ry d a y life a c tu a lly w o rk s.
I n th e 9 0 s, it w as o f te n th o s e w h o a p p e a r e d in p o p c u ltu r e
a s i ts t o k e n b i t o f s n o b v a l u e , t h e l i t e r a r y j o u r n a l i s t s , w h o
s e e m e d m o st p r o u d o f th e ir ig n o ra n c e o f th e v e ry m e d iu m
th a t p r o v id e d t h e ir liv e lih o o d . P u t A n d re w R e im e r a n d P e te r
C ra v e n , w h o re v ie w e d b o o k s f o r S y d n e y M o r n in g H e r a ld a n d
t h e A g e re s p e c tiv e ly , t o g e t h e r in a r o o m a n d y o u m i g h t g e t
s o m e e r u d i t e c h a t a b o u t T . S. E lio t, b u t n o t m u c h e n l i g h t e n ­
m e n t a b o u t th e m e d ia fro m w h i c h t h e y m a d e t h e i r liv e li ­
h o o d . D a v id M a r s h a l l p o i n t s o u t t h e d e b i l i t a t i n g e f f e c t s t h i s
d is d a in fo r th e c o n te n t o f m ass m e d ia h a d on th in k in g ;
D a r r e n T o fts p o i n t s o u t t h a t it h e l d b a c k a n a p p r e c i a t i o n o f
t h e f o r m o f t h e m e d i a v e c t o r a s w e ll. M e d i a s t u d i e s s c h o l a r s
s u c h a s T o fts a n d M c Q u ir e h a d to d is ta n c e th e m s e lv e s f r o m
lite r a r y c ritic is m in o r d e r to c o n c e p tu a lis e m e d ia v e c to rs .
C u ltu r a l s tu d ie s s c h o la r s s u c h a s M a rs h a ll h a d to d is ta n c e
th e m s e lv e s f r o m it in o r d e r to th in k a b o u t h o w a m a ss m e d ia
s a tu r a te d c u ltu r e a c tu a lly w o rk s.
M a rs h a ll p o in ts o u t th a t a lo n g s id e th e m o d e r n is t d is ta s te
f o r m a s s m e d i a ’s e f f e c t s o n c u l t u r e a r o s e a m o r e e m p i r i c a l
a p p r o a c h . W ith th e b a c k in g o f p o litic a l a n d b u s in e s s in te r ­
e s ts , s o c ia l p s y c h o lo g is ts s ta rte d re s e a rc h in g th e a c tu a l
p r o c e s s e s b y w h i c h m e d i a a n d c u l t u r e w o r k . H a r o l d L a s s w e ll
s t a r t e d w h a t is n o w a w h o l e i n d u s t r y o n t h e e f f e c t s o f m a s s
m e d i a w i t h h i s s t u d i e s o n t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f p r o p a g a n d a . 27
P a u l L a z a rs fe ld w as m o r e s c e p tic a l a b o u t th e d ir e c t e ffe c ts o f
m a s s m e d i a , a n d t h o u g h t t h e i m p a c t o f i ts m e s s a g e s w e r e
m e d i a t e d b y w h a t h e c a l l e d “o p i n i o n l e a d e r s ” i n t h e c o m ­
the m urm ur of the w aves

m u n i t y . 28 E l a b o r a t e s t u d i e s o f t h e “u s e s a n d g r a t i f i c a t i o n s ”
th e p u b lic g e ts f r o m th e m e d ia h a v e p r o lif e r a te d e v e r s in c e .
The ta s te fo r s c ie n tific -s o u n d in g re s u lts am ong such
re s e a r c h e r s m a d e th e m a s s u m e th a t th e y w e re s tu d y in g s o m e
im m u ta b le a n d i n n a t e h u m a n n e e d t h a t t h e m e d ia s a tis fie d .
T h e y p a i d v e r y little a t t e n t i o n to t h e h is to r ic a lly v a r ia b le s id e
o f c u l t u r e . A ll t h e s a m e , t h e i d e a l o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n a s a
‘h y p o d e r m i c ’ i n j e c t i o n o f a m e s s a g e i n t o a p u b l i c b o d y t h a t
L a s s w e ll i n i t i a t e d is s t ill p o p u l a r w i t h t h o s e w h o w o u l d p r e f e r
a n i n s t r u m e n t a l v ie w o f h o w m e d i a w o r k , i n c l u d i n g m a n y
jo u r n a li s ts . I t a ls o a p p e a r s in n e g a tiv e a s a p a r a n o i d v is io n o f
m e d ia p o w e r, in w h ic h m e d ia m a g n a te s in je c t th e ir v e n ­
o m o u s a n d s e lf-s e rv in g m e s s a g e s i n t o a h a p le s s p u b lic . T h is
k in d o f f e a r h a s le g itim is e d a n e n o r m o u s b o d y o f la rg e ly
u s e le s s r e s e a r c h t h a t trie s to id e n tif y th e h y p o d e r m ic a c tio n
o f t h e m e d i a , p a r t i c u l a r l y o n c h i l d r e n . 29 S o c i a l p s y c h o l o g y
h a s a l o t t o a n s w e r f o r i n p r o p a g a t i n g t h e v ie w t h a t c o m m u ­
n i c a t i o n is a s o r t o f n a t u r a l o r c h e m i c a l p r o c e s s . I t h a s c o n ­
s u m e d v a st a m o u n ts o f p u b lic m o n e y th a t c o u ld b e b e tte r
s p e n t a c tu a lly e d u c a tin g p e o p le , p a r tic u la r ly c h ild r e n , in
h o w t o r e a d t h e m e d i a c r i t i c a l l y a n d c r e a t iv e l y .
A m o r e s e n s ib le a p p r o a c h e m e r g e d in th e 60 s. A s th e in a d ­
e q u a c ie s o f th e lite ra ry d is d a in fo r th e m a ss m e d ia b e c a m e
m o re a n d m o r e a p p a r e n t, h u m a n itie s s c h o la rs w e n t lo o k in g
f o r c o n c e p tu a l to o ls f o r th in k in g a b o u t h o w c u ltu re a n d
m e d i a w o r k t h a t a r e a b i t m o r e s e n s itiv e to p a r t i c u l a r h is to r ­
ic a l c irc u m s ta n c e s th a n th e s o c ia l p s y c h o lo g y tra d itio n .
C u l t u r a l s t u d i e s g r e w i n p a r t o u t o f t h e lo s s o f l e g i t i m a c y o f
lite r a r y c u ltu r e , w h ic h s e e m e d in c re a s in g ly ir r e le v a n t a n d
m a r g i n a l i s e d , b u t a ls o o u t o f t h e lo s s o f le g itim a c y o f t h e
s o c ia l s c ie n c e a p p r o a c h , w h ic h s e e m e d s u b s e r v i e n t to th e
b u s i n e s s a n d g o v e r n m e n t i n t e r e s t s t h a t f u n d e d it. C u l t u r a l
s tu d ie s c o n ta in e d a ra d ic a l im p u ls e to c r itiq u e m a ss m e d ia ,
b u t w ith a b e t t e r k n o w le d g e o f h o w it w o r k e d t h a n l ite r a r y
c ritic is m h a d t o o ffe r. B u t it a ls o c o n t a i n e d a d e m o c r a tic
im p u ls e to g e t to k n o w h o w c u ltu r e w o r k e d f o r d if f e r e n t
k i n d s o f p e o p l e i n t h e i r e v e r y d a y lif e .
M a r s h a l l is c l o s e r t o t h i s s e c o n d v ie w . H e d o e s n o t n e c e s ­
s a r il y e n d o r s e a n y a n d e v e r y a s p e c t o f m a s s m e d i a c u l t u r e .
R a th e r, M a rs h a ll w a n ts to u n d e r s ta n d h o w m e d ia a n d c u ltu r e
i n t e r a c t t h r o u g h t h e c e l e b r i t y p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e . T h i s is w h a t
 authorising celebrity

m a k e s it p o te n tia lly a g e n u in e ly d e m o c r a tic a p p r o a c h to th e

n e x u s b e t w e e n c u l t u r e a n d p o l i t i c s . I t is a l s o w h a t m a k e s
M a rs h a ll a g e n u in e ly c r e d ib le ta lk in g h e a d , a c e le b u ta n te o f
c e l e b r i t y its e lf .
I m p l i e d i n t h e i d e a o f m a s s c u l t u r e is t h e i d e a t h a t t h e
im a g e s t h a t c ir c u la te in th e m a s s m e d ia a r e p r e tty m u c h
a l i k e , a n d t h a t t h e w a y t h e y e f f e c t p e o p l e is p r e t t y m u c h t h e
sa m e to o . C u ltu r a l s tu d ie s p io n e e r s s u c h as S tu a r t H a ll p r e ­
f e r r e d to s p e a k o f p o p u la r c u ltu r e , a n a m e th a t im p lie s th a t
t h e s t u f f is p o p u l a r b e c a u s e p e o p l e a c t u a l l y e n g a g e w i t h i t . 30
T h a t p e o p le m ig h t n e g o tia te o r re s is t th e im a g e s a n d s to rie s
o f p o p u la r c u ltu r e w as o n e o f th e e n d u r in g c o n tr ib u tio n s o f
th e e a rly c u ltu ra l s tu d ie s th in k e rs . The p e o p le p ro d u c e
c u ltu r e , b u t n o t w ith m e d ia o f t h e i r o w n m a k in g .
M a r s h a l l w r i t e s t h a t “c e l e b r i t y is a w a y i n w h i c h m e a n i n g
c a n b e h o u s e d a n d c a te g o ris e d in to s o m e th in g th a t p ro v id e s
a s o u r c e a n d o r ig in f o r m e a n in g .” W h a te v e r th o u g h ts , fe e l­
in g s, in tu itio n s p e o p le m a y h a v e , p a r tic u la r ly a b o u t w h a t m a y
c o n s titu te th e fa ir g o , c a n b e a r r a n g e d u n d e r a p p r o p r ia te
c e l e b r i t y ‘h e a d i n g s ’, e a c h l a b e l l e d w i t h a c e l e b r i t y f a c e . “I n
p o litic s , a le a d e r m u s t s o m e h o w e m b o d y th e s e n tim e n ts o f
t h e p a rty , t h e p e o p le , a n d t h e s ta te . I n t h e r e a lm o f e n t e r ­
ta in m e n t, a c e le b rity m u s t s o m e h o w e m b o d y th e s e n tim e n ts
o f a n a u d ie n c e .” I w o u ld g o f u r t h e r a n d s u g g e s t th a t b o th
p o litic ia n s a n d e n te r ta in e r s e m b o d y a t le a s t a n e le m e n t o f
s o m e t h i n g b e y o n d , a c e r t a i n h i n t o f v irtu a lity .
B o th p o litic ia n s a n d e n te rta in e rs a re “h e a d i n g s ” u n d e r
w h i c h p e o p l e c a n i d e n t i f y c o m p o n e n t s o f w h a t M a r s h a l l c a lls
t h e “p o p u l a r w i ll”. I t ’s i m p o r t a n t t o b e a r i n m i n d t h a t t h e
p o p u l a r w ill is n o t o n e t h i n g , i t is c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y t h e d i f ­
f e r e n c e s in t h a t to w h ic h p e o p le a s p ir e . T h e d if f e r e n c e s in
w h a t p e o p le d e s ir e f in d a f lu c tu a tin g e q u iv a le n t in th e d if­
fe r e n c e s b e tw e e n c e le b ritie s . W h e n th e p le a s u r e m a c h in e
f a il s t o o f f e r a d e q u a t e s c o p e f o r d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e p o p u l a r
w ill, n e w c e l e b r i t i e s a p p e a r t o e x p r e s s it. T h e r i s e o f P a u l i n e
H a n s o n is a s t r i k i n g i n s t a n c e .
O n e o f th e th in g s th a t c o n n e c ts th e c u ltu r a l to th e p o litic a l
is c e l e b r i t y . M a r s h a l l c o n t e n d s t h a t “t h e le a d e r, a lth o u g h
in s titu tio n a lly a n e le m e n t o f th e p o litic a l s p h e r e , m u s t w o rk
t o e m b o d y w h a t is p e r c e i v e d a s u n i v e r s a l i n t e r e s t o r c o m m o n
e x p e r i e n c e , w h i c h is d e f i n e d p r i m a r i l y i n t h e r e a l o f c u l t u r a l
the m urm ur of the w aves

l i f e . ” I d o n ’t t h i n k i t ’s q u i t e t h e c a s e t h a t p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s c a n
o n ly a c h ie v e p o litic a l m a jo rity b y e m b o d y in g m a jo rity c u l­
tu r a l ta s te . R a th e r , I th in k p o litic a l le a d e r s h a v e to e m b o d y
m a jo rity ta s te o f a v e ry p a r tic u la r k in d . T h e y m u s t e m b o d y
t a s t e i n l e a d e r s h i p it s e l f . W h e n P a u l K e a t i n g r a n f o r r e - e l e c ­
tio n in 1 9 9 6 u n d e r th e s lo g a n o f L E A D E R S H I P , th e p r o b le m
w as th a t h e w as to o u r b a n e a n im a g e o f a le a d e r. H is ra z o r
s h a r p s u i t s , e n t h u s i a s m s f o r a n t i q u e s , a r c h i t e c t u r e , a n d c la s ­
s ic a l m u s i c , c o m b i n e d o d d l y w i t h h i s w e s t i e i n d u l g e n c e i n
v e rb a l a g g ro . T h is w as n o t a n im a g e o f le a d e r s h ip th a t c o n ­
f o r m e d to th e s u b u r b a n n o r m .
M a rs h a ll th in k s t h a t th e ris e o f c e le b r ity r e p r e s e n ts a c o l­
la p s in g o f p o litic s a n d c u ltu r e to g e th e r in to a r e a lm o f c o n ­
s u m p t i o n , b u t I d o n ’t t h i n k t h i s is q u i t e r i g h t . C e l e b r i t i e s
o c c u p y t h e s u b s i d i s e d , p u b l i c b r o a d c a s t i n g c h a n n e l s a s e a s ily
a s t h e p r i v a t e c o m m e r c i a l o n e s . I t is t h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n
p u b lic a n d p riv a te , r a t h e r th a n th a t b e tw e e n p o litic s a n d th e
m a r k e t , t h a t is c h a n g i n g . T h e c la s s ic s u b u r b a n h o u s e , i d e a l
i m a g e o f t h e p r i v a t e w o r l d , h a s n o t o n l y w a lls a n d a s e c u r i t y
m e sh d o o r b u t a b o u n d a ry fe n c e a r o u n d th e p e r im e te r o f
th e p r o p e r ty . W h a t c ro s s e s th e s e b o u n d a r ie s w ith im p u n ity
a r e th e v e c to r s o f te le s th e s ia — th e te l e p h o n e a n d te le v is io n ,
n o t to m e n tio n th e v e c to rs o f th e in te r n e t.
T e le v is io n , in p a r tic u la r , c o n n e c ts th e p r iv a te w o r ld in to
th e p u b lic w o rld in th e m o s t in tim a te m a n n e r. I n th e d ay s o f
P r i m e M i n i s t e r s l i k e J o h n C u r t i n a n d B e n C h if le y , r a d i o w a s
s ta r tin g to r e a c h in to th is p riv a te w o rld , b u t p e o p le w h o
w a n te d to s e e th e m w o u ld h a v e to p u t o n t h e i r h a t a n d c o a t
a n d g o to a p u b lic h a ll, o r a t le a s t to a n e w s re e l c in e m a . In
th e 6 0 s, th e d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n p u b lic a n d p r iv a te s p a c e s in
t h e w o r ld h a d a lm o s t e n tir e ly g iv e n w ay to t h e d is tin c tio n
b e tw e e n p u b lic and p riv a te tim e — on te le v is io n . The
e v e n in g n e w s a n d c u r r e n t a ffa irs sh o w s c o u n t e d a s p u b lic
tim e , w h ile e n t e r t a i n m e n t p r o g r a m m in g c o u n te d a s p riv a te
tim e .
In th e 90s, th e la m e n t f o r th e d e c lin e o f th e p u b lic r o le o f
new s a n d c u r r e n t a ffa irs p o in te d o u t, q u ite rig h tly , t h a t
p riv a te im a g e s w e re i n tr u d in g in to it — n o t le a s t s to rie s
a b o u t t h e p r i v a t e liv e s o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t c e l e b r i t i e s . B u t w h a t
t h i s l a m e n t f a i l e d t o n o t i c e is t h a t p u b l i c i s s u e s i n c r e a s i n g l y
o c c u r r e d i n t h e p r i v a t e t i m e o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t t e l e v i s i o n . I t ’s
 C a t h a r i n e l u m b y ’s a p p e a r a n c e s

h a r d to th i n k o f a c u r r e n t a ff a ir s is s u e , f r o m r a c e a n d im m i­
g ra tio n to m e d ia c e n s o r s h ip to th e c o r r u p tio n o f p u b lic
o f f ic e t h a t h a s n o t f e a t u r e d in a n e p i s o d e o f T h e S im p so n s.
W h i l e M a r s h a l l ’s b o o k s t ill c a r r i e s s o m e b a g g a g e f r o m t h e
n e g a tiv e a n d c r itic a l a p p r o a c h to m e d ia s t u d i e s , w h a t is
r e f r e s h i n g is h i s a t t e m p t t o p r o d u c e c o n c e p t s t h a t m i g h t
account fo r th e c o m p le x ity of th e c e le b rity p le a s u re
m a c h i n e . H e d o e s n o t s la g o f f t h e f a n s o f c e le b r ity im a g e s a s
so m a n y c u ltu r a l d o p e s , d u p e d b y c a p ita lis m , o r p a tr o n is e
t h e i r t a s t e f o r ‘k i t s c h ’. N o r d o e s h e t r y t o p r o d u c e a p s e u d o ­
s c ie n tific c a lc u lu s . H e p r o v id e s a u s e f u l h is to r y o f th e w ay
b u s in e s s , g o v e r n m e n t a n d c u ltu r a l p o w e r h a s c o n c e p tu a lis e d
it s ‘o t h e r ’: t h e c r o w d , t h e m o b , t h e m a s s , a n d t h e l e a d e r s a n d
c e le b ritie s w h o lin k o n e to th e o th e r.

C a th a rin e L u m b y ’s A p p e a r a n c e s
H e r e a re s o m e m o r e s tr a n g e c lu e s a s to h o w th e m e d ia -m a d e
p u b lic sp h e re m ig h t a c tu a lly w o rk th e s e days: A w o m a n
a p p e a r s o n A B C R a d i o N a t i o n a l ’s L a t e N i g h t L i v e w i t h P h i l l i p
A d a m s , v o ic in g h e r id e a s , b u t s h e a ls o d e c o ra te s M ik e y
R o b in s ’ p a n e l o n th e A B C T V c o m e d y g a m e sh o w G ood N ew s
W eek. T h e A u s t r a l i a n c r i t i q u e s h e r a t g r e a t l e n g t h , t h e n s h e
p o p s u p i n b la c k b r a a n d p a n t i e s in t h e m u s ic m a g a z in e J u ic e .
E x q u is ite ly p h o t o g r a p h e d in Vogue, s h e w is e c ra c k s h e r w ay
t h r o u g h t h e F o x t e l c o m e d y p a n e l s h o w M o u t h i n g O ff . S h e
g a rn e rs an e n d o rse m e n t fro m d is tin g u is h e d fe m in is t
p h ilo s o p h e r M o ira G a te n s , a n d fe a tu re s as a ta lk in g h e a d o n
t h e c o m m e r c i a l T V s h o w S e x / L i f e . W h o is s h e ? M a c q u a r i e
U n iv e rs ity le c tu r e r and Sydney M o r n in g H e r a ld c o lu m n is t
C a t h a r i n e L u m b y , p r o m o t i n g h e r b o o k B a d G ir ls : T h e M e d i a ,
S e x a n d F e m in is m ? ' Is s h e f i g h t i n g t h e g o o d f ig h t, b r i n g i n g
f e m i n i s m ’s t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e m e d i a k i c k i n g a n d s c r e a m i n g
i n t o t h e 1 9 9 0 s ? O r is s h e s e l l i n g f e m i n i s m o u t t o t h e b a d g u y s
w h o r u n th e m e d ia ?
T h e s e a r e s tra n g e th in g s f o r a fe m in is t, a jo u r n a lis t o r a
m e d i a s t u d i e s s c h o l a r t o d o , a n d L u m b y is a ll o f t h e s e t h i n g s .
In s p ire d by th e e x a m p le of M eaghan M o rris , Lum by
e x p lo r e s th e p o s s ib ilitie s o f a p p e a r in g a s a re la y b e tw e e n
p o in ts w ith in v a rio u s d is c o u rs e s a n d w h a t th e y ta k e to b e
‘o u t s i d e ’ t h e i r d o m a i n . 32 H e r t h e s i s w a s t h a t t h e c o n t o u r s o f
the m urm ur of the w aves

c o n te m p o r a r y fe m in is m a re b o th c a u se a n d e ffe c t o f a tra n s ­
f o r m a tio n o f th e v irtu a l re p u b lic . S h e n o t o n ly p r o d u c e s a
t h e o r y o f t h e p o s t m o d e r n b r e a k d o w n b e tw e e n z o n e s o f d is ­
c o u r s e , s h e p e r f o r m s it.
L u m b y a r g u e s t h a t f e m in is m c h a lle n g e s a ll o f th o s e w ay s o f
s p e a k in g , fro m jo u r n a lis m to s c h o la rs h ip . F e m in is m a lte rs
th e p a ra m e te rs o f w h a t th e p u b lic re c o g n is e a s a p u b lic
t h i n g , a n d a l s o t h e p a r a m e t e r s o f w h o is r e c o g n i s e d a s e n t i ­
t l e d t o a d d r e s s t h e p u b l i c . L u m b y ’s p h i l o s o p h y o f t h e m e d i a
f i t s w i t h h e r e v o l v i n g p r a c t i c e w i t h i n it. B o t h t h e t h e o r y a n d
its p r a c tic e r e f le c t a c e r t a i n c o n t e m p o r a r y e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e
w ay th e m e d ia c r e a te p o in ts a n d m o m e n ts w ith in w h ic h o n e
c a n c r e a te a c e r ta in k in d o f e f f e c t f o r a c e r ta in k in d p u b lic .
F ro m th e 60s to th e 90s, m o re a n d m o re w o m e n e n te r e d
th e w o r k f o r c e , a c q u ir e d t h e i r o w n in c o m e s , a n d s ta r te d to
spend th e m . T h e m a r k e t a n d th e m e d ia a d a p te d to th is
r i s i n g f i e l d o f w a n t s a n d n e e d s . T h i s is w h e r e L u m b y d i r e c t s
p u b lic a tte n tio n — to p o p u la r m e d ia t h a t b u r b lin g ta lk in g
h e a d s o f te n ig n o r e a n d d e s p is e . I f y o u w a n t to ta lk a b o u t
w h a t w o m e n o u g h t to b e , o n e h a s to k n o w s o m e th in g a b o u t
w h a t w o m e n a c tu a lly r e a d a n d w a tc h a n d b u y. A p o litic a l
fe m in is m th a t th in k s in te r m s o f s o lid a rity a n d o p p o s itio n
d o e s n ’t n e c e s s a r i l y h a v e a h a n d l e o n t h e s e c u l t u r a l f o r m s
th ro u g h w h ic h w om en fo rg e id e n titie s and act as
a u t o n o m o u s s u b je c ts .
L u m b y c o n n e c ts th e e m e r g e n c e o f w o m e n in th e w o rk
fo rc e to a c h a n g e in th e s tr u c tu r e o f th e v irtu a l r e p u b lic . T h e
o ld a lig n m e n t o f w o m e n w ith th e p r iv a te s p h e r e a n d m e n
w i t h t h e p u b l i c s p h e r e b r o k e d o w n . L ik e w is e t h e d i v i s i o n
b e tw e e n d a y tim e a n d p r i m e tim e te le v is io n t h a t w a s b u i l t o n
t h i s s o c i a l s e g r e g a t i o n . W h a t w a s o n c e c o n s i d e r e d ‘w o m e n ’s
b u s i n e s s ’ — t h e c h a t t y , g o s s ip y , t o u c h y - f e e ly , c e l e b r i t y - r i d d e n
s t u f f o f d a y t i m e t a l k s h o w s — h a d b y t h e 9 0 s w o r k e d it s w a y
i n t o t h e s e r i o u s m e n ’s b u s i n e s s o f e v e n i n g c u r r e n t a f f a ir s .
T h i s ‘t a b l o i d ’ t r e n d w a s w i d e l y d e r i d e d , b u t a s L u m b y
p o in ts o u t, th e p re ju d ic e a g a in s t ta b lo id s ty le n e w s a n d
c u r r e n t a ffa irs r e p e a t e d te r m f o r te r m s o m e o ld p r e ju d ic e s
M a rs h a ll id e n tif ie s a b o u t th e ir r a tio n a l a n d f e m in in e n a tu r e
o f th e p o p u la r. T a k e , fo r in s ta n c e , th e w ay th e b o d y a p p e a rs
in d a y tim e ta lk sh o w s a s o p p o s e d to p r im e tim e c u r r e n t
a f f a i r s . T h e p a t e r n a l i s t i c s ty le o f t h e l a t t e r t r e a t s t h e b o d y a s
 C a t h a r i n e l u m b y ’s a p p e a r a n c e s

a s ta tis tic a l n o r m to b e p r e s id e d o v e r b y e x p e r ts . A n e x a m p le
m ig h t b e a n e d itio n o f A B C T V ’s L a t e l i n e i n w h i c h f o u r
m id d le a g e d w h ite m e n in s u its ta lk a b o u t h e r o i n a d d ic tio n
a n d t r e a t m e n t , w h i l e t h e o n l y a d d i c t w h o a p p e a r s is i n t h e
film e d in tr o d u c tio n — a n d th e p r o g r a m a n n o u n c e s th a t sh e
is a l r e a d y d e a d .
T h e d a y t i m e t a l k s h o w s ty le is q u i t e d i f f e r e n t , a n d f o c u s e s
n o t o n e x p e r t o p in io n b u t o n e v e ry d a y e x p e r ie n c e . I t d e a ls
w ith th e b o d y n o t a s a s ta tis tic a l n o r m b u t a s g r o u p e d e x a m ­
p le s o f e x c e s s a n d p e r s o n a l s tr u g g le . F o r in s ta n c e , w h o le
sh o w s m ig h t b e d e v o te d to th e e x p e r ie n c e o f a n o r e x ia , o r to
t h e s e x u a l i t y o f t h e ‘b i g w o m a n ’, o r i n t e r r a c i a l d a t i n g , o r
b r e a s t i m p l a n t s . I n d a y t i m e T V , t h e b o d y is m a d e t o te s t i f y f o r
it s e l f , a n d t h e e x p e r t o p i n i o n is m a r g i n a l .
Lum by a rg u e s th a t d a y tim e te le v is io n w as o rig in a lly
d e s ig n e d to a p p e a l to w o m e n a t h o m e , b u t as m o r e w o m e n
e n te r e d th e w o rk fo rc e , e le m e n ts o f th e s e m e d ia rh e to ric s
f o u n d th e ir w ay in to o th e r m e d ia fo rm a ts , th u s p r o d u c in g
t h e p a n i c a b o u t t h e c o r r u p t i o n o f ‘s e r i o u s ’ m e d i a b y t a b l o i d
‘t r i v i a ’. L u m b y a s k s j u s t e x a c t l y w h o is s p e a k i n g i n th e s e
d e n u n c i a t i o n s o f i s s u e s t o d o w i t h w o m e n ’s h e a l t h , s a f e t y a n d
s e l f - e s t e e m a s ‘t r i v i a l ’.
L u m b y ’s b o o k B a d G i r l s c o n c e n t r a t e s o n i n t e r e s t i n g a n d
p o s itiv e e x a m p le s o f p r i n t a n d e le c tr o n ic ta b lo id c u ltu r e , b u t
I d o n ’t t h i n k L u m b y w o u l d w a n t t o d e f e n d a l l o f it . P a r t o f
th e p r o b le m w ith t h e r e c e p t i o n o f th is b o o k h a d to d o w ith
th e fa c t th a t it r e a c h e d o u t to a s u b u r b a n r e a d e r s h ip in a c o s­
m o p o lita n m a n n e r . 33 L u m b y fo u n d p o s itiv e v a lu e s and
c h a n g e s i n t h e lo w a n d t h e p o p , a n d c o n f r o n t e d c o m p l e x
c la s s a n d g e n d e r p r e j u d i c e s . I n t h e 9 0 s , r e f i n e d s u b u r b a n
t a s t e s ti ll j u s t i f i e d i t s e l f i n t e r m s o f a n o t i o n a l m a s s o f u n d i f ­
f e r e n t i a t e d p o p t r a s h b e n e a t h it. T h e w h o l e i d e a o f a p p l y i n g
a n a e s th e tic s o f d is tin c tio n to p o p c h a lle n g e d th e d iv id e
u p o n w h i c h a s u b u r b a n t a s t e g r o u n d e d it s i d e n t i t y .
L u m b y ’s c o n c e p t u a l c h a l l e n g e t o s u b u r b a n t a s t e w a s n o t
e n tire ly new . It re c a p itu la te d th e w o rk o f, a m o n g o th e rs ,
J o h n H a r t l e y i n e x p l o r i n g t h e m a c h i n a t i o n s o f t h e p o p u l a r . 34
W h a t w as n e w w as th a t L u m b y to o k th e s e a r g u m e n ts o u t o f
th e r e s tr ic te d c irc le s o f th e c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s a c a d e m y a n d
re p h ra s e s th e m f o r c irc u la tio n b a c k a lo n g th e v e c to rs o f
p o p u la r m e d ia . Lum by c ro sse s th e b o u n d a rie s b e tw e e n
the m urm ur of the w aves

m e d i a a n d a c a d e m i a , w h e r e a s M a r s h a l l is c o n t e n t t o p o s i t i o n
h is s c h o la rs h ip in c lo s e p ro x im ity to th e m e d ia . L u m b y
in tro d u c e d an u rb a n e c ritiq u e of th e assum ed and
u n t h o u g h t h i e r a r c h i e s t h a t p r e v a i l i n p u b l i c lif e .
T h a t p e o p l e w h o c o n s u m e p o p m e d i a a r e n o t ‘c u l t u r a l
d o p e s ’ w as b y th e 9 0 s a s ta n d a r d id e a in c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s .
L u m b y ’s a d v e r s a r y w a s a n i m a g e o f a f e m i n i s m th a t h a te s
t h e m e d i a a n d c e le b r ity a n d c a lls f o r m o r e c e n s o r s h i p . F o r
in s ta n c e : th e s u p p o s e d ly le f t w in g L a b o r S e n a to r M a r g a r e t
R e y n o ld s , w h o w o r k e d h a n d in g lo v e w ith t h e r e a c tio n a r y
a n d a n ti-fe m in is t S e n a to r f ro m T a s m a n ia , B ria n H a r r a d in e
on th e S e n a te I n q u ir y in to C o m m u n ity S ta n d a rd s . W h a t
th e y h a d in c o m m o n w as th a t th e y w o u ld r a t h e r w o rk aw ay
q u ie tly a t a d m in is tr a tiv e c o n tr o l o f c u ltu r e t h a n w o rk w ith in
c u ltu re a g a in s t a d m in is tra tiv e c o n tro l o f w o m e n ’s liv e s .
F e m in is m c a n b e a b o u t p r o d u c in g s p e a k in g p o s itio n s fo r
w o m e n , o r it c a n b e a b o u t s u p p r e s s in g s p e e c h . I f p o litic s ,
u n lik e c u l t u r e , is u l t i m a t e l y a m a t t e r o f c h o o s i n g s id e s ,
L u m b y s id e s w ith t h e l i b e r t a r i a n p a rty , w h ic h g iv e s c u l t u r e
th e m o s t fr e e re ig n .
T h i s l i b e r t a r i a n i s m is o f a d e m o c r a t i c v a r ie ty . I t p u t s a l o t
o f t r u s t in t h e a b ility o f o r d i n a r y w o m e n to m a k e o f im a g e s
w h a t t h e y w ill. M e d i a s t u d i e s s c h o l a r s l i k e I e n A n g d i s c o v e r e d
t h e d iv e rs ity o f t h e w ay p e o p l e u s e t h e m e d i a t h r o u g h th e
q u a l i t a t i v e s t u d y o f m e d i a a u d i e n c e s . 35 J o h n H a rtle y su b ­
j e c t e d p o p u l a r m e d ia te x ts to s c ru tin y , a n d f o u n d t h a t fa r
f r o m b e i n g a n e n d l e s s s t r e a m o f c o v e r t id e o l o g y , m e d i a t e x t s
a r e a c tu a lly d e s ig n e d to b e o p e n to q u ite d iv e rs e re a d in g s .
I ’v e a r g u e d t h a t y o u a l s o h a v e t o l o o k a t t h e i n c r e a s i n g d i v e r ­
s ity o f v e c t o r s a l o n g w h i c h t e x t s s h u t t l e b e t w e e n m e d i a p r o ­
d u c e r s a n d a u d i e n c e s . 36 B u t w h i l e c l o s e c o n t a c t w i t h m e d i a
a u d ie n c e s , te x ts a n d v e c to rs le d to m o r e s u b tle a n d s u p p le
c o n c e p ts o f th e re c e iv e r e n d o f th e c o m m u n ic a tio n p ro c e s s ,
m e d i a s t u d i e s i n t h e 9 0 s w a s s till p r o n e t o s o m e w h a t p a r a ­
n o i d v ie w s o f h o w t h e m e d i a g e t s p r o d u c e d .
L u m b y d e s c r ib e s th e m e d ia a s a v iru s . S h e c la im s t h a t f e m ­
i n i s t s f a i l e d t o g r a s p it s e l u s i v e q u a l i t i e s . T h e m e a n i n g o f a n
i m a g e d o e s n ’t r e s i d e i n it , b u t i n t h e w a y i t c i r c u l a t e s . S h e
c ritic is e s in f lu e n tia l m o d e ls o f th e m e d ia p r o c e s s t h a t tr y to
lo c a te w ith in it a n e s s e n tia l s tr u c tu r e . S h e c ite s a r t c ritic J o h n
B e r g e r a n d f i l m t h e o r i s t L a u r a M u lv e y , w h o b o t h p o s i t e d a n
 C a t h a r i n e l u m b y ’s a p p e a r a n c e s

a c tiv e m a le s p e c t a t o r f o r t h e p a s s iv e f e m a l e s p e c ta c le o f
W h i t e G i r l . 37 L u m b y d o e s n o t p u r s u e th e s e th e o rie s in to
e v e r y l a s t b a r o q u e tw is t t h a t a c a d e m i c s c r e e n t h e o r y t o o k
s in c e th e 1 9 7 0 s. S h e c h a r g e s th e s e th e o r ie s w ith b e in g w r o n g
a t t h e r o o t. T h e y fa il to a d d r e s s t h e c o m p le x itie s o f t h e w ay
im a g e s c ir c u la te a n d m u ta te a s th e y m e e t a n e n d le s s v a rie ty
o f d if f e r e n t k in d s o f re a d e r.
‘W h y t e a c h w o m e n t o r e a d i m a g e s i n a w a y t h a t m a k e s
th e m fe e l b a d a b o u t th e m s e lv e s ? ” A g o o d q u e s tio n . R a th e r
t h a n a f e m in is m w h ic h n e g a te s w h a t it se e s w ith a c ritic a l
r e a d i n g , L u m b y is i n t e r e s t e d i n w h a t I w o u l d c a l l a ‘v i r t u a l ’
p r a c t i c e o f m e d i a f e m i n i s m . ‘W e ’r e a l l m e d i a p r o d u c e r s ”,
s h e sa y s . N o t e q u a l l y s o , o f c o u r s e . A n d y e t , w h y n o t s t a r t w i t h
w h a t e v e r s p a c e o f f r e e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n is o p e n f o r t h e c r e a t i o n
o f a f r e e s u b je c tiv i ty ? B y b e c o m i n g a s e l f - p r o d u c e d m e d i a
a c t o r , L u m b y e m b o d i e s t h i s i d e a i n a ‘c o n t r o v e r s i a l ’ f o r m .
F o r h e r , f e m i n i s m is a w a y o f ‘c o n t r o v e r t i n g ’ t h e e s t a b l i s h e d
p ra c tic e s o f a p a te r n a l o r d e r . A v irtu a l fe m in is m m oves
beyond th e bounds o f c ritiq u e and o p p o s itio n , to w a rd s
b e i n g a g e n e r a t o r o f n e w w a y s o f b e c o m i n g a f e m i n i s t , a lw a y s
d i f f e r e n t i a t i n g i t s e l f f r o m i t s e l f . 38
F e m i n i s t p h i l o s o p h e r M o i r a G a t e n s r e m i n d s u s o f H e g e l ’s
r e m a r k t h a t w o m e n a r e t h e “e v e r l a s t i n g i r o n y ” o f t h e p u b l i c
s p h e r e . 39 W h a t h e m e a n t w a s t h a t w o m e n a r e i m m e r s e d i n
p r iv a te a ffa irs , fa m ily tie s a n d lo c a l c o n c e r n s . T h e y n e v e r
a c h ie v e th e a b s tr a c t a n d u n iv e rs a l q u a lity o f b e in g p u b lic
a c to rs — a n d b e in g m e n . F o r L u m b y , th is r a tio n a l p u b lic
sp h e re is n e ith e r p o s s ib le nor d e s ira b le fo r w om en. It
e x c lu d e s w o m e n , o r it fo rc e s th e m to e x c lu d e p a r t o f th e m ­
s e lv e s i n o r d e r t o b e l o n g t o it. B u t w h a t ’s h a p p e n e d is t h a t a s
w o m e n g a in s o m e a c c e ss to a u to n o m y , th e y p a s s b e y o n d
g a i n in g e n t r y to p u b lic life o n t h e e x is tin g te r m s to g a in i n g
t h e l e v e r a g e t o c h a n g e t h e t e r m s o f ‘p u b l i c n e s s ’ it s e lf .
W om en b rin g w ith th e m in to th is em e rg e n t v irtu a l
r e p u b lic r e s id u e s o f a n o t h e r c u ltu r e , o n e tie d to th e p a r tic u ­
la rs o f p riv a te li f e , to th e body, sex and re p ro d u c tio n .
W om en a ls o b rin g w ith th e m e le m e n ts o f an a e s th e tic
le a rn e d fro m lo n g y e a rs o f p e r f o r m in g as a n o b je c t fo r
o th e rs , e le m e n ts o f iro n y , a rtific e , m a sq u e ra d e — and
c e l e b r i t y . I n L u m b y ’s w o r l d , f e m i n i s m is n o t a b o u t o p p o s i n g
n a t u r e t o m e n ’s c u l t u r e , b u t p l a y i n g w i t h a n a e s t h e t i c s u l>
th e m u rm u r of th e w a v e s

j e c t i v i t y t h a t c a n e s c a p e f r o m m a s c u l i n e o b je c ti v i ty . I t ’s n o t
s o m e s p e c i a l e s s e n c e o f ‘w o m a n ’ t h a t w o m e n b r i n g t o p u b l i c
li f e , b u t p a r t i c u l a r c a p a c i t i e s t o s p e a k a b o u t w h a t a r i s e s f r o m
t h e i r e v e r y d a y liv e s .
L u m b y n o te s in p a s s in g th a t if y o u lo o k a t th e p o p u la r
m e n ’s m a g a z i n e s o f t h e 9 0 s l i k e R a l p h , i t is m a s c u l i n i t y t h a t
a p p e a r s to b e h a v in g tr o u b le a d a p tin g to th e c u r r e n t c u ltu r a l
c lim a te , not fe m in in ity . M en are in tro u b le in th e
‘t a b l o i d i s e d ’ p o s t m o d e r n m e d ia — u n a b le to a rtic u la te
s e n s e t o s e n s ib il ity . A n o t h e r p a r t o f t h e ‘m a n p r o b l e m ’ m a y
b e th e s e lf-c o n s c io u s n e s s t h a t a ris e s f r o m th e e x is te n c e o f
w o m e n i n d e p e n d e n t a n d c o n f id e n t e n o u g h to o b je c tify m e n
a n d p u r s u e t h e i r o w n w ays o f b e in g s e x u a l s u b je c ts . I n th e
9 0 s, s o m e tim e s th e b o o t w a s e v e r so lig h tly o n th e o t h e r f o o t,
p a r t i c u l a r l y i n p o p u l a r c u l t u r e m a r k e t e d t o w o m e n . W h i c h is
n o t to s u g g e s t e v e r y o n e b e c a m e e q u a l in th e 9 0 s, b u t th a t th e
o ld p a tte r n s o f in e q u ity b e c a m e q u ite s e rio u s ly d e s ta b ilis e d ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y a t t h e le v e l o f a p p e a r a n c e s — in im a g e s a n d
s to rie s in th e m e d ia .
P e r h a p s i t is a s m u c h a j o u r n a l i s t ’s i n s t i n c t a s a l i b e r ­
t a r i a n ’s, b u t L u m b y r e s i s t s t h e i d e a o f a f e m i n i s t p o l i t i c s in
w h i c h ‘b a d ’ i m a g e s o f w o m e n w ill b e c o n s t r a i n e d b y a d m i n ­
is tra tiv e m eans and re p la c e d b y ‘g o o d ’ o n e s . P a r tly , s h e
re s is ts th e c la im to a u th o r i ty im p lie d in t h e a s s u m p tio n t h a t
th e r e a r e e n lig h te n e d fe m in is ts w h o c a n d e c id e o n w h ic h
i m a g e s o f w o m e n o u g h t t o b e s u p p r e s s e d . P a r tly , s h e r e s i s t s
th e id e a th a t im a g e s h a v e o n e in trin s ic m e a n in g i n d e p e n ­
d e n t o f t h e c o n t e x t i n w h i c h t h e y a r e r e a d . P a r t ly , s h e t h i n k s
t h e m e d i a h a v e e v o lv e d w ay b e y o n d t h e im a g e o f i t f o r m e d
i n f e m i n i s t m e d i a c r i t i c i s m o f t h e 6 0 s , a s r e c y c l e d b y 9 0 ’s
a u t h o r s l i k e N a o m i W o o l f . 40
M o re fu n d a m e n ta lly , L u m b y o p p o s e s th e id e a th a t fe m i­
n i s m c a n r e j e c t a n i m a g e o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t i t is a f a l s e r e p ­
r e s e n t a t i o n o f ‘W o m a n ’. T h a t w o u l d p r e s u m e a f e m i n i s m i n
p o s s e s s io n o f th e tru th o f ‘W o m a n ’. W h e n e v e r ‘p o s i t i v e ’
im a g e s o f th is e s s e n c e a r e a c tu a lly p r o d u c e d , th e y t u r n o u t to
b e b a s e d o n p r e c o n c e i v e d n o r m s a b o u t w h a t ‘W o m a n ’ o u g h t
to b e a n d h o w th e y o u g h t to b e r e p r e s e n te d . T h e d r e a m o f a
p l a c e o u t s i d e c o m m u n i c a t i o n w h e r e a p u r e s e l f r e s i d e s is a
fa n ta s y . F e m in is t t a lk in g h e a d s h a v e n o m o r e a c c e s s to t h e
tru th o f ‘W o m a n ’ t h a n M a rx is ts h a d to th e tru th o f th e
 C at har ine l u m b y ’s a p p e a r a n c e s

‘W o r k i n g C l a s s ’ — o r f o r t h a t m a t t e r , p r i e s t s t o t h e ‘S o u l o f
M a n ’. ‘W o m a n ’ is a s m u c h a m a t t e r o f i m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s a s
W h ite G irl, a n d i n d e e d s o m e tim e s h e s e e m s to b e W h ite G irl
w ith a ttitu d e .
E v e n t h e m o s t t a w d r y i m a g e , o f R e v e lle B a l m a i n o r N o t-
M im i , f o r i n s t a n c e , is a p u b l i c t h i n g a b o u t w h i c h p u b l i c s c a n
a r g u e — a n d c a n b e e n c o u r a g e d t o a r g u e . L u m b y ’s k i n d o f
fe m in is m w o rk s th r o u g h im a g e s , w h e th e r o f W h ite G irl o r o f
K y lie M i n o g u e , r a t h e r t h a n a t t e m p t i n g t o r e j e c t i m a g e s i n t h e
n a m e o f a h ig h e r m o ra l o rd e r. E v en m o re th a n s o m e o f th e
o t h e r m e m b e r s o f th a t firs t g e n e r a tio n in A u s tra lia b o r n in to
a w o rld in w h ic h te le v is io n a lr e a d y e x is te d , L u m b y c a m e to a n
u n d e r s ta n d in g o f h o w th e v e c to r s h a p e s e x p e rie n c e b y e x p e ­
r ie n c in g it h e rs e lf. C o m p a r e d to th e m o d e s t e x c u r s io n s in to
c e l e b u t a n t e s t a t u s o f a D a v id M a r s h a l l o r a M c K e n z i e W a r k ,
L u m b y g r a s p e d th e p r o d u c tio n o f c e le b rity f r o m th e in s id e . A s
a f o r m e r m o d e l, s h e w a s n o t b lin d to th e s tr u c tu r a l in e q u a lity
o f t h e m e d ia , in w h ic h W h ite G irl s ta n d s a s th e g o ld s ta n d a r d
o f d e s ir e , f r o m w h ic h e v e r y o t h e r im a g e d e v ia te s . W h a t s h e
a f f i r m s is t h a t c u l t u r a l p o l i t i c s h a s t o w o r k w i t h i n c u l t u r e , b o t h
i n t r y i n g t o p r o d u c e n e w im a g e s , a n d i n e n c o u r a g i n g a p u b l i c
t o r e a d f o r its e lf , c r it i c a l l y a n d c r e a tiv e ly .
A c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h i s l i n e o f t h o u g h t is t h a t t h e r e c a n b e
n o fe m in is m w ith o u t a m a r g in o f lib e rty w ith in th e m e d ia f o r
i t t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e i t s e l f f r o m it s e l f . A d m i n i s t r a t i v e f e m i n i s m
c a n b e c o m e a n a n ti-fe m in is m , f o r it s h u ts d o w n s o m e o f th e
s p a c e in w h ic h w o m e n c a n p r o d u c e im a g e s t h a t d iffe r. T h e r e
c a n b e n o fe m in is m e n tire ly o u ts id e o f th e m e d ia . T h e r e c a n
be no c o n c e p t o f fe m in is m as a p ro d u c tiv e m ovem ent
w ith o u t a c o n c e p t o f th e m e d ia as th e m a tr ix o f v e c to rs o u t
o f w h ic h it c o m p o s e s r e la tio n s b e tw e e n w o m e n .
F ro m th e 6 0 s to th e 9 0 s, a d v e rtis in g a n d p o p u la r m e d ia
r e s p o n d e d to c o m p le x d e m a n d s in f le c te d b y th e ris e o f f e m ­
i n i s m , a n d l e a r n e d t o liv e w i t h it. B u t i n t h e l a t e 9 0 s , t h e s t a t e
s t a r t e d f l e x i n g i ts o l d r e p r e s s i v e m u s c l e s a g a i n . T h e C h r i s t i a n
rig h t le a rn e d to a p p ro p ria te fe m in is t im a g e s a n d id e a s .
S e n a t o r H a r r a d i n e ’s m o s t o f t e n s t a t e d o b j e c t i o n t o p o r n o g ­
r a p h y w a s t h a t i t “d e g r a d e s w o m e n ” — j u s t a s h e t h o u g h t
a c c e s s t o w o r k a n d s a f e c o n t r a c e p t i o n “d e g r a d e s w o m e n ” .
O ld f a s h io n e d p a te r n a lis m h a s l e a r n e d h o w to s p e a k in th e
l a n g u a g e o f a n e w ‘m a t e r n a l i s m ’. B u t f o r L u m b y , b o t h t h e s e
the m urm ur of the w aves

v ie w s a r e b a s e d o n “c o e r c i v e i d e a s o f w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e
n o r m a l .” B o th o u g h t to b e r e je c te d a c c o rd in g ly .
J u s t a s s h e w a n ts to m o v e aw ay fro m a fe m in is m th a t
d e f in e s its e lf n e g a tiv e ly , a g a in s t p a t r i a r c h a l p o w e r, s o to o s h e
w a n te d to m o v e aw ay f r o m a p o litic s t h a t d e f in e s its e lf n e g a ­
tiv e ly , a s r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e m a r k e t . I n B a d G ir ls , L u m b y d o e s
n o t s p e ll it o u t, b u t I th in k th e u n d e r ly in g c o n c e p t o f th e fa ir
g o is o f a p l u r a l w o r l d o f d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f i n s t i t u t i o n — s t a t e
a n d m a rk e t, c u ltu r e a n d m e d ia — a n d o f a fe m in is m th a t
c o u ld p r o d u c e d if f e r e n t ta c tic s in e a c h .
W h ic h p e r h a p s a c c o u n ts f o r w h y L u m b y p r o d u c e s h e r s e lf
d iffe re n tly in d if f e r e n t m e d ia c o n te x ts . S h e m a k e s o f h e r s e lf
a p r o lif e r a tin g s e rie s o f a n e c d o te s , q u ip s , c ra c k s , im a g e s —
and i d e a s . A s a lw a y s w i t h c e l e b r i t y , t h i s s c h o o l o f v i r t u a l
L u m b y s s u c c e e d s ju s t as m u c h w h e n p e o p le r e a c t a g a in s t
t h e m a s w h e n p e o p l e e m b r a c e t h e m . T h e i r o n y is t h a t e v e n
h o s t i l e r e a c t i o n s a r e s till p a r t o f L u m b y ’s p r o j e c t : t o c r e a t e
d iffe re n c e s — p ro d u c tiv e , in te re s tin g , u n e x p e c te d d iffe r­
ences — w ith in f e m in is m , v ia t h e m e d ia , a n d w ith in th e
m e d i a , v ia f e m i n i s m . T h e s c a l e o n w h i c h s h e a c h i e v e s t h i s
c e l e b r i t y is o f c o u r s e q u i t e s m a ll. A ll t h e s a m e , i ts a u n i q u e
e x p e r i m e n t f o r m e d ia s tu d ie s in th e a e s th e tic la b o r a to r y th a t
is th e p o s tm o d e rn , m e d ia s a tu ra te d p u b lic sp h e re . She
r e f in e s t h e B a d G irl in to a c o n c e p t, a n d b e c o m e s a B a d G irl
in te lle c tu a l, a n ir o n ic r e t h in k in g o f th e m o s tly m a s c u lin e
p r a c t i c e o f a p p e a r i n g a s a ‘s e r i o u s ’ t a l k i n g h e a d .
I f t a l k i n g h e a d s s p e n t a b i t le s s t i m e d e n i g r a t i n g c e l e b r i t y
a n d a b i t m o r e t i m e t h i n k i n g a b o u t it, t h e r e m i g h t b e a m o r e
i n f o r m e d d is c u s s io n o f w h a t c o n s titu te s p o p u l a r s e n s ib ility
a b o u t w h a t c o n s titu te s th e fa ir g o . I t m ig h t t h e n b e p o s s ib le
t o c o n c e p t u a l i s e c e l e b r i t y , r a t h e r t h a n m e r e l y d i s m i s s it. I f
ta lk in g h e a d s c o u ld a d m it t h a t th e y a r e c e le b r itie s , o r a t le a s t
c e le b u ta n te s , th e y m ig h t c ir c u la te w ith m o r e e a s e a c ro s s a
b r o a d e r r a n g e o f m e d ia v e c to rs , in f o r m in g m o r e p a r ts o f th e
p u b lic s e a rc h f o r w h a t m a tte rs . T h a t w ay th e p ro c e s s o f c o n ­
c e p t u a l i s i n g t h e e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t a r i s e i n e v e r y d a y lif e m i g h t
b e m o r e w id e ly s p r e a d . A s I ’v e t r i e d t o s h o w , e v e r y d a y e x p e ­
r ie n c e s o f m e d ia , f r o m d e a d R o c k G o d s a n d W h ite G irls to
q u i t e liv e ly p o p s o n g s a n d p o r n v i d e o s , a l l p r o v i d e i n s t a n c e s
o f p u b lic th in g s fr o m w h ic h c o n c e p ts c a n b e d ra w n .
W r ite r s s u c h a s D a v id M a r s h a ll a n d C a t h a r in e L u m b y , w h o
 C a t h a r i n e l u m b y ’s a p p e a r a n c e s

a re n o t a fra id to a p p r o a c h , o r e v e n c ro ss, th e b o u n d a r y th a t
s e p a r a t e s s e r i o u s a n d ‘m a s c u l i n e ’ p a r t s o f t h e m e d i a f r o m
w hat w e re once triv ia l and ‘f e m i n i n e ’ p a r t s , end up
b e c o m in g in te r e s tin g e x a m p le s o f th e in te lle c tu a l as c e le b u -
ta n te . T h e y b re a k o u t o f su b u rb a n p r e o c c u p a t i o n s w ith
k e e p i n g t h i n g s , u n t h i n k i n g l y , i n t h e i r ‘r i g h t f u l ’ p l a c e , a n d
p o se c h a lle n g in g q u e s tio n s a b o u t th e c h a n g in g b o u n d a rie s
w i t h i n t h e v i r t u a l r e p u b l i c b e t w e e n h i g h a n d lo w , s e r i o u s a n d
n o t s e rio u s , p o litic s a n d c u ltu r e .
78

c h a p t e r 0

The ass and the angel

We pursue contact with wealth, talent, beauty, privilege
and influence as though they were viruses from which
we m ight seek contagion and self improvement.
Helen Razer

Ned K elly, M an and M yth

T h e r e a r e n ’t m a n y A u s t r a l i a n c e l e b r i t i e s w h o h a v e a c h i e v e d
i m m o r t a l i t y . N e d K e lly is t h e o n l y o n e I k n o w w h o h a s f i r m l y
m a d e t h e t r a n s i t i o n . O f t h e K e lly g a n g ’s l a s t s h o o t - o u t , t h e
s h o w d o w n a t G l e n r o w a n , C o l i n C a v e w r i t e s t h a t i t w a s a “t h e ­
a tr ic a l m a s te r p ie c e o f w h ic h T y r o n e G u th r ie , P e te r B ro o k o r
e v e n C e c i l B . D e M ill e h i m s e l f m i g h t w e ll b e e n v i o u s . I t
o p e n s lik e a J o h n F o r d W e s te r n , w ith t h e b o l d r i d e i n t o to w n ,
t h e G a n g b r a s h a n d u n a f r a i d . ” C a v e a r g u e s t h a t t h i s is n o
a c c i d e n t — a t l e a s t fiv e p h o t o g r a p h e r s w e r e p r e s e n t , “n o t t o
m e n tio n th e g e n tle m e n o f th e p re ss. T h e im a g in a tio n w a rm s
t o t h e m e n w h o s e t i t u p . ”1
I n h i s f a b u l o u s e v o c a t i o n o f t h e K e lly g a n g , n o v e l i s t R o b e r t
D r e w e h a s K e lly h i m s e l f m u s e o n t h i s p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g a
c e l e b r i t y : “I n th e ir o v e rh e a te d w ay it w as th e p a p e rs th a t
d e f i n e d u s , p r e s e n t e d u s a s s u r e th in g s , a s b lo c k s o f ty p e . A n d
w h e n t h e y d e c l a r e y o u t o b e s o - a n d - s o , t h e n y o u b e c o m e it.
S tra n g e th e w ay th e y m a k e y o u f a m o u s o r n o to r io u s b e f o r e
y o u a re — a n d t h e n y o u a r e i n s p a d e s . ”2 I n K e lly ’s c a s e ,
f o r e v e r . T h e “g e n t l e m e n o f t h e p r e s s ” m a y h a v e c r e a t e d h i s
 ned kelly, man and myth

c e le b rity b y p r o d u c in g a v e rs io n o f h im in s to ry a n d im a g e ,
b u t h is im m o r ta lity r e q u ir e s th e o n g o in g a g e n c y o f a n o t h e r
p le a s u re m a c h in e , o n e d e v o te d n o t to p r o d u c in g , b u t r e p r o ­
d u c i n g t r a c e s o f h i s i m a g e : i n S i d n e y N o l a n ’s p a i n t i n g s o f
1947, T ony R i c h a r d s o n ’s f i l m N ed K e lly o f 1970, R o b e rt
D r e w e ’s b o o k o f 1 9 9 1 . A s I w r i t e t h i s , a n o t h e r g r e a t n o v e l i s t ,
P e t e r C a r e y , is r e p o r t e d l y w o r k i n g o n h i s v e r s i o n . T h e s e w e ll
k n o w n a r t i s t s p r e s e n t K e lly a s v e r y d i f f e r e n t t h i n g s , a n d i n
e a c h c a s e h e b e c o m e s it . T h i s is t h e i r o n y o f m o d e r n i m m o r ­
ta lity : each g e n e ra tio n re q u ire s fre sh im a g e s o f w h a t is
im m o rta l, w h ic h m ig h t th e n , re tro a c tiv e ly , becom e th e
a c c e p te d im a g e o f a ll tim e .
T h e re a re p le n ty o f c e le b ritie s in A u s tra lia n c u ltu ra l
h i s t o r y w i t h t h e p o t e n t i a l t o b e c o m e i m m o r t a l , b u t w h o ’s
im a g e s a r e f a d in g , o r h a v e n o t y e t c ry s ta llis e d . N e llie M e lb a
is i n d a n g e r o f s l i p p i n g b a c k i n t o t h e p a s t r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g
c o n tin u a lly p r e s e n t a m o n g u s. H e r s ta r s e e m e d to d e c lin e
a f t e r L e w is M i l e s t o n e ’s u n d i s t i n g u i s h e d b i o p i c M e l b a o f 1 9 5 3 .
T h e p r o b l e m is a l a c k o f r e s o u r c e s f o r t h e r e p r o d u c t i o n o f
e n d u r i n g c e le b rity . D o n B r a d m a n w as, in s o n g w r ite r P a u l
K e l ly ’s w o r d s , “m o r e t h a n j u s t a b a t s m a n , h e w a s h a l f t h e
b l o o d y t e a m . ”3 ‘T h e D o n ’ is s t ill w i t h u s a s I w r i t e , s o i t w o u l d
be u n s e e m ly to s p e c u la te on h is im m o rta lity . M ary
M a c K illo p , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h a s a c h ie v e d s a i n t h o o d , h e r
o w n m u s e u m , a n d p e r h a p s a la s tin g p o s th u m o u s c e le b r ity in
th e s e c u la r w o rld .4 B u t n o n e o f th e s e h a v e y e t p r o v e n as
d u r a b l e a s K e lly .
N e d K e lly b e c a m e a c e l e b r i t y i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e b e c a u s e o f
th e e x is te n c e o f v e c to rs o f c o m m u n ic a tio n a n d r e c o r d in g .
T h e s e d is tr ib u te d a n d c o n s e r v e d im a g e s a n d s to rie s th a t p u r ­
p o r t e d t o b e a b o u t h i m . B u t r e a lly , t h i s p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e
p ro d u c e d h im . O r a t le a s t, p r o d u c e d t h e N e d K e lly t h a t
p e o p le c a m e to k n o w a s a c e le b rity . T h e te le g r a p h ta p p e d
out ta le s o f h is m o v e m e n ts , p o p u la r so n g s e n g ra v e d in
m e m o r y h is s u p p o s e d d e e d s, p o p u la r n e w sp a p e rs re p ro ­
d u c e d h is im a g e . B u t o v e r th e y e a rs, th e m e m o r y tr a d e h a s
n o t a lw a y s b e e n t h e r e t o r e c h a r g e h i s c e l e b r i t y a n d c o n f i r m
h is im m o rta lity w ith in A u s tra lia . The N o la n p a in tin g s
b e c a m e f a m o u s i n L o n d o n . R i c h a r d s o n ’s f i l m s ta rre d th e
A n g l o - I r i s h M i c k J a g g e r . D r e w e ’s b o o k w a s p u b l i s h e d b y a
lo c a l b r a n c h p l a n t o f a m u lti n a tio n a l p u b lis h e r .
the ass and the angel

I th in k it m a tte r s th a t a c u ltu r e b o th p r o d u c e n e w im a g e s
o f c e le b rity f o r its e lf a n d s u s ta in o ld o n e s to th e p o in t o f
i m m o r t a l i t y . I t is t h r o u g h c e l e b r i t y t h a t w e c o m e t o k n o w
b o th o u r o r d in a r y q u a litie s a n d e x tr a o r d in a r y p o te n tia ls .
I n d e e d i t is t h r o u g h c e l e b r i t y t h a t w e a c q u i r e t h i s h a b i t o f
s a y i n g ‘w e ’ t h a t m a k e s i t p o s s i b l e t o t h i n k w i t h i n t h e h o r i z o n
of a c u ltu re in th e firs t p la c e . We w ho th in k we a re
A u s tr a lia n s k n o w fe w o f th e o t h e r s w h o a ls o th i n k th e y a r e
A u s tra lia n s . B u t m o s t o f u s k n o w a t le a s t s o m e o f th e c e le b r i­
tie s w h o d e f i n e a c o m m o n r e p e r t o i r e o f p e o p le , a v ir tu a l
w o rld o f p o s s ib le A u s tra lia n s , p a s t a n d p r e s e n t.

T he Im p o ssib le P rin cess, K ylie M in o g u e

“A ll d a y , e v e r y d a y , I ’m p o s s e s s e d b y v a rio u s c h a r a c te r s . I
h a v e l o a d s o f t h e m ”, sa y s K y lie M i n o g u e , e n u n c i a t i n g a n e c ­
e s s a ry t h o u g h n o t s u f f ic ie n t q u a lity f o r p r o f e s s io n a l c e le b rity .
S h e is M i n n i e t o h e r f r i e n d s , t h e S i n g i n g B u d g i e t o t h o s e le s s
k in d . C e le b r itie s a r e a v a ta rs , t h r o u g h w h ic h p e o p le e x p e r i­
ence th e ir fe e lin g s and p e rc e p tio n s as b e lo n g in g to a
com m on w o rld . B ut it is o n ly th ro u g h th e d iffe re n c e
b e tw e e n one fe e lin g and a n o th e r, one p e rc e p tio n and
a n o th e r , th a t th e ir q u a litie s c a n b e c o m e a p p a r e n t to u s. A n d
so , y e a r by y e a r, fre s h ta lk in g heads and m o v in g b o d ie s
a p p e a r th a t m a k e it p o s s ib le to d e f in e s u c h d if f e r e n c e s . A
c e le b rity m a y a p p e a r to d e fin e a fe e lin g , b u t s o o n e n o u g h
a n o t h e r s e n s a t i o n w ill b e d e f i n e d b y t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n
th a t c e le b rity a n d a n o th e r , a n d s o o n e n o u g h , a n o th e r in th e
s e r i e s a p p e a r s , m a k i n g t h e f i r s t r e d u n d a n t . T h a t ’s t h e w a y
th e p le a s u r e m a c h in e fu n c tio n s .
P ro fe s s io n a l c e le b rity re q u ire s a c o n s ta n t re in v e n tio n .
D a v id B o w ie and M adonna ra is e d th is to a fin e a rt by
b e c o m in g e v e r n e w v e r s io n s o f th e m s e lv e s , in v itin g a p u b lic
t o c o a l e s c e it s f e e l i n g s a r o u n d d i f f e r e n c e s , n o t b e t w e e n d i f ­
f e r e n t c e le b ritie s , b u t b e tw e e n d if f e r e n t c h a r a c te r s g e n e r ­
a te d b y th e s a m e c e l e b r i t y : Z ig g y S t a r d u s t a n d th e T h in
W h ite D u k e ; M a d o n n a S e x G o d d e s s , M a d o n n a w ith C h ild .
K y lie h a s h a d s o m e s u c c e s s a t t h i s g a m e , s e l l i n g o v e r 1 3
m i l l i o n a l b u m s a n d 2 0 m i l l i o n s i n g l e s . “Y o u h a v e t o h a v e a l o t
o f t a l e n t t o b e c o m m e r c i a l ”, s h e sa y s, a n d i t ’s t r u e , a l t h o u g h
it m a y b e le s s a t a l e n t f o r s in g in g o r d a n c i n g t h a n a t a l e n t f o r
 the c o u n td o w n generation

b e i n g a c e l e b r i t y . A o n e h i t w o n d e r is a n a c c i d e n t , b u t a p r o ­
f e s s i o n a l c e l e b r i t y is h e r o w n c r e a t i o n .
F r o m w h a t a r e l i t t l e g i r l s m a d e ? S u g a r a n d s p i c e a n d a ll
th in g s n ic e . F r o m w h a t a r e little c e le b u ta n te s m a d e ? S n ip s a n d
s a l e s a n d s o a p o p e r a ta le s . “ G re a s e i n s p i r e d m e li k e n o t h i n g
e l s e ”, K y lie sa y s. I t is e a s y t o i m a g i n e p r e t e e n K y lie i n a s u b ­
u r b a n b e d r o o m fu ll o f p o s te r s c u t o u t o f m a g a z in e s , s in g in g
a l o n g t o A B B A a n d O li v i a , h o l d i n g h e r h a i r b r u s h lik e a m i k e .
A s D i n o S c a t e n a sa y s i n h i s e l e g a n t l y t r a s h y c e l e b r i t y b i o K y lie ,
t h e M i n o g u e s “c o u l d h a v e b e e n o n e o f t h e c e n t r a l f a m i l i e s o n
N e ig h b o u r s . E v e n t h e i r s t r e e t l o o k e d l ik e R a m s e y s t r e e t ”.5
It h e lp s to h a v e a re la tiv e in t h e b u s in e s s — in 1 9 7 9 a u n tie
S u z e t t e t o o k 1 2 -y e a r -o ld K y lie a n d l i t d e s i s t e r D a n n i i t o t h e i r
f i r s t a u d i t i o n . B u t i t a ls o h e l p s t h a t t h e r e is a m e d i a i n d u s t r y i n
w h ic h to a c c u m u la te a k n o w le d g e o f h o w p ro f e s s io n a l c e le b rity
w o r k s , s o m e s k ills i n o n e o f t h e b r a n c h e s o f m e d i a p r o d u c t i o n
s u c h a s a c tin g , a n d a r e la tio n s h ip w ith a n a u d ie n c e . W h a t
m a d e K y lie p o s s i b l e w a s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e w a s a n A u s t r a l i a n
te l e v is i o n i n d u s t r y w ith a s t r o n g b a s e i n M e l b o u r n e t h r o u g h
w h i c h K y lie ’s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h a p u b l i c m i g h t , i n t i m e , e m e r g e .
I t w as s is te r D a n n ii w h o b a d ly w a n te d th e p a r t a t th a t firs t
a u d i t i o n , b u t i t w a s K y lie w h o g o t t h e j o b , a b i t p a r t a s a
D u tc h o r p h a n o n th e p o p u l a r s h o w T h e S u lliv a n s . A s a c o n ­
s o la tio n , D a n n i i w o u n d u p o n Y o u n g T a le n t T im e . M o r e s u b ­
s t a n t i a l w o r k c a m e K y lie ’s w a y i n 1 9 8 4 , i n t h e H e n d e r s o n K i d s ,
a lo n g s id e N a d in e G a r n e r a n d B e n M e n d e ls o h n . T h e n in
1 9 8 5 , a p a r t i n F a m e a n d M i s f o r t u n e .. A c c o r d i n g t o S c a t e n a ,
K y lie a n d f r i e n d s w o u l d s n e a k o f f t o w a t c h C o u n t d o w n b e i n g
ta p e d in a n e a r b y s tu d io .

The C o u n td o w n G en eratio n
C o u n t d o w n , t h a t l e g e n d a r y w e e k ly p o p s h o w , d e f i n e d a w h o l e
s ty le o f A u s t r a l i a n p o p c e l e b r i t y , o f w h i c h K y lie is p e r h a p s t h e
m o s t s trik in g a n d su c c e ssfu l p ro d u c t: in n o c e n d y c a m p , in tu ­
it iv e ly u r b a n e . A p p r o p r i a t e l y , s h e h o s te d th e s h o w ’s f i n a l
e d i t i o n . C o u n td o w n c r e a t e d a v ir tu a l s p a c e , a c r o s s t h e n a t i o n ,
w ith in w h ic h y o u n g p e o p le c o u ld e x p re s s th e ir o w n s e n s a ­
tio n s , w a tc h e d o v e r b y n o m o r e th r e a te n in g a n a u th o r ity th a n
e v e r y b o d y ’s f a v o u r i t e fu n n y u n c le Ia n ‘M o lly ’ M e l d r u m . 6
W h a t C o u n t d o w n d i d n ’t d o w a s c r e a t e a v i r t u a l s p a c e w i t h i n
12 the ass and the angel

w h ic h y o u n g p e o p le c o u ld e x p r e s s th e ir fe e lin g s in r e la tio n to
o ld e r p e o p le .
N e ig h b o u r s f ille d th a t gap. In 1986, K y lie a p p e a re d as
C h a r l e n e M i t c h e l l . O f t h e c h a r a c t e r s i n N e ig h b o u r s , S c a t e n a
w r it e s t h a t “t h e r e w a s a v i r t u a l U N o f c r o s s g e n e r a t i o n a l , s o c i o ­
p o litic a l b e lie f r e f le c te d w ith in th e h a n d f u l o f h o u s e h o ld s o n
th is m a g i c a l s t r e e t ”. (A lth o u g h as G e rm a in e G re e r once
p o i n t e d o u t, n o B la c k s ). S e t in R a m s e y s tr e e t, in t h e m y th ic a l
s u b u r b o f E r in s b o r o u g h , it w a s a v irtu a l m a tr ix f o r th e d if f e r ­
e n c e s w ith w h ic h m a in s tr e a m w h ite A u s tr a lia n s u b u r b ia w e re
c o m f o r t a b l e . A n d i t w o r k e d : b y 1 9 8 8 t h e s h o w h a d tw o m i l l i o n
fa n s in A u s tra lia a n d a n o t h e r 13 m illio n in th e U K .
A lo t o f th o u g h t w e n t in to c re a tin g th is E r in s b o r o u g h ,
w h e r e m i l l i o n s o f p e o p l e w o u l d liv e , a t l e a s t f o r h a l f a n h o u r
in t h e a f t e r n o o n . N e ig h b o u r s w a s p r o d u c e d b y M e l b o u r n e
based c o m m e rc ia l T V com pany G r u n d y ’s, o r i g i n a l l y fo r
C h a n n e l 7, w h o d r o p p e d it a f te r a n in itia l p o o r s h o w in g ,
t h e n f o r C h a n n e l 1 0 . R e g W a ts o n c r e a t e d it, d r a w in g o n h is
e x p e r i e n c e o n s u c h p o p u l a r s h o w s a s P r is o n e r , t h e R e s tle s s
Y e a rs a n d C r o s s r o a d s . L i k e a l l o f t h o s e s u c c e s s f u l s h o w s , i t c o n ­
j u r e d u p a n im a g in a r y w o rld . I n N e ig h b o u rs ’ c a s e , th e sh o w
p r o p o s e d a n id e a l s u b u r b a n w o rld .
T V S H O C K — T E E N S E X O N T V T O N I G H T is g r e a t p u b ­
lic i ty f o r w h a t w a s l i t t l e m o r e t h a n a s c r e e n k is s , b u t t h a t is
h o w t h e S y d n e y D a i l y M i r r o r p r o m o t e d it. I t ’s o n e o f t h e k e y
th in g s a b o u t c e le b rity : th e p r o d u c e r s , th e a u d ie n c e a n d th e
m e d i a a l l h a v e a c o m m o n i n t e r e s t i n its s u c c e s s . C e l e b r i t y is
a n in d e x o f m e d ia p ro d u c tiv ity . C e le b r ity o n ly e x is ts a s a c u r ­
r e n c y e x c h a n g e d , n o t o n l y b e t w e e n it s p r o d u c e r s a n d c o n ­
su m e rs, but by so m e a d d itio n a l p ro p o rtio n of o th e r
in te rm e d ia rie s , and as s o m e th in g p assed am ong p e o p le
b e y o n d i ts m e r e c o n s u m p t i o n . C e l e b r i t y is t h e h u m a n f a c e o f
t h e m e d i a v e c t o r . C e l e b r i t y is w h o e v e r y o n e is t a l k i n g a b o u t .
F o r m a n y a s p ir in g a c to rs , b e c o m in g a c e le b r ity in a s o a p
o p e r a l i k e N e i g h b o u r s is t h e w o r s t t h i n g t h a t c o u l d h a p p e n .
I t ’s a n e m b a r r a s s m e n t t o a n a r t i s t w h o w a n t s t o b e k n o w n
o n l y f o r ‘s e r i o u s ’ w o r k . K y lie M i n o g u e a n d h e r N e i g h b o u r s c o -
s ta r J a s o n D o n n o v a n th o u g h t o th e rw is e . T o th e m , th is w as
s e r io u s w o rk . T h e y h a d a n a iv e a n d p r e c io u s u rb a n ity . T h e y
a r e w h a t w e m i g h t c a ll o r g a n i c c e le b r itie s , in t h a t t h e y g r e w
o u t o f th e p r e v a ilin g m a tr ix o f m e d ia v e c to r s o f th e ir tim e .
 the c o u n td o w n generation

T h e ir id e a o f b e c o m in g a c e le b rity w as d e fin e d by th e
p o p u la r m e d ia g e n r e s th r o u g h w h ic h t h e ir o w n s e n s e o f s e lf
w as f o r m e d . T h e y b e c a m e w h a t th e y b e h e ld .
O rg a n ic c e le b rity m ig h t b e c o n tra s te d w ith tra d itio n a l
c e l e b r i t y , w h i c h is t h e d e s i r e t o r e s i s t t h e p r e v a i l i n g m e d i a
v e c t o r s t h a t s h a p e o n e ’s e x p e r i e n c e a n d d e v e l o p a p r e s e n c e
in s o m e o ld e r a n d m o r e e s ta b lis h e d z o n e th a t h a s, o v e r tim e ,
a c q u i r e d m o r e le g itim a c y . F o r e x a m p le , t h e s o a p s ta r w h o
w o u l d r a t h e r b e a c t i n g i n ‘l e g i t i m a t e ’ t h e a t r e , o r p e r h a p s a
p a r t in a film u n d e r a f a m o u s d ir e c to r . T r a d itio n a l c e le b r ity
r e s p e c t s w h a t I w o u l d c a l l ‘s u b u r b a n ’ c o n v e n t i o n s o f r e a d i n g
f o r m s o f r e n o w n t h r o u g h h i g h a n d lo w c a t e g o r i e s o f t a s t e .
O r g a n ic c e le b rity g ro w s d ire c tly o u t o f p ro x im ity to th e p r o ­
d u c t i o n e n d o f m e d ia a n d in v e n ts its o w n c a te g o r ie s o f ta s te .
F a r f r o m b e i n g e m b a r r a s s e d b y b e c o m i n g s o a p s t a r s , K y lie
a n d J a s o n g re w o r g a n ic a lly w ith th e e x p e r ie n c e . W h ic h w as
j u s t a s w e ll, a s t h e C h a n n e l 1 0 p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e d e v e l o p e d a n
a g g r e s s iv e p r o m o t i o n a l c a m p a i g n , w i t h r a d i o i n t e r v i e w s a n d
p e r s o n a l a p p e a r a n c e s i n s h o p p i n g m a ll s . T h e s e a r e n o w s t a n ­
d a r d p r o m o t i o n a l d e v ic e s , b u t a t t h e tim e th is w a s n o t t h e
c a se . W h a t re a lly m a d e it w o r k w as th e o r g a n ic q u a lity o f
K y lie ’s c e l e b r it y , w h i c h d e v e l o p e d w i t h a p p a r e n t n a t u r a l e a s e
f r o m w a t c h i n g O li v i a N e w t o n - J o h n o n t h e s c r e e n a n d w a n t i n g
to b e h e r, to a p p e a r in g o n s c re e n in h e r o w n r ig h t a n d e x p e ­
r i e n c i n g o t h e r y o u n g g irls w a n tin g to b e lik e h e r . I t a p p e a r e d
s o n a t u r a l b e c a u s e f o r K y lie , t e l e v i s i o n w a s n o t a t h i n g a p a r t , i t
w a s a lw a y s a v e c t o r t h a t t r a v e r s e d h e r w o r l d a n d h e r s e n s e o f
s e lf. “O k a y , s o i t i s n ’t G o n e W i t h th e W i n d ,” s h e s a id , “b u t i t ’s
p o p u l a r . . . ”. T h e r e ’s s o m e t h i n g q u ite to u c h in g a b o u t th e
‘q u a l i t y ’ i m a g e s h e c h o o s e s h e r e f o r t h e c o m p a r i s o n .
C h a rle n e and S c o t t ’s w e d d i n g w as th e h ig h e s t ra tin g
e p i s o d e o f a s o a p o n A u s t r a l i a n T V . O n c e K y lie w o n h e r G o l d
L o g i e a w a r d , w h e r e c o u l d s h e g o f r o m t h e r e ? H e r e is w h e r e
K y lie m a k e s t h e l e a p f r o m b e i n g a s o a p i e c e l e b u t a n t e t o a
p r o f e s s io n a l c e le b rity , b y d e v e lo p in g a n o t h e r p a r t o f h e r p o p
e x p e rie n c e , in q u ite a d iffe re n t m e d iu m . In 1987,
M u s h r o o m r e c o r d s r e l e a s e d h e r v e r s i o n o f ‘L o c o - m o t i o n ’.7
O n c e a g a i n , i t h e l p s t o h a v e a n i n d u s t r y a t h a n d i f o n e is t o
becom e a c e le b rity . M u sh ro o m w e re one of th e few
A u s tr a lia n m u s ic b u s in e s s e s o f a n y siz e , a n d w h ile th e y s p e ­
c ia lis e d in g e n e r ic R o c k G o d b a n d s f r o m th e p u b c irc u it,
14 the ass and the angel

C o u n td o w n h a d c r e a t e d a n a t i o n a l s p a c e w ith in w h ic h p o p
m u s ic f o r te e n a g e r s r e ig n e d . W h ile M u s h r o o m b o s s M ic h a e l
G u d i n s k i d r e a m e d o f t a k i n g o z R o c k G o d s t o t h e w o r l d , it
w a s K y lie - p o p t h a t w o u l d r e a l l y o p e n d o o r s f o r h i m a b r o a d .

I Should, B e So L u c k y

‘L o c o - m o t i o n ’ w a s t h e b i g g e s t s e l l i n g A u s t r a l i a n s i n g l e o f t h e
8 0 s . S o w h a t n e x t ? T h e r e is a p o i n t i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f
c e l e b r i t y w h e r e i t o u t g r o w s t h e r e s o u r c e s o f a p l a c e li k e
M e l b o u r n e . O r s o t h e t h e o r y g o e s . N e ig h b o u r s w o u ld i n t r o ­
duce K y lie to th e B ritis h , and th e su b u rb a n A u s tra lia n
f l a v o u r o f i t s e e m e d t o b e p a r t o f its a p p e a l . 8 E r i n s b o r o u g h ’s
im a g e o f s u b u r b ia w as w a rm a n d s u n n y . E v e n th e m a n u a l
w o rk e rs in R am sey s t r e e t li v e d in m a n s io n s . I t w a s lik e
A m e r ic a w ith o u t B la c k P e o p le . T h e A u s tr a lia n q u a litie s o f
N e ig h b o u r s m i g h t a p p e a l o n te le v is io n , b u t M u s h r o o m w a n t e d
t h e g u a r a n t e e o f a L o n d o n s o u n d f o r K y li e ’s m u s i c , a n d s o
S t o c k , A i t k e n a n d W a t e r m a n (S A W ) b e c a m e t h e p r o d u c e r s
f o r h e r f o l l o w u p t o ‘L o c o - m o t i o n ’, c a l l e d ‘I S h o u l d B e S o
L u c k y ’. A h i t i n A u s t r a l i a a n d B r i t a i n , i t a l s o w e n t t o n u m b e r
2 8 in t h e A m e r i c a n B illb o a r d m a g a z in e c h a r ts .
K y li e ’s L o n d o n m a k e o v e r f a s h i o n e d h e r i n t o S A W ’s ‘m i l ­
lio n a ir e n e x t d o o r ’ lo o k . T h e y p r o d u c e d h a p p y s o u n d in g
r e c o r d s w i t h y o u n g , c l e a n , w e ll g r o o m e d a n d s t y l e d s i n g e r s
w ho a p p e a re d to b e e n jo y in g th e m s e lv e s a n d u n lik e th e
ty p ic a l R o c k G o d , d i d n o t w h in e in in te r v ie w s a b o u t te d io u s
d ru g p ro b le m s . T h e i r o n y is t h a t t h i s b a n a l i t y p e r f e c t e d
ap p e a rs to so m e p e o p le as fa r fro m in n o c u o u s, b u t as
so m eh o w d e e p ly th re a te n in g . I HATE K Y L IE t-s h irts
a p p e a r e d o n th e s tre e ts , a n d le g e n d a r y B ritis h a v a n t g a r d e
DJ John P e e l in te rv ie w e d a c a rd b o a rd c u t o u t o f K y lie ,
c la im in g th a t it h a d m o r e p e rs o n a lity . ( T h e jo k e w as o n h im .
T h e c a r d b o a r d c u to u t d id h a v e m o re p e rs o n a lity — th a n
P e e l . ) C r a i g M c G r e g o r s a w a c la s s d i m e n s i o n i n t h e a d o r a ­
t i o n o f K y lie , s u m m e d u p i n th e g ra ffiti K Y L IE V S T H E
SN O BS .9 S h e h a d a n u r b a n e s ty le t h a t t h o s e e x i l e d t o t h e
o u t e r s u b u r b s c o u ld u s e a g a in s t th e n a r r o w ta s te s o n th e
m o r e p r iv ile g e d i n n e r s u b u r b a n w o rld .
T h e S A W v e r s i o n o f K y lie w a s a n i m a g e t h a t a p p e a r e d t o
h i d e n o t h i n g , a b r i g h t s ig n w i th n o t h i n g d a r k i n s c r i b e d o n t h e
 i should be so lucky

r e v e r s e . A s i g n t h a t r e s i s t s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , a s t h e r e is n o t h i n g
o n th e s u r f a c e to p o i n t to s o m e h id d e n r e s id u e o f m e a n in g .
T h is in d if f e r e n c e to in te r p r e ta b ility w as q u ite a n a c h ie v e m e n t:
The 8 0 s - m o d e l K y lie w a s a d i s c r e t e i m a g e w i t h n o d is tin ­
g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e o t h e r t h a n its o w n s ty le . T h i s is a n a t h e m a t o
t r a d i t i o n a l w a y s o f d i s t i n g u i s h i n g c e l e b r i t i e s o n t h e b a s is o f
th e ir q u a litie s , b y in te r p r e tin g th e ir h id d e n re s id u e s .
B o t h J o h n P e e l a n d t h e m o s t a r d e n t K y lie f a n w e r e d e f i n i n g
th e m s e lv e s th ro u g h th e d iffe re n c e s b e tw e e n k in d s of
c e le b rity , c r e a t e d in t u r n b y p a r t i c u l a r r e p e r t o i r e s o f s o u n d
a n d i m a g e . F o r K y lie ’s t e e n f a n s , s h e p r o d u c e d j u s t t h e k i n d
o f im a g e a n d s o u n d th r o u g h w h ic h to p r o d u c e a n e x p re s s io n
o f j o y t h a t c a n b e s h a r e d v i a K y lie . P e o p l e m o r e a t t r a c t e d t o
e x p r e s s i n g t h e m s e l v e s v ia a m o r e t r a d i t i o n a l k i n d o f c e l e b r i t y
d e f i n e d t h e m s e l v e s v ia d i f f e r e n t c e l e b r i t y f i g u r e s , b u t a l s o
d e f i n e d t h e m s e l v e s n e g a t i v e l y v ia a d i s t a s t e f o r K y lie . J o h n
P e e l ’s f a n s m i g h t e x p r e s s t h e m s e l v e s t h r o u g h , f o r e x a m p l e ,
N i c k C a v e , b u t a l s o , a s P e e l ’s m o c k i n t e r v i e w s u g g e s t s , n e g a ­
tiv e ly v i a K y lie . T h i s is a c r u c i a l t h i n g a b o u t c e l e b r i t y . Y o u c a n
d i s l i k e a p a r t i c u l a r c e l e b r i t y , b u t i t ’s a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e t o
a v o id th e p le a s u r e m a c h in e o f c e le b r ity in g e n e r a l.
K y lie ’s s u c c e s s i n B r i t a i n c a m e a t a p r i c e . E v e r y t h i n g e n d e d
u p b e in g p r o d u c e d in L o n d o n . N o t o n ly h e r so n g s b u t h e r
w a rd ro b e and th e a rtw o rk f o r h e r r e c o r d s w o u ld a ll b e
e x p re s s a irlifte d fro m L o n d o n . M u s h r o o m a c h ie v e d a s h o r t
te rm g o a l a t th e e x p e n s e o f a lo n g te rm o n e . I t w a s K y lie
a lo n e , n o t th e w h o le te a m o f p e o p le w h o h a d a h a n d in fa s h ­
io n in g h e r im a g e in M e lb o u r n e , w h o e s ta b lis h e d a r e p u ta ­
tio n in L o n d o n . N o t s u rp ris in g ly , L o n d o n is w h e r e K y lie
h e r s e l f e n d e d u p a s w e ll.
P e r h a p s th e r e w e re d r e a m s o f H o lly w o o d . T h e v e h ic le w a s
t o b e t h e f ilm v e r s io n o f T h e D e lin q u e n ts , b a s e d o n a n o v e l b y
C r ie n a R o h a n , p u b lis h e d in 1 9 6 2 . T w o a s p ir in g film p ro ­
d u c e r s o w n e d th e r ig h ts to th is m o v in g ta le o f te e n r e b e llio n ,
a n d V illa g e R o a d s h o w , a s u b s id ia r y o f H o lly w o o d c o n g lo m ­
e r a t e W a r n e r B r o s , a g r e e d t o f i n a n c e i t i f K y lie s t a r r e d . T h e
p r o d u c e r s w e re a ls o th in k in g o f N ic o le K id m a n f o r th e le a d
r o le o f L o la , b u t W a rn e r n ix e d th a t id e a . W a rn e r a ls o
i n s i s t e d t h a t L o l a ’s l o v e i n t e r e s t B r o w n i e b e p l a y e d b y a n
A m e ric a n , a n d so th e p r o d u c e r s d u m p e d A u s tra lia n a c to r
B e n M e n d e ls o h n in f a v o u r o f A m e r ic a n C h a r lie S c h la tte r.
the ass and the angel

T h i s ‘A m e r i c a n i z i n g ’ o f A u s t r a l i a n s t o r i e s is i t s e l f a n o l d
s t o r y , w e ll r e h e a r s e d in A u s tra lia n F ilm c ritic is m , b u t as
M u r d o c h U n i v e r s i t y f i l m s c h o l a r T o m O ’R e g a n p o i n t s o u t ,
th e re are so m e b e n e fits in th e o c c a s io n a l b ig -b u d g e t
H o l l y w o o d p r o d u c t i o n f o r t h e l o c a l n a t i o n a l f i l m i n d u s t r y . 10
W h a t I f i n d s o d e p r e s s i n g a b o u t t h e f i l m is n o t t h a t S c h l a t t e r
is a n A m e r i c a n , b u t t h a t B e n M e n d e l s o h n is b o t h a b e t t e r
a c to r a n d a m o r e r o b u s t c e le b rity . I n a n y c a s e it m a d e n o d if­
f e r e n c e : w h e n r e le a s e d in 1 9 8 9 , D e lin q u e n ts w a s a b o x o ffic e
h it in B rita in , su c c e s s fu l in A u s tra lia a n d a flo p in th e U S .
M i c h a e l H u t c h e n c e w a s t o t h e S y d n e y r o c k s c e n e w h a t K y lie
w a s t o M e l b o u r n e p o p , its r e i g n i n g p r e s e n c e . W h e n t h e y g o t
t o g e t h e r i n S y d n e y i n 1 9 8 9 , K y lie ’s s ty le w o u l d c h a n g e i r r e ­
v e rs ib ly . T o p a r a p h r a s e G r e g P e r a n o , M ic h a e l in tr o d u c e d
K y lie t o n i g h t l i f e a n d K y lie i n t r o d u c e d M i c h a e l t o d a y l i g h t .
H u tc h e n c e w ro te a so n g fo r h e r, ‘S u i c i d e B l o n d e ’, a f t e r
K y lie ’s n a m e f o r t h e h a i r c o l o u r s h e w o r e i n D e l i n q u e n ts .
I t ’s p a r t o f t h e f a b l e n o w t h a t M i c h a e l t r a n s f o r m e d K y lie .
S o m e v e rs io n s o f th e fa b le c a s t th is in te r m s o f a n a w a k e n in g
o f K y lie ’s s e x u a l s e l f - a w a r e n e s s ; s o m e v e r s i o n s a s a m a t t e r o f
a w a k e n in g h e r s e lf-a w a re n e s s a s a s ta r. I n a w ay th e s e a r e
p r o b a b l y t h e s a m e t h i n g . W h a t is s e x u a l i t y i f n o t a n a w a r e ­
n e s s o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s b e t w e e n b o d i e s ? W h a t is c e l e b r i t y i f
n o t , i n p a r t a t l e a s t , m u c h t h e s a m e t h i n g ? O r r a t h e r , i t is i n
b o th c a se s a m a tte r o f s e d u c tio n . S e d u c tio n , w h ic h , a s th e
F re n c h e s s a y is t J e a n B a u d rilla rd in s is ts , is not as goal
d i r e c t e d a s s e x u a lity ." S e d u c t i o n h a s n o g o a l o t h e r t h a n to
p e rp e tu a te it s e l f , t o keep open th e p o s s ib ilitie s b e tw e e n
b o d ie s b y m e a n s o f th e c re a tio n o f a llu rin g a p p e a ra n c e s .
W h e n M i c h a e l H u t c h e n c e d i e d i n 1 9 9 7 , a g r i e f s t r i c k e n K y lie
w o u ld b e p h o to g r a p h e d a m o n g th e m o u r n e r s .

B e tte r th e D e v il You Know

A s t h e 8 0 s b e c a m e t h e 9 0 s , K y lie t h e p o p c r e a t i o n b e c a m e
K y lie t h e p o p c r e a t o r . S h e t o o k c o n t r o l — a s m u c h a s t h a t is
p o s s i b l e i n a p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e t h a t is f o r e v e r a s s e m b l i n g
v e ry la rg e n e tw o r k s o f d iv e rs e s k ills a n d te c h n o lo g ie s in
o r d e r to p r o d u c e a n d d is tr ib u te im a g e s . A t th e s ta r t o f th e
A u s t r a l i a n v i d e o r e l e a s e o f D e l i n q u e n t s t h e r e is a s p e c i a l “e n v i ­
r o n m e n t a l m e s s a g e ” f r o m K y lie . T h e w o r l d s h e i n v o k e s w h e n
 c o n f i d e in m e

s h e a p p e a r s e x p a n d s a little . N o l o n g e r j u s t a h a p p y - h a p p y
jo y -jo y w o r ld , b u t a ls o a w o r ld in w h ic h b a d p e o p l e c l u b b a b y
s e a l p u p s t o d e a t h . C e l e b r i t y h a s i ts u s e s .
‘B e t t e r t h e D e v il Y o u K n o w ’ w a s a d i f f e r e n t k i n d o f K y lie
p o p v i d e o , t o o . T h e p u r e s i g n o f K y lie w a s a c q u i r i n g s o m e
m e a n i n g . S h o t i n M e l b o u r n e , i t s h o w s a r a u n c h y K y lie o u t o f
sy n c w ith th e SA W f o r m u la , a n d d e v e lo p in g h e r o w n a e s ­
th e tic . S h e s p e n t p a r t o f 1 9 9 0 in A m e ric a , w o r k in g w ith o t h e r
p r o d u c e r s , r e f i n i n g h e r s ty le . A p o p r e c o r d is a lw a y s a c o l ­
la b o r a tio n , b u t a c e le b rity o u g h t to b e a b le to c h o o s e h e r c o l­
la b o ra to rs . T h e 1991 to u r e x te n d e d th e se x -b o m b th e m e ,
b u t s o m e h o w i t d i d n ’t q u i t e s e e m r i g h t . A s o n e c r i t i c s a i d ,
“i t ’s d i f f i c u l t t o a d e q u a t e l y d e s c r i b e t h e k i n d o f n u m b n e s s
th a t b e g in s to o v e rc o m e y o u as y o u e n t e r th e s e v e n te e n th
s u c c e s s i v e n u m b e r ”. I n t h e p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g s o m e t h i n g
d i f f e r e n t , K y lie w a s i n d a n g e r o f l o s i n g t h e f a n s w h o w a n t e d
m o r e o f th e sa m e . S m a sh H its m a g a z in e d e s e r te d h e r, b u t
M e l o d y M a k e r d e s c r i b e d h e r a s a “g e n i u s o f p o p ”. W h i c h is a ll
v e r y w e l l, b u t M e lo d y M a k e r s e ll s a l o t le s s c o p i e s t h a n S m a s h
H i t s . K y lie f e l l f o u l o f s u b u r b a n a n x i e t y a b o u t t h e m i x i n g o f
h i g h a n d lo w c u l t u r e .
T h e m e t a m o r p h o s i s K y lie w a s s t r u g g l i n g t o c o m p l e t e w a s
p e r f e c te d b y th e b o u tiq u e r e c o r d la b e l d e C o n s tr u c tio n , w h o
i n 1 9 9 3 p e r f o r m e d a r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o n K y lie , t r a n s f o r m i n g
h e r i n t o a “r a d i c a l d a n c e d i v a ”. U n t i l n o w , K y lie w a s w h a t o n e
m i g h t c a l l a g e n e r a l c e l e b r i t y . I t ’s t r u e , s h e a p p e a l e d m a i n l y
to te e n a g e g irls , b u t t h e m o d e o f a d d r e s s o f h e r a p p e a l w as
u n iv e rs a l. S h e a d d r e s s e d a p o te n tia l a u d ie n c e b y p r e s e n tin g
a n im a g e o f u n iv e r s a l d e s ir e , s e d u c in g y o u in to a w o r ld in
w h ic h a n y o n e c o u ld b e lo n g . F r o m 1 9 9 3 o n w a r d s s h e b e c a m e
in s te a d a p a r tic u la r c e le b rity , s ig n a llin g a n a d d r e s s to a s p e ­
c if ic c o m m u n i t y , a n d i m p l y i n g a w o r l d o f d e s i r e e s p e c i a l l y f o r
th e m . In s h o rt, s h e becam e a G ay Ic o n . H e r a p p e a l to
a n y o n e e ls e w o u ld b e b o u n d u p w ith t h e a p p e a l o f g a y n e s s
its e lf as a h a lc y o n im a g e o f th e f a ir g o .

C on fide In M e
T h e m o s t s u b lim e r e a lis a tio n o f th is n e w s p e c ific c e le b r ity
w a s h e r 1 9 9 4 h i t ‘C o n f i d e I n M e ’, w h i c h w e n t t o n u m b e r tw o
in B rita in and num ber one i n A u s t r a l i a . 12 I t ’s a s e l f - c o n ­
the ass and the angel

s c i o u s l y c a m p p e r f o r m a n c e , its s e d u c t i v e q u a l i t i e s b u i l t o n
th e te n s io n s b e tw e e n g a y n e ss a n d s tra ig h tn e s s . F o r a g ay
a u d i e n c e , i t c a n b e r e a d a s c l a s s i c a lly c a m p : a s s o m e t h i n g
f r o m th e s tr a ig h t w o r ld t h a t c a n b e r e a d a s if it b e lo n g e d to
a g a y w o r l d . 13 I t is a c t u a l l y d o u b l y c a m p . I t is a l s o s o m e t h i n g
f r o m t h e g a y w o r l d t h a t c a n b e r e a d a s i f i t w e r e s t r a i g h t . I t ’s
n o t a s y m m e t r i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p . K y li e ’s c e l e b r i t y is h i s t o r i c a l l y
v e r y s t r a i g h t , w h i c h is w h y s h e m a k e s s u c h a d e l i c i o u s G a y
I c o n . I n b e c o m i n g a s p e c i f i c c e l e b r i t y o f t h e g a y w o r l d , K y lie
h i n t s a t t h e h o m o s e x u a l d i m e n s i o n o f a l l c e l e b r i t y . A f t e r a ll,
in th e heyday of her s tra ig h t c e le b rity , w h e n C h a rle n e
m a r r i e d S c o t t , i t ’s h e r i m a g e a s m u c h a s h i s t h a t w a s t h e f o c a l
p o i n t o f d e s ir e f o r g irls .
T h e r e is a lw a y s a h o m o s e x u a l c o m p o n e n t t o c e l e b r i t y . B u t
t h e r e is a n o t h e r w a y t o s e e t h is : t h e r e is a k i n d o f d e s i r e
b e y o n d s e x u a lis e d g e n d e r . T h e d e s ir e to b e le d a s tra y by
i m a g e s , t o b e e s c o r t e d t o a n o t h e r p o s s i b l e w o r l d . T h i s is t h e
v i r t u a l s i d e o f d e s i r e . I t ’s w h a t w a s r e a l l y g o i n g o n w h e n K y lie
m a d e h e r fa m o u s 1994 a p p e a ra n c e a t th e S ydn ey G ay a n d
L e s b ia n M a r d i G ra s , d r e s s e d in a p in k tu tu , w ith m a tc h in g
D r a g Q u e e n s . B u t w e r e t h e D r a g Q u e e n s i m i t a t i n g K y lie , o r
is K y lie i m i t a t i n g D r a g Q u e e n s ? T o w h o m d o t h e s ig n s o f
s e d u c tio n b e lo n g ? I n a n u r b a n e w o rld , th e r e a r e n o e a sy w ays
to c a te g o ris e th in g s , to m a k e d is tin c tio n s o f k in d o r g ra d e . A s
t h e v e c t o r w e n d s it s w a y i n t o e v e r y c r a n n y o f t h e e v e r y d a y ,
im a g e s m ix , c o m b in e , ju x ta p o s e , f o r m in g any an d e v e ry
o rg a n ic re la tio n w ith each o th e r . E v e ry d a y life becom es
p o te n tia lly m o r e a n d m o r e u r b a n e . I n s p ite o f th e g a ris h
lig h ts a n d th e s h o u t o f c o lo u rs , c e le b rity b e c o m e s s o m e th in g
s u b tle .
L ik e a ll g re a t c e le b rity p e rfo rm a n c e s, K y lie s in g in g
‘C o n f i d e I n M e ’ is a d o u b l e a c t i n a n o t h e r s e n s e a s w e ll. T h e
lis te n e r c a n im a g in e a c h a r a c te r w h o a sk s u s to c o n f id e in
t h e m , a s a w a y o f s e d u c i n g u s t o t h e m . I t ’s a l i n e o n e m i g h t
h e a r i n e v e r y d a y li f e . Y e t i t is n o t j u s t a n y o n e w h o is a s k i n g u s
t o c o n f i d e i n t h e m . I t is K y lie . S h e is a s k i n g , a l s o , f o r t h e lis­
t e n e r ’s l o y a l ty t o h e r c e l e b r i t y . S h e is a s k i n g u s t o u s e h e r a s
th e m e d iu m th r o u g h w h ic h to e x p r e s s a d e s ire .
I f ‘C o n f i d e I n M e ’ is a l e s s o n i n h o w t o p r o d u c e c e l e b r i t y ,
K y lie ’s a p p e a r a n c e i n t h e m o v i e S tr e e t F ig h t e r is a l e s s o n i n
h o w n o t to . F ilm e d o n t h e G o ld C o a s t, th is v id e o g a m e a c tio n
 c o n f i d e in m e

m o v ie w a s a c o m m e r c ia l s u c c e s s in th e U S , b u t it w a s n o t a
s u c c e s s f o r K y lie . A s s h e s a i d , “i t ’s v e r y f r u s t r a t i n g b e c a u s e
y o u d o n ’t g e t t o p e r f o r m u n l e s s y o u ’r e t h e s t a r ”. A c e l e b r i t y
c a n o n l y a p p e a r i n s o m e o n e e l s e ’s t a n k i f t h e y c a n k e e p t h e
a irlo c k o p e n to th e ir o w n w o rld a t th e sam e tim e . T h e
D e lin q u e n ts s u c c e e d s b e c a u s e , w h a te v e r C h a r l i e S c h l a t t e r ’s
l i m i t a t i o n s , t h e m o v i e c o n n e c t s t o K y lie ’s d i s c o v e r y o f a n
u r b a n e l i f e o u t o f t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s o f s u b u r b i a . S t r e e t F ig h te r ,
on th e o th e r hand, c o n ta in s n o th in g re c o g n is a b le fro m
e i t h e r t h e w o r l d o f K y l ie ’s o r i g i n s o r h e r d e s t i n a t i o n .
A m o r e s u c c e s s fu l c o lla b o r a t io n w a s h e r d u e t w ith N ic k
C a v e . O n t h e f a c e o f it , n o t h i n g c o u l d b e m o r e u n l i k e l y . T h e
a l t e r n a t i v e r o c k s w a m p f r o m w h i c h s p r a n g C a v e a n d K y lie ’s
p o p s e n s ib ility a r e n o t o n ly p o le s a p a r t, th e y d e f in e th e m ­
s e lv e s b y t h e i r d i f f e r e n c e s f r o m e a c h o t h e r . C a v e c o m e s f r o m
a w o r ld w h e r e u r b a n a e s th e tic s m e e ts b a d la n d s a m o r a lity in
i ts p u r e s t f o r m . K y lie c o m e s f r o m a s u b u r b a n w o r l d t h a t is
c a r e f u l — m o s t o f th e tim e — to a v o id b o th e x tr e m e s . W h ic h
is p r o b a b l y w h y C a v e w a n t e d t o d o a d u e t w i t h K y lie . H e s a w
h e r a s p o p w it h o u t c y n ic is m , a t r u e b e lie v e r. H e p e r s u a d e d
her not to d is a v o w her e a rlie r in c a rn a tio n s c o m p le te ly ,
g ra s p in g h o w h e r m o r e c a lc u la te d ly u r b a n e la te r a p p e a r a n c e
a d d e d q u a litie s to h e r e a r lie r , m o r e n a iv e ly u r b a n e p u r e p o p
s ty le .
C a v e is a s t r i k i n g l y o r i g i n a l a e s t h e t e w h e n i t c o m e s t o p o p ,
p a r tic u la r ly a t t u n e d to u n lik e ly c o m b in a tio n s o f q u a litie s in
p e r f o r m e r s . H e s e e s th e h u m o u r in L e o n a r d C o h e n a n d th e
a n g s t i n K a r e n C a r p e n t e r . A d u e t w i t h K y lie m a d e a c e r t a i n
k in d o f C a v i a n s e n s e . ‘W h e r e th e W ild R o se s G ro w ’ w a s
re c o rd e d in 1 9 9 5 . 14 K y lie a n d C ave p e rfo rm e d it o n th e
B r itis h T o p o f th e P o p s. I n t h e s u b u r b a n c u l t u r a l w o r ld t h e y a r e
in c o m p a t i b l e o p p o s ite s , b u t in a n u r b a n e s e n s ib ility , th e y
w o rk .
C a v e o n c e r e m a r k e d t o K y lie a b o u t p e r f o r m i n g w i t h h e r
t h a t “I ’v e h a d p e o p l e t r y t o h i t m e o v e r t h e h e a d w i t h i r o n
b a rs a n d u rin a te o n m e , b u t n o th in g h a s m a d e m e as u n c o m ­
f o r t a b l e a s s i n g i n g t o t h a t p o c k e t o f K y lie M i n o g u e p u r i s t s a t
th e f r o n t w h o w e re s h a k in g th e ir f in g e rs w h e n e v e r I to u c h e d
you or h e ld y o u r h a n d s , d e filin g y o u r s a c re d n e s s .” A n d
i n d e e d t h e r e is s o m e t h i n g s a c r e d a b o u t a c e r t a i n k i n d o f
o rg a n ic c e le b rity . T h e gay p h o to g ra p h ic a rtis ts P ie r r e et
JO the ass and the angel

G i l l e s s a w i t t o o w h e n , i n t h e i r p o r t r a i t o f K y lie , t h e y m o c k -
c a n o n i s e d h e r a s M a r y M a c K i l l o p . F o r t h o s e o f u s li v i n g i n a
s e c u l a r w o r l d , i t ’s n o t li k e l y t h a t w e w ill e v e r w i t n e s s s o m e o n e
t o u c h e d b y G o d ’s g r a c e . B u t i n c e l e b r i t y , w e s e e e v e r y d a y a
p a g a n a n d p r o f a n e a lte rn a tiv e .

N ick C a v e ’s P r i s o n of Sound
I t ’s n o t h a r d t o i m a g i n e N i c k C a v e s w a g g e r i n g a r o u n d a t
s c h o o l , a f f e c t i n g a b i t o f D a v i d B o w ie g l a m . C a v e g r e w u p i n
W a n g a r a t t a , n o t f a r f r o m G l e n r o w a n , i n N e d K e lly c o u n t r y .
N o t o n ly w as N ic k C a v e a f a n o f th e b u s h r a n g e r in h is y o u th ,
b u t N i c k ’s f a t h e r , w h o r a n a d u l t e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m s , o r g a n ­
i s e d a c e l e b r a t e d c o n f e r e n c e o n K e lly . T h e K e lly i m a g e m a y
h a v e m o r e to d o w ith th e o r ig in s o f N ic k C a v e th a n a n y
s p e c ific a lly m u s ic a l in f lu e n c e , a l t h o u g h y o u n g N ic k d i d s in g
a b i t i n t h e c h o i r . N o t w e ll, a p p a r e n d y , a l t h o u g h h e w a s f o n d
o f t h e b i b l e s t u d i e s t h a t w e n t w i t h it.
O u t o f t h e e n d l e s s f lo w o f i m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s t o w h i c h t h e
m e d ia v e c to r e x p o s e d y o u n g N ic k , w h o k n o w s w h a t m ig h t
s tic k ? N e d K e lly , t h e R a m o n e s , C a r r a v a g i o , M e r l e H a g g a r d ,
Ig g y P o p , B r e tt W h ite le y ... B o r n in 1 9 5 7 , C a v e , lik e a lo t o f
p e o p le , w a s c o n n e c te d f r o m b i r t h to a w id e r a n g e o f m e d ia
flo w s . I t w a s a q u e s t i o n o f m a k i n g s o m e t h i n g o u t o f t h e m .
W h a t d e f i n e d C a v e a s a n u r b a n e a r t i s t w a s h i s s k ill i n m i x i n g
th in g s fro m in c o m p a tib le c a te g o rie s .
D itc h in g a r t s c h o o l f o r p u n k m u s ic w as a c o m m o n m o v e
in th e la te 7 0 s. T h a t s e e m e d to b e w h e r e t h e e n e r g y w as.
N o t th a t th e ro c k m u s ic in d u s try p a id m uch a tte n tio n .
T h e r e w as p o p a n d t h e i r w as r o c k ; t h e r e w a s C o u n td o w n a n d
t h e r e w a s M u s h r o o m r e c o r d s . C a v e ’s b a n d , t h e B o y s N e x t
D o o r , d i d n ’t f i t i n t o e i t h e r . B u t i t d i d o n e o f t h e t h i n g s a r t
h a s to d o — c r e a te a n e w w o rld , s h o w s o m e th in g e ls e to b e
p o s s ib le .
E v e n t u a l l y , M u s h r o o m t r i e d t o m i l k t h e p u n k m a r k e t , w ith
a ta c k y n e w r e c o r d l a b e l c a l l e d S u i c i d e . T h e s a m p l e r a l b u m
th a t la u n c h e d it — a n d s a n k it — w a s a b it s a d , b u t a t le a s t it
le d to th e f irs t r e c o r d in g s o f th e B oys N e x t D o o r, a n d o f N ic k
C a v e s i n g i n g f e l l o w b a n d m e m b e r R o l a n d S . H o w a r d ’s c l a s s ic
punk to rc h song ‘S h i v e r s ’. A s t h e sound e n g in e e r T o n y
C o h e n s a i d o f w o r k i n g w i t h t h e m , i t w a s “a b i t m o r e f u n t h a n
 nick c a v e ’s prison of sound

y o u r a v e ra g e , s to c k s ta n d a r d , e ig h te e n to m -to m s , b lo o d y
w h a t n o t ”. T h e B o y s N e x t D o o r w e r e n o t t h e k i n d o f p e o p l e
w h o w o u ld b e w e lc o m e in R a m se y s tr e e t. T h e y w e re tr o u b le :
p riv a te s c h o o l y o b b o s w h o r e f u s e d to g ro w u p , b u t w h o s e
c a r e e r w o u ld b e a m a tte r o f s h a p in g th is ju v e n ile re fu s a l in to
a s o p h is tic a te d re fu s a l. T h e y tra n sfo rm e d yob p u n k in to
u r b a n e a rt.
M e l b o u r n e h o s t e d a t l e a s t tw o p u n k s c e n e s i n t h e l a t e 7 0 s
— o n e in C a r lto n t h a t w o u ld b e th e tr a in in g g r o u n d f o r
d a n c e m u s ic t e c h n i c i a n O llie O ls e n ; o n e in S t K ild a w h e r e
N ic k C a v e w o u ld l e a r n h o w to b e a p e r f o r m e r . N o t j u s t a p e r ­
fo rm e r o n th e s ta g e , h o w e v e r, b u t th e k in d o f to ta l p e r ­
f o r m e r w h o s e a r t a n d lif e b e c o m e o n e p r o c e s s . C a v e j o i n e d
h is b o d y to a g r e a te r b o d y o f w o rk o f th e E u r o p e a n a v a n t
g a r d e t h a t r u n s f r o m t h e r o m a n t ic s to th e s y m b o lis ts to d a d a
a n d b e y o n d . A s G re il M a rc u s a rg u e s , th is u n d e r g r o u n d tr a ­
d itio n w a s w h a t th e p u n k y e a rs g r a f te d o n to th e b a s ic b lu e s
r o o t s o f r o c k a n d r o l l . 15
I n A u s tra lia , r o c k w a s o n e o f th e la s t r e f u g e s o f th e N e d
K e l ly l a r r i k i n s ty le , b u t t h e i n d e p e n d e n t m u s i c s c e n e w a s
w h e r e i t a l s o d i s p l a y e d its v u l n e r a b i l i t i e s a n d s t a g e d i ts o w n
c o lla p s e . A f te r a fe w y e a rs o f h a v o c a n d s tu p id ity , it w a s tim e
t o le a v e to w n . C a v e r e c h r i s t e n e d th e b a n d T h e B irth d a y
P a r ty , f r o m a s c e n e i n D o s t o y e v s k y ’s C r im e a n d P u n i s h m e n t
w h e r e K a ta r in a Iv a n o v a th ro w s a d i n n e r in h o n o u r o f h e r
l a t e h u s b a n d . T h e s c e n e i s n ’t a c t u a l l y a b i r t h d a y p a r t y , b u t
( t o p a r a p h r a s e C a t h a r i n e L u m b y ) w h a t is a r t i f n o t t h e p r a c ­
t i c e o f g e t t i n g t h i n g s w r o n g , fla w le s s ly ?
I n 1 9 8 0 , T h e B ir th d a y P a rty a r r iv e d in L o n d o n a n d f o u n d
it in th e d e e p f u g o f e c o n o m ic r e c e s s io n a n d c u ltu r a l d e p r e s ­
s io n . I t w as n o t a good tim e . T h e liv e ro c k scene w as
d e c lin in g and b e in g re p la c e d by n ig h tc lu b s and dance
flo o rs . T h e m u s ic scen e fa v o u re d s y n th e s is e r b a n d s w ith
le ftis t c r e d e n tia ls . A n ti-A u s tra lia n s e n t i m e n t w a s a n a c c e p t­
a b le fo rm o f r a c is m in t h e E n g lis h m e d ia . C a v e liv e d in a
d i s m a l s q u a t , r e a d i n g S a m u e l B e c k e t t . G i g s w e r e fe w , b u t t h e
b a n d w as n o t e n tire ly w ith o u t frie n d s . T h e y a c q u ir e d s o m e
i n t e r m e d i a r i e s : I v o W a tts - R u s s e l l r a n a r e c o r d l a b e l ; C h r i s
C a r r w as a f r e e la n c e p u b lic is t; B le d d y n B u tc h e r, a p h o to g r a ­
pher — th e ru d im e n ts o f th e ir o w n p le a s u re m a c h in e fo r
p e r p e t u a t i n g t h e i r i m a g e a n d s to r y .
12 the ass and the angel

A p o llo and D io n ysu s

T h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g s t r i k i n g l y f e a r l e s s a b o u t C a v e ’s p e r f o r ­
m a n c e s w ith T h e B ir th d a y P a rty in th o s e d a y s. T h e y w e re
c lo s e r to w h a t F rie d ric h N ie tz s c h e w o u ld c a ll t h e a rt o f
D io n y s u s , n o t t h e a r t o f A p o llo . I n t h e w ay N ie tz s c h e th in k s
o f t h e a n c i e n t G r e e k c u l t u r e , A p o l l o is t h e p r e s i d i n g c o n c e p t
i n i ts s c u l p t u r e . T h e d r e a m l i k e c l a r i t y a n d p u r i t y o f f o r m , t h e
h a r d a n d s h a r p o u tlin e o f th e s in g u la r fig u re , th e s e a r e th e
a ttrib u te s o f A p o llo n ia n e x p e rie n c e , a n d o f th e a r t m a d e
f r o m it. D i o n y s u s is t h e g o d l u r k i n g i n m u s i c . T h e d r u n k e n
sw a y a n d t h e p o u n d i n g r h y t h m s , t h e f o r g e t t i n g o f t h e s e l f
and it s m e rg in g w ith p u ls e , th e s e a re th e q u a litie s of
D io n y s ia n e x p e r ie n c e . A p o llo n ia n a r t c a n b e a p p r e c ia te d
w ith d e t a c h e d a n d d i s i n t e r e s t e d o b s e r v a tio n , b u t D io n y s ia n
a r t c a n o n l y b e e x p e r i e n c e d b y g i v i n g o n e s e l f o v e r t o it.
W h e r e K y lie M i n o g u e a p p e a r e d a s a p u r e i m a g e , a p e r ­
fe c tly p r o p o r t i o n e d m i n i a t u r e ; T h e B ir th d a y P a r ty w a s a n
u g ly b r u t e , o f v a lu e f o r t h e e n e r g y i t e v o k e d , n o t f o r th e
b e a u ty o f h o w i t a p p e a r e d . W h e r e K y lie e m i t t e d a p u re ,
a n g e lic l ig h t o f s e lf-a w a re n e s s ; T h e B ir th d a y P a r ty w e r e th e
g u ttu r a l m u r m u r o f u n k n o w n b e a s ts , w a llo w in g c o m a to s e
b e n e a th th e r ip p le s o f a sw a m p o f th e ir o w n m a k in g . W h e r e
K y lie b e c o m e s a c e l e b r i t y b y s e p a r a t i n g h e r s e l f f r o m g e n e r i c
W h ite G irl, so C a v e b e c o m e s a c e le b r ity b y s e p a r a ti n g h im s e lf
fro m th e g e n e ric R o c k G o d .
W h a t p u n k d is c o v e re d w as th a t b y s tr ip p in g aw ay th e s u rfa c e
a r t i n e s s o f r o c k m u s i c a n d t a k i n g i t b a c k t o its r o o t s i n r h y t h m
a n d b lu e s , it b e c o m e s a s im p le a n d e ffe c tiv e m e d iu m fo r
e x p lo rin g som e o f th e n e g le c te d D io n y s ia n te rr ito rie s o f
w e s te r n a e s th e tic s . N o t a n a r t o f d is in te r e s te d c o n te m p la tio n ,
b u t n o t m e r e e n te r ta in m e n t e ith e r. S o m e th in g b o th m o r e
s u b lim e a n d m o r e rid ic u lo u s . P u n k to o k s im p le m u s ic a l f o rm s
a n d g r o u n d t h e m d o w n u n t i l t h e y l i q u e f i e d , o f t e n d is s o lv in g
i n t o c h a o s . A n d t h e y t o o k t h e i r a u d i e n c e w ith t h e m . T h e p u n k
a e s th e tic h a d a N ie tz s c h ia n im p u ls e to sh o w a p u b lic th a t
“t h e i r e n t i r e e x i s t e n c e , w it h a ll its b e a u t y a n d m o d e r a t i o n , w a s
b a s e d o n a v e ile d s u b s tr a tu m o f s u f f e r in g a n d k n o w le d g e ,
r e v e a l e d t o t h e m o n c e a g a i n b y t h e D i o n y s i a c . ”16
T h e B i r t h d a y P a r t y d i d n o t t a k e i t s e l f t o o s e r io u s l y . T h e
c r o w d p l e a s e r ‘R e l e a s e t h e B a t s ’ w a s m e a n t a s a s e l f - p a r o -
 theatre of cruelty

d y i n g j o k e . 17 B u t i t w a s o n e t h a t b a c k f i r e d , a s i t w a s o n e o f t h e
c a ta l y s ts f o r t h e w h o l e s u b c u l t u r a l s ty le o f G o t h , w h i c h a p e d
t h e m a n n e r i s m s o f t h e b l a c k - c l a d b a n d . T h i s is p e r h a p s t h e
m o s t c r u e l a s p e c t o f c e le b r ity — b e in g t u r n e d in to a s e rie s o f
e a s i ly r e p l i c a t e d c l i c h e s . C a v e w o u l d l a t e r w r i t e o f h i m s e l f a s
th e “b l a c k c r o w k i n g ”, d i m i n i s h e d b y u b i q u i t y i n a w o r l d
w h e r e a l l t h e c r o w s a r e s p o r t i n g b l a c k . 18 U r b a n e t a s t e v a l u e s
its s i n g u l a r i t y . C a v e w a s o u t o f p l a c e i n E n g l a n d , w h e r e r o c k
m u s i c is p a r t o f t h e c r e a t i o n o f ‘s u b c u l t u r e s ’, l i t t l e p o c k e t s o f
s u b u r b a n c o n fo r m ity th a t w e re m u c h fe tis h is e d by th e ro c k
p r e s s a n d b y c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s a c a d e m i c s a l i k e . 19 C a v e ’s w h o l e
a e s t h e t i c w a s o p p o s e d t o t h e i d e a o f s ty le , o f s i m p l y m u c k i n g
a b o u t w ith th e G o th s ig n s t h a t w o u ld b e c o m e so p o p u l a r in
th e 80 s. R a th e r, h is w as a n a r t o f e x p e r ie n c e s . H is s o n g s w e re
n o t ‘r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s ’ o f v i o l e n c e , d e a t h , e r o s a n d c h a o s , t h e y
w e re e x p re s s io n s o f a k in d o f in c h o a te e x p e r ie n c e a t th e
t h r e s h o l d o f s u b j e c ti v i ty . T h e y w e r e n o t m e a n t t o b e p e r ­
f o r m e d f o r a n a u d ie n c e , b u t w ith o n e .

T h eatre o f C ru elty
I o n ly saw th e b a n d p e r f o r m a fe w tim e s , a n d o f te n th e y le ft
m e w ith little b u t t i n n i t u s a n d a h e a d a c h e . ( B u t t h e n a s n o v ­
e l i s t B e r n a r d C o h e n s ay s, “t i n n i t u s is t h e s p i r i t o f t h e a g e . ”20)
S o m e tim e s th e y c o u l d c a ta ly s e a c r o w d i n t o r e le a s in g its e lf
i n t o a c o l l e c t i v e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f lif e o u t s i d e
o f t h e s e lf . A n e x p e r i e n c e b o t h e x h i l a r a t i n g a n d t e r r i f y i n g .
“W e w ill t r y t o c e n t r e o u r s h o w a r o u n d f a m o u s p e r s o n a l i t i e s ,
h o rrib le c rim e s and su p e rh u m a n s e lf s a c rific e s , dem on­
s tr a tin g th a t it c a n d ra w o u t th e p o w e rs s tr u g g lin g w ith in
th e m , w ith o u t r e s o rtin g to th e dead im a g e ry o f a n c ie n t
m y t h s . ” T h i s is w h a t A n t o n i n A r t a u d p r o p o s e d i n h i s f a m o u s
m a n i f e s t o o f t h e 1 9 3 0 s f o r a “t h e a t r e o f c r u e l t y ”, a n d i t is, I
t h i n k , a n a p t d e s c r i p t i o n o f a g o o d B i r t h d a y P a r t y g ig .
T h e B i r t h d a y P a r t y ’s t h e a t r e o f c r u e l t y w a s a t h e a t r e o f
d r a s tic a c tio n p u s h e d to th e lim it. O n e t h a t w o u ld b r e a k
t h r o u g h t h e v e il o f w o r d s a n d r e t u r n t o i t s s o u r c e — t h e v i ta l
s i g n s o f t h e b o d y it s e lf , t h a t w o u l d a w a k e n “t h e G o d s t h a t
s l e e p i n t h e m u s e u m s ”, i n a l a n g u a g e o f “t h o s e t o r t u r e d a t
t h e s t a k e , s i g n a l l i n g t h r o u g h t h e f l a m e s ”.21 O r l i k e t h e “r a p s
t a p s a n d g a p s ” C a v e i m a g i n e s , i n h i s n o v e l W h e n t h e A ss S a w
the ass and the angel

t h e A n g e l , w i t h w h i c h tw in s - to - b e c o m m u n i c a t e w h i l e s ti ll i n
t h e w o m b . 22 C a v e s e a r c h e d f o r t h e s a m e t h i n g A r t a u d w a s
l o o k i n g f o r — a l a n g u a g e “s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n g e s t u r e a n d
t h o u g h t ”.
W ith th e m u s ic a n d lig h ts p o u n d in g as fa s t a s th e b o d y c a n
s ta n d , a g o o d B ir th d a y P a rty g ig w a s a s u b lim e i n s ta n c e o f
w h a t A r ta u d t h o u g h t c u ltu r e o u g h t to b e — th e d o u b le o f
li f e it s e l f , ra is e d to its h ig h e s t in te n s ity . I t w as th e a tre
re tu rn e d to it s a n c i e n t r o o t s . T h e a t r e , N i e t z s c h e c la im s ,
b e g a n in a n c ie n t G r e e c e w h e n a s o lita ry a c to r s te p p e d o u t o f
th e m u r m u r in g c h o r u s to s p e a k . T h e in te n s ity o f G r e e k a r t
f o r h i m la y i n t h e m u t u a l l y a f f i r m i n g e n e r g i e s o f t h e r h y t h m
o f th e c h o r u s a n d t h e v is io n o f th e s o lita r y p e r f o r m e r .
I n m o d e r n tim e s , th e s e d is tin c t k in d s o f a r t, th e o rg ia s tic
D io n y s ia n re v e l a n d th e A p o llo n ia n p u r ity o f f o r m , s e p a r a te
o u t in to d if f e r e n t k in d s o f c u ltu ra l e x p e r ie n c e . T h e g r u n g e
o f r o c k d iv id e s f r o m th e b r ig h t s h e e n o f p o p . A d r e a m g irl
l i k e K y lie a p p e a r s c o m p l e t e l y r e m o v e d f r o m th e d r u n k e n
s l u r o f T h e B i r t h d a y P a r ty . ( A l t h o u g h s o m e t i m e s t h e y c o m e
c ra s h in g back to g e th e r, as w h e n P a u lin e H anson, p u re
A p o llo n ia n im a g e , a d d r e s s e d a n a d m ir in g a u d ie n c e in s id e in
a h a ll, w h ile a n a n g r y , t h r a s h in g , s w irlin g m o b o o z e d a n ti-
H a n s o n a n g e r, r ig h t o u ts id e .)
N i c k C a v e is a p a r a d o x i c a l c e l e b r i t y , b e c a u s e t h e a r t o f
D i o n y s u s f r o m w h i c h h e s t e m s is a g r e a t d i s s o l v e r o f s e lf , a
g r e a t lib e r a to r o f e n e r g y f r o m th e p r is o n h o u s e o f id e n tity .
W h e n e v e r h e a p p e a r s a s a c e l e b r i t y , i t is w i t h t h e s e n s e o f
im m a n e n t p o s s ib ility t h a t h e m a y p lu n g e i n to d is s o lu tio n ,
a n d th e re s id u a l m e m o r y th a t h e h a s ta k e n a u d ie n c e s a lo n g
o n t h a t r i d e b e f o r e . H i s c e l e b r i t y is a c o n s t a n t r e m i n d e r o f
c e l e b r i t y ’s c o m p l e t e i n v e r s e — t h e s e n s e l e s s , s e lf l e s s , m a s s .
W hen The B irth d a y P a rty s u b s u m e d th e m s e lv e s in th e ir
w av es o f n o is e , a n d w h e n C av e c ro w d s u r f e d th e a u d ie n c e ,
th e a c to r r e t u r n e d to th e c h o r u s , a n d th e c h o r u s m e r g e d
w ith th e c ro w d . H e w a s a r e m i n d e r o f th e c lo s e r e la tio n
b e tw e e n g ra c e a n d d a n g e r.
“A g e n e r a l e x p e r i m e n t i n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n ” is h o w T o n y
C o h e n d e s c r i b e d t h e r e c o r d i n g o f J u n k y a r d . E v e n t h e t i t l e is
a k i n d o f d e b a s e d m o n u m e n t t o t h e p o e t A r t h u r R i m b a u d ’s
i d e a o f t h e p o i n t o f a r t b e i n g “t o a r r i v e a t t h e u n k n o w n , b y
t h e d e l i b e r a t e d i s o r d e r i n g o f a l l t h e s e n s e s ”.23 I ’m s till q u i t e
 celebrity pessim ism

fo n d o f T h e B i r t h d a y P a r t y ’s ‘H a m l e t P o w P o w P o w ’, i n
w h ic h th e g h o s t o f th e P r in c e o f D e n m a r k r e tu r n s as c o n ­
t e m p o r a r y p s y c h o k i l l e r . T h a t S h a k e s p e a r e ’s f a b l e s h o u l d e n d
a s it b e g in s , w ith t h e r e t u r n o f t h e g h o s t to h a u n t t h e d e s c e n ­
d a n t s , a lw a y s s t r u c k m e a s a n o r i g i n a l i n s i g h t . S h a k e s p e a r e ’s
p la y e n d s , e v e n i f n o t h a p p ily e v e r a fte r. T h e n ig h t m a r e lo g ic
o f C a v e ’s H a m l e t - m a c h i n e is t h e e n d l e s s , d e a t h l e s s , r e p e t i ­
t i o n o f t h e w a l k i n g g h o s t , g e n e r a t i o n a f t e r g e n e r a t i o n , “P o w
P o w P o w P o w P o w .”

C elebrity P e s sim ism

T h e t r o u b l e w i t h c e l e b r i t y is t h a t i t c a t c h e s u p w i t h y o u . A n
a r tis t w h o b e c o m e s a c e le b rity c a n n o l o n g e r b e j u s t a n a rtis t,
b u t re a lly h a s n o c h o ic e b u t to b e a n a r tis t o /c e le b rity . U n le s s
o f c o u r s e t h e r e is a l i n e a l o n g w h i c h t o e s c a p e . T h e B i r t h d a y
P a rty fle d M e lb o u r n e f o r L o n d o n , t h e n L o n d o n f o r B e rlin ,
to o k o f f f o r t o u r s o f A m e r ic a a n d o t h e r p a r t s w h e r e th e y
w e r e n o t k n o w n . B u t i t c o u l d n ’t la s t. A n a r t b a s e d o n a
re fu sa l o f b e in g tu r n e d in to a r e p r e s e n ta tio n o f s o m e th in g ,
a r e f u s a l o f i m m e r s i o n i n t h e f i s h b o w l , c a n n o t s u r v i v e its o w n
su c cess u n m o d ifie d .
“A ll t h e g r e a t w o r k s o f a r t , i t s e e m s t o m e , a r e t h e o n e s t h a t
h a v e a t o t a l d i s r e g a r d f o r e v e r y t h i n g e l s e ”, C a v e e x p l a i n e d t o
th e M e lb o u r n e w r ite r R ic h a r d G u illia tt. W h ic h m ig h t b e a
g o o d w a y t o t h i n k a b o u t C a v e ’s c a r e e r s i n c e T h e B i r t h d a y
P a r ty . T h e r e c o r d i n g s w o u l d v e e r f r o m g o o d t o b a d , r a r e l y
p a s s in g th o u g h in d if f e r e n t. B u t a s th e la te 8 0 s w e n t by, C a v e
s e e m e d m o r e a n d m o r e t r a p p e d in c e le b rity . H is d e s ig n a te d
s p e c ie s in t h e fis h b o w l w a s t h a t o f p a le - g ille d , s m a c k - a d d le d
m is o g y n is t G o th ic m o n s te r .
B u t s o m e h o w I d o n ’t t h i n k t h i s e v e r d i d h i m j u s t i c e . C a v e ’s
w r i t i n g is m i s a n t h r o p i c — th e m e n h a rd ly fa ir b e tte r th a n
t h e w o m e n . T h e w o r l d h e i n v o k e s is a n O l d T e s t a m e n t l a n d ­
sc a p e , b u t o n e w ith o u t th e lig h t o f r e d e m p tio n , w h e re G o d
h a s a b s e n te d h im s e lf, w h e r e c h a r a c te r s m o v e a n d c o llid e
w h o h a v e n o t i n t e r n a l i s e d a n y s e n s e o f s e l f - r e s t r a i n t o r s e lf -
a f f i r m a t i o n . T h i s is a w o r l d w i t h o u t G o d , b u t a l s o a w o r l d
w ith o u t th e G o d b r o u g h t d o w n to e a r th a n d in te r n a lis e d
t h a t is h u m a n i s m . T h e r e is a g l i m p s e h e r e o f th e w o rld
A r ta u d a n d B e c k e tt a p p r o a c h e d f ro m d if f e r e n t a n g le s a n d
the ass and the angel

w ith d if f e r e n t f a c u ltie s , a w o rld w ith o u t th e h a b its o f c o n ­

v e n tio n a l s e lf h o o d , a w o rld o f b o th w o n d e r a n d fe a r.
T h i s c o u l d b e a n e x h i l a r a t i n g r i d e , a s i n ‘D e a n n a ’, o r a t e r ­
r i f y i n g d e s c e n t , a s i n ‘M e r c y S e a t ’, w h e r e a c o n d e m n e d p r i s ­
o n e r d e m a n d s t h e e l e c t r i c c h a i r . 24 I n t h e p h i l o s o p h e r A r t h u r
S c h o p e n h a u e r ’s d r e a d u t o p i a , “w h e r e e v e r y t h i n g g r o w s o f its
ow n a c c o rd and t u r k e y s fly a r o u n d re a d y -ro a s te d , w h e re
l o v e r s f i n d o n e a n o t h e r w i t h o u t d e l a y . .. i n s u c h a p l a c e s o m e
m en w o u ld d ie o f b o r e d o m or hang t h e m s e l v e s . ”25 C a v e
w o u ld b e o n e o f th o s e , h a d h e n o t t h e c a p a c ity to c r e a te h is
o w n a rtific ia l s u f f e r in g , a n d to c r e a te a n a r tif ic e o f s u f f e r in g
f o r t h o s e a l i t t l e le s s s u s c e p t i b l e t o t h e b a n a l i t y o f b o r e d o m .
The p e s s im is t a s c e le b rity e x p re s s e s w h a t th e re st o f a
c u ltu r e c o n s p ir e s to d e n y . D o e s a n y o n e re a lly b e lie v e th a t
H a m l e t ’s f a t h e r ’s g h o s t is t h e l a s t g h o s t i n t h e l i n e ? A r e w e
n o t a lw a y s c o n d e m n e d t o liv e ? T h e c e l e b r i t y a s p s y c h o k i l l e r
a n d t h e p s y c h o k i l l e r a s c e l e b r i t y b o t h e x p r e s s w h a t is e l s e ­
w h e re d e n ie d . T h e a tte m p t to c e n s o r b o th o n ly c o n f ir m s
w h a t N ie tz s c h e s a id , t h a t w e a r e n o t s tr o n g e n o u g h f o r th e
tru th a b o u t t h i s l if e : “h a p p i n e s s a n d v i r t u e a r e n o arg u ­
m e n t s ”.26
C a v e ’s re c o n c ilia tio n w ith c e le b rity cam e w ith th e
r e c o r d in g o f T h e G ood S o n , a r e c o r d w h ic h a b a n d o n e d th e
la st tr a c e s o f a u r a l a b r a s io n a n d e v o k e d in s te a d a s u b tle a u r a
o f lo s s .27 F o r o n c e a w o r l d o f p o s s i b i l i t y c o m e s i n t o b e i n g , n o t
a s th e m u s ic a p p r o a c h e s , b u t a s it re c e d e s . I t w as a w o n d e r ­
f u ll y u n t i m e l y r e c o r d , d e t a c h e d f r o m f a s h i o n , a n d d e t a c h e d
a ls o fro m so m e of th e s m a c k -G o th ic c lic h e s o f C a v e ’s
c e le b rity . T h e s e lf-p a ro d y o f h im s e lf in t h e film J o h n n y S u e d e
a s th e w h ite -c la d R o c k G o d n a m e d F r e a k S to r m a ls o a s s is te d
C a v e ’s r e c o v e r y o f h i s o w n c e l e b r i t y . 28 I n t h a t m o v i e , C a v e
s i n g s a fe w b a r s o f a w o n d e r f u l p a r o d y o f o n e o f h i s o w n
tr a in - lo n g - s u f f e r in g s o n g s , b e f o r e c o n n in g m o n e y o u t o f a
g u l l i b l e w a n n a b e — B r a d P it t.

A n d the A s s Saw The A ngel

C a v e ’s n o v e l A n d t h e A s s S a w t h e A n g e l t a k e s it s n a m e f r o m
N u m b e r s 2 2 : 2 3 . I t is t h e d u m b a s s t h a t s e e s t h e a n g e l , n o t its
h u m a n o w n e r . C a v e is o n e o f v e r y f e w c e l e b r i t i e s f r o m t h e
w o r l d o f m u s i c w i t h a b o d y o f w o r k t h a t h a s t h e o l o g i c a l s ig ­
 and the ass saw the angel

n if ic a n c e . H is w o r k w ith T h e B ir th d a y P a r ty s e e m s s im p ly to
a s s u m e a g o d l e s s w o r l d . H i s l a t e r s o l o w o r k is f r e q u e n t l y p r e ­
o c c u p i e d w i t h g o d ’s a b s e n c e . “H e c u r s e s h i s v i r t u e l i k e a n
u n c l e a n t h i n g ”, C a v e s i n g s i n ‘T h e G o o d S o n ’. C a v e is f a s c i ­
n a t e d b y c h a r a c t e r s w h o r e p e a t t h e fa ll, w h o s ta g e e x t r e m i ­
tie s o f s in , b u t w h o , lik e t h e ass, p e r c e iv e th e a b s e n c e o f g r a c e
in th e w o r ld th r o u g h th e v io le n c e th e y d o to th e m s e lv e s a n d
t o o t h e r s . J u s t a s t h e lo w ly a s s s p e a k s o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e
a n g e l , s o C a v e ’s lo w ly , b e s t i a l m e n s p e a k o f a n a b s e n c e o f
g r a c e t h a t o t h e r s le s s lo w ly d o n o t p e r c e i v e . I f h e c a n n o t h a v e
a n g e ls , C a v e a t le a s t w a r m s to m o r e h u m a n s ig n s o f g r a c e ,
a n d i t is g r a c e t h a t I t h i n k h e w a n t s t o r e c o g n i s e i n K y lie ’s
c e l e b r i t y . H e r i m a g e is t h e c l o s e s t t h i n g h e c a n a p p r o a c h i n
a w o rld w h e r e m o n o th e is m is d e a d a n d w h e r e H o l l y w o o d
h a s re p la c e d M o u n t O ly m p u s as th e h o m e o f th e p a g a n
d e itie s .
The d u e t w ith K y lie M i n o g u e w a s a n in s p ire d id e a . A
m e e t i n g o f tw o A u s t r a l i a n e x p a t r i a t e s w h o s e r o a d s o u t o f
M e lb o u rn e to th e s ta rs to o k such d iv e rg e n t p a th s . T h a t
C a v e ’s c h a r a c t e r k ills K y li e ’s i n t h i s m u r d e r b a l l a d s e e m s a p t
t o o . I f K y lie e x p r e s s e s a c e l e b r i t y o f t h e i m a g e , o f t h e p e r f e c ­
tio n o f th e im a g e o f th e f a ir g o , t h e n C a v e r e c o g n is e s th is
p e rfe c tio n a t th e m o m e n t h is m u r d e r o u s c h a r a c te r d e s e ­
c r a t e s it. C a v e a n d K y lie a r e t h e a s s a n d t h e a n g e l , D i o n y s u s
a n d A p o l l o , c o n t a g i o n a n d s e l f - i m p r o v e m e n t . S h e is t h e s u n
p o u r i n g o u t i t s p u r e e n e r g e t i c l i g h t a n d h e is t h e s w a m p l a n d
th a t tr a p s it a n d d e p lo y s it to d e c o m p o s e a n y th in g a n d e v e ry ­
th in g in to b a s e m a tte r.
T h e i n i t i a l r i s e t o c e l e b r i t y o f C a v e a n d K y lie w a s o n l y p o s ­
s ib le b e c a u s e th e c o m p o n e n t p a r ts o f a p le a s u r e m a c h in e f o r
p r o d u c in g it w a s p r e s e n t in M e lb o u r n e in th e 19 8 0 s. B o th
re ach ed th e lim its o f w h a t th e lo c a l p r o d u c tiv e c a p a c ity
c o u ld s u p p o r t a n d th e lim its o f w h a t th e lo c a l a u d ie n c e
c o u l d a b s o r b . T h e s e fis h g o t to o b ig f o r t h e ta n k . B o th w e re
o b l i g e d t o r e i n v e n t t h e m s e l v e s — a n d t h i s is o n e c h a r a c t e r ­
is ti c o f t h e s p e c i e s h o m o c e le b r a tu s t h a t h u m a n s d o n o t p o s s e s s
— th e a b ility to c h a n g e f o r m a t w ill. B o t h C a v e a n d K y lie
k e p t d is c o v e rin g new a u d ie n c e s by b e c o m in g s o m e th in g
o th e r. In th is w ay th e y a v o id e d — m o s t o f th e tim e —
b e c o m in g p a r o d ie s o f th e m s e lv e s , b y r e f u s in g to p la y to a n
a u d i e n c e ’s d e m a n d t h a t t h e y liv e u p t o t h e i r p a s t i m a g e s .
98 the ass and the angel

W h a t m a k e s th e m , d e s p ite th e ir d iffe re n c e s , s u c h e m b le m ­
a t i c A u s t r a l i a n c e l e b r i t i e s o f t h e 8 0 s is t h a t b o t h e m b o d y a
c o n f id e n c e a b o u t ta k in g o n th e o u ts id e w o rld . C a v e h a d in i­
t i a l ly d i s c o u r a g i n g e x p a t r i a t e e x p e r i e n c e s i n L o n d o n , w h i l e
i t w a s w h e r e K y lie f o u n d h i t s a n d a h o m e . I t t o o k K y lie a l o n g
tim e to b e ta k e n s e rio u s ly in E n g la n d , w h e r e a s C a v e s te a d ily
a c q u i r e d a h i g h p r e s t i g e i f lo w v o lu m e c e le b r ity . B u t b o t h
e m b o d y a c o n f id e n c e a b o u t th e r e la tio n s h ip o f A u s tra lia n
c u l t u r e t o a n o u t s i d e , a n u r b a n e a b i l i t y t o m i x t h e l o c a l w i th
th e in te r n a tio n a l. T h e y a r e to th e w o rld o f p o p c e le b rity
w hat Paul K e a tin g is t o th e w o rld o f p o litic a l c e le b rity :
e m b o d i m e n t s o f t h e 8 0 s s e n s e o f p o s s ib ili ty .
I n th e 8 0 s, it b e c a m e o b v io u s th a t th e a s p ir a tio n s o f a g e n ­
e r a t i o n , a n d a l s o i ts s e n s e o f w h a t t h e J a m a i c a n s c a l l d r e a d ,
c a m e n o t f r o m c h u r c h o r c o m m u n i t y o r f a m ily , b u t f r o m t h e
im a g e s and s to rie s c re a te d by th e p le a s u re m a c h in e of
c e le b rity a n d d is tr ib u te d b y th e v e c to r s o f te le v is io n a n d
r a d io , r e c o r d e d m u s ic a n d v id e o ta p e . W h ile H a w k e a n d
K e a tin g opened th e A u s tra lia n econom y to th e g lo b a l
e c o n o m y , A u s tra lia n c u ltu r e o p e n e d its e lf to th e g lo b a l c u l­
t u r a l w o r l d . T h e f a b l e d l i f e - s t o r i e s o f K y lie M i n o g u e a n d N i c k
C ave a re e x p re s s io n s o f th a t d o u b le p ro c e ss, as th e y b e c a m e
n o t o n ly in te rn a tio n a l c e le b ritie s , but a ls o in te rn a tio n a l
c o m m o d itie s .
I n t h e n e x t c h a p t e r , I w a n t t o l o o k m o r e c l o s e ly a t a n o t h e r
a r c h e t y p a l p o p c e l e b r i t y o f t h e 8 0 s , P e t e r G a r r e t t . L i k e K y lie
a n d C ave, h e h a d a c a re e r th a t s p a n n e d th e 80s a n d th e 90s
a n d , lik e th e m , h e e m b o d ie d s o m e o f th e p o s s ib ilitie s o f c u l­
tu r a l o p tim is m o f th e H a w k e a n d K e a tin g y e a rs. By lo o k in g
m o r e c l o s e l y a t h o w G a r r e t t ’s c e l e b r i t y w a s p r o d u c e d , I h o p e
w e c a n g e t c lo s e r to a n u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e re la tio n s h ip
b e tw e e n c e le b r ity a n d c u ltu r e , a n d a ls o — a n o th e r a rc h e ­
ty p a l 8 0 s th e m e — t h e r e l a ti o n s h ip b e tw e e n t h e m a r k e t a n d
p o litic s .
 99

c h a p t e r 4

Homage to catatonia
Cultures are not manufactured, they grow o f their own
accord.
George Orwell

I D o n ’t W a n t To B e The One

J u ly 1 9 8 7 : I t a ll b e g i n s w ith a s lig h t b u t s u g g e s tiv e s a r to r ia l

d e ta il. A little t h i n g , e a sy to m is s a m id t h e w a s h o f A u s tr a lia n
B ic e n te n n ia l p s e u d o -e v e n ts a n d b o g u s c h a m p a g n e . I t w as a t
th e p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e to la u n c h th e f ir s t a d v is o ry r e p o r t o f
th e C o n s titu tio n a l C o m m is s io n w h e re , to m y ey e s, o n e little
th in g s to o d o u t fro m t h e u s u a l r u n o f t h e m ill m e e t th e
p re s s b u n fig h t. T h e r e , w e d g e d in b e tw e e n th e b e s p e c ta ­
c le d , g re y s u ite d d ig n ita r ie s , w ith t h e ir ta s te fu lly c o n s e r v a ­
tiv e t i e s p e r c h e d l i k e f l o p p y k i p p e r s b e t w e e n n e a t l y p r e s s e d
la p e ls ; th e r e s a t M r P e te r G a r r e tt in a f a d e d b la c k d e n im
ja c k e t a n d o p e n n e c k e d s h irt. A s th e r e p o r t b e in g la u n c h e d
t o l d u s , G a r r e t t w a s “L e a d s i n g e r f o r M i d n i g h t O i l ; l a w y e r ”. 1
E v i d e n t l y h e w a s d r e s s e d i n t h e s ty le o f t h e f o r m e r o f t h e s e
tw o c a p a c i t i e s .
P e r h a p s it w a s b e c a u s e I f e lt a s o u t o f p la c e a t th is p a r tic ­
u la r p re ss c o n fe re n c e a s G a r r e t t ’s j a c k e t t h a t I n o t i c e d .
S u r r o u n d e d b y ‘r e a l ’ j o u r n a l i s t s i n t h e i r lo w k e y w o r k w e a r
(ta ilo re d b u t n o t p r e s s e d ) , I s to o d a t th e b a c k in a le a th e r
j a c k e t a n d a t- s h ir t e m ittin g s ta le c ig a r e tte s m o k e f r o m th e
n i g h t b e f o r e . I w a s n o t a j o u r n a l i s t , I w a s a r o c k a n d ro ll
h o m a g e to c a ta to n ia

w rite r. S o n a tu ra lly , th e o n ly w ay to g e t to a m o r n i n g p re s s
c o n f e r e n c e w as to n o t s le e p th e n ig h t b e fo re .
L o o k in g a t G a rre tt, fie ld in g q u e s tio n s a t th e f r o n t o f th e
r o o m , i t s e e m e d t o m e t h a t t h e “l a w y e r ” a p p e l l a t i o n w a s le s s
i m p o r t a n t u n d e r t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a n t h e “l e a d s i n g e r ”.
T h is w a s w h a t w a s m o s t c u r io u s a b o u t th e w h o le sh o w . H o w
w a s i t t h a t “L e a d s i n g e r f o r M i d n i g h t O i l ” c o u l d b e c o m e t h e
s o r t o f q u a l i f i c a t i o n o n e lis ts a t t h e f r o n t o f a d v i s o r y c o m ­
m i t t e e r e p o r t s ? M i d n i g h t O i l a r e a r o c k ’n ’r o l l b a n d , a f t e r a ll.
A p o p u la r a c t, a d m itte d ly . Y et if t h a t w e re th e m a in c r ite r ia ,
w h y w a s n ’t t h e e v e n m o r e p o p u l a r M i c h a e l H u t c h e n c e o n
th e C o n s titu tio n a l C o n v e n tio n ? A n d h o w w as it th a t th e m o s t
s t r i k i n g t h i n g a b o u t M r G a r r e t t ’s c u r r i c u l u m v i t a e w a s t h e d i s ­
c r e e t n o n - m e n tio n o f h is m o s t r e m a rk a b le a c h ie v e m e n t: th e
f a c t t h a t i n 1 9 8 4 t h i s l e a d l a w y e r - s i n g e r c a m e w i t h i n a h a i r ’s
b r e a d th o f w in n in g a s e a t in th e u p p e r h o u s e o f th e F e d e ra l
P a rlia m e n t?
C le a r ly , s o m e t h i n g e l s e w a s g o i n g o n h e r e . T h e p e r e n n i a l
p re s e n c e o f P e te r G a r r e tt in th e p u b lic ey e th r o u g h th e 80s
a n d 9 0 s s e e m e d to m e s y m p to m a tic o f th e k in d s o f re la tio n ­
s h ip th a t m ig h t h a v e b e c o m e p o s s ib le b e tw e e n A u s tra lia n
p o p u la r c u ltu r e , p o litic a l c u ltu r e a n d th e c u ltu r e in d u s tr ie s as
th e y e m e r g e d in th o s e y e a rs. I n th is c h a p te r I u s e G a r r e tt as
t h e p r e t e x t f o r e s s a y in g h o w th e s e r e la tio n s h ip s m ig h t w o rk .
T h e u r b a n e c r i t i c h a s t o b e c a r e f u l i n t e r r i t o r y s u c h a s th is .
T a k e th e o p e n i n g m o v e o f th is c h a p te r : th e c ritic a s t h e o n e
w h o h a s a n e y e f o r t h e te llin g d e ta il; th e s u s p ic io u s m in d
s e iz in g o n th e m e to n y m ic p a r t t h a t e x p la in s th e w h o le b u s i­
n e s s . B o t h G a r r e t t ’s c e l e b r i t y a n d t h e w a y s I m i g h t w r i t e a b o u t
i t a r e c a u g h t u p i n t h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n f o r m a t i o n s o f ta s te ,
s u c h a s th o s e th a t d e f in e th e u r b a n e , s u b u r b a n a n d v e rn a c u la r
a s d is tin c t c u ltu r e s . S o o n e h a s to b e c a re fu l w h e n w ritin g a b o u t
c u l t u r e i n g e n e r a l t o p a y a t t e n t i o n t o t h e f r is s o n s a n d f r i c t i o n s
b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s t h a t a n i m a t e n o t o n l y G a r r e t t ’s
a p p e a r a n c e s b u t a l s o a n y t h i n g I m i g h t sa y a b o u t t h e m .

O ils A in 't O ils

T h i s is a c a s e s t u d y o f h o w c e l e b r i t y b u i l t i n o n e d o m a i n c a n
b e p a rla y e d in to a n o th e r : fro m p o p u la r m u s ic to p o p u lis t
p o l i t i c s . G i v e n t h e s iz e o f t h e m u s i c i n d u s t r y , p e r h a p s t h i s is
 o i l s a i n ’t o i l s 10

n o t a ll t h a t s u r p r i s i n g . B y t h e t i m e M i d n i g h t O i l r e l e a s e d
th e ir b e s t s e llin g E a rth , S u n a n d M o o n a lb u m in 1 9 9 3 , th e
A u s tra lia n m u s ic in d u s tr y w as w o r th a b o u t $ 2 b illio n to th e
e c o n o m y a n d e m p l o y e d s o m e 8 0 ,0 0 0 p e o p l e . M u s ic e x p o r t s
b r o u g h t in a n e t r e v e n u e o f $ 9 0 m illio n o r m o r e , a n d it w as
n o s m a ll a c h ie v e m e n t t h a t A u s tr a lia b e c a m e th e th i r d la r g e s t
s o u rc e o f r e p e r to ir e f o r th e in te r n a tio n a l c h a rts . A b o u t 3 0 %
o f c o n te m p o r a r y m u s ic r e c o r d in g s s o ld in A u s tra lia w e re b y
lo c a l a rtis ts .2
T h e d is tin c tiv e n e s s o f th e O ils w a s t h e i r a b ility to m a k e a
p la c e in s u b u r b a n ta s te f o r th e id e a t h a t r o c k m u s ic c o u ld b e
b o th c u ltu ra lly le g itim a te and p ro fe s s io n a lly re s p e c ta b le
w h ile a t th e s a m e tim e d r a w in g a s iz e a b le c ro w d . A s it d o e s
w ith t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a n y a n d e v e r y c u l t u r a l a r te f a c t, s u b ­
u r b a n c u ltu r e d r e w d is tin c tio n s w ith in p o p u l a r m u s ic . O n
t h e o n e h a n d , t h e r e is p o p m u s i c ; o n t h e o t h e r , ro c k m u s i c .
T h e d is tin c tio n a r r iv e d la te in A u s tr a lia n ta s te , w h e r e th e re l­
a tiv e ly s m a l l s iz e o f t h e m a r k e t p r o b a b l y s l o w e d t h e g r o w t h o f
d i s t i n c t i o n s w i t h i n it. B y t h e l a t e 7 0 s , h o w e v e r , i t w a s w e ll
e n tre n c h e d .
C o u n t d o u m , t h e A B C ’s w e e k ly p o p m u s i c s h o w , d o m i n a t e d
p o p u l a r m u s i c f o r m o s t o f it s l o n g lif e , f r o m 1 9 7 4 t o 1 9 8 7 .3
C o u n t d o u m , h a d a t its d i s p o s a l a v e c t o r o f n a t i o n a l s c o p e , a n d
it s y n c h r o n is e d th e o n c e r a t h e r p a r o c h ia l p o p m u s ic m a rk e ts .
It w as th e d e fin in g te m p o o f p o p a c ro ss s u b u rb ia a n d b e y o n d .
B u t it a ls o p r o v id e d s u b u r b ia w ith a w ay to d is tin g u is h r o c k
fro m p o p . R o c k w a s , b y d e f i n i t i o n , w h a t w a s t o o ‘h a r d ’ f o r
C o u n t d o u m , w h i c h o n l y p l a y e d w h a t is ‘s o f t ’ — p o p . N e e d l e s s
t o say, t h e d i s t i n c t i o n w i t h i n s u b u r b a n t a s t e b e t w e e n r o c k a n d
p o p is b e t w e e n t h e t a s t e s o f y o u n g m a l e s a n d f e m a l e s , b u t
o n l y p a r d y s o . I t is a l s o p a r t l y a n a g e d i s t i n c t i o n : p r e t e e n a n d
e a rly te e n p o p fa n s a r e s u p p o s e d to g ro w in to la te te e n a n d
e a rly 2 0 s r o c k fa n s.
Iro n ic a lly , th e p o p m u s ic f a n , to o y o u n g to g o to lic e n s e d
p r e m is e s to s e e r o c k m u s ic , m a y h a v e im b ib e d a m o r e s u b tle
m u s ic a l b r e w v ia C o u n td o u m t h a n s o m e s u b u r b a n r o c k f a n s ,
f o r C o u n td o w n h a d a c e r ta in c a m p s u b tle ty in th e w ay it
p la y e d w ith b o u n d a r i e s o f g e n d e r a n d d e s ir e . C o u n td o w n h a d
t h e a d d e d a d v a n t a g e o f b e i n g a v a i l a b l e e v e r y w h e r e — t e l e v i­
s i o n ’s v e c t o r s c u t a c r o s s t h e d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n u r b a n a n d
s u b u r b a n lif e . T h e r o c k m u s i c b u s i n e s s w a s m o r e s p a t i a l l y
h o m a g e to c a ta to n ia

s e g r e g a t e d . I n t h e i n n e r c ity , p u n k a n d p o s t p u n k m u s i c s p o n ­
t a n e o u s l y c r e a t e d its o w n s u b c u l t u r a l w o r l d , r i c h i n c r i t i c a l
a n d c re a tiv e s tra te g ie s . B u t th is w as a g h e tto is e d w o rld , a n d
in S y d n e y it w a s q u ite s h a rp ly d iv id e d f r o m th e s u b u rb a n
r o c k s c e n e , w h e r e c o v e rs b a n d s d o m in a te d . M id n ig h t O il
w e r e o n e o f t h e fe w b a n d s t h a t g r e w o u t o f a n u r b a n , p u n k
s c e n e to e x te n d th e ir te r r ito r y o u t in to th e s u b u rb s . T h e y
w e r e a s s i s t e d i n t h i s b y A B C r a d i o s t a t i o n 2 JJ, w h i c h w a s a t
t h e t i m e a n A M b a n d , S y d n e y - o n ly g o v e r n m e n t b r o a d c a s t e r ,
w h i c h s u p p o r t e d t h e i n n e r c ity m u s i c s c e n e a n d e x t e n d e d its
p o te n tia l in flu e n c e .
W i t h t h e h e l p o f 2 JJ, M i d n i g h t O i l w e r e a b l e t o d e v e l o p a
fo llo w in g a m o n g b o th u r b a n a n d s u b u r b a n r o c k fa n s , c o m ­
b in in g th e s tre s s o n in d e p e n d e n c e a n d o r ig in a lity r e q u ir e d
b y t h e f o r m e r w ith t h e h a r d r o c k in g e n t e r t a i n m e n t s o u g h t
by th e la tte r. W h a t b o th u rb a n and su b u rb a n ro c k fa n s
s h a r e d w as th e e th ic a c c o r d in g to w h ic h r o c k ta s te le g it­
i m i s e d it s e lf . I n r o c k m u s i c , s o m e r e l a t i o n s h i p , s o m e n e c e s ­
s ity l i n k e d t h e p u b l i c t o t h e m u s i c . D e m a n d p r e c e d e d s u p p ly ,
o r a t le a s t a p p e a r e d to . T h o s e s u p p ly in g th e m u s ic , th e m u s i­
c ia n s , h a d to w o rk d a m n e d h a r d to p r o v e to th e ir p u b lic t h a t
th e y w e re in d e e d th e g e n u in e a rtic le , f a ith fu l a n d tr u e , a
s u i t o r w h o w ill lo v e , h o n o u r a n d o b e y .
O n c e f i r m l y w e d d e d t o a r o c k m u s i c a c t , its p u b l i c w a s
u s u a lly te n a c io u s ly f a ith f u l to it — o f te n f o r d e c a d e s . T h is
c o u r ts h ip o c c u r r e d th r o u g h th e d e n s e n e tw o r k o f v e c to rs
w h ic h f o r m e d th e m e d ia la n d s c a p e o f th e tim e : c lu b s , p u b s ,
p a r tie s , j u k e b o x e s , r e c o r d s to r e s , fa n z in e s . L ik e a n y o t h e r
sm a ll b u s in e s s , a r o c k ’n ’r o l l band had to s ta rt s m a ll,
in v e s tin g a little c a p ita l, d o in g s o lid b u s in e s s , g e n e r a tin g
g o o d w ill, w o r d o f m o u t h i n t e r e s t , b u i l d i n g u p a w o r k i n g
s to c k o f m a te ria l, im p ro v in g th e p r o d u c t . M i d n i g h t O i l ’s
d r u m m e r R o b H i r s t s a i d , “W e h a d t h e o p t i o n o f g o i n g o n
C o u n td o w n a n d r e a c h i n g t h r e e m i llio n p e o p l e o r d o i n g 4 0 0 0
o u t-o f-to w n g ig s a n d b u il d in g u p a fo llo w in g . W e c h o s e th e
la tte r.”
T h e b a n d a c c e p te d th e f in a n c ia l ris k th e m s e lv e s a n d tr ie d
to b u ild t h e i r o w n fo llo w in g , b y p a s s in g th e b o o k in g a g e n ts
a n d f r o n t m e n a n d a l o t o f t h e p e t t y t h i e v e r y o f t h e s m a ll
tim e m u s ic ra c k e t. ‘W e had a to ta lly s y m p a th e tic bank
m a n a g e r , ” sa y s G a r r e t t . “I f w e h a d t o b o r r o w m o n e y f r o m t h e
 o i l s a i n ’t o i l s 10

b a n k , w e ll, o k a y , t h a t ’s j u s t t h e w a y i t w a s g o i n g t o b e — b u t
w e w e r e n ’t g o i n g t o l e t a b u n c h o f t h u g s s h u t u s d o w n . ”4 A s
e d u c a t e d y o u n g m e n f r o m ‘r e s p e c t a b l e ’ s u b u r b s , M i d n i g h t
O il h a d a c c e s s to m o r e k n o w le d g e o f b u s in e s s a n d b e t t e r
c o n n e c tio n s th a n m a n y b a n d s.
L i k e a ll r o c k b a n d s , M i d n i g h t O i l r e a c h e d t h e s t a g e w h e r e
i t n e e d e d a m a jo r in je c t i o n o f liq u id ity , c a p ita l o r a c c e s s to a
b ig d is tr ib u ti o n n e tw o r k i f it w a s to b r e a k o u t o f t h e s m a ll
d o m e s tic m a r k e t a n d g e t i n to b ig , in t e r n a t i o n a l o n e s . A s
G a r r e t t s a i d , “t h e b i g b u s i n e s s o f N o r t h A m e r i c a t h a t d o m i ­
n a te s th e ro c k in d u s tr y m a k e s it p ro h ib itiv e ly e x p e n s iv e f o r a
y o u n g b a n d to b u ild a c a r e e r w ith o u t th e s u p p o r t o f a r e c o r d
c o m p a n y th a t ta k e s o n th e r o le o f a la rg e b a n k . A s ta r tin g
p r i c e o f h a l f a m i llio n d o l l a r s f o r a lb u m s , v id e o s a n d a s s o c i­
a te d p ro m o tio n is a n o r m a l f i g u r e i n t o d a y ’s p o p m u s ic
w o r l d . ”5 T h i s is w h e n a b a n d ‘s e l l s o u t ’.
W ith lu c k , a b a n d m ig h t n e g o tia te a d e a l w ith th e b ig f ir m s
i n t h e b u s i n e s s w i t h o u t d a m a g i n g t h e g o o d w ill i t h a d w i t h its
s m a l l f a m i l y o f lo y a l c l i e n t s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , a b a n d w o u l d u s e
th e c re d ib ility it g a r n e r e d as p u rv e y o rs o f r o c k m u s ic as a
b a r g a i n i n g c h i p t o p l a y a g a i n s t ‘t h e m a j o r s ’ — P o ly g ra m ,
E M I , S o n y , W a r n e r M u s i c , B M G a n d F e s ti v a l — s o i t c o u l d
t u r n c re d ib ility in to a b a s e f o r fin a n c ia l su c c e ss a n d e x p o ­
s u r e , a n d g e t a r e a s o n a b l e p i e c e o f t h e a c t i o n a s w e ll. B u t i t
h a d to d o so w ith a g r e a t d e a l o f f in a n c ia l a n d c o n tr a c tu a l
c a r e . R o b H i r s t : “I t m e a n s r e c o r d i n g a l b u m s c h e a p l y a n d
g e t tin g a r o u n d h a v in g to s ig n c o n tr a c ts w h ic h tie y o u u p a n d
p u t so m u c h p re s s u re o n y o u th a t, e v e n if y o u h a d a m e g a ­
s e l l i n g a l b u m , y o u s t ill w o u l d n ’t r e c o u p . . . . I f y o u b u r n t h e
r e c o r d c o m p a n y f o r $ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 , t h e n w h e r e d o y o u g o ? ”6
M i d n i g h t O i l k e p t t h e i r o v e r h e a d s lo w a n d b u i l t a fo l­
lo w in g . T h e le g io n o f M id n ig h t O il fa n s , f r o m te e n a g e te a r ­
aw ays and s u rfo lo g is ts , to m id d le -a g e d su b u rb a n p u b lic
s e r v a n t s , w e r e a lo y a l, f a i t h f u l p u b l i c . M i d n i g h t O i l t r i e d t o
k e e p th e fa ith a n d a t le a s t th e a p p e a r a n c e o f in d e p e n d e n c e ,
e v e n w h e n th e y s ig n e d a d i s t r i b u t i o n d e a l w ith C B S , t h e n t h e
m o s t m a jo r o f th e m a jo r c o r p o r a tio n s in th e m u s ic in d u s try .
‘T h e O i l s ’, a s t h e y a r e a f f e c t i o n a t e l y k n o w n , w o r k e d l o n g a n d
h a r d to a c h ie v e th is . (J u s t a s M id n ig h t O il w e re b o u g h t o u t
b y C B S , so to o C B S w e re e v e n tu a lly b o u g h t b y th e J a p a n e s e
e l e c t r o n i c s c o r p o r a t i o n S o n y . B u t t h a t ’s a n o t h e r s t o r y . 7)
h o m a g e to c a ta to n ia

T h e e th ic s o f k e e p in g a d is c e r n in g s u b u r b a n ro c k p u b lic o n
s i d e is a t s o m e r e m o v e f r o m th e w ay th in g s w o rk in p o p
m u s i c . M o s t p o p m u s i c f a il s i n t h e m a r k e t p l a c e . S o m e p o p
m u s i c s e ll s b y t h e t o n n e , t h o u g h n o t w i t h o u t t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f
th o s e p a r ts o f th e p le a s u r e m a c h in e th a t h a v e th e j o b o f p r o ­
m o tin g th e p r o d u c t, c o m b in g th r o u g h it f o r th e m o s t b a n k ­
a b le u n i t s h ifte r, s ta m p in g it w ith t h e a p p r o v a l o f th e le a d in g
s ty le a u t h o r i t i e s — a n d f l o g g i n g i t f o r a ll i t ’s w o r t h . A s G a r r e t t
sa y s , “B ig r e c o r d c o m p a n i e s a r e c o n s t a n t l y p u s h i n g o u t a ll
th is m a te r ia l, th r o w in g i t ... in to th e f u n n e ls a n d h o p in g th a t
s o o n e r o r l a t e r s o m e t h i n g is g o i n g t o p o p o u t t h e o t h e r e n d .
A n d o f c o u r s e ... s o m e th in g in e v ita b ly d o e s . I m e a n , s o m e o n e
l i k e A u s t r a l i a n C r a w l h a s p o p p e d o u t . ”8
T h i s is h o w p o p m u s i c a p p e a r s t o s u b u r b a n t a s t e w h e r e
th a t ta s te h a s d e c id e d t h a t r o c k r e p r e s e n ts s o m e th in g e th i­
c a ll y h i g h e r t h a n p o p , b u t w h i c h s t ill r e l i e s o n p o p i n o r d e r
t o m a k e t h e d i s t i n c t i o n . T h a t r o c k is e t h i c a l l y h i g h e r t h a n
p o p is a p r e j u d i c e w o r t h s e t t i n g a s i d e f o r a m o m e n t t o c o n ­
s i d e r t h e d i f f e r e n c e f r o m a n o t h e r p o i n t o f v ie w , t h a t o f t h e
s tra te g y f o r c r e a tin g a p u b lic a n d a m a r k e t. I n o r d e r to try
and m ake pop m u s ic a c tu a lly p o p u la r, a m a jo r re c o rd
c o m p a n y t h a t is p r o m o t i n g i t h a s t o i n v e s t h e a v i l y i n p a c k ­
a g i n g a n d p r o m o t i o n , a n d t h e b a n d is o b l i g e d t o s i t s ti ll f o r
t h i s , t o a llo w i t s e l f t o b e m a r k e t e d , c l i n g - w r a p p e d , f o n d l e d
a n d p a w e d b y th e m a g a z in e a n d T V p e o p le .
T h i s is p a r t i c u l a r l y s o w h e n t h e a c t l a c k s c r e d i b i l i t y . I f it
h a s n ’t s p e n t y e a r s s c r a p i n g a n d s a v i n g a n d g i g g i n g a n d a c c u ­
m u la tin g c a p ita l a n d g o o d w ill o u t t h e r e in th e m in o r a n d
m a r g in a l v e c to r s o f r o c k c u ltu r e . I f it la c k s th is k in d o f b a s e ,
th e n th e a c t h a s little b a rg a in in g p o w e r w ith th e m a jo r
r e c o r d i n g a n d p u b l i s h i n g c o m p a n i e s , a n d w ill m o r e o r le s s
h a v e t o d o a s i t ’s t o l d , m o r e l i k e h i r e d h a n d s t h a n a s u b c o n ­
tra c to r. A c a se in p o in t a re M e n a t W o rk , w h o so ld te n
m illio n c o p ie s o f th e ir firs t a lb u m a n d r e a c h in g n u m b e r o n e
in th e B ritis h a n d A m e r ic a n c h a r t s in 1 9 8 2 . S o m e h o w th e y
m a n a g e d to s ig n th e m s e lv e s aw a y t o a t e n r e c o r d d e a l w ith
C B S ( n o w S o n y ) . ‘T h e y w o n ’t l e t u s g o ” s a i d m a n a g e r R u s s e l l
D e p p l e r , “‘til t h e d a y w e d i e , w e ’ll s t ill b e w i t h C B S .”9 L ik e
A u s t r a l i a n C r a w l, M e n a t W o r k n o l o n g e r e x i s t .
T h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw e e n r o c k a n d p o p lie s in t h e o r d e r in
w h ic h th e b a n d ta c k le s th e v a rio u s s e g m e n ts o f th e in d u s try ,
 o i l s a i n ’t o i l s 10

w h o ’s m o n e y t h e y u s e t o d o i t , a n d w h o e n d s u p c o n t r o l l i n g
th e p ro c e ss, o w n in g th e p r o d u c t a n d ta p p in g th e re v e n u e
s tre a m s th a t re s u lt. T h e c e n tr a l p o in t, in te r m s o f M id n ig h t
O i l a n d P e t e r G a r r e t t ’s s ty le o f c e l e b u t a n t e p o l i t i c s , is t h a t
th e im p e tu s in p o p m u s ic c o m e s f r o m th e c o m p a n y a n d in
r o c k m u s i c f r o m t h e b a n d . I n p r a c t i c e t h e r e is n o n e a t d i s ­
t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e tw o , b u t a c o n t i n u u m . S u b u r b a n t a s t e
a r b i t r a t e s , a n d d e c i d e s w h i c h is w h i c h . W h a t is a t i s s u e f o r
t h e p a r t i e s c o n c e r n e d is t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h t h e b a n d is
s e llin g th e a u d ie n c e it h a s a c q u ir e d to th e c o m p a n y a n d
k e e p in g s o m e a u to n o m y in to th e b a rg a in , o r s e llin g th e m ­
s e lv e s to th e com pany in exchange fo r th e c o m p a n y ’s
in v e s tin g in th e p u r c h a s e o f th e m e a n s to a c q u ir e a p u b lic .
F r o m t h e p o i n t o f v ie w o f u r b a n e c u l t u r e , t h e d i s t i n c t i o n
b e tw e e n th e ro c k a n d p o p a p p r o a c h m a tte r s f o r s o m e w h a t
d if f e r e n t re a s o n s . In th e p r e s e n ta tio n to a p ro s p e c tiv e p u b lic
o f th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e c o m p a n y a n d th e a c t, u r b a n e
c u l t u r e s e e s a r e f le c tio n o f its o w n b a r g a i n i n g s i n t h e w o r k ­
p la c e . T h e b a n d w h o r e ta in s t h e ir a u to n o m y a n d s trik e s th e
d e a l is a s i g n t h a t t h i s is p o s s i b l e f o r o t h e r s t o o . A p a s s i n g
r e m a r k o f G a r r e t t ’s i n o n e o f h i s 1 9 8 7 n e w s p a p e r c o l u m n s
i n d i c a t e s w h a t ’s a t s t a k e h e r e : “A d v e r t i s i n g : t h e l a s t r e f u g e i n
a s o r r y w o r l d f o r c r e a t i v e a n d a m b i t i o u s p e o p l e w h o d o n ’t
m in d m a n ip u la tio n in th e g u is e o f a p r o f e s s io n a n d w h o
p r o f i t g r e a tly b y t h e c o n u n d r u m o f o u r e c o n o m i c s y s te m . I f
w e d o n ’t k e e p t h e b i g w h e e l t u r n i n g a n d m a k e s u r e t h a t a ll
t h a t is p r o d u c e d is c o n s u m e d , t h e n a s s u r e a s n i g h t f o l lo w s
d a y , w e ’ll a l l b e r u i n e d . ” G a r r e t t c o u l d b e t a l k i n g h e r e a b o u t
a n y o n e in a n y b r a n c h o f th e c u ltu r e in d u s try , f ro m w ritin g to
m u s i c t o a r t . H e is s p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e s e l f - a w a r e n e s s , i n d e e d
t h e c la s s a w a r e n e s s , o f m a n y u r b a n e m e d i a w o r k e r s w h o a r e
tr y in g to k e e p c o n tr o l a n d o w n e r s h ip o f t h e ir c re a tiv e w o rk
w h ile n e g o tia tin g a c c e ss to d is tr ib u tio n a n d in v e s tm e n t.
A f t e r m o n e y , c r e d i b i l i t y is t h e s e c o n d m o s t p r e c i o u s c o m ­
m o d i t y i n c i r c u l a t i o n i n p u b l i c lif e . O n c e y o u c a n b u y t h a t ,
t h e r e s t is e a s y . T h i s is w h y t h e m a j o r s a r e p r e p a r e d t o d e a l
w i t h a c t s li k e M i d n i g h t O i l a n d c e d e t o i t a c e r t a i n a m o u n t
o f b u s i n e s s a n d a r t i s t i c a u t o n o m y . C r e d i b i l i t y is i n s e p a r a b l y
w e d d e d t o t h e m y t h o l o g y o f ‘p a y i n g y o u r d u e s ’ a n d is a l s o a
s y s te m of peer a s s e s s m e n t, c o m p e titio n and s u p p o rt.
M id n ig h t O il, to u te d in th e ir e a rly days as th e h a rd e st
h o m a g e to c a ta to n ia

w o rk in g b a n d in th e c o u n try , e a r n e d it — a n d e n jo y e d n o t a
l i t d e c o m m e r c i a l s u c c e s s a l o n g t h e w ay. O i l s a i n ’t o ils ; t h e r e
is a c o m p l i c a t e d p o l i t i c s o f c r e d i b i l i t y a n d s u c c e s s w h i c h t r a ­
v e rse s th e w h o le o f th e ‘c u l t u r e in d u s try ’ a n d b lu rs its
b o u n d a rie s .

The Power and the P a s s io n

W ith in th is fra m e w o rk , w e can u n d e rs ta n d th e d o u b le

su c c e s s o f M id n ig h t O il a n d P e te r G a r r e tt. M id n ig h t O il a r e
a s w e ll, i f n o t b e t t e r k n o w n f o r t h e i r e x tr a - m u s ic a l a c tiv itie s
a s t h e i r a r t . T h i s is i n n o s m a l l m e a s u r e d u e t o t h e a c t i v i t i e s
o f G a rre tt, w h o h a s b e e n ‘f r o n t m a n ’ i n m o r e w a y s t h a n
o n e , p a r tic u la rly s in c e h e a c h ie v e d n a tio n a l m e d ia e x p o ­
s u r e as th e N u c le a r D is a r m a m e n t P a rty c a n d id a te in th e
19 8 4 e le c tio n .
G a r r e t t ’s d i s t i n c t i v e h ig h dom ed p a te and bush hat
b e c a m e f a m ilia r ic o n s o n te le v is io n a n d in th e p re s s . T h e
G a r r e tt p re s e n c e m o u n te d th e s o a p b o x fo r e v e ry th in g fro m
th e U lu r u /A y e r s R o c k h a n d - o v e r c e r e m o n ie s , to th e a n ti-ID
c a rd c a m p a ig n to ‘S u r f e r s A g a i n s t N u c l e a r D e s tru c tio n ’
( S A N D ) a n d a s y m b o l i c v is it t o P i n e G a p , l o u d h a i l e r i n
h a n d . N o t to m e n tio n b e in g h y p o th e s is e d a b o u t o n th e T V
s h o w H y p o t h e t i c a l s. F o r a n a c t w h i c h c o n s i s t e n t l y r e f u s e d t o
appear on C o u n td o w n b o t h G a r r e t t a n d th e O ils a c h ie v e d
r e m a r k a b l y w i d e m e d i a e x p o s u r e . 10 I n d e e d t h e i r r e f u s a l o f
C o u n td o w n is o n e o f th e fa b le s fo r w h ic h th e y becam e
fa m o u s. P e rh a p s G a r r e t t ’s b a ld n e s s has re s u lte d fro m
w e a r in g to o m a n y h a ts .
G a r r e tt s u c c e e d e d in th e 8 0 s as a p o p u lis t a n d p ro g re s s iv e
fig u r e in th e p u b lic d o m a in p re c is e ly b e c a u s e G a r r e tt a n d
M id n ig h t O il a c h ie v e d c r e d ib le s u c c e s s in p r o d u c in g r o c k
m u s i c . T h e O i l s ’ a u t h e n t i c i t y is n o t r e a l l y a n i s s u e . T h e y c o n ­
v e y e d th e sig n o f a u th e n tic ity a c c o r d in g to th e c o n v e n tio n s o f
t h e i r f a n s , a n d t h a t ’s w h a t c o u n t e d . T h e r e w a s a n o r g a n i c
lin k b e tw e e n th e O ils a n d th e ir p a tr o n s w h ic h p r e c e d e d th e
m a c h in a tio n s o f th e m a jo r p o w e rs th a t b e in th e in d u s try .
P re c is e ly f o r th is r e a s o n , G a r r e tt c o u ld a p p e a r in p u b lic ,
w e a r m a n y h a t s , g iv e v o i c e t o l e f t - l e a n i n g p o p u l i s t c a u s e s ,
v e n t h i s s p l e e n i n o p - e d s f o r t h e t a b l o i d s , 11 s t a n d f o r o f f i c e , s i t
o n s u b - c o m m itte e s , a ll w ith o u t a p p e a r i n g r id ic u lo u s to th e
 ag ain s t rock critics

f a n s o f O i l s m u s i c . T h i s is t h e p r e c i o u s s t u f f o f c r e d i b i l i t y , t h e
m a g i c e l i x i r o f r o c k ’n ’r o l l p o w e r a n d p a s s i o n — a n d p o l i t i c s .

Rock A g a in st Rock C ritics

T h e r e is a n a p p r o a c h t o t h e a n a l y s i s o f t a s t e t h a t h a s a n
e l e m e n t o f t h e u r b a n e i n it , t h a t t r e a t s a ll k i n d s o f t a s t e a s
e q u a l l y a m e n a b l e t o a n a ly s is . L i k e w i s e , t h e r e a r e a p p r o a c h e s
to c u ltu re th a t h a v e a n e le m e n t o f th e s u b u r b a n in th e m ,
m a n if e s te d in a n in a b ility to a v o id m a k in g p re -e m p tiv e d is ­
tin c tio n s . T h is h a s p a rtic u la rly d o g g e d a c a d e m ic w o rk o n
r o c k a n d p o p m u s i c , w h i c h c a n ’t r e s i s t a r r a n g i n g t h e s e i n a
h ie ra rc h y , in w h ic h r o c k s ta n d s a b it a b o v e p o p , b u t b o th a r e
f o u n d w a n t i n g c o m p a r e d to c r itic is m its e lf, w h ic h s e ts its e lf
u p as th e a u th o r ity th a t ju d g e s b e tw e e n th e m .
F o r in s ta n c e , M a rc u s B re e n h a s it th a t re g a rd le s s o f h o w
‘s o u n d ’ M i d n i g h t O i l ’s s o n g s m a y b e , w h e n t h e y “s u f f e r a
tra n s fo rm a tio n a n d b e c o m e a n e x te n s io n o f th e m a rk e tin g
n e x u s o f th e d o m in a n t c u ltu ra l and s o c ia l v a lu e s , th e ir
m e a n in g is c h a n g e d . ” 12 B r e e n in s is ts on th e in e v ita b le
‘c a p t u r e ’ b y t h e c o r p o r a t e w o r l d , a s i f i t w e r e m o n o l i t h i c ,
a n d n o t in tu r n s u b je c t to th e n e e d to r e s p o n d to p o p u la r
d e s i r e s a n d i n t e r e s t s . I n t h e c a s e o f M i d n i g h t O i l , w h a t is o f
i n t e r e s t is p r e c i s e l y t h e w a y t h e b a n d w a s a b l e t o w o r k w i t h
th e c u ltu r e in d u s tr y o n te r m s th a t th e ir p u b lic w o u ld a c c e p t.
M ic h a e l B ir c h r ig h tly s tre s s e s th e “o n g o i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p
b e tw e e n th e n a tu r e o f c u ltu ra l p r o d u c ts a n d th e te c h n o lo g y
o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n . ”13 H e a l s o g iv e s a n a c c o u n t
of th e in flu e n c e o f th e k in d o f c u ltu ra l s tu d ie s D a v id
M a rs h a ll m e n tio n s o n th e s tu d y o f p o p u la r c u ltu r e , a n d th e
w a y t h a t i t l o o k s a t i t a s “a f i e l d o f s t r u g g l e , a b a t t l e g r o u n d o f
id e o lo g y , a f ie ld in w h ic h d o m i n a t e d g r o u p s w in s p a c e f o r
t h e m s e l v e s . ” S o f a r s o g o o d . H e a l s o t i c k s o f f “s c h o l a r l y w o r k ”
w h i c h h a s “t a k e n a p h e n o m e n o n th r o u g h w h ic h m illio n s
h a v e f o u n d e x p re s s io n , a n d h a s s p ille d q u a n titie s o f a c a d ­
e m i c i n k t o f i n d a d e f i n i t i o n o f p o p u l a r c u l t u r e . ” T h i s is e v e n
b e t t e r , t h o u g h o n e w o n d e r s w h y i t ’s i n t h e p a s t t e n s e . B i r c h
is a d m i t t i n g to th e fu tility o f a tte m p tin g to d e fin e pop
c u l t u r e o t h e r t h a n n o m i n a l l y a n d re la ti v e ly .
J u s t w h e n t h i n g s a r e g o i n g s o w e ll, B i r c h s u c c u m b s t o a
t e d i o u s n o s t a l g i a . H e c a n ’t r e s i s t a n i n v o c a t i o n o f t h e ‘r e a l ’
h o m a g e to c a ta to n ia

6 0 s , a s h e e x p e r i e n c e d it , a n d e x p r e s s e s a d e s i r e t o r e s c u e t h e
c r i t i c ’s o w n t i m e s f r o m y o u n g e r c r i t i c s w h o e v i d e n t l y d o n ’t
u n d e r s t a n d th e m . T h is a p p l i c a t i o n o f s e le c tiv e m e m o r y c u l­
m i n a t e s i n d a r k m u t t e r i n g s t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t “t h e ‘p o l i t i c a l
r o l e ’ o f ro c k m u s ic s e e m s to h a v e d is a p p e a r e d ” a n d th a t f o r
A u s t r a l i a n s “t h e im p lic a tio n s o f r e c e n t d e v e lo p m e n ts a re
e v e n w o rs e .”
T h e b o t t o m l i n e w i t h B r e e n a n d B i r c h is p e s s i m i s m a b o u t
c u ltu re in d u s trie s , o th e r th a n e d u c a tio n , a n d c u ltu ra l p ra c ­
ti c e s , o t h e r t h a n c r i t i c i s m . I n b o t h c a s e s , a r a t h e r g e n e r a l
k i n d o f ‘s o c i a l r a t i o n a l i s t ’ t h e o r y is f i r s t d e d u c e d , a n d t h e n
a p p lie d to th e s p e c ific c a s e a t h a n d . F o r e x a m p le , th e th e o r y
t h a t s u c c e s s iv e c u l t u r a l t e c h n o l o g i e s t e n d to b e m o r e a n d
m o re a lie n a tin g , a n d e s tra n g e th e p e rfo rm e r m o re and
m o r e f r o m h e r o r h is o w n w o rk .
T h e e x a m p l e B i r c h g iv e s is v i d e o : “t h e i n n o c e n t d a y s w h e n
a liv e b a n d w e r e j u s t f i l m e d m a k i n g t h e i r m u s i c a r e g o n e
f o r e v e r .” I n n o c e n t d ay s? N o tic e th a t th e a lie n a tin g te c h ­
n o l o g y o f t o d a y is c o m p a r e d w i t h . . . t h e d a y b e f o r e . A s i f t h e
c u ltu r a l te c h n o lo g ie s o f th e 7 0 s w e re n o t a lie n a tin g to th o s e
w h o f ir s t e x p e r ie n c e d th e m , r e la tiv e to th e 60 s, a n d so o n .
T h e c o n c e p t d o e s n o t a r i s e o u t o f B i r c h ’s e x p e r i e n c e o f
M i d n i g h t O i l . I t is d e r i v e d f r o m th e lite r a tu r e a n d m e re ly
a p p l i e d t o M i d n i g h t O i l , a n d t h e c r i t i c ’s o w n e x p e r i e n c e
e s c a p e s a n y s e r i o u s a t t e m p t t o p e r c e i v e it s e f f e c t s o n t h e
p ro c e ss o f c o n c e p tu a lis in g c u ltu re .
B i r c h , o n t h e s u b j e c t o f G a r r e t t a n d t h e O i ls , c la im s : ‘T h e
e f f e c t o f a ‘p o l i t i c a l ’ b a n d . . . w ill a lw a y s b e n e g l i g i b l e . T h e
e x a m p l e o f P e t e r G a r r e t t ’s f a i l u r e t o e n t e r t h e S e n a t e , d e s p i t e
a n e n o r m o u s v o t e , is a p e r f e c t e x a m p l e o f t h e t r e a t m e n t o f
p e r f o r m e r s i n t h e w o r l d o f r o c k m u s i c o n c e t h e y a t t e m p t to
s t e p o u t s i d e it. R i g h t w i n g b a d a c t o r s c a n d o it, b u t n o t p e o p l e
w i t h b a l d h e a d s . T h e b u s i n e s s is n o w n o t j u s t c o m m e r c i a l i s e d
b u t i n d u s t r i a l i s e d . ” F irs tly , B i r c h c o l l a p s e s p o l i t i c s i n t o c u l t u r e .
G a r r e tt p u ttin g th e w in d u p th e S u sse x st L a b o r h a c k s a n d
d e b a t i n g t h e n L a b o r l e a d e r B ill H a y d e n liv e o n n a t i o n a l T V is
n o t c o n s i d e r e d f o r w h a t i t is — s y m b o l ic a c t i o n , e t h i c a l f a b l e
— b u t l a m e n t e d f o r w h a t i t is n o t : a n i n s t r u m e n t a l p o l i t i c a l
a c t. T h e s e c o n d a n d t h i r d s e n te n c e s a r e t h e p e s s im is m o f in s a ­
t i a b l e c r it i c i s m : t h e g la s s h a l f e m p ty . I t w o u l d b e j u s t a s e a s y t o
b e o v e r j o y e d a t h o w r a t t l e d t h e A L P w e r e b y G a r r e t t ’s s h o w i n g .
 best of both w orld s

T h e la s t s e n te n c e ta k e s o f f o n a n e w ta c k , a n d se e s th e r o o t
o f t h e p r o b l e m i n t h e e v il i n d u s t r i a l s t r u c t u r e . Y e t i f w e t a k e
th is m e t a p h o r se rio u s ly , w o u ld w e n o t h a v e to a r g u e t h a t
te a c h e r s a n d m e ta l w o r k e r s a n d s o a p ie a c to r s a r e a ll e q u a lly
i n h o p e l e s s p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n s b e c a u s e t h e y w o r k i n ‘i n d u s ­
t r i e s ’? P e r h a p s t h a t ’s w h y , l i k e m u s i c i a n s , t e a c h e r s a n d m e t a l
w o rk e rs a n d a c to rs , th e y s o m e tim e s f o r m a n d jo in u n io n s .
T h e n e t w o r k e c o n o m y o f p o w e r , i n f o r m a t i o n a n d m o n e y is
s til l t h e r e f o r a l l a n d s u n d r y t o s t r u g g l e i n , b e t h e y i n ‘i n d u s ­
tr ie s ’ o r n o t. O n ly w h e n w e m e a s u r e su c h e ffo rts b y s o m e
f i x e d i d e a l s t a n d a r d d o t h e y p a l e , w h i c h is a g o o d r e a s o n n o t
t o c o n d u c t c r i t i c i s m o n s u c h a b a s is , l e s t w e a ll g e t m i s e r a b l e
a n d d e p r e s s e d . W h a t p o l i t i c s is, c r i t i c i s m s h o u l d b e — t h e a r t
o f t h e p o s s ib le .
R a t h e r t h a n c r i t i c i s i n g a w o r k o f a r t f o r w h a t i t la c k s , t h e r e
is a n o t h e r w a y o f t h i n k i n g a b o u t it. O n e c a n t r y a n d i d e n t i f y
th e p o te n tia l it c o n ta in s w ith in its e lf f o r e x c e e d in g th e c o n ­
v e n tio n s a n d lim ita tio n s o f th e day. A rt e x p re s s e s th e p o te n ­
t i a l f o r t h i n g s t o b e o t h e r w i s e . T h i s is a c o n c e p t i o n o f a r t I
le a r n e d fr o m C ra ig M c G re g o r, a n d th a t h e le a r n e d fr o m th e
U n iv e rs ity o f Sydney p h ilo s o p h e r J o h n A n d e r s o n . 14 T h e
v irtu a l lu rk s in th e a c tu a l: in e v e n th e m o s t m u n d a n e a n d
d e b a s e d k in d s o f c u ltu r e , in p o p s o n g s a n d c e le b r ity im a g e s ,
w h a t h i d e s i n t h e l i g h t is t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f i m a g i n i n g b e t t e r
w o rld s . B e tte r w o rld s t h a t a r e n o t a h e r e a f t e r o r a h a p p ily
e v e r a fte r, b u t m i g h t a c tu a lly b e m a d e o u t o f th e r e s o u r c e s
r ig h t h e r e in th is w o rld . C ritic is m is f o n d o f p o i n t i n g o u t
w h a t t h i s c u l t u r e l a c k s , b u t w h a t c r i t i c i s m i t s e l f l a c k s is a w a y
of id e n tify in g th e p o s s ib ilitie s p re se n t w ith in ev e ry d ay
c u l t u r e . C r i t i c i s m is t o o s u b u r b a n ; i t l a c k s a n u r b a n e a b i l i t y
to s e e a n y th in g a n d e v e r y th in g a s a p o s s ib le r e s o u r c e f o r
m a k in g th e f a ir g o . T h e p o i n t o f th is d ig r e s s io n h a s b e e n to
i d e n t i f y t h i s c o m m o n f la w i n a c a d e m i c w r i t i n g a b o u t p o p u l a r
c u ltu r e , o n e t h a t it s h a r e s w ith m a n y o t h e r s u b u r b a n c o m ­
m e n ta r ie s , a n d s e t it a s id e .

B est o f B oth W orlds

T h e c r e d ib ility T h e O ils e s ta b lis h e d w ith t h e i r a u d ie n c e p r o ­
v id e d th e s p r in g b o a r d f o r G a r r e tt to e s ta b lis h q u ite a n o th e r
k in d of le g itim a c y . G a rre tt e x p re sse s th e p o s s ib ility of
h o m a g e to c a ta to n ia

b e c o m i n g , n o t j u s t a r o c k s ta r , b u t o n t h e b a s i s o f r o c k , a
ta lk in g h e a d . O n e th a t m ig h t g ro w o rg a n ic a lly o u t o f th e
r e la tio n th e v e c to rs o f ro c k e s ta b lis h b e tw e e n th e a r tis t a n d
t h e a u d i e n c e . T h i s is n o t q u i t e t h e s a m e t h i n g a s t h e ‘o r g a n i c
in te lle c tu a l’ p r o p o s e d b y th e Ita lia n ra d ic a l c u ltu ra l th e o r is t
A n to n io G ra m s c i. T h e tr a d itio n a l in te lle c tu a ls , to w hom
G ra m sc i c o n tra s te d th e o rg a n ic in te lle c tu a ls , w e re p r in c i­
p a l l y t h e c l e r g y . 15 T h e o r g a n i c i n t e l l e c t u a l s w e r e f o r G r a m s c i
th e s e lf-e d u c a tin g a n d s e lf-o rg a n is in g e le m e n ts o f th e la b o u r
m o v e m e n t . I t is n o l o n g e r t h e c a s e t h a t G r a m s c i ’s o r g a n i c
in te lle c tu a ls a r e le a d in g fo r c e s f o r s o c ia l c h a n g e r e s is te d b y
tr a d itio n a l in te lle c tu a ls . I n a n y c a se , A u s tra lia a t th e e n d o f
t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y is a d i f f e r e n t p l a c e t o I t a l y a t t h e s t a r t o f it.
B u t G r a m s c i ’s w a y o f t h i n k i n g s t ill w o r k s , i f a t a s o m e w h a t
m o r e a b s t r a c t le v e l. I t is p o s s i b l e t o i d e n t i f y d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f
c u l t u r a l le g itim a c y , w ith d i f f e r e n t k in d s o f b a s e s a n d t e n d e n ­
c ie s to le a n to w a r d o r a g a in s t c r e a tiv e c u l t u r a l f u tu r e s .
I n a n e r a i n w h i c h p u b l i c s f o r m , o f n e c e s s ity , a r o u n d m e d i a
v e c to rs , p e r h a p s th e o r g a n ic in te lle c tu a l c a n o n ly c o m e in to
e x i s t e n c e a s a t a l k i n g h e a d . A t a l k i n g h e a d is a c e l e b r i t y w h o
ta l k s , o n e w h o a p p e a r s o n T V i n c l o s e - u p , o p e n i n g h e r o r h i s
m o u th to say s o m e th in g a b o u t s o m e th in g o t h e r th a n th e ir
o w n c a r e e r o r i m a g e . A n o r g a n i c t a l k i n g h e a d is o n e t h a t
g ro w s a g e n e r a l a b ility a n d le g itim a c y o f s p e a k in g a b o u t
th in g s o u t o f th e p a r tic u la r a b ility a n d le g itim a c y to ta lk
a b o u t th e ir o w n w o rk a n d fa m e .
O r g a n i c t a l k i n g h e a d s a r e le s s l ik e ly t o h a v e a n i n v e s t m e n t
in th e c u r r e n t f ix e d h ie r a r c h ie s o f c u ltu r e , s in c e t h e ir c r e d i­
b i l i t y is l e s s b a s e d i n t h e m t h a n t h a t o f t r a d i t i o n a l c e l e b r i t i e s .
T r a d itio n a l ta lk in g h e a d s , s u c h as th o s e b a s e d o n a c a d e m ic
c re d ib ility , or th e c re d ib ility o f th e e s ta b lis h e d p o litic a l
p a r tie s , h a v e a v e s te d in te r e s t in th e d is tin c tio n s o n w h ic h
th e ir c re d ib ility re s ts . B ut an o rg a n ic ta lk in g head can
e x p r e s s th e p o s s ib ility o f a n e w k in d o f c u ltu r e , o n e n o t
b a s e d o n , a n d lim ite d to , th e f ix e d o r d e r s o f ta s te a n d p r o ­
h ib itio n s o n c u ltu ra l m ix in g a n d m a tc h in g so d e a r to s u b ­
u r b a n lif e .
G a r r e t t is a n i n t e r e s t i n g c a s e h e r e , a s h i s i n i t i a l c e l e b r i t y
w as b a s e d o n th e tr a d itio n a l d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n ro c k a n d
p o p m u s ic . G a r r e tt e v in c e s a q u ite tr a d itio n a l d is ta s te f o r
p o p . A n d y e t b y b u ild in g o n th e b a s e o f r o c k ta s te , G a r r e tt
 best of both w orlds

c r e a te d th e p o s s ib ility o f a p p e a r in g a s a n o r g a n ic ta lk in g
h e a d , p a rla y in g th e tra d itio n a l a u th o rity o f ro c k in to an
o r g a n ic c r e d ib ility in p o litic s . D a v id R o w e p u ts t h e u p s id e o f
G a r r e t t ’s a s p i r a t i o n s i n t h e 8 0 s v e r y n i c e l y : “R o c k a n d o v e r t
p o litic s c o llid e o n ly in te r m itte n tly , a t p a r tic u la r m o m e n ts
w hen b ro a d s o c ia l m o v e m e n ts m eet p e rfo rm e rs w ith
B r e c h tia n a s p ir a tio n s . G a r r e t t h o p e s to u s e h is o v e r-1 8 fa n s
as a b lo c k v o te a n d to lin k th e m to th e h e te r o g e n e o u s c lu tc h
o f o r g a n i s a t i o n s w h i c h is a n t i - n u c l e a r . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , h e is
p l a y i n g P i e d P i p e r t o t h e n a t i o n ’s c u r r e n t a n d e m e r g e n t
y o u th f u l c o n s titu e n c y . G a r r e tt is ... a s p e c tr a l r e p u d ia tio n o f
H a w k e ’s c o n s e n s u s , a m e t o n y m f o r t h e e x c l u d e d a n d t h e d i s ­
s i d e n t . I t is e n c o u r a g i n g t o f e e l t h a t . .. r o c k c a n s til l p r o v o k e
d r e a m s o f a n e w s y n t h e s i s i n t h e s l u m b e r o f f i s c a l a u s t e r i t y . ”16
G a r r e t t u s e d h is p o s iti o n in a p a r t i c u l a r s e t o f s o c ia l r e la ­
tio n s w h ic h a r e to d o w ith th e b u s in e s s o f m a n u f a c tu r in g
m u s i c , i n o r d e r t o g iv e v o i c e t o h i s c o n s t i t u e n c y . G a r r e t t s a w
th e c o n s titu e n c y w ith a n d f o r w h o m h e s p o k e a s b e in g m o r e
o r le s s t h e s a m e a s t h e a u d i e n c e f o r w h o m h e m a d e m u s ic as
p a rt o f th e c o lle c tiv e e n tity t h a t is M i d n i g h t O i l . W h i l e
G a r r e t t t o o k c a r e t o d i s t i n g u i s h t h e s e r o l e s i n p u b l i c lif e , t h e
c re d ib ility o f b o th w e re f o u n d e d upon th e sam e so rt o f
r a p p o r t . A f te r lis tin g s o m e o f t h e is s u e s t h a t c o n c e r n e d h i m
upon b e c o m in g C h a ir of th e A u s tra lia n C o n s e rv a tio n
F o u n d a t i o n , G a r r e t t a d d s : “I w a n t t o c o m m u n i c a t e th e s e
th in g s to y o u n g p e o p le , w h o I h a v e h a d a r e la tio n s h ip w ith
o v e r t h e y e a r s w i t h M i d n i g h t O i l . ” 17
The d iffic u lty w ith th is p ro p o s itio n is th a t b ecause
G a r r e t t ’s b a s e i n m u s i c d e p e n d s o n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l d i s t i n c ­
tio n b e tw e e n r o c k a n d p o p , h is a b ility to a r tic u la te th e i n t e r ­
e s ts of th e w h o le of y o u th c u ltu re is lim ite d . An
e n v i r o n m e n t a l m e s s a g e f r o m K y lie M i n o g u e , a n d o n e f r o m
P e t e r G a r r e t t , is n e c e s s a r i l y a d d r e s s e d t o q u i t e d i f f e r e n t a u d i ­
e n c e s . J u s t a s t h e K y lie M i n o g u e / N i c k C a v e d u e t e x p r e s s e d a
c o m b i n a t i o n o f d i s t i n c t c u l t u r a l c a t e g o r i e s , s o t o o a K y lie
M in o g u e /P e te r G a rre tt jo in t s ta te m e n t o n th e e n v iro n m e n t
m ig h t e x p re s s a c o m b in a tio n o f d is tin c t c u ltu r a l c a te g o rie s
f o r a p o litic a l e n d .
A s i n d e p e n d e n t o u ts id e r s w ith t h e i r o w n b a s e o f s u p p o r t,
b o th G a r r e tt a n d th e O ils c o u ld d e a l w ith th e b u s in e s s e n d
a n d th e p re s s w ith o u t b e in g c a p tiv e o r c a p tiv a te d b y e ith e r .
h o m a g e to c a t a to n ia

T h is re la tiv e a u to n o m y , b e s id e s b e s to w in g a n a u r a o f c r e d i­
b ility , h a d c e r t a i n o t h e r a d v a n t a g e s . I t g a v e G a r r e t t a c c e s s t o
th e p re s s a n d m a d e h im a re la tiv e ly r e c o g n is a b le ta lk in g
h e a d . T h e O ils s p e n t s o m e t e n y e a rs b u i l d i n g u p a n a m e a n d
a r e p u t a t i o n , s o t h e y d i d n ’t t o t a l l y n e e d e i t h e r C B S o r t h e
m e d i a t o p u t t h e m i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n . G a r r e t t w a s q u i t e w e ll
know n w ith o u t a ll th a t, w h ic h n o t o n ly g a v e h im som e
l e v e r a g e v is a v is t h e p u b l i c i t y m a c h i n e r y o f t h e m u s i c b u s i ­
n e s s , it a ls o g a v e h im a tin y b i t o f le v e r a g e w ith th e n o n - m u s ic
m e d ia . E d ito rs w a n te d G a r r e tt b e c a u s e h e w as a lre a d y k n o w n
a n d h e n c e g o o d copy.
I n t h e ir h e y d a y , M id n ig h t O il a n d t h e ir m a n a g e m e n t tr ie d
to u s e th is to e x t r a c t s o m e d e g r e e o f c o n t r o l o v e r t h e i r im a g e
and m essage. T hey g ra n te d in te rv ie w s s e le c tiv e ly , and
r e t a i n e d t h e p o w e r o f v e to o v e r p h o t o s e s s io n s . T h e O ffic e ,
th e m an ag em en t agency th a t ra n M i d n i g h t O i l ’s a f f a i r s ,
a p p lie d th e le s s o n s le a r n e d in th e m u s ic m e d ia to th e m e d ia
i n g e n e r a l . T h e r e is c e r t a i n l y a l o t t o b e l e a r n e d f r o m t h e i r
e x a m p l e a b o u t m e s s a g e s t h a t “s u f f e r a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n ” ( a s
B r e e n p u t s it) in t h e m e d i a p r o c e s s .
G a r r e t t a c q u i r e d tw o o f t h e t h i n g s p o l i t i c a l f i g u r e s a s p i r e
to — a p u b lic c o n s titu e n c y a n d m e d ia a c c e ss — w ith o u t a
p o litic a l p a rty . H is a tte m p t to b e p a r t o f o n e , th e N u c le a r
D i s a r m a m e n t P a r ty , w a s n o t i n t h e e n d a s u c c e s s . G a r r e t t ’s
s p lit w ith th e NDP is a c o m p l i c a t e d a f f a i r . 18 P a r t o f t h e
p r o b l e m m a y h a v e b e e n t h a t G a r r e t t ’s m e t h o d s o f w o r k w e r e
s o m u c h a t v a r ia n c e w ith th o s e o f a p o litic a l p a rty . G a r r e t t
w o rk e d o u t o f a tr a d itio n a l r e la tio n to r o c k m u s ic c u ltu r e ,
a n d t r a n s f o r m e d t h i s i n t o a n o r g a n i c r e l a t i o n t o p o l i t i c s v ia
th e e le c tro n ic m e d ia . H e tr a n s fo rm e d h im s e lf fro m a c u l­
t u r a l c e l e b r i t y i n t o a p o l i t i c a l t a l k i n g h e a d . P e r h a p s h i s s ty le
d i d n o t t r a n s l a t e v e r y w e ll i n t o t h e r o r t i n g a n d w r a n g l i n g o f
a q u ite d if f e r e n t k in d o f tra d itio n a l o rg a n is a tio n — th e p o lit­
ic a l m a c h in e . C e le b r ity w a s b o t h th e s t r e n g t h a n d w e a k n e s s
o f G a r r e t t ’s p e r s o n a l , p o p u l i s t s ty le .

Take The H a rd est L in e

G a r r e t t w a s id e a lly p la c e d to a c t a s a p o p u lis t f ig u r e : n o t
to ta lly d e p e n d a n t o n t h e c u l t u r e in d u s tr y , n o t a n s w e r a b le to
a p o litic a l m a c h in e e ith e r. F o r a r o c k p o p u lis t, th e b e s t o f
 t a k e t h e h a r d e s t line

b o th w o r l d s is t o w o r k w i t h b o t h but be i d e n t i f i e d w ith
n e ith e r . G a r r e t t u s e s th is d o u b l e p o s itio n to a d v a n c e a v is io n
o f a s t r i p e w h i c h is u n i q u e l y h i s o w n . I t c o m b i n e s a p p e a l s t o
‘A u s t r a l i a n n e s s ’ w i t h e l e m e n t s f r o m t h e a g e n d a s o f t h e s o c i a l
m o v e m e n t s o f t h e 6 0 s . P o p u l i s t p o l i t i c a l t a l k i n g h e a d s , li k e
p o p u la r c e le b ritie s , e m b o d y q u ite p a r tic u la r e x p re s s io n s o f
p o s s ib il ity , d r a w n f r o m q u i t e p a r t i c u l a r s o c ia l a n d c u l t u r a l
e x p e rie n c e s .
B o r n in 1 9 5 3 , G a r r e t t g r e w u p in M e n z ie s e r a s u b u r b a n TV -
l a n d , w h e r e “B o b D y e r g l u e d u s t o o u r s e a t s . ”19 A s h e r e c a l l s ,
“W e d a n c e d i n s u r f c l u b s a n d a t t h e l o c a l h a l l , w e n t t o t h e s it-
in s , c h e c k e d o u t t h e n e w film s , w a tc h e d th e s t r e e t t h e a t r e
a n d ta lk e d p o litic s a n d d r u g s .” H is s e n s e o f p o s s ib ility c o m e s
f r o m “t h e a m b i t i o n s o f t h e W h i t l a m e r a — s o c i a l a n d p o l i t ­
i c a l r e f o r m , a m o r e i n d e p e n d e n t f o r e i g n p o lic y , e n c o u r a g e ­
m e n t o f th e a r ts , p r o v is io n o f b a s ic e q u ita b le tr e a t m e n t f o r
g r o u p s t h a t w e r e le s s w e l l - o f f i n s o c i e t y . . . ”.
“G o u g h w a s t o u g h ti l h e h i t t h e r o u g h . ”20 G a r r e t t is o n e o f
t h o s e w h o m a i n t a i n e d t h e r a g e w h e n , a s h e p u t s it , ‘T h e
b r a v e n e w r e p u b l i c h a d f o u n d e r e d . ” M i d n i g h t O i l ’s s t r i d e n t
a n ti- A m e r ic a n r h e t o r i c w a s c o n g r u e n t w ith t h e p o p u l a r b e lie f
t h a t t h e r e w a s C I A i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h e f a ll o f t h e W h i t l a m g o v ­
e r n m e n t. W h ile th e e v id e n c e , a s g a th e r e d b y ra d ic a l j o u r ­
n a lis t J o h n P ilg e r f o r a T V d o c u m e n ta r y o n th e s u b je c t,
a p p e a r s p u r e ly c ir c u m s ta n tia l, M id n ig h t O il ta p p e d th e p o p ­
u lis t c u r r e n t t h a t b e lie v e d in th e p o s s ib ilitie s W h itla m s ig ­
n a lle d if o n ly p a rtly d e liv e re d . A n d th e y b e lie v e d f o r m e r C IA
o f f i c e r V i c t o r M a r c h e t t i w h e n h e r e m a r k e d t h a t ‘T h e C I A ’s
a i m w a s t o g e t r i d o f a g o v e r n m e n t t h e y d i d n o t l i k e . ”21
G a r r e t t a r t i c u l a t e d a s e n s e o f a f r a g ile n a t i o n a l s o v e re ig n ty .
T h e tw i n t i d a l w a v e s o f H o l l y w o o d a n d M a d i s o n A v e n u e v ia
th e - w o r ld - a c c o r d in g - to - th e - P e n ta g o n h a v e le f t A u s tr a lia g ib ­
b e rin g a n d u n c e rta in — a n in e ffe c tiv e p a r tic ip a n t in th e
g r e a t d r a m a t h a t is t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e p e o p l e o f t h e w o r l d t o
s e e p e a c e a n d e q u i t y b e c o m e a r e a l i t y i n t h e i r li v e s .” H e l i n k s
v u ln e r a b ility to o u ts id e in f lu e n c e to a la c k o f m a tu rity . T h e
U S b a s e s in A u s tra lia — P in e G a p , N u r r u n g a r a n d N o rth
W est C a p e — a re th r e e o f th e b ig g e s t p im p le s o n th e fa c e o f
a d o le s c e n t A u s tr a lia .” V u ln e r a b ility in te r m s o f p o litic a l sov­
e r e ig n ty re s u lts in p a r t f r o m a la c k o f c u ltu r a l s e lf d e te r m i­
n a t i o n . “B y e m b r a c i n g A m e r i c a w i t h o u t q u e s t i o n w e l e f t a
h o m a g e to c a ta to n ia

gap in our ow n c u ltu ra l d e v e lo p m e n t.... W ith o u t an

A u s tra lia n v is io n to c o m p e n s a te fo r th e fa ilu re of th e
A m e ric a n d r e a m to re a lis e its e lf w e h a v e d e v e lo p e d a c u ltu r e
c e n tr e d o n r e tr o s p e c tio n a n d c lic h e .”
The re so u rc e s fo r d e v e lo p in g a m a tu re and s o v e re ig n
n a t i o n a r e p a r tly c u ltu r a l, a n d f o r G a r r e t t a r e a s s o c ia te d w ith
t h e v e r n a c u l a r f i g u r e s o f r a d i c a l n a t i o n a l i s m , l i k e “t h e e x p e ­
r ie n c e o f th e b u s h , c h a r a c te r is e d by a s tr e a k o f re c k le s s in d e ­
p e n d e n c e c o u p l e d w i t h s u p p o r t f o r y o u r f e ll o w m a t e a s its
p o s itiv e q u a litie s .” A c c o r d in g to G a rre tt, th e s e m a s c u lin e
v irtu e s o f th e A u s tr a lia n le g e n d n e e d r e c o v e r in g a n d d e v e l­
o p in g , a s th e y s ta n d in o p p o s itio n to th e tr a d itio n s o f c o lo n ia l
a u t h o r i t y , b e i t B r i t i s h o r n o w A m e r i c a n . “N o w a d a y s t h e f o r m
g u id e , in s ta n t lo tte rie s a n d b u c k s n ig h ts h a v e b e c o m e a c o r ra l
f o r th o s e s tu c k b e tw e e n th e p e r f e c t w o rld o f th e a d v e rtis e rs
a n d t h e s tr ic tu r e s o f fa m ily a n d s ta te .” I n t h a t c o r r a l a r e t h e
e n e r g ie s o f r e fu s a l t h a t G a r r e tt a n d M id n ig h t O il a r tic u la te .
A s a w a y t o m a i n t a i n t h e r a g e , G a r r e t t ’s p o p u l i s m b r o a d ­
e n e d o v e r t h e y e a r s f r o m it s r e w r i t i n g o f r a d i c a l n a t i o n a l i s t
im a g e r y . B y 1 9 9 0 a m o r e e c u m e n i c a l G a r r e t t w a s t a l k i n g o n
b e h a l f o f t h e A C F o f “a n a b i d i n g c o n c e r n f o r t h e g o o d o f t h e
e a r t h ”, i n t h e n a m e o f “w e ‘g r e e n i e s ’, t h e c o u n s e l l o r s o f
c a u t i o n . ”22 T h e p a t h f r o m a r t i c u l a t i n g t h e n e e d s a n d i n t e r ­
e s ts o f t h e n a tio n to a r tic u la tin g th o s e o f th e la n d its e lf
p a s s e d t h r o u g h M i d n i g h t O i l ’s s e r i o u s e n g a g e m e n t w i t h t h e
is s u e o f A b o rig in a l s o v e re ig n ty w hen th e y to u re d th e
o u t b a c k , r e s u l t i n g in t h e r e m a r k a b l e D iese l a n d D u s t a l b u m o f
1 9 8 7 . A s G a r r e t t e d i t o r i a l i s e d t h a t y e a r , “F a c e d w i t h t h e p o s ­
s ib i l i t y o f e x t i n c t i o n a n d a r m e d o n l y w i t h a d e s i r e t o s e e
ju s tic e d o n e b y b e in g a b le to r e t u r n to th e la n d s w h e re th e ir
f o r e f a t h e r s h a d l iv e d f o r c e n t u r i e s , A b o r i g i n e s e m b a r k e d o n
a c a m p a i g n f o r g e n u i n e h o m e o w n e r s h i p . I t ’s c a l l e d l a n d
rig h ts .”
A s i f t o o f f s e t c h a r g e s o f a n e x c e s s iv e l y m a s c u l i n e i n t e r p r e ­
ta tio n o f c u ltu re , in te re s t a n d h is to ry , G a r r e tt a ls o w r o te
a b o u t th e te c h n o lo g y o f in v itr o f e r tilis a tio n , and asked:
‘W h o c o n t r o l s t h e s e r e p r o d u c t i o n t e c h n o l o g i e s a n d t o w h a t
e n d s ? ” W h i l e t h e r e is u n d o u b t e d l y a p e r v a s i v e i f n o n - d e n o m -
i n a t i o n a l s p i r i t u a l i s m i n m a n y o f G a r r e t t ’s s t a t e m e n t s , t h i s
u s u a lly ta k e s th e f o r m o f a c ritiq u e o f th e p re s u m p tio n o f
g o d -lik e p o w e rs o v e r n a tu re on th e p a r t o f c a p ita l a n d
 t a k e t h e h a r d e s t line

w e s t e r n c u l t u r e . G a r r e t t ’s m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n t o
A u s t r a l i a n p o l i t i c a l c u l t u r e is i n d e m o n s t r a t i n g w a y s i n w h i c h
o ld e r v a lu e s c a n b e a lig n e d w ith m o r e r e c e n t a n d s e e m in g ly
d if f e r e n t o n e s , a n d m a y b e m a d e m o r e p a la ta b le to y o u n g e r
g e n e r a tio n s w h o m a y n o t e v e n b e a w a re o f A u s tra lia n ra d ic a l
tr a d itio n s .
A n d i t w o r k s . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e j o u r n a l i s t P a u l K e lly , w h e n
G r a h a m R i c h a r d s o n b e c a m e L a b o r ’s e n v i r o n m e n t m i n i s t e r
in 1 9 8 7 , h e s o u g h t o u t th r e e G r e e n le a d e rs : T a s m a n ia n B o b
B ro w n , P h ilip T o y n e ( th e n A C F d ir e c to r ) a n d P e te r G a rre tt.
R ic h a rd s o n w a n te d to c a m p a ig n th r o u g h th e m e d ia to r e a c h
th e g ra ss ro o ts o f th e e n v ir o n m e n t p u s h , b y s e e k in g c o o p e r ­
a tio n w ith G r e e n le a d e r s th e p u b lic r e s p e c te d a n d b y p u b li­
c is in g p ro -e n v iro n m e n t p o s itio n s on m a jo r e n v iro n m e n t
i s s u e s . R i c h a r d s o n : “W e h a d t o w i n b y g e t t i n g b a c k t h o s e
p r e f e r e n c e s . 1 k e p t t e l l i n g H a w k e t h i s , b u t I d i d n ’t h a v e t o
p e r s u a d e B o b . H e k n e w t h a t a l r e a d y . T h a t ’s w h y h e m a d e
s u c h a c c e s s a v a ila b le to B ro w n , T o y n e a n d G a r r e t t .”
G a r r e t t b e c a m e A C F c h a i r m a n i n 1 9 8 9 , o n T o y n e ’s i n i t i a ­
tiv e . I n t h a t c a p a c i t y h e c a m p a i g n e d h a r d o n t h e i s s u e o f t h e
in c o r p o r a tio n o f th e C o r o n a tio n H ill a r e a in to th e K a k a d u
n a t i o n a l p a r k . W r i t e s K e lly : “a f o r t n i g h t b e f o r e t h e d e c i s i o n
H a w k e h a d a th r e e h o u r m e e tin g w ith T o y n e a n d G a r r e tt.
H e n e v e r h a d a s i m i l a r c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h B H P . ”23 O n K a k a d u ,
th e A C F p r e v a ile d o n R ic h a r d s o n , R ic h o o n th e p a r lia m e n ­
ta r y L a b o r p a rty , a n d t h e p a rty , in t h e e n d , o n t h e e le c t o r a t e ,
w in n in g th e s u b s e q u e n t F e d e ra l e le c tio n o n G re e n p re f e r ­
e n c e s . G a r r e tt r e tir e d as A C F p r e s id e n t in 1993, b u t w as
m a d e A C F p a tr o n in 1 99 5 .
M id n ig h t O il e m e r g e d w ith a s tr o n g ly tr a d itio n a l a d h e r ­
ence to th e d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n ro c k a n d p o p , b u t th e y
a p p r o a c h e d t h e r o c k b u s i n e s s i n a n o r g a n i c w ay , d e v e l o p i n g
n e w p o s s i b i l i t i e s o u t o f it . G a r r e t t l e v e r a g e d t h e c e l e b r i t y h e
a tta in e d a s M id n ig h t O il f r o n tm a n to b e c o m e a n o r g a n ic
t a l k i n g h e a d o n a r a n g e o f p o l i t i c a l is s u e s . H e c u t a c r o s s t r a ­
d itio n a l o rg a n is a tio n a l fo rm s a n d h ie r a r c h ie s in th e p ro c e s s.
T h e v a lu e s f o r w h ic h G a r r e tt s to o d d r e w u p o n a c e r ta in k in d
o f su b u rb a n id e a l, a d o m e s tic a tio n o f ra d ic a l n a tio n a lis t
im a g e s . H e m ix e d th e s e w ith m o r e r e c e n t s u b u r b a n con­
c e r n s w ith o b s e r v in g p r o p e r d is tin c tio n s , p a r tic u la r ly th e d is ­
tin c tio n b e tw e e n n a tu r e a n d th e e c o n o m y .
h o m a g e to c a ta to n ia

T h e p a r a d o x o f p o p u l i s m is t h a t i t r e q u i r e s a n u r b a n e d i s ­
r e g a r d f o r t h e t r a d i t i o n a l d i s t i n c t i o n s i n p o l i t i c a l lif e , b u t i t
u s e s u r b a n ity in o r d e r to p r o p o s e to s u b u r b a n c u ltu r e a n
im a g e o f its e lf t h a t it c a n e n jo y in a n o r g a n ic r e la t io n w ith
th e p o p u lis t c e le b rity , o n e t h a t b y p a s s e s th e tr a d itio n a l p o lit­
ic a l a p p a r a t u s . M id n ig h t O il l e a r n e d h o w to b y p a s s p a r t o f
th e m u s ic in d u s tr y e s ta b lis h m e n t a n d b u ild a n o r g a n ic r e la ­
tio n s h ip w ith th e ir fa n s , b u t o n e b a s e d o n tr a d itio n a l n o tio n s
o f r o c k ’s d i s t i n c t n e s s f r o m p o p . S o t o o P e t e r G a r r e t t l e a r n e d
h o w to b y p a ss p a r t o f th e p o litic a l a p p a r a tu s in o r d e r to b u ild
a n o r g a n i c r e la tio n s h i p w ith h is c o n s titu e n c y , b u t o n e b a s e d
o n tr a d itio n a l n o tio n s o f s u b u r b a n v a lu e .

The H at

W h e n I s u g g e s te d G a r r e tt w o re m a n y h a ts , th a t w as a fig u re
o f s p e e c h . T h e r e is o n e h a t t h a t G a r r e t t d i d a c t u a l l y w e a r ,
a n d it s u ite d h im o n a s u r p r is in g ly w id e r a n g e o f o c c a s io n s
w h e n h e c h o s e to c o v e r th a t b a ld h e a d . T h e b a ld h e a d w as
a n in s p ir e d im a g e . T o g e th e r w ith h is c a ta to n ic d a n c in g a n d
o p e n , o u t s t r e t c h e d h a n d , t h e b a l d h e a d w a s a lw a y s a n i n t e ­
g ra l p a r t o f h is s ta g e p r e s e n c e . O f f s ta g e it c a m e to m e a n
m o r e . T o r e tu r n , w h e re w e b e g a n , to m a tte r s o f s a rto ria l
d e t a i l : i f h a i r s ty le s s i g n i f i e d a n y t h i n g i n t h e 8 0 s , i t w a s a g e
i ts e lf . A h a i r c u t , p a r t i c u l a r l y a ‘p u b l i c ’ o n e , is s o m e s o r t o f
c o m p r o m i s e b e t w e e n w h a t b e f i t s o n e ’s a g e , w h a t is f a s h i o n ­
a b l e , a n d h o w o n e w o r e i t i n o n e ’s y o u t h . G a r r e t t s h a v e d t h e
w h o le p r o b le m c le a n o ff. T h e s h a v e d h e a d b e c a m e a p o p u la r
g a y s ty le i n t h e 8 0 s , b u t f o r o n c e a s t r a i g h t g u y c a m e u p w i t h
th is fa s h io n s ta te m e n t a h e a d o f th e c u rv e .
T h e g le a m in g s k u ll b r i d g e d th e g a p b e tw e e n t h e o ld le f t
a n d t h e n e w le ft; b e tw e e n s u r f c u l t u r e a n d p o s t p u n k m a r ­
g i n a l i s m ; b e t w e e n s u b u r b a n a n d u r b a n s e n s ib i lit y . C e r t a i n l y ,
a ll o f t h e s o n g w r i t i n g m e m b e r s o f M i d n i g h t O i l ( p r i n c i p a l l y
Jim M o g in ie , R o b H ir s t a n d G a r r e tt) a r e o f a n a g e w h ic h
p u ts th e m s o m e w h e re b e tw e e n th e s tu d e n t ra d ic a lis m o f th e
la te 6 0 s a n d th e p u n k r e b e llio n o f th e la te 70s; b u t th e
e c le c tic m ix o f a ttitu d e , ic o n o g r a p h y , id e o lo g y a n d m u s ic a l
s ty le s w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i s e d t h e b a n d ’s a r t t r i e s t o s p e a k t o lik e -
m in d e d s o u ls f r o m a n y a n d e v e ry p e r io d o f c u ltu r a l f o r m a ­
t i o n . 24 H e n c e t h e b o l d b a l d s h i n e u n d e r t h e f o l l o w - s p o t a t
 the hat 11

c e n t r e s ta g e : a s ig n o f o p e n , h o n e s t, n e u tr a lity , c a ta to n ic a lly
a n im a te d .
G a r r e t t ’s A u s s i e b u s h h a t w a s a n o t h e r k e y i c o n h e r e . W h i l e
h is b a ld p a te g a t h e r e d s ig n if ic a n c e a c c id e n ta lly , h is b u s h h a t
h a d a s l i g h t l y m o r e c a l c u l a t e d a i r a b o u t it. A s f a r a s I ’m a w a r e
i ts f i r s t p u b l i c e x p o s u r e w a s w h e n G a r r e t t l a u n c h e d t h e 1 9 8 4
N D P c a m p a ig n . I t a ls o a p p e a r e d in 1 9 8 6 in th e c o n te x t o f a
p u b lic e v e n t c o n n e c te d w ith th e C o n s titu tio n a l C o m m is s io n :
th e re -e n a c tm e n t o f th e p ro c la m a tio n o f A u s tra lia as a
n a t i o n . 25
T h a t G a r r e tt w as o n to s o m e th in g w h e n h e d o n n e d th a t
h a t m ig h t b e b o r n e o u t by th e s u b s e q u e n t a tte m p ts by o th e rs
t o a p p r o p r i a t e it. I n a d a r i n g d i s p l a y o f i m a g e s c a v e n g i n g ,
Ia n ‘M o l l y ’ M e l d r u m to o k to w e a rin g one as host of
C o u n td o w n to c o v e r h is r e c e d in g h a ir lin e . H e m a d e a b ig
s h o w o f s y m b o lic a lly g iv in g B o b H a w k e o n e w h e n t h e l a t t e r
a p p e a re d one n ig h t in th e g u e s t c o m p e r e ’s s e a t . Thus
G a r r e tt, th e w e a re r o f m a n y h a ts , h a s p u t o n e p a r tic u la r h a t
in c ir c u la tio n w h ic h h a s s in c e b e e n w o r n o n m a n y f o r m e r ly
h a tle s s h e a d s .
A t th e v e ry la s t C o u n td o w n a n n u a l a w a r d s s h o w , M o ll y
r e m o v e d t h e h a t to re v e a l a c le a n s h a v e n p a te , a la G a r r e t t —
n o d o u b t m e a n t as a sh o w s to p p in g jo k e to c o m m e m o r a te
t h e a n t a g o n i s m t h e r e h a s a lw a y s b e e n b e t w e e n M e l d r u m a n d
t h e O ils . T h e j o k e w a s o n M e l d r u m . T h e C o u n t d o w n p u b l i c
s u s p e c te d th a t th e a v u n c u la r M e ld ru m w as g o in g b a ld , a n d
lo s in g h is g r ip o n A u s tr a lia n te e n c o n s c io u s n e s s , b u t p e r h a p s
n o t even G a rre tt h im s e lf k n e w if G a r r e tt w as b a ld . T h e
s p o k e s p e rs o n fo r th e a s p ira tio n s o f y o u th re s e rv e d th e r ig h t
to g ro w o l d b u t n o t g re y , g ra c e fu lly .
T h e b u s h h a t c o n n o t e s t h e 1 8 9 0 s s ty le m a s c u l i n i t y t h a t h i s ­
t o r i c a l R u s s e l l W a r d m a d e f a m o u s a s t h e ‘A u s t r a l i a n l e g e n d ’.
I t ’s t h e h e a d g e a r t h a t c o n n o t e s t h e r u g g e d , s e l f - r e l i a n t i n d i ­
v i d u a l i t y o f t h e f a b l e d b u s h w o r k e r . 26 G a r r e t t r e c l a i m e d i t f o r
s u b u r b ia , b u t a s u b u r b ia lo o k in g in w a rd s , to w a rd s a r e f o r ­
m u l a t i o n o f it s r e l a t i o n t o t h e b u s h . G a r r e t t s t r u c k a p o s e a s
a n e w k in d o f p io n e e r , r e im a g in in g b u s h in te r m s o f a n e n v i­
r o n m e n t t h a t c a lls f o r a d u ty o f c a r e , a n d a ls o in te r m s o f th e
u n s e t t l e d is s u e o f A b o r i g i n a l j u s t i c e . T h e s e a r e , a t f i r s t s i g h t ,
s t r a n g e a n d u n l i k e l y t h i n g s t o p u t u n d e r t h a t h a t . G a r r e t t ’s
u r b a n ity c o n s is te d in th is w illin g n e s s to tr y o u t n e w c o m b i­
h o m a g e to c a ta to n ia

n a tio n s o f im a g e s , e v e n if th e im a g e s he w as tr y in g to
c o m b in e a n d c o m p o s e w e re o f a n e w s u b u rb a n s e ttle m e n t, a
n e w s p ir itu a l o r d e r t h a t r e c o n c ile s b la c k w ith w h ite , e n v ir o n ­
m e n t w ith in v a d e r , s o v e r e ig n ty w ith s p iritu a lity .
“W e ’r e l i k e t h e w a ll p e o p l e a r e s p e w i n g u p a g a i n s t , w r i t i n g
g r a f f i t i o n a n d r i d i n g s k a t e b o a r d s a c r o s s . W e ’r e t h e c a n v a s
t h e c o u n t r y w r i t e s i t s e l f a c r o s s ”, a s G a r r e t t s a i d i n a n i n t e r ­
v ie w w ith C ra ig M a th ie s o n , p ro m o tin g th e 1998 a lb u m
R e d n e c k W o n d e r l a n d ,27 T h e t i t l e c a m e f r o m a b i t o f g r a f f i t i o n
a w a ll n e a r t h e r e c o r d i n g s t u d i o i n M e l b o u r n e w h e r e t h e
b a n d w e r e r e c o r d i n g . G i v e n t h e c h a n g e i n m o o d t h a t s ig ­
n a l l e d t h e p r e m a t u r e e n d o f t h e 9 0 s a t t h a t t i m e , i t ’s n o t s u r ­
p r i s i n g t h a t t h i s e n d s u p s p r a y e d a c r o s s t h e r e c o r d . “G o t y o u
i n m y s i g h t s , s p o t l i t b y t h e f e n c e . I f y o u ’r e s m a l l y o u ’r e f a i r
gam e, i t ’s j u s t c o m m o n s e n s e . ”28 M i d n i g h t O i l f o u n d a
r e a s o n to e x is t a g a in , d o c u m e n tin g th e re a c tiv e p o p u lis m o f
t h e 9 0 s , t r y i n g t o t u r n t h e s a m e e n e r g i e s o f r e f u s a l i n a le s s
re a c tiv e d ir e c tio n . G a r r e tt e v e n t h o u g h t a b o u t r u n n i n g f o r
th e S e n a te a g a in , o n th e G r e e n tic k e t.
B u t th e w o rld b e c k o n e d , a n d in th e M a th ie s o n in te rv ie w
t e n s i o n s s u r f a c e d : b e t w e e n G a r r e t t ’s p u b l i c p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r
and th e b a n d ’s e x p o r t p o t e n t i a l ; b e t w e e n th e 70s p u n k
a c t iv is m o f t h e b a n d ’s p a s t a n d t h e e l e c t r o n i c d e c o r a t i o n
a d d e d t o t h e s o u n d b y a h i p y o u n g p r o d u c e r , a t t e m p t i n g to
r e p a c k a g e th e O ils f o r th e m o m e n t. G a r r e tt o n R eco very, th e
9 0 s r e v a m p o f t h e C o u n td o w n T V m u s ic f o r m u la , lo o k e d a
little o u t o f p la c e , tr y in g to g e t a te e n a g e a u d ie n c e to g e t u p
a n d d a n c e . T h e y s e e m e d a b it m y s tifie d by th e s in c e rity o f
t h i s r o c k m u s i c a l p a r e n t . G a r r e t t , a s a lw a y s , s e e m e d n o t a t a ll
p u t o u t b y th e c la s h o f c o n te x t. W h ile firm ly in th e s u b u r b a n
r o c k a e s th e tic , in e v e ry o t h e r r e s p e c t, c u ttin g a c ro s s d if f e r ­
e n c e s a n d c o m b i n i n g e n e r g i e s is w h a t M i d n i g h t O i l w e r e
a lw a y s a ll a b o u t .
culture
 12

c h a p t e r ^

Subdivision cultures
Taste classifies, and it classifies the classifier.
Pierre Bourdieu

Communication by means o f art is an amusing m isun­

derstanding.
Witold Gombrowitz

P a u l K elly, S o n g w riter
“I ’m a f r a i d f o r m y c o u n t r y ” i n t o n e s t h e t a l l g a u n t m a n , a n d
2 0 0 0 p e o p l e f a ll s i l e n t a n d t u n e i n t o h i m , a s i f h e k n e w t h e i r
w a v e l e n g t h . M e l b o u r n e b a s e d s i n g e r - s o n g w r i t e r P a u l K e lly
h a s j u s t c o m m e n c e d h i s s e t a t S y d n e y ’s S t a t e t h e a t r e . I n h i s
u n a s s u m i n g w ay , t h i s m a n s p o k e to m u c h th e sa m e so re
p o i n t in th e n a tio n a l p s y c h e a s P a u lin e H a n s o n , b u t in a d if ­
f e r e n t s ty le , a n d t o v e r y d i f f e r e n t r e s u l t .
O n th is n ig h t a t th e S ta te T h e a tr e in 1 9 9 6 , I s e n s e d w h y
c u l t u r e c a n m a t t e r m o r e t h a n p o l i t i c s . P o l i t i c s is a p a r a s i t e o n
c u ltu r e . I t ta k e s th e f e e lin g o f th e m a jo r ity a n d tu r n s it in to
p o w e r. A p o p u la r a r tis t w o rk s w ith in c u ltu r e , c r e a tin g o t h e r
w a y s t h a t f e e l i n g s m i g h t b e p u t t o g e t h e r . H e r e , t o n i g h t , K e lly
ta k e s th e f e e lin g o f f e a r a n d w o r r y t h a t h a u n ts th is a u d ie n c e
a n d s e p a r a te s it f r o m th e f e e lin g o f r e s e n tm e n t. A t th e tim e ,
p o litic a l le a d e r s d id it th e o t h e r w ay a r o u n d .
T h r o u g h K e lly ’s a g e n c y , a p u b l i c m i g h t c o n n e c t w o r r y t o a
q u ite d if f e r e n t fe e lin g . In s e c u rity c a n le a d to a ltru is m a lm o s t
subdivision cultures

a s e a s i ly a s t o a d e s i r e t o c u t o f f t h e d o l e t o t h e y o u n g u n e m ­
p l o y e d , B la c k s , s i n g l e m o t h e r s , r e c e n t m i g r a n t s , w h o e v e r e l s e
is o n t h e h i t li s t o f t h e r e s e n t m e n t m o n g e r s . I t w a s a q u e s t i o n
o f a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h a t f e a r p la y s a l a r g e r p a r t t h a n h o p e , a n d
o f m o v in g fro m f e a r to a s e a rc h f o r m u tu a l re a s s u ra n c e
r a t h e r t h a n m u t u a l p a r a n o i a . B u t t h a t r e q u i r e s a n a r t i s t ’s
t o u c h r a t h e r t h a n a p o l i t i c i a n ’s, a s i n g i n g h e a d r a t h e r t h a n a
n o d d in g o n e .
‘T h i s is t h e l a n d o f t h e l i t t l e k i n g s ”, K e lly s i n g s . 1 I t s u m s u p
a s e n tim e n t t h a t c ro s s e s p a r ty lin e s . I t s p e a k s to th e s tr u c tu r e
o f fe e lin g fro m w h i c h p e o p l e ’s p o l i t i c a l j u d g e m e n t c a m e .
P e o p le w e r e f e d u p w ith p u f f e d u p b lo k e s w h o ta lk e d lo u d ly
a n d c a r r i e d a l i t t l e s tic k . T h a t o p e n e d t h e d o o r f o r H a n s o n ,
b u t i t c o u l d o p e n t h e d o o r f o r o t h e r v o i c e s t o o . I t is t h e r o l e
o f th e a rtis t as c e le b rity to c re a te a lte rn a tiv e p u b lic e x p re s ­
s io n s f o r e v e ry d a y fe e lin g s .
“I ’v e b e e n c a r e l e s s ”, K e lly a d m i t s , a n d “I ’v e d o n e a ll t h e
d u m b t h i n g s . ”2 A n d y e t h e h o l d s o u t h o p e f o r u s a v e r a g e
w h ite b lo k e s — a n d t h e w o m e n w h o lo v e u s . H e d o e s n ’t
n e g le c t to m e n tio n th e f in e r q u a litie s to w h ic h w e a s p ire —
c o u r a g e , g e n e r o s ity , p u r p o s e . H e a ls o e x p r e s s e s o u r w illin g ­
n e s s t o l i s t e n a n d c h a n g e . “W e lo v e y o u ! ” s h o u t a c o u p l e o f
w o m e n i n t h e f r o n t ro w . T h e n I ’m lu c k y ,” r e p l i e s K e lly .
H e r e w a s a n o t h e r s e n s ib ility a b o u t h o w A u s tr a lia n c u ltu r e
c a n w o rk . A m a n te lls a fe w s to rie s , a d m its a fe w lim ita tio n s ,
e x p o s e s a ra w n e r v e b e tw e e n t h e lin e s , in v o k e s a p a s t a n d a
s e n s e o f b e lo n g in g , n a m e s s o m e th in g s a b o u t w h ic h h e c a re s ,
d e f i n e s w h a t m a t t e r s f r o m t h e p a s t a n d s h o u l d n o t b e lo s t.
A n d 2 0 0 0 p e o p le p ic k th e p o in ts a t w h ic h th e ir o w n s tr u c ­
tu re o f fe e lin g m ig h t c o n n e c t.
T h i s is o n e o f t h e t h i n g s a p o p u l a r a r t is f o r , a n d w h y i t
m a tte r s . I t p r o p o s e s a s im p le te m p la te w ith w h ic h a c ro s s
s e c tio n o f p e o p le c a n s h a p e th e ir o w n p a r tic u la r fe a rs, h o p e s
a n d i d e n t i t i e s . T h e c o m p l e x i t y li e s i n w h a t p e o p l e d o w i th
th e te m p la te . D if f e r e n t p e o p le c a n u s e th e s a m e s o n g s to
s h a p e d i f f e r e n t f e e l i n g s , a n d y e t f e e l l i k e t h e y a ll b e l o n g t o
s o m e t h i n g l a r g e r t h a n t h e m s e l v e s . P o p u l a r a r t is t h e h e a r t
a n d s o u l o f a n y v i a b l e c u l t u r e . I t ’s a v i r t u a l r e p u b l i c o u t o f
r e a c h o f little k in g s .
L o o k in g a r o u n d th e S ta te T h e a tr e fo y e r a s th e a u d ie n c e
l e f t t h e s h o w , I n o t i c e d t h a t K e lly ’s p e o p l e w e r e b e t w e e n 2 5
 p a u l kelly, j o u r n a l i s t

a n d 4 5 y e a rs o ld . T h e y d r e s s e d n e a tly , a n d lo o k e d d is p r o ­
p o r tio n a te ly A n g lo -C e ltic . M o s t w e re c o u p le s , a n d th e r e w e re
as m a n y m e n as w o m e n . T h is w as th e p e o p le o f th e w h ite s u b ­
u rb a n h e a r tla n d . T h is w as a g e n e r a tio n t h a t g r e w u p lis ­
te n in g to th e R o c k G o d s as th e y p o u n d e d o u t th e ir 4 / 4
rh y th m . T h is w as th e g e n e r a tio n o f th e g o ld e n a g e o f p u b
r o c k , w h i c h i n t h e l a t e 7 0 s b r o k e o u t o f i ts u r b a n g h e t t o a n d
r e a c h e d o u t in to th e su b u rb s . T h e s e p e o p le m ig h t h a v e o u t­
g r o w n p u b r o c k , b u t n o t P a u l K e lly , o n e o f i t s e n d u r i n g
p ro d u c ts . T h e y m ig h t h a v e tir e d o f th e b a n a lity a n d r e p e ti­
tio n o f th e R o c k G o d s , b u t n o t o f th is R o c k G o d w h o ra is e d
h im s e lf o u t o f th e te d io u s beat and in to th e ra n k s of
c e le b rity .
“F r o m l i t t l e t h i n g s , b i g t h i n g s g r o w ”, a s o n e o f h i s s o n g s
p u t s it. P o l i t i c s g r o w s o u t o f c u l t u r e a n d c u l t u r e a lw a y s g r o w s
fro m th e g r o u n d u p . E v en w h e n c u ltu r e u se s th e m o s t m ass-
p r o d u c e d im a g e s a n d s to rie s , it r e q u ir e s lo c a l, p a r tic u la r ,
c o n t i n g e n t a c ts o f a f f ir m a tio n , little g e s tu r e s m a d e in th e
p o r e s a n d f o l d s o f e v e r y d a y lif e , f o r t h o s e i m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s
to a c q u ir e a n y s ig n ific a n c e . F r o m th e s m a lle s t c o n n e c tio n s o f
p e r s o n a l f e e l i n g c o m e t h e l a r g e s t o f p u b l i c m o o d s . W h i c h is
w hy, w ith h is a b ility to c o n n e c t t h e p e r v a s iv e a n x ie ty o f th e
la te 1 9 9 0 s to h o p e , d ia lo g u e a n d c a r e r a t h e r t h a n to r e s e n t­
m e n t , p r e a c h i n g a n d c r u e l t y , P a u l K e lly m a d e a d i f f e r e n c e .
W h e r e t h e r e is a r t t h e r e is h o p e .

P a u l K elly, J o u r n a l is t

T h e r e w a s a n o t h e r P a u l K e lly b e s i d e s t h e s i n g e r - s o n g w r i t e r ,
w h o a ls o b e c a m e a c e le b r ity in th e 9 0 s. T h e r e w a s th e P a u l
K e lly w h o w a s a r e s p e c t e d j o u r n a l i s t , e d i t o r o f T h e A u s t r a l i a n ,
a n d t h e a u t h o r o f T h e E n d o f C e r t a in t y , a k e y b o o k a b o u t t h e
8 0 s . I n it, t h i s o t h e r P a u l K e lly a r g u e d t h a t p r o t e c t i o n i s t ,
in w a rd -lo o k in g A u s tra lia , w ith its dependence on s ta te
b e n e v o le n c e , w as n o l o n g e r a v ia b le e c o n o m ic b a s is f o r
A u s t r a l i a n p r o s p e r i t y . T h i s P a u l K e lly a d d e d h i s c o n s i d e r a b l e
j o u r n a l i s t i c w e i g h t t o T r e a s u r e r P a u l K e a t i n g ’s e c o n o m i c
re fo rm ag en d a.
K e lly c l a i m e d t h a t t h e A u s t r a l i a n s e t t l e m e n t “w a s f o u n d e d
o n : f a ith in g o v e r n m e n t a u th o r ity ; b e lie f in e g a lita r ia n is m ; a
m e t h o d o f ju d i c i a l d e t e r m i n a t i o n in c e n t r a l is e d w a g e fix a ­
subdivision cultures

tio n ; p r o te c tio n o f its i n d u s t r y a n d it s j o b s ; d e p e n d e n c e

u p o n a g r e a t p o w e r ( f i r s t B r i t a i n , t h e n A m e r i c a ) , f o r its s e c u ­
r i t y a n d it s f i n a n c e ; a n d a b o v e a l l , h o s t i l i t y t o i ts g e o g r a p h i c a l
lo c a tio n , e x h ib ite d in fe a r o f e x te rn a l d o m in a tio n and
i n t e r n a l c o n t a m i n a t i o n f r o m t h e p e o p l e s o f t h e A s ia P a c if ic .
Its b e d r o c k id e o lo g y w a s p r o te c ti o n ; its s o lu tio n , a F o r tr e s s
A u s tra lia , g u a r a n te e d as p a rt o f an im p re g n a b le E m p ire
s p a n n in g th e g lo b e . T h is f ra m e w o rk — in tr o s p e c tiv e , d e f e n ­
s iv e , d e p e n d e n t — is u n d e r g o i n g an irre s is tib le d e m o li­
t i o n . ”3 T h e l u c k y c o u n t r y c o u l d n o t g e t b y , o n t h i s a c c o u n t ,
in th e e m e r g in g g lo b a l e c o n o m ic a n d s tr a te g ic e n v ir o n m e n t.
So changes cam e.
K e lly w a s a w a r e t h a t s t r u c t u r a l e c o n o m i c c h a n g e c a n n o t
ta k e p la c e w ith o u t c u ltu r a l c h a n g e . B u t h e s e e m e d to th in k
c u ltu r a l c h a n g e c o u ld b e e f f e c te d f r o m a b o v e . H e saw th a t
t h e L a b o r P a r t y h a d s t a k e d its c l a i m to le a d e r s h ip u n d e r
H a w k e a n d K e a t i n g o n t h e s t r e n g t h o f it s o w n i n t e r n a l c u l ­
tu ra l re fo rm . “L a b o r , o n c e th e b e d ro c k p a rty o f th e o ld
W h ite A u s tra lia , h a d u n d e r g o n e a m o r e c o m p le te tr a n s f o r ­
m a t i o n o n t h e is s u e s o f r a c e a n d n o n - d i s c r i m i n a t o r y i m m i ­
g r a t i o n t h a n h a d i ts c o n s e r v a t i v e o p p o n e n t s . ”4
W h a t P a u l K e ll y t h e j o u r n a l i s t d i d n o t p e r c e i v e w a s t h a t c u l ­
tu ra l c h a n g e c a n n o t p ro c e e d fro m th e to p d o w n . W h a t P a u l
K e lly t h e s o n g w r i t e r i n t u i t e d w h e n h e s a n g o f t h e l a n d o f t h e
little k in g s , w a s t h a t t h e c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s w e r e n o t a d e q u a t e
f o r c o p in g w ith th e a n x ie ty g e n e r a t e d b y th e s u d d e n a b a n ­
d o n m e n t o f t h e l a s t t e n e t s o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n s e t t l e m e n t . K e lly
th e jo u r n a lis t, w h o g a th e re d in fo rm a tio n fro m th e p o w e rs
t h a t b e , k n e w A u s t r a l i a h a d t o c h a n g e . K e lly t h e s o n g w r i t e r ,
w h o g le a n e d a s e n s e o f th e m o o d a t la rg e , f e lt th a t c h a n g e
w as b e in g r e s is te d w ith in th e c u ltu r e , th a t a p u b lic h a d n o t
re a lly f o r m e d t h a t g r a s p e d th e n e w in f o r m a tio n o n w h ic h
th e d a s h f o r c h a n g e w as m a n d a te d .
In c u ltu ra l m a tte rs , b o th K e lly s h a d s u b u r b a n in s tin c ts .
The d iffe re n c e w as th a t th e s o n g w r i t e r ’s s u b u r b i a w a s a
s o m e w h a t le s s p r e c i o u s b a t c h o f p o s t c o d e s t h a n t h e s e n i o r
j o u r n a l i s t ’s. K e lly t h e s o n g w r i t e r t u n e d i n t o t h e e m o t i o n a l
t o n e o f a c u l t u r e s t r e s s e d b y c h a n g e . K e lly t h e j o u r n a l i s t ’s
p o li c y , w h i l e a t t h e h e l m o f T h e A u s t r a l i a n n e w s p a p e r , t o o k a
c o s m o p o l i t a n v ie w o f t h e n e c e s s i t y o f e c o n o m i c c h a n g e , b u t
s u p p o rte d su b u rb a n c u ltu ra l re s is ta n c e to it a t th e sa m e
 p a u l kelly, j o u r n a l i s t

tim e . T h e A u s tr a lia n s p o n s o r e d r e p e a t e d a tta c k s o n p o litic a l

c o r re c tn e s s , fe m in is m a n d m u ltic u ltu r a lis m , a n d a d d e d th e
c o n s e r v a t i v e e d i t o r o f Q u a d r a n t , R o b e r t M a n n e , t o its r o s t e r
o f c o lu m n is ts . U nder M a n n e ’s e d i t o r s h i p , Q uadrant h a d
b e e n in th e v a n g u a rd o f re s is ta n c e to c u ltu ra l c h a n g e .
T h e A u s tr a lia n c r e a te d s p a c e f o r a p u b lic d e b a te b e tw e e n
w h a t K e lly c a l l e d s e n t i m e n t a l t r a d i t i o n a l i s t s , t a l k i n g h e a d s
s u c h a s R o b e r t M a n n e , w h o w a n te d to r e ta in a s p e c ts o f b o th
th e c u ltu r a l a n d e c o n o m ic s id e o f th e A u s tr a lia n s e ttle m e n t,
and in te rn a tio n a l ra tio n a lis ts , w ho fa v o u re d e c o n o m ic
c h a n g e . B u t its p a g e s w e r e m u c h m o r e c l o s e d t o a d v o c a t e s o f
c u l t u r a l c h a n g e . K e lly n o t e d i n h i s b o o k t h e u n h o l y a l l i a n c e s
th a t fo rm e d o n th e s e n tim e n ta l tr a d itio n a lis t s id e , w h e r e
L a b o r le ftis ts lin e u p w ith t h e i r o l d c o ld w a r n e m e s is , th e
M e lb o u r n e c o n s e rv a tiv e s a r o u n d Q u a d r a n t. B u t n o w h e r e d id
h e a c k n o w le d g e th e p o s s ib ility o f c o m b in in g a n a c c e p ta n c e
o f r e f o r m in g th e e c o n o m y w ith a r a d ic a l p la tf o r m o n c u l­
tu r a l c h a n g e , s o c ia l ju s tic e a n d p lu r a lis m . I n th e a b s e n c e o f
a n a irin g o f s u c h a n a lte rn a tiv e , e c o n o m ic re f o r m had a
n a r r o w b a s e , a n d th e th ir d w ay s u f f e r e d as a re s u lt.
F ro m 1996 o n w a rd s b o th J o h n H o w a rd and P a u lin e
H a n s o n p ic k e d u p o n th e k in d s o f a tta c k o n c u ltu ra l c h a n g e
t h a t K e lly a n d M a n n e h a d s p o n s o r e d . A s t h e y w e r e s t r o n g l y
o p p o s e d to th e ra c is t e le m e n t in th is p o p u lis t a p p r o p r ia tio n ,
t h e s e tw o p r o m i n e n t c u l t u r a l c o n s e r v a t i v e s w e r e t h e n f o r c e d
t o t a c k le f t . H a n s o n ’s c e l e b r i t y a c c e l e r a t e d t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f
g r a s s r o o t s r e a c t i o n f r o m b e lo w . P r i m e M i n i s t e r J o h n H o w a r d
ta c k e d r ig h tw a r d in r e s p o n s e , h is s o ft H a n s o n is m f r o m a b o v e
b e in g h is r e s p o n s e to h a rd H a n s o n is m fro m b e lo w . O n e
l e s s o n t h a t w a s n o t d r a w n w a s t h a t K e lly ’s e c o n o m i c m o d ­
e rn is m c o m b in e d w ith c u ltu r a l c o n s e r v a tis m w as a n in c o ­
h e r e n t d o c t r i n e . I t o f f e r e d n o r e s o u r c e s f o r c o p i n g w ith th e
c o s ts fe lt in e v e ry d a y life of e c o n o m ic re fo rm . It le d
i n e v i t a b l y t o r e a c t i v e r e f u s a l o f t h e “l a n d o f t h e l i t t l e k i n g s ”,
a s n o p ro g re s s iv e w ay f o r w a r d w as p u b lic ly a ir e d . S p o n s o r in g
ta lk a b o u t t h e r e p u b lic , a s T h e A u s tr a lia n d id , w a s n o s u b s ti­
t u t e f o r a s e a r c h i n g d e b a t e o n h o w c u l t u r e is s u p p o s e d t o
c o p e w ith r a p id e c o n o m ic tr a n s f o r m a tio n .
P a u l K e lly t h e j o u r n a l i s t c o r r e c t l y i d e n t i f i e d t h e e l e m e n t s
o f th e A u s tra lia n s e ttle m e n t th a t c o u ld n o t b e s u s ta in e d
u n d e r th e im p a c t o f g lo b a lis a tio n . P a u l K e a tin g th e p o liti­
subdivision cultures

c i a n a t l e a s t r e c o g n i s e d t h e n e e d t o c h a n g e it, e v e n i f h e d i d
n o t q u ite g ra s p th e m e a n s . W h a t c a m e a p a r t in th e 8 0 s w as
th e f o rtre s s s u b u r b ia th e A u s tra lia n s e ttle m e n t s u p p o r te d
w i t h i n it s f o r t r e s s A u s t r a l i a — a s u b u r b a n c u l t u r e t h a t w a s
u n til th e 8 0 s re la tiv e ly u n tr o u b le d , n o t j u s t b y e c o n o m ic
u n c e rta in ty , b u t b y s o m e th in g m o re fu n d a m e n ta l, so m e ­
th in g D o n a ld H o r n e id e n tif ie d a lo n g tim e a g o .
“A u s t r a l i a d o e s n o t h a v e a m i n d ”, H o r n e w r o t e i n t h e L u c k y
C o u n t r y .5 D e s p i t e a p a s s i n g f o n d n e s s o n th e p a r t o f P rim e
M in is te r B o b H a w k e a n d s o m e o f h is M in is te rs f o r ta lk in g
u p , in t h e p la c e o f t h e lu c k y c o u n tr y , t h e n o t i o n o f b e c o m in g
t h e c l e v e r c o u n t r y , t h e i d e a d i d n ’t r e a l l y b e c o m e a p a r t o f
e v e ry d a y c u ltu re . T h e re a so n f o r th is f a ilu r e l ie s i n th e
n a tu r e o f f o r tr e s s A u s tra lia . T h e A u s tr a lia n s e ttle m e n t d id
n o t s h ie ld A u s tra lia n s fr o m e c o n o m ic g lo b a lis a tio n — on
t h a t s c o r e i t d i d n o t d o t o o w e ll. A s t h e p r i c e s A u s t r a l i a
r e c e i v e d f o r it s w h e a t a n d c o a l e x p o r t s d e c l i n e d r e l a t i v e t o
th e p ric e s it p a id to im p o r t T o y o ta c a rs a n d S o n y v id e o
p la y e rs , th e A u s tr a lia n s e ttle m e n t s im p ly f a ile d a s a g u a r ­
a n te e of p ro s p e rity . B ut w hat it c o n tin u e d to p ro te c t
A u s t r a l i a n s f r o m w e r e t h e p e r v a s i v e fl o w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n u p o n
w h ic h e c o n o m ic g lo b a lis a tio n d e p e n d s .
W h i t e A u s t r a l i a k e p t o u t t r o u b l i n g flo w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n
c o m in g fro m c u ltu r a l n e g o t ia t io n w ith m ig r a n ts . I n d u s t r y
p ro te c tio n is m o b v ia te d th e n e e d to tra c k d e ta ile d in f o r m a ­
tio n a b o u t g lo b a l e c o n o m ic o p p o r tu n itie s . W a g e a r b itr a tio n
r e t a r d e d t h e fl o w o f i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t n e g o t i a t i n g a t t h e
w o r k s h o p l e v e l. S t a t e p a t e r n a l i s m e x e m p te d c itiz e n s f r o m
th in k in g a c tiv e ly a s c itiz e n s a n d e x e r c is in g a n d e x t e n d i n g
th e ir lib e rtie s . I m p e r ia l b e n e v o le n c e dam ped i n te r e s t in
in f o r m a tio n a b o u t th e p o s s ib le ro le s a n d n ic h e s f o r a so v e r­
e ig n A u s tr a lia n n a tio n in a c h a n g in g w o rld .
T h e s e in f o r m a tio n d e fic its p r e v a ile d lo n g a f te r th e ir e c o ­
n o m ic im p a c t b e c a m e a p p a r e n t. T h e c u ltu ra l re s id u e o f th e
A u s t r a l i a n s e t t l e m e n t t h a t p e r s i s t s is t h e c u l t u r e o f s u b u r b i a
a n d its i n s t i n c t i v e r e s i s t a n c e t o a n y c h a l l e n g e t o its r e s t r i c t e d
a n d s ta b le d ie ts o f in f o r m a t i o n . W h a t w a s r e s is te d s tr o n g ly in
th e K e a tin g a g e n d a , p e r h a p s e v e n m o r e s tro n g ly th a n e c o ­
n o m ic r e f o r m , w as th e id e a t h a t A u s tr a lia n s w o u ld h a v e to
le a r n to th in k f o r th e m s e lv e s , p r o c e s s i n f o r m a t io n , d e a l w ith
i n t e l l e c t u a l a s w e ll a s m a t e r i a l u n c e r t a i n t y .
 p a u l kelly, jo u r n a l i s t

S u b u r b a n r e s i s t a n c e t o ‘p o s t m o d e r n i s m ’, f o r i n s t a n c e , w a s
about m o re th a n re s is ta n c e to a p a rtic u la r in te lle c tu a l
fa s h io n . I t w as a b o u t re s is ta n c e to a n y c h a lle n g e to th e fa ith
th a t th is is a s ta b le w o rld w ith fix e d c o o rd in a te s and
im m u ta b le tr u th s , a b o u t w h ic h n o m o r e n e e d b e th o u g h t. It
w as s u b u r b i a ’s r e s i s t a n c e to b e c o m in g m o re u rb a n e in
o u d o o k . T h is w as m o s t te llin g in th e p u b lic b u r b lin g s o f fo r­
m e r ly p r o g r e s s iv e ta lk in g h e a d s s u c h a s D a v id W illia m s o n o r
B e a t r i c e F a u s t , w h o t u r n e d t h e i r b a c k s o n t h e i r f o r m e r s e lv e s
a n d a p p e a le d in s te a d to th e id e a l o f fix e d tr u th s , as if th e
m e r e in v o c a tio n o f th e p o s s ib ility o f a n e n d to in te lle c tu a l
u n c e r t a i n t y w e r e t h e s a m e t h i n g a s a c tu a lly a c h ie v in g it.6
W h e n h e b e c a m e P rim e M in is te r in 1 9 9 1 , P a u l K e a tin g
m a d e m a n y m is ta k e s in h is e f f o r ts to p r o m o te e c o n o m ic a n d
c u ltu r a l c h a n g e , b u t th e ta s k w a s n o t h e l p e d b y th e in c o n ti­
n e n t s u p p o r t o f th e ta lk in g h e a d s o f th e 9 0 s. T h o s e w h o s u p ­
p o r t e d h is e c o n o m ic a g e n d a w e r e o f te n a r r o g a n t, p o litic a lly
illite r a te a n d c u ltu r a lly p h ilis tin e . T h o s e w h o s u p p o r te d h is
c u ltu ra l agenda s im p ly re fu se d to u n d e rs ta n d e c o n o m ic
n e c e s s ity a n d f r e q u e n tly p i n e d f o r n o s ta lg ic s o lu tio n s . V e ry
few seem ed to g ra sp th e sim p le fa c t th a t g lo b a lis a tio n
c h a n g e s t h e in fo r m a tio n e n v i r o n m e n t w ith in w h ic h a n a t i o n
h a s t o t h i n k t h r o u g h b o t h it s e c o n o m i c a n d c u l t u r a l lif e a n d
c o m e u p w ith a p p r o p r i a t e p o litic a l a n d s o c ia l s t r u c t u r e s f o r
p r o d u c i n g s t a b i l i t y a n d p r o s p e r i t y . T h e c o m m o n w e a l t h is
m a d e o u t o f w h a t in f o r m a tio n p e o p le c a n g le a n fro m th e
v e c t o r s t h a t t r a v e r s e its b o r d e r s a s m u c h as fro m c a p ita l,
la b o u r a n d m in e ra ls .
C o m p o s in g a n e w m a jo rity a r o u n d th e g o a ls o f e c o n o m ic
and c u ltu ra l change, a m a jo rity th a t a c c e p ts change as
o f f e r in g th e p o te n tia l f o r m o d e s t b u t fe a s ib le s o lu tio n s to th e
a g e -o ld p r o b le m s o f a c h ie v in g th e fa ir g o — ju s tic e a n d
lib e rty , e q u a lity a n d c o m m u n ity — t h a t w a s a m a j o r p r o b l e m
c o n fro n tin g A u s tra lia n p u b lic in s titu tio n s , in c lu d in g th e
L a b o r P a r ty , a t t h e c e n t u r y ’s e n d . I n t h e r e s t o f t h i s c h a p t e r
I w a n t t o e x a m i n e t h e c u l t u r a l s i d e o f it. T h e c u l t u r e o f w h a t
I c a ll s u b u r b ia a p p e a r s a s a n im m u ta b le g iv e n in A u s tr a lia n
lif e , o n e r e s i s t a n t t o n e w i n f o r m a t i o n a n d t o a n y c h a n g e s t o
th e A u s tra lia n s e td e m e n t. B u t p r o g re s s m ig h t b e m a d e p o s ­
s ib le b y r e a d i n g it in te r m s o f its a n x ie tie s , a n d p r o p o s i n g
n e w s o lu tio n s to a ss u a g e th e m .
subdivision cultures

R ead in g the P u b lic

H o w is t h a t w e k n o w w i t h w h o m w e b e l o n g ? T h i s is a q u e s ­
tio n n o t ju s t o f b e lo n g in g to a p a rtic u la r c u ltu re , but
b e lo n g in g to s o m e s e n s e o f w h a t D o n a ld H o r n e c a lle d a
“p u b l i c c u l t u r e ” w h e r e th o s e p a r tic u la r c u ltu re s in te r s e c t
a n d o v e r l a p . 7 I n t e r p r e t e d b r o a d l y , t h e p u b l i c c u l t u r e is w h e r e
a m a jo rity c a n c o m f o r ta b ly n e g o tia te w h o th e y a r e a n d w h o
o t h e r s a r e a n d h o w t o g e t a l o n g . W h a t I w a n t t o d o h e r e is
tr y to c o n s t r u c t a n im a g e o f s u c h a m a jo rity , a n d t h e n m o v e
o n t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f h o w s u c h a m a j o r i t y c o n s t r u c t s it s e l f . I f
t h e r e is t o b e a n o p t i m i s m a b o u t t h e f u t u r e , t h e n i t m i g h t
h e lp to im a g in e a m a jo rity w h o m ig h t c o m e to e m b r a c e a
f u t u r e n o t p r e m is e d o n d e n o u n c i n g m in o r itie s . G iv e n t h a t
“c u l t u r a l a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l e l i t e s ” a r e a m o n g t h e m i n o r i t i e s
t h a t p o p u lis t r e a c tio n d e n o u n c e d , th is m ig h t b e o f m o r e
th a n th e o re tic a l in te re s t.
I ’m g o i n g t o u s e , a s m y s o u r c e f o r t h i n k i n g t h e r e is h o p e ,
a n u n lik e ly d o c u m e n t : t h e S ile n t M a jo r ity I I I r e p o r t r e l e a s e d
in A u g u s t 1 9 9 7 b y C le m e n g e r A d v e rtis in g , w h o p r o m o te d
th e m s e lv e s a s A u s t r a l i a ’s l a r g e s t A u s t r a l i a n - o w n e d a d v e r­
tis in g c o m p a n y .8 S ile n t M a jo r ity I I I w as th e th ird tim e
C le m e n g e r c o m m is s io n e d a su rv e y o f A u s tra lia n o p in io n ,
a n d th e r e w e re in te r e s tin g d iffe re n c e s b e tw e e n th e m .
In 1 9 7 7 , p e o p le w e re m o s t c o n c e r n e d a b o u t th e la c k o f
re p la c e m e n t d u st b ag s fo r v a c u u m c le a n e rs . I n 1997, th e
s u r v e y f o u n d t h a t “i n c o n t r a s t w i t h a d e c a d e o r tw o a g o , t h e
is s u e s o f g r e a t e s t c o n c e r n i n t h e l a t e 9 0 s a r e ‘b i g ’ t o p i c s
e m b ra c in g m o ra l, e th ic a l and e c o n o m ic is s u e s .” T h is , I
t h i n k , is o n e r e a s o n t o h a v e h o p e . F a r f r o m b e i n g a “c u l t u r e
o f f o r g e t t i n g ”, a s R o b e r t M a n n e c l a i m s , t h i s is a c u l t u r e t h a t
r e m e m b e r s a g r e a t d e a l o f w h a t it se e s a n d h e a rs , a n d h a s
le a r n e d to u s e th e m e d ia to th in k a b it c o n c e p tu a lly .9 I n s p ite
o f s u b u r b i a ’s a c c u l t u r a t e d r e s i s t a n c e t o t h i n k i n g i t s e l f p a r t o f
a la r g e r p u b lic c u ltu r e , p e o p le th in k a b o u t th e w o rld th e
m e d i a e x p o s e s n i g h t l y i n t h e li v i n g r o o m .
I f t h e s u r v e y is t o b e b e l i e v e d , t h e n h e a d i n g t h e is s u e s o f
th e d a y in th e la te 9 0 s w a s th e b e tra y a l o f t r u s t b y c o m m u n ity
le a d e r s , p a r tic u la r ly p o litic ia n s . T h e r e w a s c y n ic is m a b o u t
th e m e d ia , p a rtic u la rly new s a n d c u r r e n t a ffa irs . P e o p le
re s e n te d th e w e a lth y g e ttin g g o v e rn m e n t h a n d o u ts , a n d
 reading the public 1 29

m a n a g e r s p a y in g th e m s e lv e s m o r e w h ile g iv in g t h e i r w o r k e r s
th e sack . T h e r e w as a la r m a b o u t th e in te g rity o f th e c rim in a l
j u s t i c e s y s te m . S u r p r i s i n g l y , r a c e a n d i m m i g r a t i o n is s u e s w e r e
o f le s s i m p o r t a n c e . A f te r s e v e r a l g e n e r a t i o n s o f m i g r a t i o n , it
m ig h t b e a m o r e e th n ic a lly c o s m o p o lita n w o rld o u t th e r e
t h a n s o m e t a l k i n g h e a d s c r e d i t . 10
T h e S i l e n t M a jo r it y r e s e a r c h e r s u s e d f o c u s g r o u p s t o g e n e r a t e
a l is t o f is s u e s , a n d t h e n t e s t e d t h o s e i s s u e s a g a i n s t a s a m p l e o f
a t h o u s a n d p e o p le w ith a q u e s tio n n a ir e . T h e m e th o d s u s e d
w e r e h a r d l y p e r f e c t , b u t t h e r e s u l t s a r e s t ill u s e f u l , i f d e c o d e d
w i t h s o m e s e n s itiv ity . I t ’s n o t h a r d t o s e e i n t h e s u r v e y w h a t t h e
p o litic a l p a r tie s saw in th e ir o w n p o llin g b e f o r e th e 1 9 9 6 e le c ­
tio n : a s tr o n g u n d e r c u r r e n t o f r e s e n tm e n t. A c c o r d in g to j o u r ­
n a l i s t P a m e l a W ill ia m s , t h e H o w a r d c a m p c a p i t a l i s e d o n t h i s
k i n d o f r e s e a r c h , w h i l e K e a t i n g i g n o r e d i t . 11 T h e r e s e n t m e n t
th e p u b lic h e a r d a b o u t d u r in g th e e le c tio n w as r e s e n tm e n t o f
d o le b lu d g e r s a n d w e lfa re c h e a ts . T h e r e s e n tm e n t th e p u b lic
d i d n ’t h e a r a b o u t , b e c a u s e L a b o r n e g l e c t e d t o a r t i c u l a t e it,
w as r e s e n tm e n t o f b ig b u s in e s s p a y in g its e lf h u g e b o n u s e s
w h ile d o w n s iz in g t h e w o rk f o rc e .
A d d e d to th is c la s s r e s e n t m e n t w a s a m i s t r u s t o f p r o f e s ­
s io n a l a u th o rity . T e a c h e rs , m e d ia w o rk e rs , p o lic e , ju d g e s ,
d o c to r s , p r ie s ts a n d p o litic ia n s a ll c o p p e d it m o r e t h a n in th e
tw o p r e v io u s r e p o r ts . T h e r e w a s a s tr ik in g ris e in p u b lic s c e p ­
tic is m a b o u t th e m e d i a ’s r o s t e r o f t a l k i n g heads. O ld e r
p e o p le f o r c e d in to r e d u n d a n c y a n d e a rly r e tir e m e n t b y th e
r a tio n a lis a tio n o f in d u s tr y , p a r tic u la r ly o f th e p u b lic s e c to r,
a p p e a r e s p e c ia lly d is tr u s tf u l. S u b u r b ia k n e w e n o u g h to b e
s c e p tic a l o f a u th o rity , b u t th is s c e p tic is m c a n w o rk in d if­
f e r e n t w a y s. I t c a n o p e n n e w w a y s o f i n t e r p r e t i n g i n f o r m a ­
tio n ; it c a n a ls o b lo c k a n y f u r t h e r th o u g h t.
In th e 1 9 88 r e p o r t, th e m a in m e d ia r e la te d c o m p la in t w as
h a v in g to w a tc h th e s a m e T V c o m m e r c ia ls m o r e th a n o n c e
a n h o u r. T h e 1 9 9 7 v e rs io n s h o w e d a m u c h b r o a d e r p o p u la r
c r i t i q u e o f t h e m e d i a . ‘T r i a l b y m e d i a ” a n d e x c e s s i v e c o v ­
e r a g e o f s o m e is s u e s a t t h e e x p e n s e o f o t h e r s h e a d t h e lis t.
C r im e w a s a n is s u e in a ll t h r e e s u rv e y s , b u t t h e n a t u r e o f th e
is s u e s c h a n g e d i n i n t e r e s t i n g w a y s. I n 1 9 9 7 , d r u g s w e r e a le s s
c ite d c o n c e r n . F e a r o f v io le n c e a g a in s t c h ild r e n h a d b e c o m e
w e ird ly s e x u a lis e d , b u t th e t h r e a t w a s s e e n a s o u ts id e th e
h o m e — t e a c h e r s a n d p r i e s t s . D o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e w o r k e d its
subdivision cultures

w ay u p t h e a g e n d a , s u g g e s tin g th a t, f o r a ll t h e ta lk a b o u t a
b a c k la s h , m a n y p e o p le w e re s ta r tin g to s e e s o m e a s p e c ts o f
e v e r y d a y li f e t h r o u g h t h e p e r s p e c t i v e s f e m i n i s m p r o p o s e d .
T h e lin k b e tw e e n th e fa m ily a n d v io le n c e a g a in s t w o m e n
c a m e o u t i n t h e o p e n . T h e l i n k b e t w e e n t h e f a m i l y a n d v io ­
le n c e a g a in s t c h ild r e n d id n o t. T h e r e w as a g e n e r a tio n a l
p o l a r i s a t i o n w e ll i n e v i d e n c e . O l d e r A u s t r a l i a n s w e r e m u c h
m o r e a l a r m e d a t s o c ia l a n d c u ltu r a l c h a n g e s , a t p r iv a tis a tio n
a n d ‘A m e r i c a n i z a t i o n ’.
I f t h e C l e m e n g e r s u r v e y is t o b e c r e d i t e d , t h e f a i r g o w a s t h e
b i g is s u e . A l o t o f p e o p l e w e r e d i s t r u s t f u l o f t h e p r o c e d u r e s b y
w h ic h is s u e s b e c a m e p u b lic in th e m e d ia , a n d b y w h ic h in s ti­
tu tio n s d e a lt w ith th e m . A s E la in e T hom pson fro m th e
U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w S o u t h W a le s c l a im s , t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e f a i r
g o is a lw a y s a v e r y c o n t e s t e d o n e . 12 I t is t a k e n t o b e a d i s t i n c ­
tiv e f e a t u r e o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n s e t t l e m e n t , b u t its m e a n i n g g e t s
r e a d i n w ild ly d i f f e r e n t w a y s. P a u l i n e H a n s o n ’s i d e a o f a f a i r g o
m ig h t b e ra th e r re m o v e d fro m A b o rig in a l a c tiv is t N o e l
P e a r s o n ’s. I n t h e 9 0 s , p u b l i c l y a v a i la b le i d e a s a b o u t f a i r n e s s
w e re p e r h a p s n o t s u b tle a n d s u p p le e n o u g h to e x p re s s th e
c o m p le x e q u a tio n s o f fa irn e s s , b a s e d as th e y s o m e tim e s a r e o n
c r u d e ly b u r e a u c r a tic c o n c e p ts o f m in o r ity a n d d is a d v a n ta g e .
W h a t S ile n t M a jo r ity I I I s u g g e s te d w a s t h a t t h e p o p u l a r i t y in
1 9 9 6 o f H o w a r d a n d H a n s o n a r o s e f r o m g e n u in e g rie v a n c e s ,
a n d o n e s t h a t n e e d n o t e x p r e s s th e m s e lv e s in te r m s o f ra c e .
O p p o s itio n to H a n s o n m i g h t h a v e b e e n m o r e e ffe c tiv e e a r l i e r
o n if it a r tic u la te d th o s e g rie v a n c e s in o t h e r te rm s , r a th e r
t h a n s i m p l y a m p l i f y i n g H a n s o n ’s r a c i s t a r t i c u l a t i o n s . I d o n ’t
k n o w t h a t c o u n t r y p e o p l e , o l d e r p e o p l e , o r s u b u r b a n ‘b a t ­
t l e r s ’ a r e n e c e s s a r i l y m o r e p r e j u d i c e d t h a n a n y o n e e ls e . B u t
th e s e w e re th e g ro u p s w h o w e re le s s l ik e ly t o have th e
r e s o u r c e o f o t h e r w ays o f a r tic u la tin g th e ir s e n s e s o f in ju s tic e .
F o r in s ta n c e , r e s e n tm e n t o f d o le b lu d g e r s w as m o r e s u b tle
t h a n is s o m e t i m e s p o r t r a y e d . T h e p e o p l e s u r v e y e d d i s t i n ­
g u i s h e d b e t w e e n g e n u i n e n e e d a n d t a k i n g a d v a n ta g e . S ile n t
M a jo r ity I I I f o u n d a l o t o f a n g e r a b o u t t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f n e w
m ig ra n ts g o in g s tra ig h t o n to b e n e fits w ith o u t e a r n in g a rig h t
to th e m . O n th e o th e r h a n d , th e r e w as n o t m u c h o p p o s itio n
to fo re ig n a id s p e n d in g . C o n c e rn a b o u t A s ia n s tu d e n ts
ta k in g u n iv e r s ity p la c e s aw ay f r o m A u s tr a lia n s fe ll s in c e th e
1 9 8 8 su rv e y .
 r e a d in g as pu b lic 131

T h e p r o b l e m t h e s e r e s u l t s p o s e is o n e o f w e i g h i n g u p c o n ­
c e p ts o f th e fa ir g o th a t d o n o t h a v e a c o m m o n m e a s u re . In
t h e s o c i a l d e m o c r a t i c c o n s e n s u s o f K e a t i n g ’s g o v e r n m e n t o f
1991 to 1996, it a p p e a re d as if fa irn e s s w as a m a tte r o f
b e lo n g in g to a n id e n tifia b le c a te g o ry to w h ic h it c o u ld b e
a d m in is te r e d . T h e p r o b le m w a s t h a t v e r y fe w p e o p le a c tu a lly
w a n te d to id e n tif y th e m s e lv e s w ith s u c h c a te g o r ie s . S u b u r b ia
s a w i t a s a s i g n o f ‘f a l l i n g b a c k ’ t h a t s o m e o n e g e t s c a u g h t i n
t h e n e t o f s p e c i a l a s s i s t a n c e p r o g r a m s . A s P a u l K e lly ’s s o n g
‘S p e c i a l T r e a t m e n t ’ s u g g e s t s , i t ’s a l o a d e d t e r m . 13 O n t h e
o t h e r h a n d , a p r o g r a m t h a t y o u d o n ’t h a v e t o b e s p e c i a l t o
g e t, lik e M e d ic a r e , e n jo y e d b r o a d p u b lic s u p p o r t.
W h ile th e r e w as m u c h ta lk a b o u t c u ltu r a l d if f e r e n c e in th e
K e a tin g y e a rs, th e c o n c e p t o f c u ltu r e w as n e v e r d if f e r e n ti­
a t e d e n o u g h . G iv e n a c h o ic e b e tw e e n t h i n k i n g o f o n e s e l f a s
p a r t o f o n e o r o t h e r q u ite n a rro w ly d e f in e d m in o rity , o r as
p a r t o f a s ile n t — a n d u n s p e a k a b l e — m a jo rity , m a n y p e o p l e
c h o s e th e la tte r, a n d c h o s e H o w a rd . B u t th e C o a litio n c o u ld
d o v e r y litd e w ith th is u n s p e a k a b le m a jo rity , p a r tic u la r ly a s
m o r e a n d m o r e p e o p le d is c o v e re d th a t in d u s tr ia l r e la tio n s
‘r e f o r m ’ a n d c u t s t o e d u c a t i o n a n d w e l f a r e h u r t t h e m t o o .
P e o p le r e a c te d a g a in s t th e lin k in g o f fa irn e s s to id e n tity —
as if y o u h a d to b e lo n g to a s p e c ia l c a te g o r y to g e t s p e c ia l
h e lp . S o it w as te m p tin g , p a rtic u la rly f o r L a b o r, to a b a n d o n
th e w h o le r h e to r ic o f th e m in o r ity a n d j o i n th e jo s tlin g
c ro w d o f p o litic a l p o p u lis ts a n g lin g f o r s o m e a lle g e d s u b ­
u r b a n b a ttle r m a in s tre a m . A m o re in te re s tin g c h a lle n g e w as
f in d in g n e w w ays o f p r o p o s in g th e fa ir g o th a t c o u ld a r tic u ­
la te d if f e r e n c e s in to a p u b lic to w h ic h p e o p le c o u ld b e lo n g
w ith o u t p u ttin g th e m s e lv e s a n d t h e ir c u ltu r e s in to c a te g o r ie s
and h ie ra rc h ie s . T h is w as a d o u b le c h a lle n g e , b o th to
A u s tr a lia n p o litic a l c u ltu r e a n d to c u ltu r a l p o litic s : to f in d
n e w id e a s a n d im a g e s ; b u t a ls o to g r a s p th e w ay p o litic a l
id e a s a n d im a g e s h a v e to m e s h w ith th e w a y c u ltu r e w o rk s,
a n d w ith th e w ay th e m e d ia c o n n e c ts d if f e r e n t k in d s o f
c u ltu r e to g e th e r.

R e a d in g A s P u blic
‘T h e o n l y s u c c e s s f u l c la s s d i s t i n c t i o n i n A u s t r a l i a n h i s t o r y , ”
c la im e d th e w rite r G e o ffre y D u tto n , w as th a t d ra w n b y u r b a n
subdivision cultures

ta lk in g heads to d is tin g u is h th e m s e lv e s fro m th e s ile n t

m a jo rity o f s u b u r b i a . 14 A d i s t i n c t i o n s u c c e s s fu l, ir o n ic a lly
e n o u g h , b e c a u s e th e p e o p le ta lk in g h e a d s d e s ig n a te d n e g a ­
tiv e ly a s s u b u r b a n c a m e t o e m b r a c e t h e t e r m . T h e y a r e t h e
“s i l e n t m a j o r i t y ” t h a t C l e m e n g e r c o n s t r u c t e d v ia t h e i r s u r v e y .
C ra ig M c G r e g o r ’s book P e o p le , P o litic s and Pop w as a
p o le m ic a d d re sse d to th is d is tin c tio n th a t u rb a n ta lk in g
h e a d s m a d e in th e 6 0 s b e tw e e n th e m s e lv e s a n d s u b u r b a n
n o n g s a n d d ro n g o s . H u d d le d in u r b a n s lu m la n d w as th e
‘r e a l ’ w o r k i n g c la s s , b u m p i n g s h o u l d e r s w i t h t h e ‘r e a l ’ c u l ­
tu r a l e lite , th e b o h e m ia n s a n d w rite rs . M e a n w h ile o u t in th e
s u b u r b s , A l f a n d D a p h m o w e d t h e la w n a n d o n w e e k e n d s
h a d frie n d s o v e r f o r a b a rb ie — ig n o r e d b y b o th th e o ld
w a r h o r s e s o f th e l a b o u r m o v e m e n t a n d th e u r b a n c liq u e s .
M c G r e g o r w a s o n e o f th o s e w h o in th e 6 0 s b r o k e r a n k s
w ith th o s e le f tis t ta lk in g h e a d s s u c h a s A lla n A s h b o lt, I a n
T u rn e r, a n d H u m p h re y M c Q u e e n , w h o c lu tc h e d th e ir G re a t
B o o k s a n d t h e i r G r e a t M u s ic a n d s h u n n e d t h e w h o le id e a o f
s u b u rb ia — even as th e y d rifte d in to i t . 15 M c G r e g o r
a n n o u n c e d to a n y o n e w h o w o u ld lis te n th a t th e g r e a t s u b ­
u r b a n m ass, o u t a m id th e T V ju n g le s a n d ra d io jin g le s , w as
a c t u a l l y q u i t e a liv e ly , i n t e r e s t i n g , v a l i d c u l t u r e . H e s w i t c h e d
s id e s , a n d w e n t i n to b a t f o r a p o p d e m o c r a c y . I t w a s a b ra v e
a n d n e c e s s a r y m o v e f o r t h e t i m e s . A n d h e w a s n ’t t h e o n l y
o n e . I n it s b r i e f e x i s t e n c e f r o m 1 9 7 2 to 1 9 7 5 , th e W h itla m
L a b o r g o v e rn m e n t c o m b in e d tr a d itio n a l L a b o r w ith s u b ­
u r b a n is s u e s a n d a r a d ic a l to n e . R e a s o n a n d p r o g r e s s t o o k a
lo n g m a r c h th r o u g h th e in s titu tio n s . F o r e v e ry th r e e s te p s
f o r w a r d , t h e r e w e r e tw o s te p s b a c k w a r d s , b u t o n t h e w h o le ,
th e in s titu tio n a lis a tio n o f th e fa ir g o m ade in c re m e n ta l
p ro g re ss.
O f c o u rse , th is s u b u rb ia th a t m any A u s tra lia n w rite rs
a b h o rre d a n d th a t M c G re g o r e m b r a c e d , n e v e r e x is te d . I t
w as, a s U n iv e rs ity o f M e lb o u r n e c u ltu ra l h is to ria n C h ris
M c A u liffe d i s c e r n e d , a c o n c e p t f o r m e d f r o m a n o b s e r v a tio n :
fro m th e e x p e rie n c e o f th e s u b u rb c o m e s th e d e s c rip tio n o f
i t a s s u b u r b a n a n d t h e n t h e c o n c e p t o f s u b u r b i a . 16 I t w a s , a s
c u ltu ra l h is to ria n T im R o w se once s a id , a “n e c e s s a r y
f i c t i o n ” .17 R o w s e c r i t i q u e d s u b u r b i a i n t h e n a m e o f a s u p p o s ­
e d l y m o r e t r u e i m a g e o f c la s s c o n f l i c t , o n e m o r e r e c o g n i s ­
a b le to le ft w in g ta lk in g h e a d s o f th e day.
 r e a d in g as pu b lic 133

B u t M c G re g o r re c o g n is e d th a t r a th e r th a n tra n s la te s u b ­
u r b ia in to w h a t u r b a n ta lk in g h e a d s m ig h t re c o g n is e as a n
i m a g e o f s o c ie ty , i t w a s m o r e u s e f u l t o t r a n s l a t e l e f t w i n g
id e a s i n to th e la n g u a g e a n d im a g e o f s u r b u r b ia . T h is w a s
b e c a u s e th is im a g e , n o m a tte r h o w m u c h a f ic tio n it m ig h t
h a v e b e e n , w as s ta r tin g to h a v e a re a l e x is te n c e as a p u b lic
w o r ld in w h ic h p e o p le b e lie v e d a n d c a m e to c a ll t h e i r o w n .
A s M c A u l i f f e sa y s, “i t is d i f f i c u l t t o s e p a r a t e t h e s u b u r b ( a
p h y s ic a l s ite ) f r o m s u b u r b ia ( th e s ta te s o f m in d a s s o c ia te d
w ith liv in g a t t h a t s i t e ) .”
S u b u r b i a b e c a m e w h a t I c a l l a ‘t h i r d n a t u r e ’. T h e r o a d s
a n d b u ild in g s a n d s h o p s a r o u n d u s b e c o m e s e c o n d n a tu r e to
u s a f t e r liv in g in a p la c e f o r a w h ile . T h e y b e c o m e s o m e t h i n g
t a k e n f o r g r a n t e d . L i k e w is e , t h e i m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s t h r o u g h
w h ic h w e u n d e r s ta n d h o w th o s e r o a d s a n d s h o p s a n d h o u s e s
c o n n e c t to a la r g e r p u b lic w o rld b e c o m e a th ir d n a tu r e , a
t a k e n f o r g r a n t e d w o r l d n o le s s r e a l t h a n t h e t a r m a c o f t h e
r o a d a n d t h e r e d b r i c k o f t h e h o u s e s , e v e n t h o u g h i t is m a d e
u p o f w o r d s a n d p ic tu r e s , tr a n s m itte d b y r a d io w av es, o r
th r o w n o v e r th e f e n c e b y a k id o n a b ik e w ith a n e w s p a p e r
ro u n d .
S u b u r b ia p r o v id e d w rite rs a n d r e a d e r s w ith a th ir d n a tu r e
w ith in w h ic h to c o lla b o r a te o n c r e a tin g a n im a g e o f th e
tim e s . I n th e s e c o n d n a t u r e o f o u r b u ilt e n v i r o n m e n t w e
t e n d n o t to n o tic e a n y th in g m u c h u n til it c h a n g e s . T h e s tr e e t
is j u s t t h e s t r e e t u n t i l t h e c o u n c i l s e n d s a g a n g o u t t o c u r b
a n d g u t t e r i t , a n d p e o p l e p a u s e t o w a t c h . L ik e w is e , i n t h e
th ir d n a tu r e o f o u r in f o r m a tio n e n v ir o n m e n t w e te n d n o t to
n o tic e th e s to c k im a g e s a n d s to rie s , b u t r a t h e r w e n o tic e th e
e le m e n ts th e w rite r o r p r o d u c e r p ro p o s e s as s o m e th in g new .
I n t h e m o v i e S u m o f U s, t h e r e is n o t h i n g a t a ll e x c e p t i o n a l i n
t h e a c t o r J a c k T h o m p s o n p la y in g th e p a r t o f a r e g u l a r A u s s ie
b lo k e . H e h a s so e s ta b lis h e d h im s e lf a s a n im a g e o f w h a t a
b l o k e is t h a t i t ’s t a k e n f o r g r a n t e d . T h a t h e h a s a g a y s o n i n
t h e m o v i e is t h e ‘n e w ’ e l e m e n t , b u t i t is o n l y r e c o g n i s a b l e a s
n e w in th e c o n te x t o f a th i r d n a t u r e o f s h a r e d im a g e s .
S u b u r b i a is a t h i r d n a t u r e t h a t p r o v i d e s i m a g e s o f t h e f a i r g o ,
a n d c o r r e s p o n d i n g i m a g e s o f it s o p p o s i t e . I n h i s b o o k P o p u l a r
R e a l ity , c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s s c h o l a r J o h n H a r d e y w r ite s , “t h e p u b l i c
o f m o d e r n i t y is c o t e r m i n o u s w i t h t h e r e a d e r s h i p o f m e d i a . ”18
W h a t c r e a t e s a p u b l i c i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e is s o m e v e c t o r t h a t
subdivision cultures

c o n n e c ts p e o p le to g e th e r , s u c h a s a n e w s p a p e r, te le v is io n o r
r a d i o . W h a t c r e a t e s a p u b l i c c u l t u r e is, i n a d d i t i o n , s o m e s h a r e d
im a g e s a n d s to rie s a b o u t w h ic h p e o p le c a n th in k a n d fe e l by
re a d in g th e m d iffe r e n tly . A g a i n s t t h e b a c k g ro u n d o f th ird
n a tu r e a r e n e w c o n c e p ts , s e n s a tio n s a n d e m o tio n s a b o u t th e
f a ir g o a n d t h e s h o r t s h rift. O u t o f th in k in g , f e e lin g , a r g u in g
o r ig n o r in g s u c h in f o r m a tio n , p e o p le b e c o m e a p u b lic , a n d
c r e a te th e c o m m o n w o rld o f a p u b lic c u ltu r e .
The c o n c e p t o f ‘r e a d i n g ’ a n d ‘r e a d e r s h i p ’ t h a t H a r t l e y
a d v a n c e s a re c ru c ia l fo r a n y g e n u in e ly d e m o c ra tic a p p ro a c h
to th in k in g about th is u n s p e a k a b le m a jo rity w ho com e
to g e th e r a s a p u b lic . T h e ta lk in g h e a d s o f b o th th e le ft a n d th e
r i g h t o f t e n h a v e f u l l r h e t o r i c a l c o m m a n d o f w h a t is g o o d f o r
t h e u n s p e a k a b l e m a j o r i ty . T a l k i n g h e a d s o n t h e r i g h t m i g h t
s p e a k o f ‘t h e p e o p l e ’ a n d t h o s e o n t h e l e f t u s e d t o s p e a k o f t h e
‘w o r k i n g c la s s ’, b u t u s u a l l y w h a t m o s t f o l k s a c t u a l l y r e a d a n d
w a t c h , l e t a l o n e t h i n k a n d say, is c o m p l e t e l y i g n o r e d .
T h e r h e t o r i c a l s t r a t e g y is t o s u p p o s e t h a t t h e r e is a ( f a l s e )
p u b l i c t h a t is b r a i n w a s h e d b y c e l e b r i t y t r i v i a , i n t h e a b s e n c e
o f w h ic h th e y w o u ld c o m e to t h e i r s e n s e s a n d a g r e e w ith th is
o r th a t e d ic t o f th e b a b b lin g a n d b u r b lin g ta lk in g h e a d s , a n d
f o r m a ( r e a l) p u b lic . W h a t a c tu a lly g e ts w r itte n fo r, a n d d is ­
t r ib u te d by, th e m o r e p o p u l a r m e d ia v e c to rs , a n d w h a t g e ts
m a d e o f i t i n a c t s o f r e a d e r s h i p , is d i s c o u n t e d o r i g n o r e d , a s
if it w e re u n s p e a k a b le . T h u s ta lk in g h e a d s o n b o th le ft a n d
r ig h t a re o fte n u n ite d in a n a u th o r ita r ia n a n d a n ti-d e m o c ­
r a tic a p p r o a c h to c u ltu r e . B o th s id e s a r e m o r e i n te r e s te d in
c r i t i c i s i n g w h a t ’s n o t i n p o p u l a r m e d i a a n d c r i t i c i s i n g w h a t ’s
la c k in g in p o p u l a r ta s te , th a n a t t e n d i n g to th e p o te n tia l o f
s u b u rb a n c u ltu re .
W h a t is r e f r e s h i n g a b o u t H a r t l e y ’s a p p r o a c h is t h a t i t t a k e s
s e r i o u s l y t h e i d e a t h a t i t is n o t j u s t t h e t a l k i n g h e a d s w h o
k n o w h o w to r e a d , b u t t h a t s ile n t s u b u r b a n s a ls o k n o w a t h i n g
o r tw o a b o u t h o w to m a k e m e a n in g o u t o f a te x t. B o th
‘r e a d i n g ’ a n d ‘t e x t ’ m i g h t a p p l y a s m u c h t o t e l e v i s i o n a n d
p o p s o n g s a n d m o v i e s a n d j o u r n a l i s m a s t o t h e n o v e l . A c ts o f
r e a d i n g t h a t t a k e p l a c e w i t h t h e te l l y o n i n t h e s u b u r b a n
li v in g r o o m , o r w h i l e l i s t e n i n g t o t h e r a d i o i n t h e c a r o n t h e
c o m m u te , a re w h a t c o n s titu te th e a c tu a l p u b lic c u ltu r e o f th e
n a t i o n . I t m i g h t n o t b e t h e i d e a l ‘p u b l i c s p h e r e ’ i m a g i n e d b y
p o l i t i c a l t h e o r i s t s , b u t u n l i k e t h e l a t t e r , i t a c t u a l l y e x is ts .
 readin g as public 135

I r o n i c a l l y , w h a t H a r t l e y is d o i n g h e r e is t h e o p p o s i t e o f t h e
u s u a l c a r ic a tu r e o f c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s . A c c o r d in g to th a t p u t-
d o w n , c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s b r in g s tra s h y p o p c u ltu r e in to th e
r e f in e d w o rld o f th e lite r a r y c la s s ro o m . B u t w h a t H a rtle y
d o e s is g o l o o k i n g f o r t h e r e a d i n g p r a c t i c e s o f t h e l i t e r a r y
c la s s ro o m o u t in th e c o m m o n w o rld . H e g o e s lo o k in g f o r
e x a m p le s o f th e w ay p e o p le re a d , a n d b y re a d in g , b e c o m e a
p u b l i c . T h e p u b l i c a r e a “r e a d i n g p u b l i c ”, a n d t h e y r e a d
v o r a c io u s ly — m o v ie s , b o o k s , m a g a z in e s , T V s h o w s . A n d o u t
o f w h a t th e y r e a d , t h e p u b lic d e c id e w h o th e y a r e , w h a t th e y
b e l i e v e , w h a t t h e c o m m o n w o r l d is l i k e , w h a t i d e a s o f t h e f a i r
g o t o p u r s u e . T h e p u b l i c e v e n h a s its o w n c r i t i c i s m s o f t h e
m e d ia , a s t h e S ile n t M a jo r ity r e p o r t sh o w s .
L i k e C r a i g M c G r e g o r , H a r t l e y ’s i n s t i n c t s a r e p o p u l a r a n d
d e m o c r a tic r a t h e r th a n e litis t a n d a u th o r ita r ia n . W h a t h e
a d d s t o M c G r e g o r ’s i n t e l l e c t u a l s y m p a t h y w i t h t h e p o p u l a r is
a m o r e s o p h is tic a te d w ay o f th in k in g a b o u t e x a c tly h o w th e
a c t o f r e a d in g th e te x ts d is tr ib u te d b y p o p u la r m e d ia v e c to rs
a c tu a lly c r e a te s a c o m m o n w o rld . M c G r e g o r a n n o u n c e d in
P e o p le , P o l i ti c s a n d P o p t h a t “I a m A lf! ”19 H a r t l e y ’s p o i n t is t h a t
i t ’s n o t j u s t a q u e s t i o n o f M c G r e g o r t h e t a l k i n g h e a d i d e n t i ­
fy in g w ith s u b u r b i a b y r e a d i n g h i m s e l f i n t o t h e t e x t o f s u b ­
u r b i a . T h i s is w h a t e v e r y b o d y d o e s . W e a l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n a
t h i r d n a t u r e o f s h a r e d im a g e s a n d s to rie s . M c G r e g o r c h o s e ,
rig h tly in m y v ie w , t o p a rtic ip a te in p o p u la r o n es. W h a t
H a r t l e y a d d s is a s y m p a t h e t i c a n d c o n s t r u c t i v e r e a d i n g o f t h e
w a y r e a d i n g i t s e l f w o r k s i n e v e r y d a y lif e .
T h i s is n o t t o d e n y t h e p o w e r t h a t m e d i a p r o p r i e t o r s h o l d .
B e i n g a n A l f o r a D a p h is t o h a v e c o n s i d e r a b l y l e s s p o w e r
th a n a R u p e r t o r a K e rry . B e in g C r a ig a n d C h a r le n e (c h il­
d r e n o f A l f a n d D a p h ) is t o h a v e le s s p o w e r t h a n L a c h l a n a n d
J a m e s (so n s o f R u p e rt M u rd o c h a n d K e rry P a c k e r). B u t th e
p o w e r o f a n e w s p a p e r o r a g o v e r n m e n t c a n o n ly b e e x e r c is e d
w i t h t h e c o n s e n t o f A lf s a n d D a p h s , C h a r l e n e s a n d C r a i g s .
T h e i r c o n s e n t is w o n b y p r o p o s i n g i m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s o f t h e
f a ir g o . A s D a v id M a rs h a ll s tre s s e s , m e d ia and p o litic a l
ta lk in g heads c o n tin u o u s ly p o ll and su rv e y C ra ig s and
C h a r l e n e s t o t r y a n d r a t i o n a l i s e w h a t i t is t h e y w a n t . 20 T h i s is
t h e g r e a t m y s te ry o f p u b lic s : th e w ay th e y f o r m th e m s e lv e s ,
f r o m th e b o tto m u p , b y g iv in g c o n s e n t to s h a r e d im a g e s a n d
s to rie s o f th e fa ir g o .
subdivision cultures

T h e m e d ia p r o p o s e s , p u b lic s f o r m th e m s e lv e s b y r e a d in g
w h a t is p r o p o s e d , a n d i m a g e s o f w h a t t h o s e r e a d i n g s d e c i d e
a re p ro p o se d back to th e p u b l i c v ia o p i n i o n p o lls and
su rv e y s. I t m ig h t n o t b e th e id e a l o f a ra tio n a l ‘p u b l i c
s p h e r e ’, b u t i t w o r k s . O n e c o u l d c r i t i c i s e w h a t ’s w r o n g w i t h
it. I c o u l d j o i n t h o s e t a l k i n g h e a d s w h o a t t a c k t h e m o n o p o l i ­
s a tio n o f o w n e rs h ip o f th e m e d ia a n d th e c e n tra lis t a n d
u n d e m o c r a tic w o rk in g s o f th e m a jo r p o litic a l p a rtie s . O r I
c o u ld jo in th o s e re s e n tfu l ta lk in g heads w ho a tta c k th e
p u b l i c i t s e l f f o r it s l a c k o f i n t e r e s t i n m e d i a r e g u l a t i o n a n d
th e d e m o c ra tis a tio n o f p u b l i c li f e . B u t a f t e r I f e l t m y s e l f
m o v e , a n d t h e w h o l e a u d i e n c e m o v e a t P a u l K e l ly ’s S t a t e
T h e a t r e g i g , I d e c i d e d t h e r e h a d t o b e a n o t h e r w ay .
S o I t o o k m y c u e f r o m t h e S i l e n t M a j o r i t y I I I r e p o r t . W h a t ’s
i n t e r e s t i n g t h e r e is t h e w a y t h a t , i n t h e 9 0 s , a p u b l i c f o r m e d
th a t h a d q u ite a d if f e r e n t c ritic is m o f th e m e d ia . R a th e r th a n
s u p p o r t p r o p o s a ls f o r r e f o r m to p o litic s a n d th e m e d ia p r o ­
p o s e d b y u r b a n e a n d c u ltu r e d ta lk in g h e a d s , a p u b lic f o r m e d
th a t w as r a t h e r m o r e c r itic a l o f u r b a n e ta lk in g h e a d s th e m ­
s e lv e s . A s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t o f s u b u r b i a r e j e c t e d u r b a n e p r o ­
p o s a ls , a n d saw in th e m s e lf - in te r e s t r a t h e r th a n th e p u b lic
g o o d . P a r t o f th e s u b u r b a n p u b lic s ta r te d lo o k in g to th e h in ­
te r la n d f o r d if f e r e n t k in d s o f p ro p o s a ls , in c lu d in g th o s e o f
O n e N a t i o n . A s t o w h y is a n i n t e r e s t i n g s t o r y , a n d t h a t ’s w h a t
I w a n t to g e t to n e x t.

Suburban R e sista n c e
C e n tr a l to th e rig h tw a r d t u r n o f th e la te 9 0 s w as th e p a r tia l
r e j e c t i o n o f u r b a n e c u l t u r a l v a l u e s . T h e i r o n y is t h a t w h i l e
s u b u r b ia s h u n n e d th e la te s t ta lk in g h e a d p ro p o s a ls , th e y d id
so in th e n a m e o f p r e v io u s p r o p o s a ls f r o m p r e v io u s g e n e r a ­
tio n s o f ta lk in g h e a d s . T h e s e p r e v io u s p r o p o s a ls h a d c o m e to
d e f in e th e ta k e n f o r g r a n t e d v a lu e s , th e th i r d n a tu r e , o f th e
‘s u b u r b a n ’. W h a t w a s r e f u s e d w a s a c e r t a i n k i n d o f p r o p o s a l
f o r re d e f in in g th e p u b lic c u ltu re . S u c h c h a n g e s a ttr a c te d th e
l a b e l ‘p o l i t i c a l l y c o r r e c t ’.
T h e s u b u r b ia th a t C ra ig M c G re g o r e m b r a c e d in th e 6 0 s as
e m b o d y in g b o th a p ro g re s s iv e a n d a d e m o c r a tic f o r c e w as, b y
th e 9 0 s, in d a n g e r o f b e c o m in g a la rg e ly re a c tiv e fo r c e . T h e
i r o n y is t h a t i t m i g h t h a v e b e c o m e s o p r e c i s e l y t o t h e e x t e n t
 suburban resistance

th a t th e a u th o r ita r ia n s tr a n d in th e d is p o s itio n o f ta lk in g
h e a d s re f u s e d , p a r tic u la r ly in th e K e a tin g y e a rs , to h e a r w h a t
t h i s u n s p e a k a b l e m a j o r i t y w a s s a y in g . T h i r d n a t u r e is a p o w ­
e r f u l p re s e n c e , as re a l as b ric k s a n d b itu m e n , a n d s o m e tim e s
e v e n h a r d e r to d e m o lis h a n d re b u ild .
U n d e r s ta n d in g th is r e s is ta n c e to n e w p r o p o s a ls s e e m s to
m e a n e c e s s a ry p re re q u is ite . R ig h t th r o u g h th e 90s, th e r e
w e re p le n ty o f in te r e s tin g p ro p o s a ls f o r c h a n g e . M ic h a e l
P u s e y c a lle d f o r a r e t u r n t o a n a t i o n b u i l d i n g s o c ia l d e m o c ­
ra c y o f th e o ld p o s tw a r r e c o n s t r u c t i o n ty p e . E v a C o x o f f e r e d
a v i s i o n o f a t r u l y c iv il s o c ie ty . M o i r a R a y n e r t a l k e d a b o u t t h e
p r o c e s s o f r o o t i n g d e m o c r a c y i n e v e r y d a y lif e . J a m e s W a l t e r
la m e n te d th e f a ilu r e o f A u s tra lia n p o litic a l im a g in a tio n . F re d
A rg y lo c a te d A u s tra lia a t th e c ro s s ro a d s b e tw e e n e c o n o m ic
r a t i o n a l i s m a n d a p r o g r e s s i v e l i b e r a l v iew . G r e g o r y M e l l e u i s h
c r itiq u e d th e lim its o f th e p a c k a g e s t h a t r e f o r m e r s o f f e r f o r
re im a g in in g A u s tra lia . H u m p h re y M cQ ueen d e fe n d e d
p o p u la r s o v e re ig n ty a g a in s t th e rh e to ric o f g lo b a lis a tio n .
F r a n k B r e n n a n s o u g h t a w a y to b a la n c e t h e p u b lic g o o d w ith
i n d i v i d u a l li b e r ty . B o b E llis m o u n t e d 2 0 2 ‘a r g u m e n t s ’ a g a i n s t
e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s m . 21 E a c h o f t h e s e d i s t i n g u i s h e d t a l k i n g
h e a d s o f f e r e d a c r itiq u e o f th e lim its o f th e e c o n o m ic a n d
p o litic a l im a g in a tio n . T h e y p r e s c r ib e d la r g e o r s m a ll d o s e s o f
in s titu tio n a l r e f o r m , s o m e o f a ra d ic a l a n d s o m e o f a lib e ra l
n a tu r e . S o m e w a n te d to c h a n g e th in g s , a n d s o m e w a n te d to
c h a n g e th in g s b a c k . T h e r e w e re g o o d p ro p o s a ls a m o n g th e m ,
a n d a s tim u la tin g d ia lo g u e to b e h a d d is c u s s in g th e m .
B ut w hose d ia lo g u e ? It en d s up b e in g a c o n v e rs a tio n
a m o n g ta lk in g h e a d s . I t g o e s w ith b e in g a ta lk in g h e a d to
s p e c i a l i s e i n t a l k i n g a b o u t w h a t is g o o d f o r t h e p u b l i c c u l t u r e
in g e n e ra l, but m ost p e o p le c o n s tru e th e m s e lv e s as
b e l o n g i n g t o a p r i v a t e w o r l d . S u b u r b i a is a l a r g e l y p r i v a t i s e d
c u l t u r e w h e r e t h e f a i r g o is f e l t a n d l i v e d t h r o u g h i m a g e a n d
s t o r i e s o f t h e p a r t i c u l a r — a r e c o r d o f w h i c h is k e p t i n t h e
f a m i l y h o u s e h o l d p h o t o a l b u m . T h e d i f f i c u l t y is g e t t i n g f r o m
th e g e n e r a l to th e p a rtic u la r. W h a t in te lle c tu a l ta lk in g h e a d s
n e e d e d w as n o t o n ly c o n c e p ts a b o u t th e f a ir g o in g e n e r a l
b u t c o n c e p ts a b o u t h o w th e g e n e r a l c a n b e e x p re s s e d in th e
im a g e s a n d s to rie s o f th e p a r tic u la r .
M a n y o f th e s e ta lk in g h e a d s h a d a g e n u in e c la im to b e
in te lle c tu a ls . I h a v e d o u b ts a b o u t th a t c la im in s o m e o f th e s e
subdivision cultures

c a s e s , b u t t h e r e is a m o r e p r e s s i n g is s u e t h a n c r i t i q u i n g t h e i r
c o n c e p tu a l in te g rity . T h e s e ta lk in g h e a d s o f f e r e d th e p u b lic
c o n c e p ts a b o u t th e f a ir g o in g e n e r a l. I f th e y w e re in te lle c ­
tu a l s , t h e y o f f e r e d n o t j u s t c o n c e p t s a b o u t t h e f a i r g o i n
g e n e ra l, b u t new c o n c e p ts . M o st o f th e m spoke fro m a
c u ltu r e th a t f e lt a t h o m e ta lk in g a b o u t c o n c e p ts , b u t th e y
c o u l d n o t s p e a k to a c u l t u r e t h a t f e lt m o r e a t h o m e w ith
f a m i l i a r i m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s . I d o n ’t t h i n k i t p o s s i b l e t o c o n ­
s id e r th e k in d s o f in f o r m a tio n th e s e a u th o r s w a n te d to p u t
o n th e a g e n d a w ith o u t firs t c o n s id e r in g th e c o n flic t o v e r th e
r o l e o f n e w i n f o r m a t i o n i n c u l t u r e t h a t is w o r k i n g its w a y
th r o u g h th e im a g e s a n d s to r ie s t h a t p r e o c c u p ie d s u b u r b ia in
th e 90 s.
W h i c h is w h y , u r b a n e t a l k i n g h e a d t h a t I a m , I f e e l o b l i g e d
to o f f e r a c o n c r e te lo c a tio n to p la c e m y o w n th in k in g f o r th e
re a d e r. I a m as m u c h a p r o d u c t o f a c e rta in k in d o f s e c o n d
n a t u r e a n d t h i r d n a t u r e a s e v e r y o n e e ls e , a n d I c o n s t r u c t m y
p u b lic p la c e o u t o f p r iv a te r e a d i n g s j u s t lik e a n y o n e e ls e . T h e
d i s t r u s t e v i d e n t i n t h e S ile n t M a jo r ity I I I r e p o r t w a s b a s e d o n
r e a d in g th e s e p riv a te a n d p a r tic u la r in te re s ts b a c k in to th e
a b s tra c t p ro p o s a ls ta lk in g h e a d s o ffe re d as th e ir w ay o f
s e e i n g t h e c o m m o n w o r l d . A n d t a l k i n g h e a d s a lw a y s c a r r y a
c la s s b a g g a g e a s a ty p e o f c e le b r ity . S o i t m i g h t b e b e t t e r to
c o m e c le a n a t th e o u ts e t. I th in k a n d s p e a k a n d w rite f r o m
d e e p w i t h i n t h e u r b a n t r i a n g l e , w h e r e e v e r y s i n k h a s n o t tw o
b u t t h r e e ta p s — f o r h o t w a te r, c o ld w a te r, a n d c h a r d o n n a y .

K in g s Cross S a tu rd a y N ig h t
The ta x i e a s e s u p W illia m st to K i n g s C r o s s , its p a s s a g e
s lo w e d b y tra ffic . W e m a k e a r i g h t b e n e a t h t h e r u n n i n g fir e
o f t h e g i a n t C o c a - C o l a s i g n a n d w e ’r e j u s t o v e r t h e b o r d e r
in to D a r l i n g h u r s t . I t ’s S a t u r d a y n i g h t a n d th e C r o s s is a
M e c c a f o r s u b u r b a n th rill s e e k e rs, as it h a s b e e n f o r d e c a d e s .
A p u b lic s p a c e o f re le a s e fro m s u b u r b a n c o n s tr a in t. B u t I a m
n o t h e r e f o r th a t. H e r e I a m a n in s id e r. M y f r ie n d s a n d I a r e
h e a d in g f o r a p r iv a te p a r ty in a b a c k s tr e e t, o u t o f s ig h t o f th e
n e o n . T h e r e is m o r e t h a n o n e K i n g s C r o s s , a l t h o u g h t h e i r
b o u n d a r ie s a r e in d is tin c t a n d o v e rla p p in g .
T h e p o e t a n d j o u r n a l i s t K e n n e t h S le s s o r w r o te a b o u t K in g s
C r o s s w i t h a s p e c i a l a f f e c t i o n . “I t s p l a n o f li v i n g r e p r e s e n t s a
 kings cross S aturday night

c u t a c ro ss th e o rg a n ic s tr u c tu re o f th e S y d n e y a n t-h e a p .
H o v e ls a r e w e d g e d b e tw e e n p a la c e s . M illio n a ir e s lo o k o u t o f
t h e i r ‘l u x u r y a p a r t m e n t s ’, t h e i r s i l v e r a n d v e l v e t s u i t e s , a t t h e
s lu m -w o rld lo o k in g a t t h e m f r o m t h e t e n e m e n t n e x t d o o r o r
a c ro ss th e s tre e t. A m o n g th e t e r m i t e s o f t h e y e l l i n g f la t-
b lo c k s , la d ie s o f u n im p e a c h a b le v ir tu e l e n d a s p ir in to la d ie s
w h o c o m e h o m e b a r e f o o t w i t h h i c c o u g h s . ”22 I n t h e 4 5 y e a r s
b e t w e e n w h e n S l e s s o r w r o t e t h o s e l i n e s a n d I w r o t e t h e s e , a ll
t h a t ’s c h a n g e d is t h a t c o s m o p o l i t a n s s p e a k o f w o m e n i n d i f ­
f e r e n t te r m s , a n d th e lu x u r y s u ite s o f th e 5 0 s h a v e m o v e d
d o w n m a r k e t. G ia n t n e w to w e rs lo o k d o w n o n th e m f r o m
e v e n m o r e e x p e n s iv e h e ig h ts .
W a d in g in to t h e p a rty , I h a n d t h r e e b o ttle s o f v o d k a to
R ic h a rd b e h in d th e b a r. T h e r o o m is a s e a o f b l a c k - c l a d
b o d ie s , p ro v id in g a re a d y m a d e b a c k g ro u n d fo r th e one
b r i g h t m a n g o j a c k e t , c le a r ly v is ib le t h r o u g h t h e d a r k n e s s .
R i c h a r d a n d D r. D e a t h a r e m i x i n g i n d u s t r i a l s t r e n g t h c o c k ­
ta i ls . R i c h a r d h o s t s a T V s h o w , w h i l e D r. D e a t h is a n a c a d ­
e m ic s p e c ia lis in g in H o lo c a u s t s tu d ie s , hence th e g rim
n ic k n a m e . D e s p ite th e ir d iffe re n t o c c u p a tio n s th e y have
m uch th e sam e ap p ro a c h to th e c o c k ta il. I p a s s p o t e n t
p o t i o n s t o L i b b y a n d M ilis s a .
L ib b y te lls m e a s to r y a b o u t s ig n in g a v io lin is t to t h e r e c o r d
c o m p a n y s h e w o rk s f o r w h o e n d s u p g iv in g h e r v io lin le s s o n s .
T h i s a s t o n i s h e s h e r c o l l e a g u e s , a s t h e n e w s i g n i n g is a f a m o u s
c l a s s ic a l m u s i c i a n n o t k n o w n f o r t u t o r i n g a b s o l u t e b e g i n ­
n e rs . I m o v e o n to C o lin a n d w e a r g u e a b o u t c o n c e p tu a l a r t.
I w h i s p e r s o m e t h i n g i n C D ’s e a r a s s h e s t a n d s , l o n g a n d l e a n
b e s i d e m e i n h e r b l a c k B e ts y J o h n s o n d r e s s . T h e n I t a l k t o
K h y m a b o u t h e r c o o k b o o k , w h i c h I t e l l h e r I a m u s i n g a ll t h e
t i m e . S h e is m a k i n g w e b s i t e s f o r M i c r o s o f t n o w . M ili s s a a n d
N e il sw a p p u b lis h i n g g o s s ip . I m e e t a n a r c h i t e c t f r o m E a s t
T i m o r c a l l e d P a o l o w h o is d e s i g n i n g a n e w n i g h t c l u b . I t e l l
h im I w a n t to re n o v a te a n d ask f o r h is e m a il a d d re s s . K aye
t e l l s m e s h e h a s t h e f u l l t e x t o f t h e C l e m e n g e r s u r v e y t h a t ’s
b e e n o n t h e n e w s a n d t h a t s h e c a n f a x i t t o m e i f I w a n t it. I t
fe ll o f f t h e b a c k o f a t r u c k a n d h e r r e s e a r c h a s s is ta n t w a s
t h e r e t o c a t c h it. I r e t u r n t o t h e b a r t o r e c h a r g e m y c o c k t a i l ,
a n d p lu n g e in to th e n e tw o r k o f b la c k -c la d b o d ie s a g a in .
C a r o l i n e t e l l s m e s h e is r e a d i n g s c r i p t s f o r F o x n o w . I a s k
h e r w h a t t h e w o r s t o n e s h e ’s r e a d is a b o u t . B e f o r e s h e c a n
subdivision cultures

t e l l m e I ’m d i v e r t e d b y s o m e g o s s i p a b o u t a f a m o u s T V s t a r
w i t h a v e r y s u b u r b a n i m a g e w h o is n o l o n g e r w e l c o m e a t t h e
S e b e l T o w n h o u s e a f te r h is r o o m w a s f o u n d s p la tte r e d w ith
b l o o d . D a l e i n t r o d u c e s m e t o P e t e r , w h o is w o r k i n g o n t h e
n e x t L a b o r e le c tio n c a m p a ig n . W e ta lk a b o u t th e se x a p p e a l
o f P a u lin e H a n s o n . I tr y to g e t s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n o u t o f D a le
a b o u t h i s e m p l o y e r s a t N e w s C o r p o r a t i o n , b u t a s a lw a y s h e is
to o d is c re e t.
I c o n g r a t u l a t e J a m e s , o u r h o s t, o n h is s h o r t lis tin g f o r a lit­
e r a r y a w a rd , a n d I a s k M a rd i, o u r h o s te s s , if h e r d o c to r a l
th e s is h a s b e e n m a r k e d . S h e te lls m e t h a t a f t e r a n e p is o d e o f
th e s o a p s h e w rite s f o r th a t f e a tu r e d a n ill- m a n n e r e d d o c to r ,
se v e ra l p e o p le c a lle d o r w ro te c la im in g to h a v e h a d th e sa m e
e x p e rie n c e — w ith th e sam e d o c to r. C a s s a n d ra e x p la in s
I n d o n e s i a n p o litic s s in c e th e fa ll o f S u h a r to to m e . T o n y , m y
p u b l i s h e r , n a g s m e a b o u t w h e n t h i s b o o k is g o i n g t o b e f i n ­
is h e d a n d te lls m e a b o u t h is n e w b a b y d a u g h te r , fo llo w e d by
m o r e ta lk a b o u t h o m e r e n o v a tio n .
S o m e v e r y d r u n k y o u n g w o m a n ta lk s a b o u t h o w m u c h s h e
lik e s t h e w o r k o f a n o v e lis t I o n c e h a d a n a f f a ir w ith , a n d a sk s
m e a b o u t t h e n o v e l i s t ’s s e x u a l t a s t e s . T h e P o l i s h v i o l i n i s t
w h o s e n a m e I f o r g e t d i s p u t e s t h e g r e a t n e s s o f F r a n k S i n a t r a ’s
p h r a s i n g . T o n y t h e a r c h i t e c t m e n t i o n s t h a t a m u t u a l f r i e n d is
p r e g n a n t , w h i c h is n e w s t o m e . H e d e s c r i b e s t h e p r o g r e s s o n
th e r e f u r b is h in g o f th e S y d n e y P o s t O ffic e a n d w e la m e n t th e
d e v e lo p m e n t o f E a s t C ir c u la r Q u a y . E m p ty v o d k a b o ttle s lin e
t h e h a llw a y . I t ’s t i m e t o l e a v e w h i l e I c a n s ti ll w a lk .
I d o n m y c o a t a n d h e a d o u t in to V ic to ria s tr e e t h u n tin g f o r
ta x is , f o r t h e s h o r t r i d e f r o m K in g s C r o s s t o U l t i m o , b a c k t o m y
a c t u a l h o m e f r o m m y s p i r i t u a l h o m e . T h e C r o s s is t h e n e i g h ­
b o u r h o o d w h e r e I liv e d , o n a n d o f f , f o r m u c h o f t h e 8 0 s ,
b e f o r e d is c o v e rin g t h a t I g e t m o r e w o rk d o n e s ittin g in c a fe s
in U ltim o w h e r e n o b o d y k n o w s m e th a n in c a fe s in t h e C ro ss
w h e r e t h e r e is a lw a y s a f r i e n d l y f a c e a n d w h e r e t h e r e s e e m s to
b e a f e ll o w w r i t e r liv in g i n e v e r y o t h e r a p a r t m e n t b l o c k .
T h e ta x is a r e h i d i n g f r o m m e a s I l u r k i n t h e s h a d o w s n e a r
th e fire s ta tio n , r e a d y to p o u n c e o n th e firs t th a t b e e tle s a lo n g .
I t ’s a l i t t l e ri s k y o n t h e s t r e e t s s o I ’m t r y i n g t o s ta y a l e r t ,
d o d g in g s tra g g le rs f r o m b u c k ’s n i g h t s and h e n ’s p a r t i e s ,
s l o u c h i n g t o w a r d B e x le y . I ’m s e n s iti v e , n o t j u s t t o t h e d r u n k s
a n d y o b s w o b b lin g by, b u t a ls o to t h e g h o s ts . I im a g in e th e
 kings cross S atu rday night

g h o s t o f th e p o e t C h ris to p h e r B re n n a n h id in g u n d e r h is
b r o a d h a t, a m b lin g to w a rd s L iv e r p o o l s tr e e t w h e r e h e o n c e
liv e d . T h e g h o s t o f B r e n n a n ’s d a u g h t e r l a u g h s a s s h e l e a d s a
g e n tl e m a n f r ie n d b y th e a r m , a n d h e r s h o e s c la c k o n th e p a v e ­
m e n t . T h e r e ’s K e n S l e s s o r h i m s e l f , w i t h a s k i n f u l , w e n d i n g
h o m e t o w h a t is n o w D a r l i n g h u r s t r d . D u l c i e D e a m e r , q u e e n
o f b o h e m ia , c h a tte r s w ith s o m e b r ig h t y o u n g th in g s f r o m
a n o t h e r t i m e a s s h e c l a t t e r s o f f t o a p a r t y i n M a c l e a y s t r e e t . 23
I f t h e r e is a l a n d s c a p e o f u r b a n i t y i n th e g e o g ra p h y o f
A u s t r a l i a n f e e l i n g t h e n K in g s C r o s s is s u r e l y a p a r t o f it. T h a t
p e o p le k e e p c o m in g to th e C ro s s f r o m t h e s u b u r b s f o r a b ig
n i g h t i n d i c a t e s t h a t i t h a s n o t y e t l o s t its p l a c e i n t h e i m a g i n a ­
t i o n . T h a t p e o p l e s till c h o o s e t o liv e t h e r e a n d p r a c t i c e c o n ­
t e m p o r a r y f o r m s o f u r b a n l i v in g a d d n e w l a y e r s t o its c u l t u r a l
s e d i m e n t . W h i l e K in g s C r o s s h a s b e e n t h e i m a g e o f u r b a n
A u s t r a l i a s i n c e t h e 2 0 s , b y t h e 9 0 s i t w a s n o l o n g e r i ts p r i m e
l o c a t i o n . T h e r e is u r b a n i t y n o t j u s t i n K in g s C r o s s b u t i n e v e r y
c ity a n d s i z e a b l e t o w n . Y o u f i n d t r a c e s o f i t w h e r e v e r d i f f e r e n t
k i n d s o f p e o p l e d e c i d e t o liv e , n o t j u s t b y p o l i t e l y i g n o r i n g
e a c h o th e r , b u t b y w o r k in g o u t a m o n g s t th e m s e lv e s a c o lle c ­
tiv e s ty le o f p u b l i c i n t e r a c t i o n , s h a r i n g a s p i r i n a n d b e e r .
I t is p o s s i b l e t o liv e a n u rb a n e life in th e su b u rb s. A s
M c G r e g o r s a y s, s u b u r b i a , “l i k e K i n g s C r o s s , is a s t a t e o f
m i n d . ”24 T e l e p h o n e and te le v is io n m ake it p o s s ib le to
c o n n e c t w ith o t h e r s a n d w ith a s h a r e d a g e n d a b y r e m o t e
c o n tr o l. T h e i n t e r n e t a n d c a b le te le v is io n d e e p e n e d i n n e r
s u b u r b i a ’s i m m e r s i o n i n t h e u r b a n e o c e a n s o f c y b e r s p a c e .
B u t i n t h e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s , s u b u r b i a b e c a m e i n m a n y w a y s le s s
r a t h e r th a n m o r e u r b a n e b e c a u s e o f w h a t M c G r e g o r c a lls t h e
“g r o w t h o f a p r i v a t i s e d l i f e s t y l e ”. I n t h e p o s t w a r y e a r s , s u b ­
u r b i a m e a n t i n c r e m e n t a l i m p r o v e m e n t s i n t h e s iz e o f t h e
house, th e p o w e r o f th e c a r, and th e am ount o f s tu ff
c r a m m e d i n t o b o t h , a l t h o u g h t h e r e w a s s t ill s o m e t i m e a n d
e n e r g y le ft o v e r f ro m th e p u r s u it o f p riv a te m a te ria lis m fo r
s o m e g e n u f le c t io n to p u b lic id e a ls . F o r tr e s s s u b u r b ia s a ile d
a lo n g lik e f o r tr e s s A u s tr a lia — u n til t h e e c o n o m i c c ris is o f
th e 8 0 s m a d e th is c u ltu r e h a r d e r a n d h a r d e r to s u s ta in .
A s M c G r e g o r sa y s , s u b u r b i a “h a s b e c o m e s t r e t c h e d , b r o k e n
u p , s u b d iv id e d , th e v ic tim o f fa llin g in c o m e s a n d fa llin g
e x p e c ta tio n s , w o r r ie d a b o u t j o b s , h o m e s a n d k id s , a n d m a n y
o f i t s m e m b e r s d o n ’t h o l d o u t m u c h h o p e f o r t h i n g s g e t t i n g
subdivision cultures

b e t t e r i n t h e f u t u r e . ” A ll m a y l o o k w e ll f r o m th e y a rd , b u t
s o m e tim e s b e h in d th e s e c u rity s c r e e n d o o r, th e p r o u d h o u s e
m a y s t a n d e m p ty , t h e a p p lia n c e s f lo g g e d o f f to k e e p u p w ith
t h e r e p a y m e n t s . T h e r e ’s n o t i m e a n d n o t m u c h h o p e l e f t f o r
a n y th in g b u t d e f e n d in g th e fo rtre s s fro m th e d e b t c o lle c to rs
a n d t h e t a x o f f i c e . T h e r e ’s d e f i n i t e l y n o t i m e a n d n o h o p e
le f t f o r c o p in g w ith to o m a n y n e w id e a s .
T h e re fu s a l to ta k e a t th e ir w o rd th e p o litic a l a n d c u ltu r a l
t a l k i n g h e a d s a p p e a r i n g i n t h e m e d i a h a s a r e a l b a s is . F o r
d e c a d e s , s u b u r b ia c o n s u m e d n o t j u s t m o r e a n d m o r e stu ff,
b u t th e id e a t h a t th e f a ir g o c o n s is ts in c o n s u m in g m o r e a n d
m o r e s t u f f . T h i s w a s , a s a p o p u l a r T V g a m e s h o w n a m e d it,
th e G reat T e m p ta tio n . By th e c lo s e o f th e 90s, c o n s u m e r
c u l t u r e h a d b e c o m e t h e la s t S a le o f th e C e n tu r y . A c o m m i t ­
m e n t to c o n s u m e r is m is a n i n v e s t m e n t i n t h e e x p e c t a t i o n
th a t fo rtre s s A u s tra lia w o u ld s e c u re a n e v e r e x p a n d in g s p a c e
fo r m a te ria l g ro w th . W hen th is e x p e c ta tio n ap p e a re d
u n f o u n d e d , th e le g itim a c y o f th e ta lk in g h e a d s w h o id e ­
a lis e d , a n d e v e n th e c e le b r itie s t h a t e m b o d ie d , th is s u b u r b a n
w o n d e r l a n d a p p e a r in a m o r e c y n ic a l lig h t.
T h is s e n s e o f c ris is in t h e G r e a t A u s tr a lia n D r e a m o f s u b ­
u r b a n h o m e o w n e rs h ip a n d e v e r e x p a n d in g c o n s u m p tio n
s tr ip p e d s o m e o f th e le g itim a c y f r o m m e d ia a n d p o litic a l
t a l k i n g h e a d s . T h o s e w h o p r o d u c e d a n d d i s t r i b u t e d t h e flo w s
o f in fo rm a tio n on w h ic h su ch a c u ltu re d e p e n d e d w e re
c a u g h t n a p p in g , a s le e p a t th e w h e e l. T h o s e w h o a n tic ip a te d
t h e c u l t u r a l d i m e n s i o n o f s u c h a c r is is d i d n o t g e t w o r d o u t
th r o u g h th e g a te k e e p e rs o f p u b lic c o m m u n ic a tio n . T h e p r o ­
d u c e rs o f th e p le a s u re m a c h in e o f p o p u la r c u ltu re had
b e c o m e a s s u b u r b a n a s its c o n s u m e r s , a n d s u b u r b a n in t h e
w o r s t s e n s e — i n a t t e n t i v e t o c h a n g e , d i f f e r e n c e , p o s s i b i lit y .
W h a t w as r e q u ir e d , a t th e a rs e e n d o f th e c e n tu ry , w as a n e w
k i n d o f u r b a n i t y , n e w p r o p o s a l s f o r l i v i n g i n w h a t P a u l K e lly
c a l l e d t h e a g e o f u n c e r t a i n t y , w h a t t h e o t h e r P a u l K e lly c a l l e d
t h e la n d o f th e little k in g s .

N o tes fo r a N e w F able
T a lk in g h e a d s c a n o n ly p r o p o s e n e w c o n c e p ts , p e r c e p tio n s ,
f e e l i n g s . I t ’s u p t o c u l t u r e a t t h e e v e r y d a y l e v e l t o a c c e p t o r
r e je c t th e im a g e s a n d s to rie s v e c to r e d in to t h e ir d o m a in .
 notes for a new fable

W h a t w a s lo s t in th e 9 0 s w as a s e n s e th a t b o th a r e e q u a lly
v a lid p a r ts o f A u s tr a lia n c u ltu r e . T a lk in g h e a d s a p p e a le d
r e p e a t e d l y t o t h e ‘h e a r t l a n d ’ o f s u b u r b i a , a s i f t h e ‘h e a d l a n d ’
o f u r b a n A u s tra lia w as s o m e h o w n o t a le g itim a te p a r t o f th e
body p o litic . M any c o u n try p e o p le c o m p la in th a t ru ra l
A u s tra lia f e a tu r e d as s o m e u n m e n tio n a b le n e t h e r re g io n .
W h ile I a c k n o w le d g e th e s e r io u s n e s s o f th e c u ltu r a l a b s e n c e
o f r u r a l c u l t u r e f r o m p u b l i c life , it w a s a t le a s t s tr o n g ly r e p ­
r e s e n t e d i n p o l i t i c a l li f e t h r o u g h t h e N a t i o n a l P a r t y ’s p r e s ­
ence in th e C o a litio n . U rb a n ity , on th e o th e r hand,
d e p e n d e d f o r i ts p o l i t i c a l e f f i c a c y o n i t s c u l t u r a l le g i t i m a c y ,
a n d th e u n d e r m in in g o f th a t w as a p r o b le m th a t f o r m e w as
c lo s e r to h o m e .
M e d ia a t t e n t i o n in t h e la te 9 0 s f o c u s e d o n H a n s o n i t e re s is ­
ta n c e a n d r e s e n tm e n t o u t in th e s u b u rb s to n e w in f o r m a ­
tio n . T h is b e g g e d t h e q u e s tio n : f r o m w h e r e c o m e s t h e a b ility
a n d th e c o n f id e n c e to in v o k e n e w in fo rm a tio n ? T h e s e a re
n o te s f o r a n e w f a b le t h a t m i g h t a f f ir m s u c h a c a p a c ity , s u c h
a c o n f id e n c e . I c a n o n ly w rite a b o u t w h a t I k n o w f r o m e x p e ­
r i e n c e . I ’m s u r e t h e r e a r e o t h e r p l a c e s , o t h e r s t o r i e s a b o u t
th is v ir tu a l s id e to A u s tra lia n li f e . I c a n o n ly e n c o u r a g e
o th e r s to te ll th e m .
S y d n e y h a s m o r e t h a n its s h a r e o f t h e c u l t u r e o f u r b a n i t y ,
a l t h o u g h i ts c o s m o p o l i t a n i s m c a n b e a b i t o v e r s t a t e d . A s t h e
i r r e v e r e n t s u b - t a b l o i d m a g a z i n e S t r e w t h ! p u t s it, S y d n e y is “a
p o s tm o d e rn p a s tic h e o f B a n g k o k ’s t r a f f i c , L A ’s f re e w a y s ,
L o n d o n ’s l i q u o r la w s , t h e w a n k e r s o f P a r i s , t h e s m u g n e s s o f
t h e V a t i c a n , a n d t h e d i v i d i n g w a ll o f o l d B e r l i n . ”25 S till, S y d n e y
h a s b e e n a k ey c e n tr e w h e r e u r b a n ity g e ts tr a n s f o r m e d f r o m
a f l u i d w a y o f li f e i n t o s t o r i e s a n d i m a g e s p r o p o s e d i n m e d i ­
a t e d f o r m . I t is i n S y d n e y t h a t m o s t o f t h e m e d i a i n d u s t r i e s
h a v e f o r m u c h o f t h e c o u n t r y ’s h i s t o r y h a d t h e i r c e n t r e . T h e
u r b a n ity o f th e 18 8 0 s, o f L o u is a L a w so n a n d h e r s o n H e n ry ,
f e d o f f a n d f e d in to th e D a w n a n d th e B u lle tin a n d m a n y o t h e r
j o u r n a l s b o t h h i g h a n d lo w . S o t o o , t h e u r b a n i t y o f K e n n e t h
S l e s s o r a n d t h e 1 9 2 0 s f e d o f f a n d f e d i n t o S m i t h ’s W e e k ly a n d a
h o s t o f o t h e r p e r i o d i c a l p r in ts . J o u r n a l s lik e th e s e w e r e u n t i l
v e ry re c e n tly th e m a in v e c to r a lo n g w h ic h u r b a n e f o r m u la ­
t i o n s o f t h e g o o d lif e m i g h t p r o p o s e t h e m s e l v e s f a r a n d w id e .
In th e s e p a g e s th e a c c e p ta b le th r e s h o ld o f u rb a n ity o f th e
m o m e n t c o u ld b e s ta b ilis e d a n d d is tr ib u te d .
subdivision cultures

C r i t i c s s u c h a s S y lv ia L a w s o n a r e r i g h t t o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e
u rb a n ity of th e B u lle tin , th a t fa m o u s in c u b a to r of th e
A u s t r a l i a n l e g e n d , w a s a l i m i t e d a f f a i r . 26 I t s p a g e s w e r e w h e r e
k e y e le m e n ts o f th e A u s tra lia n s e ttle m e n t w e re f o r m u la te d ,
m o s t n o t o r i o u s l y t h e W h i t e A u s t r a l i a p o lic y . U r b a n lif e is
n e v e r c o m p le te ly c o s m o p o lita n , a n d th e u r b a n e im a g e o f th e
fa ir g o it g e n e r a te s a n d tr a n s m its o v e r th e v e c to r p e r h a p s
e v e n le s s s o . B u t u r b a n i t y h a s t o b e m e a s u r e d i n r e l a t i o n t o
th e v e rn a c u la r s ta n d a rd s o f th e tim e w ith w h ic h it w as
e n g a g e d , ra th e r th a n re tro s p e c tiv e ly in te r m s o f th e c o s­
m o p o lita n is m o f th e p re s e n t.
A s c u ltu r a l h is to r ia n J o h n D o c k e r s a id o f th e 1 8 9 0 s, it w as
a t i m e w h e n S y d n e y “e x p e r i e n c e d a c o n t i n u i n g e x p a n s i o n o f
u r b a n c o m m u n ic a tio n s n e tw o r k s ... I t w a s a c c o m p a n ie d b y
a n e n la r g e d r e a d in g p u b lic a n d b y th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f a
liv e ly , a c t i v e , u r b a n i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . ”27 T h e l a t t e r w e r e k e p t i n
w o r k b y t h e c u l t u r e i n d u s t r i e s , a n d S y d n e y ’s u r b a n e l i f e h a s
li v e d o f f t h e c u l t u r e i n d u s t r i e s e v e r s i n c e . A s l i t e r a r y h i s t o ­
r i a n P e t e r K i r k p a t r i c k sa y s o f S y d n e y b o h e m i a o f t h e r o a r i n g
2 0 s , “e v e r y o n e w r o t e j o u r n a l i s m ”.28 I n S y d n e y m o r e t h a n a n y ­
w h e r e e ls e in A u s tra lia , p o p u l a r m e d ia h a v e b e e n a n e n g in e
t h a t s u p p o r t e d a n u r b a n c u l t u r e w h o liv e d b y f u e l l i n g t h e
p le a s u re m a c h in e w ith th e ir id e a s a n d w it. T h e u rb an e
im a g e s o f t h e g o o d life p r o p o s e d b y th is u r b a n e x p e r i e n c e
c o a le s c e d in to a s u b u r b a n c u l t u r e , a s it s p u b l i c a c c e p t e d
t h e s e i m a g e s t o liv e b y , a n d liv e w i t h i n .
R ic h a r d N e v ille w rite s o f v e n t u r i n g i n t o K in g s C ro s s in t h e
l a t e 5 0 s a n d f i n d i n g j a z z a n d t h e c a p p u c c i n o . “I t g a v e m e
g o o s e p im p le s , th e s e n s e t h a t s o m e w h e r e o u t t h e r e in th e
n i g h t w a s a s e c r e t c ity w a i t i n g t o b e e m b r a c e d . ”29 K i n g s C r o s s
w a s a ls o w h e r e , o n e n ig h t in 1 9 6 3 , th e a r tis t M a r tin S h a r p
i n t r o d u c e d N e v i l l e t o R o b e r t H u g h e s a n d L o u i s e F e r r i e r , a ll
o f w h o w o u ld w o rk in o n e c a p a c ity o r o t h e r o n O z m a g a z in e ,
t h e i r r e v e r e n t s u c c e s s o r t o t h e e a r l y B u l l e t i n a n d S m i t h ’s, t h a t
N e v i l l e , R i c h a r d W a ls h a n d o th e rs s ta rte d in 1963 as a n
o u t l e t f o r w h a t A n n e S u m m e r s c a l l s t h e i r “l a t e a d o l e s c e n t
o e d i p a l r e v o l t . ”30 N e v i l l e w o r k e d o n O z w h i l e h o l d i n g d o w n a
c o p y w r i t e r ’s j o b a n d a m o v i e r e v i e w i n g c o l u m n a t t h e S y d n e y
M o r n i n g H e r a l d . H e r e a g a i n is t h e p a t t e r n o f c o m b i n i n g p a i d
h a c k w o r k w i t h a e s t h e t i c a m b i t i o n t y p i c a l o f S y d n e y ’s u r b a n
c u ltu r e in d u s trie s .
 bo h em ian s and urbanites

I n t h e m id 9 0 s, n o v e lis t a n d K in g s C ro s s i d e n tity J u s t i n e
E t t l e r w a s w r i t i n g b o o k r e v ie w s f o r W h o W e e k ly , m o v i e r e v ie w s
f o r M i c r o s o f t ’s o n l i n e e n te r ta in m e n t g u id e S id e w a lk a n d
c a s h in g th e o c c a s io n a l ro y a lty c h e q u e f r o m h e r b e s ts e llin g
n o v e l T h e R i v e r O p h e l ia . E t d e r w a s h e r s e l f a s p u r e a p r o d u c t
o f u r b a n e S y d n e y a s y o u a r e li k e l y t o m e e t . “I g r e w u p i n t h e
v e r y t h i c k o f S y d n e y ’s p o s t- W W 2 c o c k t a i l c u l t u r e . . . ”, s h e
w rite s in H Q M a g a zin e , p a r t o f th e v a st m a g a z in e e m p ir e
R i c h a r d W a ls h w e n t o n t o m a n a g e f o r K e r r y P a c k e r . I n t h e
la te 9 0 s, H Q M a g a z in e b e c a m e a s o r t o f b e ig e r e f i n e m e n t o f
th e k in d of m a g a z in e s th ro u g h w h ic h S y d n e y ’s u r b a n e
c u ltu re has p ro p o se d c o u n tle s s im a g e s o f th e fa ir g o . 31
S t r e w t h ! is i ts s h i t - b r o w n a l t e r - e g o .
U r b a n S y d n e y , p a r t i c u l a r l y K i n g s C r o s s , is s o m e t i m e s p i c ­
tu r e d as a w o rld a p a r t, re m o v e d a n d d e ta c h e d fro m th e s u b ­
u r b a n ‘h e a r t l a n d ’. B o t h u r b a n a n d s u b u r b a n c u l t u r e f i n d i t
a c o n v e n ie n t fic tio n to im a g in e a b o r d e r c ro s s in g s o m e w h e re
th a t k e e p s s u b u r b ia sa fe f ro m th e h a z a rd s o f u rb ia , a n d th e
u r b a n sa fe f r o m th e b o r e d o m o f s u b u r b ia . W h ile s e p a r a te in
g e o g r a p h ic a l s p a c e , a n d s e p a r a te in th e s p a tia l im a g in a tio n ,
th e v e c to r tra v e rs e s th e b o r d e r , lin k in g th e m to g e th e r , b u t in
an unequal re la tio n s h ip . The m a c h in e ry fo r p ro d u c in g
i n f o r m a t i o n is i n t h e c ity , a n d s o t o o is a k e y c u l t u r a l w o r l d
o f m a n y o f it s p r o d u c e r s . I m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s c r o s s t h e b o r d e r
f r o m c it y t o s u b u r b , a n d t h e j u d g e m e n t o f t h e s u b u r b s h e a d s
b a c k t o t h e c it y i n t h e s a l e s f i g u r e s a n d r a t i n g s . I f t h e r e is t o
b e a r e a f f i r m a t i o n o f t h e g o o d lif e i n A u s t r a l i a , a r e l e a s e
f r o m v irtu a lity to a c tu a lity o f n e w im a g in in g s o f w h o w e c a n
b e c o m e , i t w ill i n p a r t d e p e n d o n t h i s p r o c e s s b y w h i c h t h e
u r b a n p r o p o s e s a n d th e s u b u r b a n d is p o s e s .

B o h em ian s and U rb a n ites

T h e K in g s C r o s s w o r l d o f w r i t i n g a n d d r i n k i n g , p a r t y i n g a n d
th in k in g th a t I d e s c rib e d descends fro m a w o rld P e te r
K i r k p a t r i c k l a b e l l e d “b o h e m i a n . ” T o n y M o o r e p i c k e d u p t h i s
th e m e in h is A B C TV d o c u m e n ta ry B o h e m ia n R h a p so d y ,
w h ic h p u t im a g e s to th is fa b le I a m s k e tc h in g o f u r b a n a n d
u r b a n e S y d n e y .32 B y d e s c r i b i n g i t a s a n u r b a n e r a t h e r t h a n a
b o h e m i a n w o r l d , I ’m t r y i n g t o e n l a r g e t h e c o n c e p t o f w h a t
k in d o f c u ltu r e m ig h t ta k e p la c e w h e r e m a n y d if f e r e n t w ays
subdivision cultures

o f li f e i n t e r s e c t i n u r b a n s p a c e a n d m a n y d i f f e r e n t t a s t e s
c o llid e in th e m e d ia p r o d u c e d o u t o f th a t sp a c e .
D r e a m t i m e A l i c e is a m e m o i r b y a n o t h e r K in g s C r o s s i d e n t i t y ,
M a n d y S a y e r. I n i t s h e e l o q u e n d y i n v o k e s t h e b o h e m i a n li f e
o f h e r f a t h e r a n d “h i s m u s i c i a n m a t e s a n d f l a m b o y a n t t h e a t r e
frie n d s , w ho w e re alw a y s im m e rs e d in so m e h ila rio u s
t r a g e d y . ”33 S y d n e y o n c e h a d a f l o u r i s h i n g j a z z p u s h , a b o u t
w h i c h J o h n C l a r e h a s w r i t t e n . 34 T h e r e w a s e v e n a n i n t e l l e c t u a l
b o h e m i a o f s o rts . A n n e C o o m b s d o c u m e n t e d th e S ydney
L ib e r ta r ia n s o f th e 5 0 s, fo llo w e rs o f t h e f r e e t h i n k i n g p h ilo s o ­
p h e r J o h n A n d e rs o n , w h o w e re b o h e m ia n in th e ir re fu s a l o f
a s u b u r b a n w o rk a n d le is u re e th ic , a n d p io n e e r s o f s e x u a l
p r a c tic e s s u c h a s c o h a b ita tio n a n d s e ria l m o n o g a m y t h a t s u b ­
s e q u e n t l y b e c a m e s u b u r b a n n o r m s . 35 B u t b o h e m i a is o n l y t h e
m o s t v is i b l e p a r t o f u r b a n e c u l t u r e . T h e i m a g e o f t h e w r i t e r
o r a r t i s t a s b o h e m i a n is p a r t o f o u r t h i r d n a t u r e , b u t w h a t ’s
l a c k i n g f r o m t h a t i m a g e is t h e d i v e r s i t y o f u r b a n e life .
B o h e m i a n s h a v e a r o m a n t i c v ie w o f li f e a s a r t a n d a r t a s a
life a p a r t f r o m w o r k - a - d a y b o r e d o m . U r b a n i t y s e e m s t o m e t o
b e a w a y o f lif e i n w h i c h r e f u s i n g a w o r k i n g li f e o r d e n i g r a t i n g
th e a lle g e d ly p o o r ta s te s o f s u b u r b ia a r e o n ly s o m e o f th e
o p t i o n s . C o n f r o n t i n g a n d o f f e n d i n g it, a s t h e O z m a g a z i n e
c r o w d d i d is a l s o a n o p t i o n . A n i r o n i c e m b r a c e o f it, a la C r a i g
M c G r e g o r is a l s o a n o p t i o n . A p p e a r i n g a s t a s t e m a k e r a n d
c o n s u m e r g u i d e f o r s u b u r b i a a s H Q M a g a z i n e d o e s is a l s o a n
o p t i o n . U r b a n i t y e m b r a c e s a ll o f t h e s e w a y s o f lif e . I t ’s o n e o f
t h e t h i n g s t h a t m a k e s i t u r b a n e . I t ’s n o t j u s t d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f
p e o p l e f r o m d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f c u l t u r e , i t ’s t h e m i x i n g o f d i f ­
f e r e n t c r i t e r i a o f ta s te t h a t m a k e u r b a n ity d is tin c tiv e .
W h a t d i s t i n g u i s h e s u r b a n i t y is t h a t i t e x p e r i m e n t s w i t h
n e w p r a c tic e s o f th e fa ir g o . A s trik in g in s ta n c e m ig h t b e th e
w ay u r b a n S y d n e y h a s b e e n th e s p a c e o f a n o n g o in g s tru g g le
to e x te n d to le r a n c e to h o m o s e x u a lity , w h ic h c u lm in a te d —
e v e n tu a lly — i n la w r e f o r m . I t s p u b l i c c u l t u r a l e x p r e s s i o n
w as th a t u n iq u e in s titu tio n , th e S y d n e y G ay a n d L e s b ia n
M a r d i G r a s . 36 T h e u r b a n e is t h e p r o p o s i t i o n a l e n g i n e o f
m o d e r n i t y — a n d w h e n m o d e r n i t y ’s r o u t i n e p r o d u c t i o n o f
th e new g e ts b o rin g , o f p o s tm o d e rn ity . U rb an e c u ltu re
g ro w s in c lo s e p ro x im ity to fl o w s o f in fo rm a tio n . The
e c o n o m y t h a t s u p p o r t s u r b a n i t y is o n e o f i n v e n t i n g a n d
m a n a g i n g fl o w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n , b e i t i n t h e f o r m o f i m a g e s
 bo h em ian s and urbanites

o r s to rie s , n e w s o r id e a s . T h e c o n v e r s a tio n s I r e p o r t e d f r o m
th e c o c k ta il p a r ty a r e a s o r t o f c ro s s -s e c tio n o f th e a n t h e a p
o f such an econom y.
I c a n ’t h e l p b u t s e e t h i n g s f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v ie w o f a n
u r b a n e lif e — i t ’s j u s t s e c o n d n a t u r e t o m e t o liv e a n d w o r k
i n s u c h a n e n v i r o n m e n t . I t ’s a p r e f e r e n c e f o r li v i n g c l o s e t o
th e r o a r i n g tr a f f ic o f i n f o r m a t io n . B u t i f I w a n t to u n d e r ­
s t a n d w h a t s u b u r b a n li f e is l i k e , o r w h a t b u s h li f e is l i k e , I
c a n n o t d o so fro m th e in s id e . I h a v e to e ith e r b e c o m e a
to u r is t, o r re ly o n in f o r m a t i o n I c a n g a t h e r f r o m o n e m e d ia
v e c to r o r a n o t h e r . I c o u l d g a t h e r s ta tis tic s , f o r e x a m p le , b u t
t h a t w o n ’t t e l l m e h o w i t f e e l s t o liv e a n o t h e r k i n d o f lif e .
W h a t m i g h t b e m o r e u s e f u l is t o d o w h a t e v e r y b o d y e l s e d o e s
w h e n t h e y w a n t t o k n o w a b o u t o t h e r p e o p l e ’s liv e s : l o o k a t
th e im a g e s and s to rie s about th e m th a t c o n s titu te its
c o m m o n w o rld .
A u s tr a lia n s w a tc h o n a v e ra g e th r e e h o u rs a n d th irte e n
m in u te s o f T V e v e ry day. A b o u t 8 3 % o f A u s tra lia n h o u s e ­
h o l d s o w n a V C R .37 M o s t A u s t r a l i a n h o m e s , a t l e a s t i n t h e
s u b u r b s a n d t h e t o w n s , a r e c l o s e t o a v i d e o r e n t a l s t o r e . I f i t ’s
a m a tte r o f e n jo in in g a c o n v e rs a tio n a b o u t th e fa te of
f o r t r e s s A u s tr a lia a f t e r t h e fa ll o f t h e A u s tr a lia n s e t t l e m e n t ,
v id e o a n d T V a r e th e v e c to r s t h a t m o s t r e a d ily tra v e rs e d if­
f e r e n t c u lt u r e s o f p la c e , i n f o r m i n g th e m w ith a c y b e r s p a c e .
T V a n d v id e o p r o v id e a c o m m o n th ir d n a tu r e o f in f o r m a ­
tio n , d e s p ite d iffe re n c e s in th e e x p e r ie n c e o f th e s e c o n d
n a tu r e o f th e b u ilt e n v iro n m e n t.
T h e s c r e e n , p a r tic u la r ly th e s m a ll s c r e e n , c a n b e a s n a r r o w
a n a p e r tu r e th r o u g h w h ic h to c o m m u n ic a te n e w in f o r m a ­
tio n as a m a g a z in e o r jo u rn a l. The TV c o m e d ia n Paul
M c D e r m o t t s u m s i t u p i n a v iv id a n e c d o t e : “I t ’s a m a z i n g t h e
a m o u n t o f b lu s h e r , r o u g e a n d f o u n d a tio n th e y p a i n t o n to
m a k e y o u l o o k l i f e l i k e f o r t h e c a m e r a s . T h a t ’s t h e t h i n g
a b o u t te le v is io n a n d p e r f o r m a n c e , i t ’s a n i l l u s i o n . I f y o u
d i d n ’t w e a r m a k e u p i t ’d b e p r e t t y s c a r y , l i k e t h o s e m o r n i n g s
w h e n y o u d r o p a c id a n d y o u r p u p ils a re e n la r g e d b e c a u s e
y o u ’r e a c c e p t i n g s o m u c h i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t y o u s e e a l a n d ­
s c a p e c o m p le te ly d if f e r e n t f r o m w h a t y o u n o r m a lly se e . V e ry
t r i c k y f o r e v e r y o n e a t h o m e . ”38 B u t a s m a n y p e o p l e w h o h a v e
been t r i p p i n g i n f r o n t o f t h e t e l e v i s i o n k n o w , t h e r e ’s s t ill
p le n ty o f in f o r m a tio n c o m in g d o w n th a t v e c to r to o v e rlo a d
subdivision cultures

t h e s e n s o r i u m . I t ’s j u s t a q u e s t i o n o f s u b v e r t i n g t h e h a b i t o f
f ilte rin g it o u t.
W h a t I w a n t t o d o i n t h e n e x t c h a p t e r is u s e s o m e t e l e v i s i o n
a n d film im a g e s f r o m th e 9 0 s a s th e p r e t e x t f o r p r o p o s in g a n
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h a t i t is a b o u t t h i s l a n d o f t h e l i t t l e k i n g s
th a t th e u n s p e a k a b le m a jo rity o f s u b u r b ia re s is t a n d r e s e n t
a n d r e f u s e . W h i l e I w o n ’t b e g e t t i n g s o m u c h i n f o r m a t i o n
o u t o f t h i s l a n d s c a p e t h a t i t w ill l o o k l i k e a n a c i d t r i p , I h o p e
a n o t i o n o r tw o a b o u t h o w t o t h i n k m o r e c r e a t i v e l y a n d p r o ­
d u c tiv e ly a b o u t th e f u tu r e m ig h t f lic k e r a c ro s s th e s c r e e n .
 14$

c h a p t e r 0

Screening suburbia
Australia is a huge rest home, where no unwelcome
news is ever wafted onto the pages o f the worst new s­
papers in the world.
Germaine Greer

Instead o f despising the suburbs we should work to

improve them.
Hugh Stretton

Suburban T elevision

O n c e , w h e n I w as a k id , I w a s w a lk in g d o w n a s u b u r b a n s tr e e t
a t n ig h t, w h e n I n o tic e d a rh y th m ic flic k e rin g o f lig h t fro m
i n s i d e t h e h o u s e s . T h o u g h s c r e e n e d f r o m v ie w b y t h e d r a w n
c u r t a i n s , t h e l i g h t s f r o m a r o w o f s e p a r a t e h o u s e s w e r e a ll
p u ls in g in tim e . A n d t h e n I h e a r d th e m u s ic a n d I k n e w :
e v e ry o n e w as w a tc h in g th e sa m e sh o w — N u m b e r 96. A t n ig h t
s u b u r b i a l o c k e d i ts d o o r s , t u r n e d it s b a c k o n t h e s t r e e t , a n d
w a tc h e d th e c o m m o n w o rld g o b y o n TV .
T h i s w a s a t h i r d n a t u r e i n w h i c h e x i s t e d t h e r u r a l li f e o f
B e llb ir d , a n d t h e s u b u r b a n d r a m a s o f C e r t a i n W o m e n . B u t i t w a s
t h e s lig h d y u r b a n e a n d c e r ta in ly r is q u e w o r ld o f N u m b e r 9 6
th a t p e o p le t u r n e d o n — a n d t h a t t u r n e d p e o p le o n . C h ris
M c A u l if f e is a p e r c e p t i v e c u l t u r a l h i s t o r i a n w h o , li k e T o f t s
a n d M c Q u ire , L u m b y a n d M a r s h a l l , is o f t h a t g e n e r a t i o n
r a i s e d o n t e l e v i s i o n . H e n o t e s t h a t w h i l e i n t h e 7 0 s “t e l e v i s i o n
screening suburbia

p e rs is te d in c o n tra s tin g c ity t o c o u n try in p r o g r a m s li k e

M a t l o c k a n d B e llb ir d , i t a l s o b e g a n , w i t h s e r i e s s u c h a s N u m b e r
9 6 a n d C e r t a i n W o m e n t o r e p r e s e n t u r b a n lif e a s a h e t e r o g e ­
n e o u s m i x o f a g e , g e n d e r , e t h n i c i t y a n d s e x u a l i t y . ”1
W h a t I r e m e m b e r a s d i s t i n c t i v e a b o u t N u m b e r 9 6 is t h a t i t
w a s a n a p a r t m e n t b l o c k r a t h e r l i k e t h e o n e i n w h i c h I l iv e d
a s a te e n a g e r in N e w c a s tle . I h a d a s u b u r b a n c h i l d h o o d , b u t
a n u r b a n a d o l e s c e n c e , w h i c h is p e r h a p s w h y I ’m s e n s i t i v e t o
th e d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e m . B u t in T V d r a m a it w a s r a r e to
se e m u c h a c k n o w le d g m e n t th a t th e u r b a n e v e n e x is te d —
e x c e p t o n N u m b e r 9 6 . S o m e o f t h e v o ic e s a n d c h a r a c t e r s o n
th e sh o w w e re s u b u rb a n e n o u g h . B u t th e n th e r e w as D o n ,
t h e g a y c h a r a c t e r , p l a y e d b y J o e H a s h a m . T h e r e w e r e n ’t a n y
g a y p e o p l e in m y b u ild in g , a s f a r a s I c o u l d te ll, b u t t h e r e
w e re som e e ls e w h e re in th e n e ig h b o u rh o o d . T hey kept
th e m s e lv e s to th e m s e lv e s , b u t N u m b e r 9 6 g a v e t h e m a n e x is ­
te n c e in p u b lic c u ltu r e , a n d m a d e th a t e x is te n c e s e e m to m e
lik e t h i r d n a t u r e .
A u s tra lia n te le v is io n o f th e 90s a ls o c re a te d a p u b lic
c u ltu r e d iv id e d in to u r b a n , s u b u r b a n and ru ra l z o n e s. It
in c lu d e d L es H id d in s , th e B u sh T u cker M a n . H e w as a ra re
im a g e o f th e s e lf-re lia n t, k h a k i in d iv id u a lis t w ith w h o m th e
B u lle tin o f t h e 1 8 9 0 s p o p u l a t e d t h e o u tb a c k . A r a t h e r m o r e
u r b a n e im a g e w as P a u l M c D e r m o tt, d o in g h is m o n o lo g u e a t
t h e s t a r t o f t h e A B C c o m e d y s h o w G o o d N e w s W eek, d r e s s e d i n
a V a le n tin o p in - s tr ip e s u it.2 M c D e r m o tt p la y e d h o s t to th is
g a m e f o r m a t s h o w w h i c h , i n t r u e u r b a n e s ty le , h a d n o g l i t ­
te r in g p riz e s . H is o p e n in g m o n o lo g u e , s c r ip te d b y s o m e o f
th e c o u n t r y ’s t o p j o k e w rite rs , s a tir is e d th e w e e k ’s n e w s
s to rie s , a d d in g a n ir o n ic la y e r to th e t e m p o r a r y in f o r m a tio n
o f th e m o m e n t. M c D e r m o tt e x c e lle d a t th is k in d o f u r b a n e
d i s p l a y o f v e r b a l s k ill, a n d a c c o r d i n g t o H Q M a g a z i n e j o u r ­
n a lis t A m r u th a S le e w a s a p p r o a c h e d by o n e o f th e m a jo r
p a r tie s to r u n f o r p a r lia m e n t.3
W h e re H id d in s w as la c o n ic , d ire c t and spoke b ro a d
A u s t r a l i a n ; M c D e r m o t t w a s w itty , i r o n i c a n d s p o k e t h e c u l t i ­
v a te d to n g u e . M c D e r m o t t ’s c e le b rity w as as u rb a n as
H id d in s ’ w as o u tb a c k . M c D e r m o tt d is p la y e d th e u ltim a te
u rb a n e q u a lit y , w h i c h is a m a s t e r y o f i n f o r m a t i o n about
i n f o r m a t i o n its e l f . H i d d i n s a p p e a r e d a s h a v i n g i n f o r m a t i o n
o n ly a b o u t th in g s in th e w o rld , a lth o u g h h e w o u ld p a u s e f o r
 su burban television

a s to ry , s h o u ld o n e b e r e q u i r e d to im m o r ta lis e t h e m e a n in g
o f a p la c e to p e r m a n e n t m e m o ry .
I n b e tw e e n th e f ig u r e s o f H id d in s in h is b u s h hat and
M c D e r m o tt w ith h is d e lic a te h a ir d o , w a s th e m a n in th e
s m a rt d e n im p a n t s a n d w o o l l y j u m p e r . T h e r e ’s s o m e t h i n g
s lig h tly o d d a b o u t p e o p l e c l u m p e d a r o u n d t h e i r te le v is io n s
i n t h e li v i n g r o o m a t n i g h t w a t c h i n g a s h o w a b o u t a m a n w h o
s t a n d s a r o u n d i n p e o p l e ’s b a c k y a r d s d u r i n g t h e d a y . W h a t I
f o u n d c u r i o u s a b o u t B u r k e ’s B a c k y a r d w a s t h e w a y a g a r d e n i n g
sh o w c o u ld e x p re s s so m u c h a b o u t th e s u b u r b a n id e a l o f th e
g o o d lif e .
T h e b r o a d c a s t e r A l l a n A s h b o l t w r o t e a b o u t S y d n e y ’s u p p e r
N o r th s h o r e g a r d e n s u b u r b s , a t a tim e w h e n th e V ie tn a m w a r
o b lig e d s u b u r b ia to c o m e to g r ip s w ith s o m e n e w in f o r m a ti o n
a b o u t th e w o rld . T h e s u b u r b a n , w r o te A s h b o lt, “...tr ie s to
e s ta b lis h a s y m b io tic r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith n a t u r e . T h r o u g h t h e
p r o c e s s o f c y c lic a l c h a n g e a n d tra n s fo rm a tio n , o f o rg a n ic
d e c a y a n d g ro w th , h e s e e k s a n e m o tio n a l e q u ilib r iu m d e n ie d
h im in th e d e v ita lis e d , m e c h a n is tic r o u tin e s o f f in a n c ia l, m e r ­
c a n tile a n d c u l t u r a l p o w e r c e n t r e s . T h e g a r d e n r e p r e s e n t s h is
o n e im p o r ta n t o p p o r tu n ity to u n d e r s ta n d th e m a in s p rin g s o f
c r e a tiv e e n e r g y a n d , f u r t h e r , to p r o je c t h is m o r a l im a g in a tio n ,
h is e s s e n tia l h u m a n ity , in to o b je c tiv e f o r m s .” T h e tr o u b le f o r
A s h b o l t ’s s u b u r b a n w a s t h a t “t h e g a r d e n s h o w s h i m t h e w a y t o
s e r e n i t y , b u t o n l y t h e c ity c a n b u y h i m t h e l e i s u r e t o c h o o s e
i t . ”4 I n B u r k e ’s B a c k y a r d , a l l s u c h q u a l m s a r e b a n i s h e d .
D o n B u r k e a p p e a r e d a s a b e a r d e d , m id d le - a g e d m a n w ith
a r e la x e d s ta n c e . H e u s u a lly p o p p e d u p in a y a rd , ta lk in g
f r o m s o m e b o d y ’s p r i v a t e w o r l d o f p l a n t s a n d p o t s , t a l k i n g t h e
c o m m o n la n g u a g e o f th e g a r d e n as a n e x p r e s s io n o f th e fa ir
g o . B u rk e p ra is e d g a r d e n s th a t s h o w e d o rig in a lity a n d c re ­
a tiv ity , b u t t h e s t r e s s w a s o n c r e a t i n g a p r i v a t e w o r l d b e h i n d
t h e f e n c e . C r e a t i v e f l a i r a s i d e , t h e f a i r g o is a b o u t s t a b i l i t y
a n d c o n s is te n c y , h a v in g a y a r d th a t, o v e r th e c o u r s e o f y e a rs,
b e c o m e s a w o r ld s e t a p a r t f r o m th e c o m m o n w o rld . I f th e r e
is s k ill a n d a b i l i t y i n t h i s s u b u r b i a i t is d e p l o y e d f o r t h e
b e n e f it o f th e s h ru b s .
I f th e r e w e re p e o p le fro m a c o m m o n w o rld h e r e th e y
a p p e a r e d a s ‘c e l e b r i t y g a r d e n e r s ’ — P o p p y K i n g o r P a u l i n e
H a n s o n s e e n o u ts id e t h e i r p u b lic r o le in b u s in e s s o r p o litic s .
W h a t w a s c u r i o u s w a s t h e w a y B u r k e ’s B a c k y a r d o f f e r e d a n
screening suburbia

i m a g e o f a p u b l i c li f e c o m p o s e d o f p r i v a t e p l a c e s a n d p a s ­
s io n s . B u r k e a p p e a r e d a s t h e p u b lic f ig u r e a s g a r d e n e r , a s
s o m e o n e w h o s h a r e s a s u b u r b a n d r e a m o f t e n d i n g o n e ’s o w n
p lo t, c o n tr o llin g a n d m a n a g in g a s ta b le w o rld b e h in d th e
fe n c e . It to o k s o m e a r t to c o m p o s e s u c h a n im a g e . E s tra n g e d
H a n s o n a d v is e r J o h n P a s q u a re lli a lle g e d th a t th e p o t p la n ts
P a u lin e a p p e a r e d w ith w e re n o t h e r ow n but had been
b o u g h t o n a $ 6 0 0 g o v e rn m e n t g ra n t fo r th e p u rp o s e s o f d e c ­
o r a t i n g h e r e le c to r a l o f f ic e .5
L e s H id d in s w e n t o u t in to th e n a tu r a l w o rld , w h e r e h e
d o e s n o t ju s t g a th e r ro o ts a n d b e rrie s , h e g a th e rs in fo rm a ­
t i o n a b o u t h o w t o liv e o f f t h e l a n d . P a u l M c D e r m o t t d i d n ’t
g o a n y w h e re m u c h b e y o n d th e c a b r id e f r o m h is h o m e to th e
A B C s t u d i o , b u t h i s s k ill w a s i n a p p e a r i n g t o b e a b r e a s t o f t h e
la te s t in f o r m a tio n s h e e tin g a lo n g th e v e c to rs . D o n B u r k e , by
c o n tr a s t, d id n o t g o o u t in to th e la r g e r w o rld , h e c r e a te d
m i n i a t u r e o n e s w i t h i n t h e f o r t r e s s o f t h e b a c k y a r d . T h i s is
t h e d i s t i n g u i s h i n g m a r k o f s u b u r b a n c u l t u r e : its d e s i r e t o
m a in ta in a s e p a r a te w o rld , in to w h ic h n e w in f o r m a tio n c a n
b e a l l o w e d o n l y s e le c tiv e ly . W h e t h e r i t is w h a t p l a n t s w ill b e
p e rm itte d to g ro w a lo n g th e b a c k p r o p e r ty lin e , o r w h a t
s h o w s t h e k i d s w ill b e a l l o w e d t o w a t c h o n T V , w h a t d i s t i n ­
g u i s h e s s u b u r b i a a s a c u l t u r e is le s s its p h y s i c a l f o r m o r l o c a ­
t i o n , a s its t e r r i t o r i a l a p p r o a c h t o i n f o r m a t i o n .
S u b u rb ia c a n r e a d a n d a c c e p t n e w in fo rm a tio n — as ev en
th e S ile n t M a jo r ity r e p o r t show ed. B u t i t d o e s s o slo w ly .
S u b u r b a n c u l t u r e is a m u s e u m o f p a s t m o d e s o f u r b a n i t y , fi l­
t e r e d o f a n y th in g to o friv o lo u s o r h a r e b r a in e d , b u t d e n u d e d
to o o f a c e r ta in c o m p le x ity a n d in n o v a tiv e s p irit. T h e d iffi­
c u l t y is t h a t t h e A u s t r a l i a n s e t t l e m e n t g o t c a u g h t i n t h e f l u x
o f v o l a t i l e g l o b a l e c o n o m i c a n d i n f o r m a t i o n flo w s , t o w h i c h
i t a d a p t e d t o o s lo w ly . T h e r e is a s i g n i f i c a n t l a g b u i l t i n t o t h e
b a c k y a r d c u l t u r e o f e v e r y d a y lif e .

N a tio n a l B ro a d ca stin g
On te le v is io n , th e u rb a n and su b u rb a n have im a g in a ry
h o m e l a n d s . T h e r e is a b i a s i n t e l e v i s i o n t o w a r d s t h e s u b ­
u r b a n — n o t s u r p r i s i n g g i v e n t h a t s u b u r b i a is t h e l o c u s f r o m
w h ic h m o s t te le v is io n sh o w s a r e r e a d . W h a t m i g h t b e a b it o f
a w o r r y t h o u g h is t h a t t e l e v i s i o n s e e m s t o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y
 national b ro a d ca s tin g

m ade by su b u rb a n s fo r su b u rb a n s, w ith o u t th e c re a tiv e

te n s io n o f a n u r b a n e c o n tr ib u tio n a t th e p r o d u c tio n e n d .
B y th e 9 0 s, s u b u r b ia c a p tu r e d e v e n th e A B C , w h ic h y o u
w o u ld th i n k w o u ld h a v e s o m e s e n s e o f d u ty to w a rd s tr y in g to
g e t n e w in fo rm a tio n p a s t th e h ig h p ass filte r o f s u b u rb a n
c u ltu re . T h e days a re lo n g g o n e w h e n an a n ti-s u b u rb a n
p r o v o c a t e u r lik e A lla n A s h b o lt c o u l d g e t to f e e d t h e v e c to r.
In th e 90s, th e A B C h a d n o th in g h a lf as b rillia n t as T he
S i m p s o n s , w h i c h is t r u l y a c l a s s ic w o r k o f t e l e v i s i o n a r t . I ts
u r b a n ity c a m e th r o u g h in th e a m b iv a le n t w ay it im a g in e d th e
A m e r ic a n s m a ll to w n w o r ld o f S p r in g f ie ld a s c a u g h t in a
c o m p l e x w e b o f i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l f o r c e s . I f t h e r e is n e w
in f o r m a tio n r e a c h in g u s th r o u g h te le v is io n in th e 9 0 s, it w as
m o r e li k e l y t h r o u g h T h e S i m p s o n s o n C h a n n e l 1 0 t h a n H e t t i e
W a in th r o p In v e s tig a te s o n t h e A B C .
In th e im a g in a ry h o m e la n d s o f th e A B C , K in g s C ro s s
a p p e a r e d a s a n i m a g e o f t h e u r b a n in t h e T V s e r ie s W ild sid e ,
w h ic h p ic tu r e d it as a g r im a n d c o lo u r f u l u n d e r w o r ld .6 I t w as
a s u b u r b a n im a g e o f th e u r b a n : th e u r b a n as th e p la c e o f
d a n g e r a n d c r im e . C o p s a n d s o c ia l w o r k e r s p a tr o l th is s in k
f o r a ll t h a t s u b u r b i a w o u ld lik e to im a g in e d ra in s aw ay
t o w a r d t h e c ity . I n o n e s t r i k i n g e p i s o d e , tw o c o n v i c t e d p a e ­
d o p h ile s b e c o m e th e s u s p e c ts in a c h ild a b d u c tio n . W h e n
t h e l i t t l e g i r l t u r n s u p d e a d , h e r f a t h e r c o r n e r s t h e tw o w i t h
a s h o t g u n o n t h e r o o f o f a n i n n e r c it y b u i l d i n g . O n e , i t t u r n s
o u t , is i n n o c e n t — b u t h e j u m p s t o h i s d e a t h , t i r e d o f a li f e
a s a p e r m a n e n t s u s p e c t . T h e o t h e r , w e d i s c o v e r , is g u ilty .
W h ile it m a y b e a g o o d th in g th a t in f o r m a tio n a b o u t se x u a l
a b u s e is o u t i n t h e o p e n , a t o p i c f o r t e l e v i s i o n d r a m a , w h a t
w a s s t r i k i n g is t h e w a y t h e p a e d o p h i l e a p p e a r e d a s a n u r b a n
p r e d a t o r , d e t a c h e d f r o m h o m e a n d fa m il y . S u b u r b i a is s till
n o t re a d y , it s e e m s, to p ro c e s s in f o r m a tio n a b o u t m o r e in ti­
m a t e f o r m s o f s e x u a l a b u s e , i n s i d e t h e fa m il y , t h e h o m e , t h e
n e i g h b o u r h o o d . I n A B C T V ’s s u b d i v i s i o n s , c r i m e c o m e s t o
th e s u b u rb fro m w i t h o u t . S u b u r b i a is a n e u t r a l , i n n o c e n t ,
s e lf-c o n ta in e d , s e lf-a b s o rb e d w o r ld th a t c a n a c c e p t in f o r m a ­
tio n a b o u t th e w o r ld a t la r g e , p r o v id e d te le v is io n o b s e rv e s
t h e c o n v e n t i o n o f s e e i n g e v il a s s o m e t h i n g e x t e r n a l t o its
w o r l d . E v il is s o m e t h i n g b a n i s h e d i n w a r d s , i n W i l d s i d e t o t h e
c ity , o r o u t w a r d s , t o t h e p e r i p h e r y , a s i n m o v i e s l i k e I d i o t B o x ,
T h e B o y s , a n d G e o f f r e y W r i g h t ’s M e t a l S k i n . 7
screening suburbia

T h is s u b u r b a n p ic tu r e o f th e u r b a n w as n o t n e c e s s a rily a n y
m o re a c c u ra te th a n u rb a n im a g e s of th e su b u rb a n .
‘R e p r e s e n t a t i o n ’ is n o t r e a l l y t h e p o i n t . I f w e w a n t t o c r i t i q u e
m e d i a i m a g e s f o r t h e i r l a c k o f r e a lit y , t h i s is p r e t t y e a s y s p o r t ,
f o r n o i m a g e is e v e r e q u a l t o t h a t w h i c h i t r e p r e s e n t s . W h a t ’s
m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g is t o t h i n k a b o u t h o w p e o p l e u s e t h e s e
im a g e s to m a p th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n d if f e r e n t k in d s o f
p la c e th a t s ta n d as e m b le m s o f w ays o f li f e . H ow , fo r
e x a m p le , w o u ld a 1 9 9 8 A B C v ie w e r t h i n k a b o u t h e r o r h is
p la c e in th e w o rld in re la tio n to W i l d s id e , o n W ednesday
n ig h t , a n d Sea C h a n g e , o n S a tu rd a y s ?
S ea C h a n g e p ic t u r e d a s m a ll c o a s ta l to w n a s a r u r a l v e rs io n
o f c o m m u n i t a r i a n p a r a d is e .8 A w o r ld p e o p l e d w ith q u ir k y
c h a r a c t e r s w h o h a v e t h e i r p e t t y h a t r e d s o f e a c h o t h e r b u t s till
f o r m a c o m m u n i t y . W e s e e i t m o s t l y f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v ie w o f
L a u ra (S ig rid T h o rn to n ), a f o r m e r b ig c ity la w y e r w h o
b e c o m e s t h e t o w n m a g i s t r a t e . I t ’s a s h o w v e r y m u c h c e n t r e d
a r o u n d L a u r a ’s p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e j u d g e m e n t s . I t is h a r d l y a n
a c c u r a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f s m a l l t o w n li f e , o r a n y t h i n g e ls e .
R a t h e r , i t is a n e x p r e s s i o n o f t h a t s t r o n g d e s i r e , i n a s u b u r b a n
w o r ld p e r c e iv e d to b e u n d e r s ie g e f r o m n e w in f o r m a tio n , to
r e tr e a t to th e c o u n try .
W h e re W ild s id e w a s a su b u rb a n v ie w o f t h e u r b a n , Sea
C h a n g e w a s a n u r b a n v ie w o f t h e r u r a l . O r r a t h e r , o f a r e n e w a l
o f a r e la x e d a n d c o m fo rta b le re la tio n to in f o r m a tio n th a t
s u b u rb ia m ig h t a c q u ire fro m th is fa n ta s y o f th e r u r a l. B u t
p e r h a p s t h e r e w a s s o m e t r u t h i n S a m u e l J o h n s o n ’s j u d g e ­
m e n t o n t h o s e w h o l e a v e to w n f o r t h e c o u n t r y : ‘T h e u t m o s t
t h e y c a n h o p e t o g a i n is t h e c h a n g e o f r i d i c u l o u s n e s s t o
o b s c u r i t y , a n d t h e p r i v i l e g e o f h a v i n g f e w e r w i t n e s s e s t o a lif e
o f f o lly .”9
I f t h e r e w a s a p o s itiv e im a g e o f th e u r b a n a s a p la c e a n d th e
u r b a n e a s a c u ltu r e in A B C d r a m a o f in th e 9 0 s it w a s o n
H e a r t b r e a k H i g h . '0 W i t h it s w e e k n i g h t s ix o ’c l o c k t i m e s l o t , f e w
w o r k i n g a d u l t s w e r e p r o b a b l y e v e n a w a r e o f i ts e x i s t e n c e . A t
le a s t h e r e th e A B C m a n a g e d to p r o d u c e a n im a g e o f th e
u r b a n s u b d i v i s i o n o f i m a g i n a r y s p a c e t h a t w a s n ’t a b o u t g r i t
a n d g r i m e , c r i m e a n d c h a o s . T h e s h o w f o l l o w e d its d i v e r s e
ra n g e o f y o u n g c h a r a c te r s f ro m th e s c h o o ly a rd to a r a n g e o f
e n c o u n te r s o n th e f r in g e s o f a n u r b a n w o rld . A p r e d ic ta b le
s tr a in o f m o r a lis in g a s id e , th e e m p h a s is w as o n e n c o u n te r s
 c a s t l e s in t h e s t r e a m

th a t r e q u ir e n e w w ays o f a d a p tin g to n e w in f o r m a tio n . W h ile

a s u b u r b a n is e d A B C c o u ld e x p re s s th e a d a p ta b ility o f th e
y o u n g , it e x e m p te d s u b u r b a n a d u lts .

C astles in the S tr e a m
I n th e A u s tra lia n s p a tia l im a g in a tio n , s u b u r b ia r u n s in b a n d s
a r o u n d a n u r b a n c o r e . L ik e th e r in g s o f S a tu r n , th e y a r e
fin e ly g r a d e d o r b its o f p a r tic le s , s u r r o u n d i n g a n u r b a n b a ll
o f h o t a ir . O u t b e y o n d t h a t l ie s e m p t y s p a c e . T h e l a r g e r a n d
r ic h e r a n d d e n s e r p a r tic le s c lu s te r c lo s e in th e i n n e r rin g s ,
a n d b y f i n e l y g r a d e d d e g r e e s t h e y b e c o m e le s s r i c h a n d m o r e
s p a rs e o n th e w ay o u t to n o th in g n e s s .
T h e m o v ie t h a t e p ito m is e d th e s u b u r b ia o f th e o u t e r r in g s
i n t h e 9 0 s w a s T h e C a s tle . I t t e l l s t h e s t o r y o f t h e K e r r i g a n
fa m il y , w h o liv e a t n u m b e r 3 H i g h v i e w C r e s c e n t , C o o l a r o o . 11
D a le K e r r ig a n ( S te p h e n C u r r y ) n a r r a te s a fa m ily fa b le a b o u t
a n e n c o u n t e r w ith th e u n k n o w n w o r ld o f b ig b u s in e s s a n d
b ig g o v e r n m e n t. D a le in tr o d u c e s u s to th e K e r r ig a n s , a n d to
t h e ir h o m e a t H ig h v ie w C r e s c e n t. T h r o u g h o u t th e m o v ie ,
c o n s p ic u o u s s ig n s p r o lif e r a te o f th e o u t e r s u b u r b a n c u ltu r e
to w h ic h th e K e r r ig a n s b e lo n g . B u t w h ile t h e v is u a l r e p e r ­
to ire o f th e film e n c o u ra g e s th e a u d ie n c e to read th e
K e r r ig a n s a s v e ry c u ltu r a lly s p e c ific , a s lo c a te d in a n o u t e r
b a n d o f th e s u b u r b a n rin g s o f S a tu r n , th e s to ry c u ts th r o u g h
t h i s r i n g t o r e v e a l i t w o r k s i n a v e r y d i f f e r e n t w ay . I f t h e v i s u a l
w o r l d o f t h e f i l m m a k e s t h e K e r r i g a n s i n t o a l m o s t e v e r y o n e ’s
id e a o f o u te r s u b u r b a n ta s te , th e n a r r a tiv e w o r ld m a k e s o f
th e m a h e r o ic e x p r e s s io n o f a n o b ility t h a t c ro s s e s th e d is ­
tin c tio n s b e tw e e n th e b a n d s o f s u b u r b a n c u ltu r e .
T h e K e r r i g a n s liv e n e a r t h e a i r p o r t , r i g h t u n d e r t h e f l i g h t
p a th . O ne day a p ro p e rty v a lu e r a p p e a rs, and D a rry l
K e rrig a n (M ic h a e l C a to n ) p ro u d ly sh o w s h im a r o u n d h is
p r i d e a n d jo y , t h e h o u s e h is fa m ily h a s m a d e a h o m e , a n d to
w h ic h h e c o n tin u a lly a d d s e x te n s io n s th a t s e e m n e v e r q u ite
t o g e t f i n i s h e d . T h e p r o p e r t y is a n i g h t m a r e o f w h a t t h e
a rc h ite c tu re c ritic R o b in B oyd c a lle d “f e a t u r i s m ”, w h i c h
“ ...m a y b e d e fin e d as th e s u b o rd in a tio n o f th e e s s e n tia l
w h o l e a n d t h e a c c e n t u a t i o n o f s e l e c t e d s e p a r a t e f e a t u r e s . ”12
I t d is p la y s e v e r y th in g B o y d w o u ld h a v e l o a t h e d a b o u t o u t e r
s u b u r b a n ta s te . D a r r y l p o in ts to th e fa k e c h im n e y w ith p a r ­
screening suburbia

tic u la r p r id e , as it a d d s , in h i s e s t i m a t i o n , “c h a r m . ” T h e
in c r e d u lo u s lo o k o f th e v a lu e r p e r m its th e a u d ie n c e to ta k e
th is iro n ic a lly a n d s id e w ith th e v a lu e r a g a in s t th e e x c e s s e s o f
o u t e r s u b u r b a n ta s te , p la c in g th e m s e lv e s in a n i n n e r s u b ­
u r b a n lo c u s o f s u p e r io r ta s te a n d k n o w le d g e .
T h e v a l u a t i o n , i t s o o n t u r n s o u t , is f o r t h e c o m p u l s o r y
a c q u is itio n o f th e p ro p e rty b y a g ia n t c o n s o rtiu m c a lle d
A ir lin k , w h o w a n t t o b u i l d a f r e i g h t h a n d l i n g fa c ility o n t h e
la n d . A irlin k h a v e th e a u th o r ity to b u y u p th e w h o le s tre e t,
and th e K e rrig a n s fin d th a t th e e ld e rly r e tir e d m a n , th e
d iv o r c e e a n d th e A r a b fa m ily th e y s h a r e t h e s t r e e t w ith a r e
a ls o to lo s e t h e i r h o m e s . D a r r y l re s o lv e s to f ig h t th is , a n d
ta k e s h is c a s e to th e lo c a l c o u n c il. I n a te llin g r e m a r k , h e
r e s p o n d s to th e s y m p a th e tic n o is e s o f th e c o u n c il o f f ic e r b y
a s k i n g , i n a n i m p a t i e n t t o n e , “w ill y o u p l e a s e s t o p p r e t e n d i n g
to b e o n m y s id e .” H o w e v e r w e m i g h t r e a d t h e d o u b t f u l ta s te
a n d c l o s e d w o r l d o f t h e K e r r i g a n s , i t ’s h a r d t o f e e l s y m p a t h y
fo r th e c o m p le te d is re g a rd a u th o rity sh o w s th e m .
D a rry l e n lis ts th e h e lp o f lo c a l s o lic ito r D e n n is D e n u to
( T ir ie l M o r a ) to ta k e h is c a se to c o u r t. W e s e e D e n n is in h is
su b u rb a n s o l i c i t o r ’s o f f i c e , s w e a rin g at th e p h o to c o p ie r,
w h ic h h e n e v e r q u ite m a n a g e s to g e t w o r k in g . D e n n is h a s h is
h e a r t i n t h e r i g h t p l a c e , b u t h e l a c k s t h e s k ill w i t h i n f o r m a ­
t i o n t o g e t t h e K e r r i g a n ’s c a s e a c r o s s . “I n s u m m i n g u p ”, h e
a d d re sse s th e ju d g e , “i t ’s t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n , i t ’s M a b o , i t ’s
j u s t i c e , i t ’s la w , i t ’s t h e v i b e . N o , t h a t ’s it, i t ’s t h e v i b e . ” T h e
ju d g e , p la y e d s tra ig h t by th e d is tin g u is h e d a c to r R obyn
N e v i n , is u n i m p r e s s e d .
W h ile w a itin g f o r th e j u d g e m e n t, D a rry l s trik e s u p a c o n ­
v e r s a tio n w ith a n o t h e r m a n w a itin g a r o u n d th e c o u r tr o o m ,
L a u r e n c e H a m m il, o r L a u r ie , a s D a r r y l im m e d ia te ly s ta rts
c a l l i n g h i m . L a u r i e ( p l a y e d b y v e t e r a n a c t o r C h a r l e s ‘B u d ’
T i n g w e l l ) is a t t h e c o u r t h o u s e t o w a t c h h i s s o n ’s f i r s t a p p e a r ­
a n c e as a b a r r is te r . D a rry l, w h o a d d r e s s e s L a u r ie w ith th e
o p e n n e s s a n d e q u a lity th a t b e fits a m a te , s h a r e s h is o w n
s e n s e o f p r id e in th e a c h ie v e m e n t o f h is d a u g h te r T ra c e y ,
w h o g r a d u a te d fro m th e h a ird re s s in g c o u rs e a t th e te c h n ic a l
c o lle g e , th e f ir s t K e r r ig a n w ith a te r tia r y q u a lif ic a tio n . T h e
c o n v e r s a t i o n e n d s a b o u t t h e r e , a s D a r r y l is s u m m o n e d b a c k
to h e a r th e b a d n e w s, th a t h e h a s lo s t th e c a s e a n d th e
K e r r i g a n s w il l b e t h r o w n o u t o f t h e i r h o u s e i n tw o w e e k s .
 c a s t l e s in t h e s t r e a m

J u s t w h e n a l l a p p e a r s lo s t , a n d t h e K e r r i g a n s a r e p a c k i n g
u p t h e i r a p p a llin g ly ta c k y c o lle c t io n o f s tu ff, L a u r ie a p p e a r s .
H e is, i t t u r n s o u t , a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l la w y e r. H e t h i n k s t h e
K e rrig a n s h a v e a c a se . L a u rie p u ts it to th e H ig h C o u r t th a t
u n d e r S e c tio n 51 o f th e C o n s titu tio n , th e g o v e r n m e n t c a n
o n l y a c q u i r e s o m e o n e ’s p r o p e r t y “o n j u s t t e r m s ”. A i r l i n k ’s
o f f e r t o c o m p e n s a t e t h e K e r r i g a n s f o r t h e lo s s o f t h e i r h o u s e
is n o t j u s t , b e c a u s e t h a t h o u s e is a l s o a h o m e , a n d t h e p r i c e
of a hom e cannot be assessed by a p ro p e rty v a lu e r.
“C o m p e t i n g rig h ts cannot be w e ig h e d , one a g a in s t th e
o t h e r ”, h e a r g u e s . S o c i a l j u s t i c e is a b i t m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d
t h a n p u t t i n g a p r i c e o n t h i n g s . V a l u i n g g o o d s is n o t t h e s a m e
a s v a l u i n g t h e f a i r g o . ‘T h a t ’s w h a t t h i s is a l l a b o u t , b e i n g
ju s t.”
The C a s tle p ro p o se s th a t no le s s a fo rc e th a n th e
C o n s titu tio n g u a ra n te e s th e rig h t o f s u b u rb ia to re s is t
c h a n g e f r o m w i t h o u t . I f t h e r e is t o b e c h a n g e , i t m u s t b e “o n
j u s t t e r m s ”. I t c a n n o t s i m p l y d i s p o s s e s s p e o p l e w h o h a v e
d o n e n o h a r m o th e r th a n in r e m a in in g s o m e w h a t in s u la te d ,
w ith in th e ir s u b u r b a n c a s tle , f r o m th e fo rc e s a t w o rk in a
w id e r w o rld . R e g a r d le s s o f th e d e g r e e o f ir o n y w ith w h ic h w e
m i g h t b e i n v i t e d t o r e a d t h e K e r r i g a n ’s t a s t e , t h e r e is l i t t l e
doubt th a t th e e m o tio n a l p u ll of The C a stle is to w a rd
e x t e n d i n g o u r s y m p a t h y t o t h e K e r r i g a n s . I f t h e r e is t o b e
c h a n g e , it s h o u ld r e s p e c t th e rig h ts e v e n o f o u te r s u b u rb ia .
A ir lin k c a n b u i l d t h e i r f r e i g h t h a n d l i n g fa c ility o n t h e s ite o f
t h e o l d q u a r r y , w h i c h m i g h t c o s t m o r e f i n a n c i a l l y b u t w ill
c o s t le s s in h u m a n t e r m s . C h a n g e h a s to b e n e g o t i a t e d r a t h e r
th a n im p o s e d .
S y m p a t h y is, i n T h e C a s tle , w h a t a c c u m u l a t e s a s t h e f a b l e
u n fo ld s . W h e n h is d a u g h t e r T r a c e y m a r r ie s C o n , w e se e
D a r r y l ’s s p e e c h a t t h e r e c e p t i o n , i n w h i c h h e m a k e s t a s t e l e s s
j o k e s a b o u t t h e G r e e k s , w h o , h e s a y s , “h a v e a b i t o f a r e p u t a ­
t i o n .” B u t th r o u g h th e p r iv a te c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n h is o w n
fa m ily h e c o m e s to a c c e p t C o n a n d t h e P e tr o p o lis fa m ily b y
e x t e n d i n g t h e s y m p a t h y h e f e e l s f o r h i s fa m ily . W h e n i t t u r n s
o u t th e w h o le o f H ig h v ie w C r e s c e n t s u f f e r th e s a m e f a te as
th e K e rrig a n s , h e c o n ta c ts th e m a ll, o r g a n is e s t h e co u rt
a c tio n o n t h e i r j o i n t b e h a l f , a n d p u t s u p p o o r o l d J a c k ’s
s h a r e o f t h e c o s ts . S y m p a t h y n e e d n o t s t o p a t o u t e r s u b u r b i a .
“I ’m r e a l l y s t a r t i n g t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w t h e A b o r i g i n e s f e e l ”,
screening suburbia

D a r r y l e x c la im s a t h is lo w e s t e b b , r e c o g n is in g t h a t th e y w e r e
d i s p o s s e s s e d o f t h e i r l a n d o n u n j u s t t e r m s t o o . A n d i t is t h e
s y m p a t h y L a u r i e f e e l s f o r D a r r y l , w h o is a n i c e b l o k e a n d
m e a n s w e l l, b u t c a n n o t c o m p r e h e n d w h a t is h a p p e n i n g t o
h i m . H i s s y m p a t h y is f o r s o m e o n e w h o l a c k s a k i n d o f i n f o r ­
m a t i o n t h a t h a s s u d d e n l y b e c o m e v ita l.
I n f o r m a t i o n is a r e c u r r i n g t h e m e o f t h e m o v i e . “W h a t d o
you know a b o u t le a d ? ” D a rry l ask s th e p r o p e r ty v a lu e r.
A p p a r e n t l y t h e r e is t o x i c w a s t e u n d e r t h e s i t e s o m e w h e r e ,
b u t D a r r y l k n o w s n o t h i n g a b o u t it. A f t e r t h e K e r r i g a n c a s e
m akes h im fa m o u s, D e n n is w ill re p re se n t th e p e o p le
a ffe c te d b y th e le a d to o . W h e n C o n a n d T ra c e y , (p la y e d by
E ric B a n a a n d S o p h ie L e e ) r e t u r n f r o m a tr ip to T h a ila n d ,
t h e K e r r i g a n s c a n ’t w a i t t o g e t i n f o r m a t i o n o u t o f t h e m , f o r
n o b o d y i n t h e f a m i l y h a s t r a v e l l e d i n a p l a n e b e f o r e . ‘T h e
p l a c e is f u l l o f c u l t u r e ”, C o n t e l l s t h e m . “C h o c k a s ”, c o n f i r m s
T r a c e . W h e n T r a c e y te lls h e r m u m (A n n e T e n n e y ) th a t sh e
is “n o t h a v i n g k i d s u n t i l s h e is a t l e a s t 2 3 ”, S a l r e m a r k s , “t i m e s
h av e c h a n g e d .”
T h in g s m a y n o t h a v e c h a n g e d as m u c h h e r e in o u te r s u b ­
u r b i a a s a m o n g p e o p l e w h o m i g h t f e e l t h e y a r e a r i n g o r tw o
c lo s e r in th a n th e K e rrig a n s , b u t th e K e rrig a n s a r e n e ith e r
s tu p id n o r c o m p l e t e l y ill i n f o r m e d . T h e y liv e u n d e r t h e
f l i g h t p a t h b u t u n t i l T r a c e y a n d C o n ’s h o n e y m o o n , h a v e n o t
tra v e lle d a n y w h e re — e x c e p t f o r s o n W a y n e w h o w e n t to ja il.
T h e y liv e o n t h e e d g e o f t h e v e c t o r , b u t l a c k t h e m e a n s t o
p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e m o v e m e n t b u s d i n g a b o u t it. D a r r y l d r i v e s
a to w t r u c k , s o h i s w h o l e l i f e is a b o u t t h e a c c i d e n t s g e n e r a t e d
b y m o v e m e n t . T h e C a s t le e x p r e s s e s t h e p r e d i c a m e n t o f s u b ­
u rb ia , a b o u t to b e A irlin k e d in to th e w o rld b y g lo b a lis a tio n ;
it e x p re s s e s a s y m p a th y th a t c a n c u t a c ro s s th e s tr a tif ic a tio n
o f s u b u r b ia w h e n c o n f r o n te d w ith c h a n g e , a n d it e x p r e s s e s
t h e t e r m s o n w h i c h c h a n g e is a c c e p t a b l e — “o n j u s t t e r m s . ”

Suburban C inem a

A u s tr a lia n c i n e m a t h r o u g h o u t th e 9 0 s a ls o p r o p o s e d m o r e
t r o u b l e d a n d t r o u b l i n g i m a g e s o f s u b u r b i a t h a n T h e C a stle . P.
J . H o g a n ’s m o v i e M u r i e l ’s W e d d i n g is a b o u t l e a v i n g a p r o v i n ­
c i a l , s u b u r b a n w o r l d a n d c o m i n g t o t h e c it y .13 M u r i e l ( T o n i
C o lle tte ) w a n ts to g e t o u t o f P o r p o is e S p it, w h e r e h e r f a t h e r
 suburban cinema

B ill ‘T h e B a t t l e r ’ H e s l o p ( p l a y e d b y B ill H u n t e r ) r e i g n s a s
t h e l o c a l p o l i t i c a l b o s s . M u r i e l h a s n ’t h a d a j o b i n tw o y e a r s .
S h e f i n d s b o t h h e r p e e r s a n d h e r f a m i l y o p p r e s s i v e . “I k n o w
I ’m n o t n o r m a l b u t I ’m t r y i n g t o c h a n g e . "
M u r i e l h a s h e r o w n s ty le , b u t t h e r e is n o p l a c e f o r i t i n
P o r p o is e S p it. S h e ta k e s o f f f o r S y d n e y , w h e r e s h e a c h ie v e s
h e r a m b i t i o n o f b e c o m i n g s o m e o n e . “N o w m y lif e is a s g o o d
a s a n A B B A s o n g ! ” S h e g e t s h e r f a c e o n t h e c o v e r o f W o m a n ’s
D a y . B u t a f t e r a f e w d i v e r s i o n s , s h e f i n d s t h a t t h e g o o d lif e
m e a n s b e in g w ith h e r f r ie n d R h o n d a (R a c h e l G r if f ith s ) . S h e
f in d s a w a y o f life f o r h e r s e l f in a n u r b a n e w o r ld . T h e film
e m b o d ie s s o m e k e y u r b a n e v a lu e s : f r ie n d s h ip e x t e n d e d to
s tr a n g e r s ; t h e r i g h t o f s e lf - in v e n tio n ; t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f life a s
s ty le ; a s u b t l e a n d c o n t i n g e n t p r o c e s s o f i n v e n t i n g n e w v e r ­
s io n s o f th e f a ir g o o u t o f th e v ir tu a l le x ic o n o f c u ltu r e .
A v e ry d if f e r e n t k in d o f 9 0 s m o v ie a b o u t a v e ry d if f e r e n t
k i n d o f f r i e n d s h i p is D a v i d C e a s a r ’s I d i o t B o x . M i c k ( J e r e m y
S im s ) a n d K e v ( B e n M e n d e l s o h n ) a r e tw o f r i n g e s u b u r b a n
li k e l y l a d s , u n e m p l o y e d a n d b o r e d . 14 M i c k h a s u r b a n e t e n ­
d e n c i e s . H e m a k e s u p p o e m s t h a t e v e r y o n e t e l l s h i m a r e n ’t
p o e m s , b e c a u s e t h e y d o n ’t r h y m e . E v e r y o n e ’s a c r i t i c . “I
r e c k o n i f y o u s a y s o m e t h i n g is a p o e m , t h e n i t i s ”, sa y s M ic k ,
s p o n ta n e o u s ly in v e n tin g c o n c e p tu a l a r t f o r h im s e lf.
K ev h a s o t h e r id e a s . W a tc h in g a n e w s s to r y a b o u t a b a n k
r o b b e r o n T V , h e h a tc h e s a p la n to r o b a b a n k . T h e y a r e
a r m e d w i t h M i c k ’s c o n c e p t , d i s t i l l e d f r o m y e a r s o f T V c o p
s h o w s , a b o u t t h e fiv e w a y s r o b b e r s g e t c a u g h t . T h i s s t o r y r u n s
in p a ra lle l to th a t o f th e su c c e ssfu l bank ro b b e r w ho,
u n k n o w n t o K e v a n d M ic k , liv e s n e a r b y . H i s p r o b l e m is t h a t
h i s j u n k i e w if e p u t s s o m u c h o f t h e t a k e u p h e r a r m t h a t h e
h a s to k e e p r o b b in g b a n k s to k e e p h e r g o in g .
A s L a b o r p a rlia m e n ta ria n M a rk L a th a m p o in ts o u t, th e r e
w e re m a r k e d ly in c r e a s in g s p a tia l in e q u a litie s a c ro s s s u b u r b ia
i n t h e 9 0 s . 15 T h i s is p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t i c e a b l e i n S y d n e y , w i t h it s
c la s s d i v i d e b e t w e e n t h e m o r e a f f l u e n t c o a s t a l p o c k e t s i n t h e
e a s t, n o r t h a n d s o u th , a n d a v a st w e s te r n p e r i p h e r y in w h ic h
th e re a r e s e r i o u s p o c k e t s o f p o v e r t y . I d i o t B o x is a b l a c k
p a r o d y o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h i n s u b u r b a n c u l t u r e , w i t h its
p a r a lle l s to rie s o f su c c e ssfu l a n d u n su c c e ssfu l o u te r su b ­
u r b a n li f e . T h e s u c c e s s f u l , s k i l l e d , p r o f e s s i o n a l b a n k r o b b e r
cooks a ro a st d in n e r fo r h is ju n k ie w ife . M e a n w h ile ,
screening suburbia

u n s k ille d , u n e m p lo y e d c h a ra c te rs p lo t an a m a te u ris h
a t t e m p t a t b r e a k i n g in to t h e s a m e in d u s tr y , b u t fa il t h r o u g h
t h e i r l a c k o f s k ill. K e v ’s m u m sa y s o f h i m w h a t M u r i e l ’s d a d
sa y s o f h e r — “u s e l e s s . ” M u r i e l s u c c e e d s i n i n v e n t i n g , a t l e a s t
fo r h e rs e lf, a u se . K e v f a il s . B o t h have m uch th e sam e
r e s o u r c e s t o g o o n : w h a t e v e r t h e m e d i a to s s e s u p o n t h e i r
f r o n t la w n s a n d c h u c k s i n t o t h e l i v i n g r o o m .
T h e s e tw o m o v i e s a r e e x a m p l e s o f t h e s o r t o f t h i n g s t h e
m e d ia p r o p o s e s to a p u b lic — in th is c a se , p r o p o s itio n s
a b o u t t h e w ays o u t o f s u b u r b ia . I n te r e s tin g ly , b o t h a r e a ls o
a b o u t w ays o f u s in g th e m e d ia its e lf a s a r e s o u r c e f r o m w h ic h
t o d r a w p r o p o s a l s . A s t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d d r u g d e a l e r sa y s
a b o u t h i s o w n ‘i d i o t b o x ’, “y o u c a n s i t h o m e a n d s e e e v e r y ­
th in g in th e w o rld a n d s e e h o w it w o rk s. W h o le w o rld s in a
b o x in y o u r r o o m .” I f b a n k r o b b in g w as n o t s u c h a g o o d p r o ­
p o s a l f o r K e v to ta k e u p , M ic k a t le a s t l e a r n e d h o w to g o
d o w n o n h is g ir lf r ie n d th a n k s to v id e o s . W h a t k e e p s M u rie l
g o i n g w h i l e h e r f a t h e r t e l l s h e r s h e is u s e l e s s is h e r A B B A
ta p e , w h ic h p ro p o s e s to h e r a n o th e r k in d o f fa ir g o , a n d
w h i c h e n a b l e s h e r t o s e e k o u t a l i f e “a s g o o d a s ‘D a n c i n g
Q u e e n ’. ”
B o t h I d i o t B o x a n d M u r i e l ’s M a d d in g p l a y w i t h a t h i r d n a t u r e
o f s u b u r b a n im a g e s t h a t p r e v io u s m o v ie s a n d T V sh o w s a n d
m a g a z in e a r tic le s p r o p o s e d a n d w h ic h h a v e b e c o m e p a r t o f
a p u b lic w o rld . T h e y re ly o n s u b u r b ia a s th e ir e n a b lin g fa b le .
S u b u r b i a is a c o m p l e x o f i m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s a s m u c h a s ,
p e r h a p s m o r e t h a n , a n y a c t u a l p l a c e . ‘S u b u r b i a ’ m a d e t h e
e x p e r ie n c e o f a s u b u r b ta n g ib le a n d a rg u a b le ; a n d b y fe e lin g
a n d a r g u in g th r o u g h s u c h fa b le s , p e o p le m a d e th e m re a l. I n
p a r tic ip a tin g in th e p ro c e s s , a p e o p le b e c a m e a p u b lic . A s
John H a rtle y s a y s, s u b u r b i a is “a n im a g e -s a tu ra te d p la c e
w h i c h is b o t h i n t e n s e l y p e r s o n a l ( i n s i d e p e o p l e ’s h o m e s a n d
h e a d s ) a n d e x t e n s i v e l y a b s t r a c t ”, i t is “a p l a c e w h e r e p e o p l e
m a k e t h e m s e l v e s ”. 16
B u t u n lik e H a rtle y , I a m n o t so s u r e t h a t A u s tr a lia n s c a n
c o n t i n u e t o liv e w i t h i n t h e e n a b l i n g f a b l e o f s u b u r b i a . I t h a s
not been a fle x ib le enough sp ace fo r s e lf-in v e n tio n .
U n c e r ta in tie s a n d in s e c u ritie s g e n e r a te d b y th e e c o n o m ic
r a tio n a lis a tio n o f th e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s p r o d u c e d n e w im a g e s a n d
s to rie s th a t m a d e th e o ld s u b u r b a n d r e a m s e e m u n s ta b le a n d
u n s u s ta in a b le . A m o v ie lik e T h e B o ys p o in ts to a q u ite d if­
 beyond suburbia

f e r e n t k in d o f p ro p o s itio n a b o u t s u b u rb ia , as s o m e th in g
t h r e a t e n e d a n d t h r e a t e n i n g . 17 E v e n m o r e t h a n I d i o t B o x , t h i s
is a c o u n t e r - f a b l e o f s u b u r b i a w i t h n o w a y o u t .
A s U n iv e rs ity o f W e s te r n S y d n e y a c a d e m ic D ia n e P o w e ll
a r g u e s , i n t h e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s ‘t h e w e s t ’ a n d ‘t h e w e s t i e ’, t h e
p l a c e a n d t h e p e o p l e o f S y d n e y ’s w e s t e r n s u b u r b s , b e c a m e
i m a g e s o f s u b u r b i a g o n e w r o n g . T h e y w e r e “t h e a r e a s c o n ­
s t r u c t e d a s p r o b l e m s a n d t h e i r p e o p l e a s v i c t i m s ." 18 W h i l e n o t
u n p r e c e d e n te d , s u c h a c o n c e r n s e e m s to m e to p o in t to a
s tr u g g le to r e d e f in e a n e n a b lin g fa b le f o r A u s tra lia n c u ltu r e
th r o u g h n e w p r o p o s itio n s a b o u t w h a t th e fa ir g o m ig h t b e —
a n d m ig h t n o t b e.

Beyond, S u b u rb ia

T w o s u b u r b a n m o v ie s t h a t p la c e s tre s s o n a b s o r b i n g n e w
i n f o r m a t i o n w e r e S u m o f U s, d i r e c t e d b y K e v in D o w l i n g a n d
G e o f f B u r t o n , a n d B a z L u h r m a n n ’s S t r i c t ly B a l lr o o m . “Y o u
s h o u l d r e a d a f e w b o o k s . T h e r e ’s m o r e t o lif e t h a n w h a t y o u
s e e o n t e l e v i s i o n ”, o r s o H a r r y ( J a c k T h o m p s o n ) c o u n s e l s h i s
s o n G e o f f ( R u s s e l l C r o w e ) i n S u m o f U s. H a r r y is a w i d o w e r .
H e p i l o t s a f e r r y a r o u n d S y d n e y H a r b o u r , liv e s i n t h e t r a d i ­
t i o n a l w o r k i n g c la s s s u b u r b o f R o z e l l e , a n d d r i n k s a t t h e
W i l l i a m W a l l a c e . H e ’s a c h a r a c t e r n o t f a r f r o m t h e s t r a i g h t
u p A u s s i e b l o k e s t h a t a r e t h e b a c k b o n e o f J a c k T h o m p s o n ’s
c e l e b r i t y . W h a t is d i f f e r e n t a b o u t H a r r y is t h a t h i s s o n is g a y ,
a n d t h a t H a r r y a c c e p t s a n d lo v e s h is s o n r e g a r d le s s — i f in
h is o w n f a s h io n .
T h a t H a r r y h a s a n o p e n m i n d is t h e e l e m e n t t h a t d i v e r g e s
f r o m t h e ‘o c k e r ’ c h a r a c t e r t h a t is p a r t o f T h o m p s o n ’s r a n g e .
H a r r y h a s n o t o n ly h a d to th i n k th r o u g h a n d l e a r n a b o u t h is
g a y s o n , b u t h a s a ls o h a d to r e t h i n k h is m e m o r ie s o f h is
g r a n d m o th e r , a n d th e le s b ia n r e la tio n s h ip s h e h a d la te in
h e r lif e . I n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d h i s g a y s o n , H a r r y d o e s h i s
r e s e a r c h . H e g o e s o u t w ith G e o f f to g a y b a r s o n e n ig h t, so
t h a t h e k n o w s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e lif e . H e b u y s g a y p o r n
m a g a z i n e s t o f i n d o u t w h a t is a n d i s n ’t s a f e s e x . T h e s e m a g s
a r e h is u n d o i n g , a s h e le a v e s t h e m ly in g a r o u n d t h e h o u s e
w h e n J o y c e , ( D e b o r a h K e n n e d y ) , t h e n e w lo v e i n t h i s o l d
w i d o w e r ’s lif e , c o m e s a r o u n d .
T h e s e s c e n e s o f th e o p e n m in d s e e k in g o u t w ays o f in c o r ­
screening suburbia

p o ra tin g n e w in fo rm a tio n a r e j u x t a p o s e d a g a i n s t t h e le s s
u n d e r s t a n d i n g J o y c e a n d t h e fa m ily o f G e o f f s lo v e i n t e r e s t
G re g ( J o h n P o i s o n ) . G r e g ’s p a r e n t s f i n d o u t G r e g is g a y
w h e n th e y s e e h is im a g e o n th e A B C te le c a s t o f th e M a rd i
G r a s p a r a d e . Y o u c a n ’t l e a r n e v e r y t h i n g f r o m t e l e v i s i o n , b u t
th e y le a r n th e o n e th in g th e ir so n h id e s fro m th e m a n d th a t
h i s f a t h e r i n p a r t i c u l a r c a n ’t a c c e p t . S u b u r b i a a p p e a r s a s a
z o n e o f p a r tia l u r b a n ity a n d p a r tia l c o n fo rm ity , a n d a p p r o ­
p r i a t e l y e n o u g h t h e f i l m t a k e s p l a c e m o s t l y i n S y d n e y ’s i n n e r
w e s t , c l o s e t o t h e c ity , b u t n o t i n i t o r q u i t e o f it.
‘Y o u ’r e a ll s o s c a r e d y o u w o u l d n ’t k n o w w h a t y o u t h o u g h t ”:
t h e is s u e is n o t h o m o p h o b i a , b u t f e a r o f n e w d a n c e s t e p s . A n d
th a t m ig h t b e a s g o o d a n im a g e a s a n y f o r th e p r o b le m o f h o w
s u b u r b i a is t o i n c o r p o r a t e n e w i n f o r m a t i o n i n t o i ts e lf . S c o t t
( P a u l M e r c u r i o ) w a n t s t o d a n c e h i s o w n “c r o w d p l e a s i n g ”
s te p s in th e b ig b a llr o o m d a n c in g c o n te s t. T h e p o w e rs t h a t b e
s e e th is a s a t h r e a t to th e ir a u th o rity . T h e la s t th in g s u b u r b a n
a u t h o r i t y w a n t s is t o o m u c h n e w i n f o r m a t i o n .
A u t h o r i t y h e r e is B a r r y F if e , p l a y e d b y t h a t g r e a t A u s t r a l i a n
a c t o r , B ill H u n t e r . A s B a r r y F if e h e is c a s t i n a r o l e n o t u n l i k e
h i s t o w n c o u n s e l l o r i n M u r i e l ’s W e d d i n g . H e is t h e s u b u r b a n
A u s s i e b l o k e g o n e a b i t o f f . I n T h e D i s m i s s a l , w h e r e h e p la y s
W h i t l a m g o v e r n m e n t M i n i s t e r R e x C o n n e r , h e ’s g o n e r i g h t
o f f . I n T h e A d v e n t u r e s o f P r is c i ll a , Q u e e n o f t h e D e s e r t h e s h o w s a
m o r e o p e n m i n d e d a t t i t u d e , m o r e lik e J a c k T h o m p s o n in
Sum o f U s. B ut over th e y e a rs, fro m T h e D is m is s a l a n d
N e w s fr o n t to M u r i e l ’s W e d d in g and S tr ic tly B a llr o o m , B ill
H u n t e r ’s a b i l i t y t o c o n v e y s t u b b o r n n e s s s e e m s m o r e and
m o r e to c a s t h im as a fo rtre s s o f o u td a te d a u th o r ity r a th e r
th a n o f m o ra l re s ilie n c e .
S tric tly B a llr o o m is, a m o n g o th e r th in g s , a m o v ie a b o u t
w h e re n e w in f o r m a tio n c o m e s fro m . S c o tt fin d s a p a r tn e r fo r
h is c ra z y n e w s te p s in F r a n (T a ra M o ric e ), w h o h e lp s h im
le a r n b y le a d in g h im b a c k to th e s o u r c e . S c o tt w a n ts to d a n c e
L a t i n , a n d , a s i t h a p p e n s , F r a n ’s f a t h e r is a f a b u l o u s f l a m e n c o
d a n c e r . L i k e S c o t t , F r a n c o m e s f r o m a d a n c i n g fa m ily , a n d a
d a n c in g c u l tu r e , a n d lik e S c o tt, s h e w a n ts to f in d a w a y to
m a k e t h e o l d s t e p s n e w a g a i n , c o m b i n i n g d i f f e r e n t flo w s ,
m o v e m e n t s , r h y t h m s , s ty le s .
C u l t u r a l s t u d ie s s c h o l a r P r o f e s s o r G r a e m e T u r n e r n o t e d in
t h e e a r l y 9 0 s t h a t f i l m s li k e S t r i c t ly B a ll r o o m i m a g i n e a “m u l t i ­
 beyond suburbia 1 63

p l i c i t y o f A u s t r a l i a n i d e n t i t i e s ”. W h a t S t r i c t l y B a ll r o o m p r o ­
p o s e d t o i t s p u b l i c w a s “n o t t h e s u b m e r g i n g o f d i f f e r e n c e
w ith in a c o n s e n s u a l m o d e l ... b u t th e m o r e d if f ic u lt ta s k o f
m a in ta in in g d iffe re n c e s e v e n as th e y a r e b le n d e d to fo rm
s o m e th in g n e w — a h y b r i d d a n c e f o r m . ”19 W h a t I t h i n k
b e c a m e c le a r e r in th e la te 9 0 s w as th e s p a tia l d im e n s io n o f
t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h i s h y b r i d i t y . T h e p r o p o s a l o f h y b r i d i t y is a n
u r b a n e o n e , b u t t h e s i t e o f t h e c o n f l i c t is t h e i m a g i n a r y p l a c e
o f s u b u r b i a . S t r i c t ly B a ll r o o m is i n t e r e s t i n g b e c a u s e w h a t i t
p r o p o s e s is t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l s f o r a n u r b a n e , h y b r i d c u l t u r e
a r e a l r e a d y p r e s e n t i n s u b u r b i a . F r a n liv e s n e a r b y t o S c o t t .
B u t t h e i r w o r l d s h a v e r e m a i n e d s e p a r a t e , u n t i l S c o t t ’s s p o n ­
ta n e o u s u r b a n ity le a d s h im to s e e k n e w s te p s . T h e u r b a n ity
o f t h e f i l m c o n s i s t s i n p r o p o s i n g t o s u b u r b i a i ts o w n v i r t u -
a lity , p r o p o s i n g t o i t t h a t t h e p o t e n t i a l a l r e a d y e x i s t s w i t h i n i t
f o r d i f f e r e n c e , h y b rid ity , m u ltip lic ity .
T h e t h r e a t to s u b u r b a n s ta b ility a n d o r d e r p o s e d b y th e
r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e h o m o s e x u a l o r t h e m i g r a n t is, a m o n g
o th e r th in g s , th e th re a t o f n ew in fo rm a tio n . She or he
r e q u ir e s th a t s u b u rb ia in v e n t n e w m o v e s, n e w w ays o f c o m ­
b in in g d if f e r e n t fo rc e s , so n e w v a ria tio n s o n th e fa ir g o
m i g h t e m e r g e t h a t a c c o m m o d a t e w h a t is n e w . F i n d i n g w a y s
t o c o p e w i t h n e w i n f o r m a t i o n k e e p s t h e f a i r g o a liv e , b y p r e ­
v e n ti n g a fa ll i n t o f e a r o f c h a n g e a n d s tr a n g e n e s s . T h e e x p e ­
r i e n c e o f c o p i n g w i t h n e w i n f o r m a t i o n c a n g iv e r i s e t o a
c o n c e p tu a l u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e lin k b e tw e e n th e p a r tic u ­
l a r s o f a lif e a n d t h e g o o d l i f e i n g e n e r a l . T h i s is b e c a u s e n e w
i n f o r m a t i o n b r e a k s t h r o u g h t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f e v e r y d a y li f e
as se c o n d n a tu re , as s o m e th in g t h a t is j u s t o b v i o u s t h a t
d o e s n ’t r e q u i r e a s e c o n d t h o u g h t .
W h e n th e im a g e s a n d s to rie s o n th e s c r e e n a r e a w o rk o f
a r t a s w e ll a s e n t e r t a i n m e n t , t h e y b r e a k t h r o u g h t h e e x p e r i ­
e n c e o f c in e m a a n d te le v is io n a s t h i r d n a tu r e , a s s o m e th in g
t h a t is j u s t o b v i o u s t h a t d o e s n ’t r e q u i r e a s e c o n d t h o u g h t . A r t
e x p re s s e s a v irtu a l w o rld th a t c a n n o t b e ta k e n f o r g r a n te d .
T h i s , i n c i d e n t a l l y , is w h y t h e a r t i s t f i g u r e s a s a t h r e a t t o s u b ­
u r b a n s e c o n d n a tu r e as m u c h as th e m ig ra n t o r th e h o m o ­
s e x u a l, e v e n th o u g h a rtis ts c a n in e v e ry o th e r se n se be
‘n o r m a l ’ — w h i t e , h e t e r o s e x u a l , a n d m a l e .
T h i s is a l s o w h y t h e a r t i s t , a n d t h e a r t , t h a t is a l s o a s t r a n g e r
i n t e r m s o f s e x u a l i t y o r e t h n i c i t y is d o u b l y t h r e a t e n i n g . T h e
screening suburbia

t h r e a t t h e n is n o t o n l y o f e x p o s u r e t o n e w i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e
f o r m o f s to r ie s a n d im a g e s , b u t a ls o th e p o s s ib ility o f a n e w
c o n c e p t a b o u t h o w im a g e s a r e s u p p o s e d to b e r e a d , f o r th e s e
w o rk s o f a r t c a n n o t b e a c c o m m o d a te d w ith in th e e x is tin g
p r a c t i c e o f t h e g o o d l if e , b u t m u s t e i t h e r b e r e f u s e d , o r
a c c e p t e d a s i n c i t e m e n t s t o t h i n k t h e g o o d lif e o t h e r w i s e . S u m
o f U s a n d S tric tly B a llr o o m r e v e a l d i f f e r e n c e s t h a t a r e a lr e a d y
p r e s e n t in th e s p a c e o f s u b u r b ia , b u t j u s t n o t a c k n o w le d g e d
b y it.
A n e n c o u r a g i n g s i g n is t h e e x i s t e n c e i n t h e 9 0 s o f a s m a l l
g r o u p o f film s t h a t e x p r e s s a d a w n in g s u s p ic io n t h a t t h e
b l o c k a g e o f flo w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n t h r o u g h s u b u r b a n c u l t u r e
m i g h t b e a p r o b l e m . T h e s e film s d e a l w ith t h e q u e s t i o n o f
w h o s e i n te r e s ts a r e s e r v e d b y s u c h a b lo c k a g e , a n d a ls o w ith
th e q u e s tio n o f h o w to c o p e w ith s u c h in f o r m a tio n w h e n it
does c irc u m v e n t th e b lo c k a g e s to its flo w . In K a th ry n
M i l l a r d ’s f i l m P a r k l a n d , C a t e B l a n c h e t t u n c o v e r s b a d i n f o r ­
m a tio n a b o u t th e su b u rb a n A d e la id e of her c h ild h o o d ,
w h e re her p o lic e m a n fa th e r tu rn s out to have been
c o r r u p t . 20 I n J o h n R u a n e ’s D e a d L e t t e r O ffic e , M i r a n d a O t t o
d e c id e s t h a t t h e w h o le b u r e a u c r a t i c s y s te m o f r e a d d r e s s i n g
l o s t m a i l h a s g o n e a s t r a y .21 B o t h t h e s e f i l m s a d v a n c e a n e v e n
m o r e c h a lle n g in g id e a : t h a t th e w h o le p r a c tic e o f f ilte r in g
a n d b l o c k i n g i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t is a t t h e h e a r t o f s u b u r b a n
c u ltu r e n e e d s to b e q u e s tio n e d . I n te re s tin g ly , in b o th c a se s it
is y o u n g w o m e n w h o h a v e m a d e s o m e k i n d o f b r e a k f r o m
s u b u r b a n sp a c e th a t d o th e q u e s tio n in g .
T h e p o w e r to re s tr ic t in f o r m a tio n se e m s to b e th e p ro v in c e
o f a n u n s e e n “u p s t a i r s ”. I n b o t h D e a d L e t t e r O ff i c e a n d The
In te r v ie w , th is u p s ta ir s r e m a i n s u n s e e n — n o t th e le a s t o f
t h e i r p o w e r s is t h e r e s t r i c t i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e i r o w n
a c t i o n s a n d i n t e r e s t s . 22 T h e I n t e r v i e w d e p i c t s a p a r t i c u l a r l y
p a r a n o id w o rld in w h ic h c o p s in te r r o g a te s u s p e c ts , w h ile th e
c o p s a r e t h e m s e l v e s s u s p e c t s , i n t e r r o g a t e d b y i n t e r n a l a f f a ir s .
A s in P a r k la n d a n d W il d s id e , T o n y M a r t i n p la y s t h e h a rd
b o ile d c o p p e r , a fla w e d b lo k e c a u g h t b e tw e e n k n o w in g to o
m u c h a b o u t t h e b a d li f e a n d k n o w i n g t o o l i t t l e a b o u t t h e
p o w e r s t h a t b e . H e is t h e e m p i r i c i s t a s h e r o , w h o h a s l o s t
f a i t h , w h o d o u b t s e v e r y t h i n g , w h o is f l a w e d a n d k n o w s it , b u t
w h o k e e p s w o rk in g o n m a k in g it c o m e o u t, if n o t r ig h t, th e n
a t l e a s t n o t t o o b a d l y . H e h a s n o c o n c e p t o f t h e f a i r g o y e t,
 beyond suburbia

b u t h e k e e p s lo o k in g f o r c lu e s , r e g a rd le s s . I n T ru e L o v e a n d
C h a o s a s w e ll a s i n D e a d L e t t e r O ffic e , M i r a n d a O t t o s i m i l a r l y
e m b o d i e s a c e r t a i n k i n d o f c u rio s ity , a l t h o u g h o f a m o r e
p r i v a t e a n d le s s c o m p r o m i s e d k i n d . S h e d e t e c t s w h a t s u b ­
u r b i a w o u l d w i ll i n g l y f o r g e t a b o u t t h e i m p e r f e c t w o r k i n g s o f
its i d e a l i s e d fa m ily .
A li f e w i t h o u t a c c e s s t o i n f o r m a t i o n is t h e b l e a k s c e n a r i o o f
T h e B o ys. O f t h e t h r e e b o y s , B r e t t (D a v id W e n h a m ) k n o w s
ju s t e n o u g h to m a n ip u la te t h e o t h e r tw o , t a u n t i n g G l e n
( J o h n P o is o n a g a in ) w ith t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t h is lo u s y j o b
is p a y i n g le s s t h a n t h e b a s i c w a g e , a n d r e m i n d i n g S te v ie
( A n t h o n y H a y e s ) t h a t n o b o d y is g o i n g t o p o p o u t o f t h e t e l e ­
v i s i o n a n d t e l l t h e m t h e y ’v e w o n t h e l o t t e r y . T h e t h r e e b o y s
h a v e so little in f o r m a tio n to g o o n th a t w h e n th e y g o o u t to
s e t t l e a n o l d s c o r e a t t h e b o t t l e s h o p , t h e y f i n d i t is c l o s e d ,
a n d n o b o d y c a n r e m e m b e r t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e a ll n i g h t c o n ­
v e n i e n c e s t o r e , s o t h e y c a n ’t r o b t h a t a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e .
I n S t r i c t ly B a l l r o o m , B a r r y O t t o p la y s t h e a n t i t h e s i s o f t h e
B ill H u n t e r s ty le o f A u s t r a l i a n m a s c u l i n i t y . W h e r e H u n t e r ’s
c e l e b r i t y c o n t a i n s a k e r n e l o f p a t e r n a l i s t a u t h o r i t y , O t t o ’s
p r e s e n c e o f te n in v o k e s w e a k n e s s a n d a c q u ie s c e n c e . A s in
S t r i c t ly B a l l r o o m , s o t o o i n D e a d L e t t e r O f f ic e a n d e v e n K i s s o r
K i ll , O t t o is t h e A u s t r a l i a n m a n t o o c o m p l e t e l y s u b u r b a n i s e d ,
i n t h e s e n s e o f g i v i n g i n t o t h e a l l e g e d l y ‘f e m i n i s i n g ’ a s p e c t
o f s u b u r b a n c u ltu r e . A s C h r is M c A u liffe n o te s , s u b u r b i a h a s
a g e n d e re d p o la rity : “t h e su b u rb as p riv a te , d o m e s tic ,
p a s s iv e , c o n s u m e r i s t , c o n f o r m i s t — a s f e m i n i n e ; t h e c it y ( o r
b u s h ) a s p u b lic , a c tiv e , s e lf-s u f f ic ie n t a n d in d iv id u a lis t — a s
m a s c u l i n e . ” B a r r y O t t o is t h e s u b u r b a n m a l e p a c i f i e d b y t h e
ritu a ls o f s u b u r b a n e v e r y d a y li f e , “a n a c c e p ta n c e o f re g i­
m e n ta tio n th a t w as th e a n tith e s is o f b o th th e la rrik in is m o f
th e bush and b o h e m ia n is m o f th e c i ty .”23 B u t h e a lm o s t
a lw a y s c a r r i e s w i t h h i m a s e c r e t .
B ill H u n t e r is t h e s u b u r b a n m a l e w h o s e r e a c h e d a c o m ­
p r o m is e w ith th e fe m in is in g e ffe c t o f s u b u rb ia , a lth o u g h
h a r d l y a h a p p y o n e . T h e t o u p e e e v e n t u a l l y s lip s o f f h i s h e a d
i n S t r i c t ly B a l lr o o m . I n M u r i e l ’s W e d d i n g , h i s f a t e is b o t h m o r e
t r a g i c a n d m o r e a m b i g u o u s . T h e s u i c i d e o f h i s w if e t h r u s t s
h im in to th e d o m e s tic m a n a g e m e n t o f h is h o u s e h o ld , b u t h e
s til l h a s e n o u g h p o l i t i c a l p u l l t o g e t B o b H a w k e t o s e n d a
t e l e g r a m t o h e r f u n e r a l . O n l y i n P r i s c i l la is h e r e w a r d e d w i t h
screening suburbia

a h a p p y e n d i n g , f o r a b a n d o n i n g h i s F i l i p i n a w if e a n d g o i n g
b u s h w ith a b r a c e o f D r a g Q u e e n s .
I n t h i s c o n t e x t , T h e B o y s is t h e d a r k s i d e o f t h a t b u s h l a r -
r ik in is m , e x ile d f r o m th e b u s h to th e o u te r s u b u rb s . T h e
b o y s ’ in d iv id u a lis t a n d a c tiv e u r g e s ta k e t h e f o r m o f v io le n c e
a g a in s t w o m e n . T h e in te lle c tu a l a n d e m o tio n a l tr a u m a o f
T h e B a y s li e s i n i ts b l e a k a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e i n t r a c t a b l e n a t u r e
o f a n A u s tra lia n m a s c u lin ity a t m a n y re m o v e s f r o m a n y s u b ­
u r b a n c o n v e n tio n . T h e s e a re b o y s n o t e v e n a m o th e r, in th e
e n d , c a n l o v e . I t ’s a f i l m a b o u t w h a t t h e i n n e r s u b u r b s f e a r
a b o u t th e o u te r s u b u r b s — a n d th e s e a r e th e im a g in a r y c o o r ­
d i n a t e s o f s u b u r b i a ’s s p a t i a l s e n s ib il ity .

W elcom e to W oop W oop

W h a t m a k e s S t e p h a n E l l i o t t ’s A d v e n t u r e s o f P r is c i l la , Q u e e n o f
t h e D e s e r t i n t e r e s t i n g i n t h i s c o n t e x t is t h a t i t is a b o u t t h e c o n ­
f r o n ta tio n o f th e u r b a n e w ith th e b u s h w ith o u t to o m u c h
s u b u r b i a i n b e t w e e n . 24 E l l i o t t ’s t a c t i c is t o r e c y c l e t h e c u l t u r e
o f th e o c k e r, b u t in a r a th e r d if f e r e n t c o n te x t.
A s t h e p o e t a n d c o l u m n i s t M a x H a r r i s p u t it , “t h e m o s t fa s ­
c in a tin g e v e n t, c o in c id e n t w ith th e W h itla m e ra , w as th e
re s u r g e n c e o f th a t ill-e d u c a te d , d o g m a tic , in c o h e r e n t, a n d
a rro g a n t p s y c h o lo g ic a l phenom enon — th e A u s tra lia n
o c k e r . ”25 T h e o c k e r w a s a c r e a t i o n o f u r b a n e c u l t u r e o f t h e
70s. A s a w ay o f p o p u la r is in g u r b a n e a rtis tic a n d in te lle c tu a l
d is s e n t, a rtis ts a n d w rite rs u s e d th e o c k e r a s t h e ir v e h ic le f o r
th e tra n s g re s s io n o f s u b u r b a n s tric tu re s , o n c e th e p ro v in c e
o f th e la r r ik in . T h o s e s u b u r b ia re s is te d b e c a u s e o f t h e ir in te l­
le c tu a l o r c re a tiv e e x c e s s f e lt a k in s h ip , o r r a t h e r a m a te s h ip ,
w ith th o s e s u b u rb ia c h a rg e d w ith p h y s ic a l e x c e ss. H a rd
t h in k e r s lin k e d a r m s w ith h a r d d r in k e r s . W h a t J o h n D o c k e r
i d e n t i f i e d a s t h e “c a r n i v a l e s q u e ” s e i z e d u p o n s u b u r b a n l a n d ­
s c a p e s w h e n e v e r th e o c k e r a rriv e d to tu r n th e p la c e u p s id e
d o w n . 26 T h e o c k e r ’s p r o g r e s s : b e lc h in g , fa rtin g , p u k in g ,
p is s in g , s h o u tin g , d r in k in g , g o r g in g , f u c k in g a n d f ig h tin g
a c ro s s s u b u r b ia — it w a s a p h y s ic a l e x p r e s s io n o f a n u r b a n e
fa n ta s y o f r e v e n g e a g a in s t s u b u r b a n c o n fo rm ity .
T h e o c k e r w a s n o t u n iv e rs a lly p o p u la r . I t h a r d ly n e e d b e
p o i n t e d o u t n o w t h a t h e w a s a m a l e f a n ta s y , a l t h o u g h s u r e l y
a s e lf-s a tiris in g one. B ru ce B e r e s f o r d ’s 1972 film The
 w elcom e to woop woop 167

A d v e n t u r e s o f B a r r y M c K e n z i e is h a r d l y a f a b l e o f t r i u m p h a n t
m a s c u l i n e p o w e r . H i s 1 9 7 6 f i l m o f D a v id W i l l i a m s o n ’s a s t u t e
a n d k n o w i n g p l a y D o n ’s P a r t y , is s t r i k i n g f o r its h o n e s t y a b o u t
t h e o c k e r a s “b u l l s h i t a r t i s t ” a n d a b o u t h i s f a i l u r e t o u n d e r ­
s ta n d th e w om en w ith w hom he s h a r e s h i s l if e . T h i n g s
i m p r o v e d a b i t b y t h e t i m e o n e o f P a u l K e ll y ’s b l o k e y c h a r ­
a c te rs c o u ld ask “w h a t m a k e s s u c h a sw eet gu y tu rn so
m e a n ? ”27 A ll t h e s a m e , t h e o c k e r r a m p a g e d a c r o s s t h e s c r e e n
and in to th e h e a r ts o f s u b u rb ia . H e w as a n a m b iv a le n t,
r a t h e r t h a n a c ritic a l w e a p o n , a b s o r b e d b a c k i n to th e fo ld .
M a x H a r r i s i d e n t i f i e d t h e c r u c i a l f la w w i t h t h e o c k e r , a n d
th e u rb a n is a tio n th r o u g h th e o c k e r o f th e fa b le d f r o n tie r
e t h o s o f m a t e s h i p : “I t is a s o c i a l i m p e r a t i v e w h i c h c a l l s f o r
b l i n d a g g r e s s i v e lo y a lty t o y o u r t r i b a l g r o u p , w h e t h e r t h e y b e
m a d e u p o f c rim in a ls , th u g s , o r th e o lo g ia n s ." T h e tr o u b le
w ith th e o c k e r w as th a t h e e x a c e r b a te d th e s u b u r b a n te n ­
d e n c y to re s is t n e w in f o r m a tio n . H e w a s fa m o u s ly im p e r v io u s
to fe m in is m .
T h i s is w h a t m a k e s P r is c il l a s u c h a s t r i k i n g f a b l e . I t u s e s t h e
r o a d film to s ta g e e n c o u n te r s w h e r e c h a r a c te r s c o n f r o n t th e
u n k n o w n a n d a r e t h r o w n b a c k o n t h e i r w its , f o r c e d t o i m p r o ­
v is e , t o b e c o m e n e w v e r s i o n s o f t h e m s e l v e s . A s s u c h , i t is n o
d iffe re n t fro m o t h e r 9 0 s A u s tr a lia n r o a d m o v ie s lik e True
L o v e a n d C h a o s , D o i n g T i m e f o r P a t s y C lin e , K is s o r K i l l a n d
H e a v e n ’s B u r n i n g . 28 I n t h e r o a d m o v i e , t h e e n c o u n t e r w i t h t h e
u n k n o w n h a p p e n s s o m e w h e r e e ls e a n d to s o m e o n e e ls e , n o t
i n s u b u r b i a . I n P r is c i ll a , t h e i n n o v a t i o n is i n t h e r e c y c l i n g o f
th e o c k e r m e n ta lity in th e m o s t u n lik e ly f o r m — th e o c k e r
d r a g q u e e n . O c k e r s , lik e la r r ik in s , c o u ld d r e s s lik e d a g s , b u t
t h e y c o u l d a l s o b e a s ‘f l a s h ’ a s N e d K e lly . T h e o c k e r d r a g
q u e e n s i m p l y g e t s t h e lo v e o f w e ll c u t c l o t h a n d t h e c o m p a n y
o f o t h e r m e n o u t o f th e c lo s e t.
I t ’s o n t h e b a s i s o f e x c e s s — e x c e s s i n d r i n k i n g , f i g h t i n g ,
d r e s s i n g a n d w i s e c r a c k i n g t h a t P r i s c i l la t r a n s p o r t s i ts t h r e e
o c k e r d r a g q u e e n s , p la y e d b y T e r e n c e S ta m p , H u g o W e a v in g
a n d G u y P e a rc e , a c ro ss th e g a p b e tw e e n th e u r b a n e w o rld o f
th e I m p e r ia l H o te l in N e w to w n , S y d n e y , a n d th e v e r n a c u la r
b u s h w o rld th e y h a v e to c ro ss to r e a c h U lu r u . T h e ir k in s h ip
w i t h B o b , p l a y e d b y B ill H u n t e r , t h e h o n o u r a b l e o c k e r , is
c e m e n te d by a m u tu a l u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e ro le o f ex cess.
C u ltu r a l d if f e r e n c e s a r e n e g o tia te d w ith a d r i n k in g c o n te s t
screening suburbia

o r a s o n g , c u ltu r a l c o n f lic ts s e ttle d w ith a b it o f b iff, a n d in

th e e n d th r e e m a te s in s e q u in s ta k e th e o c k e r fa n ta s y b a c k to
its im a g in a r y h o m e l a n d , t h e b u s h f r o n tie r . A n o l d im a g e
fro m th e c u ltu r a l w a r d r o b e h a s d o n e s o m e n e w w o r k in
in tr o d u c in g th e id e a o f d iffe re n c e s in se x u a l p r e f e r e n c e , a n d
t r a n s m i t t i n g it o v e r t h e m e d i a v e c to r . S ile n t M a jo r ity / / / m i g h t
c o m p la in o f to o m u c h h o m o s e x u a lity in th e m e d ia , b u t I
s u s p e c t t h a t P r i s c i l l a s l i p p e d u n d e r t h a t r a d a r a n d w a s w e l­
c o m e d , re g a rd le s s .

T h e S t o c k m a n ’s H a l l o f F a m e
P r i s c il l a c u t a g a i n s t t h e g r a i n i n t h e 9 0 s , f o r i t w a s a t i m e w h e n
s u b u r b i a b e c a m e n o t m e r e l y l a y e r e d , f o r i t w a s a lw a y s l a y e r e d
in to i n n e r a n d o u t e r b a n d s , it b e c a m e d iv id e d . P a r t o f s u b ­
u r b i a l o o k e d t o w a r d t h e c it y a n d i t s u r b a n e a s p i r a t i o n s , w h i l e
p a r t o f it f e lt in c re a s in g ly lo c k e d o u t o f th e f a ir g o a n d
t u r n e d r e s e n tf u l, m a k in g c o m m o n c a u s e w ith th e r u r a l h i n ­
te rla n d s . M a n y p e o p le b e n e fite d fro m th e o p e n in g u p o f th e
A u s tra lia n e c o n o m y d u r in g th e H a w k e a n d K e a tin g y e a rs.
B u t th e b e n e fits w e re v e ry u n e v e n ly s h a re d . I n n e r s u b u r b ia
c o n n e c te d m o r e w ith th e g lo b a l o p p o r tu n itie s th a n o u t e r
s u b u rb ia . T h e r e w as n o t m u c h jo y in it f o r C o o la ro o .
I n m y b o o k , T h e V ir tu a l R e p u b lic , c o m p l e t e d in 1 9 9 7 , 1 s p o k e
o f s o m e d if f e r e n t p r o p o s a ls f o r im a g in in g A u s tra lia . T h e id e a
o f A u s t r a l i a is i ts e lf , a f t e r a ll, a ‘p u b l i c t h i n g ’. I t is a n o b j e c t
t h a t , d e s p i t e b e i n g a f a n ta s y , is o n e t h a t d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e
a p p ly th e m s e lv e s to th in k in g a n d d r e a m in g a b o u t o u t lo u d .
Two im a g in a ry A u s tra lia s I m e n tio n e d w e re th e v irtu a l
r e p u b lic a n d th e v e r n a c u la r r e p u b lic . T h e v irtu a l r e p u b lic I
w a s t r y i n g t o i m a g i n e is, I n o w r e a l i s e , a n u r b a n e o n e . 29 I t is
a n im a g e o f a n A u s tra lia th a t p e o p le c o m p o s e o u t o f th e m o s t
u s e fu l a n d in te r e s tin g c o n ju n c tio n s th e y c a n im a g in e o f th e ir
m a n y a n d v a r i o u s d i f f e r e n c e s . I t is a n i m a g e o f a n A u s t r a l i a
n o t lim ite d b y a n y p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a a b o u t h o w th in g s m ig h t
fit t o g e th e r o r h o w th e y m ig h t c h a n g e o v e r tim e . A n im a g e o f
a n A u s t r a l i a t h a t c a n b e c o m e w h a t e v e r A u s t r a l i a n s m a k e o f it,
d ra w in g o n w h a te v e r r e s o u r c e s a r e a t h a n d , f r o m any an d
e v e r y w h e r e — j u s t a s M u r i e l d o e s o r t h e b o y s o f P r i s c il la d o .
T h e v e r n a c u l a r r e p u b l i c , e v o k e d b y t h e p o e t L e s M u r r a y is
e s s e n t i a l l y a r u r a l o n e . 30 I t is a n A u s t r a l i a b a s e d i n t h e l a n ­
 t h e s t o c k m a n ’s h a l l o f f a m e

g u a g e o f t h e l a n d w h i c h is e a s y g o i n g , t o l e r a n t a n d e g a l i ­
t a r i a n u p t o a p o i n t , b u t w h i c h is h o s t i l e t o u r b a n c u l t u r e a n d
i ts o u t w a r d l o o k i n g c o s m o p o l i t a n i s m . I t is a m e n t a l i m a g e o f
A u s tr a lia b o u n d b y its p a s t to t h e p e r p e t u a t i o n o f v a lu e s
f o r g e d o u t o f d i s t i n c t l y r u r a l s t r u c t u r e s o f f e e l i n g . I t is a n
i m a g e o f a n A u s t r a l i a t h a t o u g h t t o b e b o u n d b y its p a s t t o
r e je c t in n o v a tio n s th a t m ig h t o b s c u r e th is e s s e n tia lly r u r a l
n a t u r e o f i ts b e i n g .
G r a e m e T u r n e r w a s p r e s c i e n t i n i d e n t i f y i n g t h e “re v iv a l o f
r u r a l- n a tio n a lis t m y th o lo g ie s ” in th e 8 0 s, a n d id e n tif ie d th e
o p e n in g o f th e S t o c k m a n ’s H a l l o f F a m e in L o n g re a c h ,
Q u e e n s l a n d a s a n e m b l e m a t i c s p a c e f o r it. T h e b u i l d i n g its e lf ,
T u r n e r p o i n t e d o u t , b o r r o w e d e l e m e n t s o f “u r b a n p o s t m o d ­
e r n i s m ” a n d c o m b i n e d i t w ith t r a d iti o n a l m a te r ia ls , r e s u ltin g
i n s o m e t h i n g l i k e a “c r o s s b e t w e e n t h e S y d n e y O p e r a H o u s e
a n d a s h e a r i n g s h e d . ” T h e H a l l o f F a m e , a s T u r n e r fo r e s a w ,
w a s a s i t e t h a t c o u l d r e a d i l y b e c o m e a m e d i a i m a g e . I t ’s p o p ­
u l a r i t y i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e s i g n s o f w h a t M u r r a y c a ll s t h e v e r ­
n a c u l a r r e p u b l i c s t il l h a d t h e “c a p a c i t y t o re v iv e a n d r e s i t u a t e
t h e m s e l v e s w i t h i n a c h a n g i n g A u s t r a l i a n i d e n t i t y . ”31
M u r r a y ’s w a s a g e n i a l a n d f a i r - m i n d e d v i s i o n , e x c e p t w h e n
i t c a m e t o u r b a n c u l t u r e ’s t a l k i n g h e a d s , w h i c h h e t e r m e d
th e W h itla m A scen d an cy and its su c c e sso r, th e H aw ke
A s c e n d a n c y — ta lk in g h e a d s w h o s u p p o r te d L a b o r g o v e rn ­
m e n ts in e x c h a n g e f o r a c c e ss to s ta te p o w e r. M u rra y se e s
u rb a n and su b u rb a n ta lk in g heads as e q u a lly p ro n e to
fo re ig n fa s h io n s a n d re m o te fro m th e a u th e n tic c u ltu ra l
r o o t s o f A u s t r a l i a . B u t h e t e n d s t o d e f i n e ‘r o o t s ’ n e g a t i v e l y ,
b y c r i t i c i s i n g t h e v e r n a c u l a r r e p u b l i c ’s e n e m y .
I n th e r i g h t w in g p o p u lis m t h a t r o s e o u t o f th e h in te r la n d s
in t h e la te 9 0 s , a n d c a p t u r e d tim e o n a ll t h e m e d i a v e c to rs ,
t h e r e is a n e l e m e n t o f M u r r a y ’s r e f u s a l o f t h e l e g i t i m a c y o f
u r b a n c u l t u r e . T h e d i f f e r e n c e is t h a t t h e p o p u l i s t s c o m b i n e
it w ith r e s e n t m e n t o f A b o r ig in e s a n d A s ia n s a n d p e r h a p s
e v e n J e w is h b a n k e r s a n d a n y o n e e ls e w h o m ig h t m a k e a c o n ­
v e n ie n t s c a p e g o a t. A t a tim e w h e n th e ra tio n a lis a tio n of
b a n k in g , p u b lic s e rv ic e s a n d t e le p h o n y le d to a d e c lin e in
t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e i n t h e b u s h , c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e ill e f f e c t s o f
u n f a ir c o m p e titio n f ro m s u b s id is e d p r im a r y p r o d u c e fro m
E u r o p e a n d A m e ric a , n o t to m e n tio n th e tig h te n in g o f g u n
la w s f o l l o w i n g t h e m a s s a c r e a t P o r t A r t h u r , r u r a l A u s t r a l i a
screening suburbia

h a d a g u tfu l. A t a tim e w h e n th e r a tio n a lis a tio n o f m a n u fa c ­

tu r in g le d to th e d is a p p e a r a n c e o f b lu e c o lla r jo b s a n d th e
ra p id d e c lin e o f fo rm e r m a n u fa c tu rin g c e n tre s , not to
m e n tio n th a t n ew jo b s b e in g c re a te d in th e econom y
d e m a n d e d q u i t e d i f f e r e n t s k ills a n d w e r e o f t e n l o c a t e d i n
q u ite d i f f e r e n t p la c e s , a lo t o f m a n u a l w o r k e r s a ls o f e lt t h a t
th e H a w k e a n d K e a tin g y e a rs h a n d e d th e m th e r o u g h e n d o f
th e p in e a p p le .
B o t h g r o u p s i n c r e a s i n g l y r e f u s e d e v e n a p a s s iv e c o n s e n t t o
th e c u ltu re a n d v a lu e s o f th e u r b a n tria n g le o f S y d n e y /
M e l b o u r n e / C a n b e r r a . A t a tim e w h e n u r b a n c u l t u r e fin a lly
c a m e i n t o its o w n i n A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r a l l if e , a s n o t j u s t a
n o is y r e s is ta n c e to s u b u r b a n v a lu e s b u t a n a c tiv e c r e a t o r o f
a n a l t e r n a t i v e t o it, t h e s p a c e w i t h i n w h i c h A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r e
n e g o t i a t e d its d i f f e r e n c e s c a m e u n d e r p r e s s u r e f r o m t h e h i n ­
te rla n d . The v irtu a l c o n fro n te d th e v e rn a c u la r as riv a l
c la im a n ts f o r th e im a g in a tio n o f a m o s tly s u b u r b a n p u b lic .
T h is m a y b e w h y P rim e M in is te r J o h n H o w a rd c h o s e th e
S t o c k m a n ’s H a l l o f F a m e a t L o n g r e a c h a s t h e s i t e a t w h i c h t o
m a k e a n a p p e a r a n c e d e f e n d in g h is 10 p o in t p la n o n n a tiv e
ti t l e . I t w a s a l s o w h e r e P a u l i n e H a n s o n c h o s e t o a n n o u n c e
h e r A b o r ig in a l a ffa irs p o lic y d u r i n g th e 1 9 9 8 e le c tio n c a m ­
p a i g n . O r r a t h e r , h e r n o n - p o l i c y : “U n d e r O n e N a t i o n p o lic y ,
t h e is s u e o f A b o r ig in a lity w o u ld n o l o n g e r e x is t a s b e n e f its b y
v ir tu e o f r a c e w o u ld n o l o n g e r e x is t,” s h e s a id , b e f o r e th e
e v e n t d e s c e n d e d in to a s c re a m in g m a tc h b e tw e e n H a n s o n
a n d t h e p r e s s . 32 T h a t p e r f o r m a n c e w a s a l o w p o i n t i n t h e r a s h
of m e d ia c o v e ra g e of h a rd H a n s o n is m . B o th h a rd
H a n s o n i s m a n d H o w a r d ’s s o f t H a n s o n i s m a p p e a l e d t o a v e r ­
n a c u l a r a l t e r n a t i v e t o u r b a n i t y . O n H a n s o n ’s p a r t , a n a l t e r ­
n a tiv e to b o th th e e c o n o m ic a n d c u ltu r a l s id e o f u rb a n ity ; o n
H o w a r d ’s p a r t , m o r e s e l e c t i v e l y t o u r b a n s u p p o r t f o r r e c o n ­
c ilia tio n o n te r m s th a t w o u ld b e fa ir to A b o rig in a l p e o p le .
I w ill r e t u r n i n t h e n e x t c h a p t e r t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h y t h e
H a w k e a n d K e a tin g e x p e r im e n ts in e c o n o m ic a n d c u ltu r a l
c h a n g e r a n a g r o u n d in th e m id -9 0 s . R ig h t n o w I w a n t to
d e fin e f u r th e r th e u rb a n ity th a t I th in k w as a c ru c ia l e le m e n t
in th e c u ltu r a l la n d s c a p e o f th e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s. S in c e I s e e th e
w o r ld t h r o u g h its d is tin c tiv e s tr u c tu r e s o f f e e lin g , i t s e e m s to
m e i m p o r t a n t t o l o c a l i s e m y o w n p o i n t o f v ie w w i t h i n t h e
m ilie u t h a t s h a p e s m y s e n s ib ility a n d w ay o f th in k in g .
 t h e s t o c k m a n ’s h a l l o f f a m e

M e d i a v e c t o r s c r is s - c r o s s s p a c e , o f f e r i n g i m a g e s o f d i f f e r e n t
w a y s o f li f e t o p e o p l e l i v i n g i n d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f e n v i r o n ­
m e n t . B u t t h e r e is o n e m a j o r a s y m m e t r y : t h e p a r t i a l l y o v e r ­
l a p p i n g w o r l d s o f u r b a n e c u l t u r e a n d u r b a n s p a c e s t ill h a v e
g r e a te r a c c e ss to p r o d u c in g im a g e s a n d s to rie s d u e to th e ir
p r o x i m i t y t o t h e c u l t u r e i n d u s t r i e s . I t is u r b a n e c u l t u r e t h a t
has h ad a d is p ro p o rtio n a te hand in s h a p in g th e ‘t h r e e
n a tio n s ’ th a t c o n f r o n t e d e a c h o t h e r in th e 19 90 s: th e u r b a n
tr ia n g le , s u b u r b ia a n d th e h in te r la n d . T h e iro n y o f th is s to ry
is t h a t i t is n o t a b o u t t h e p o w e r o f ‘e l i t e ’ u r b a n t a s t e , a s t h e
p o p u l i s t c r i t i q u e f r o m t h e h i n t e r l a n d w o u l d h a v e it. R a t h e r ,
i t is a b o u t t h e w a y t h e s u b u r b a n c u l t u r e o f t h e 9 0 s c a m e t o
b e h a u n t e d b y im a g e s p r o p o s e d b y u r b a n e c u ltu r e o f p r e ­
v io u s g e n e r a tio n s .
A s w e ll a s t r y i n g t o r e a d t h e s u r f a c e s o f c u l t u r e t h r o u g h t h e
im a g e s th e m e d ia c e le b ra te s , it h e lp s to g o in th e o th e r d ire c ­
tio n , a n d a sk a b o u t th e v e c to rs a lo n g w h ic h im a g e s a n d
s to r ie s tra v e l. A s R ic h a r d N e v ille says, “ 0 z g o in g o f f s e t w a s
lik e D y la n g o in g e le c tr ic .” T h e cheap and q u ic k o ffse t
p r in tin g p ro c e s s re v o lu tio n is e d th e p r in t m e d ia v e c to r in th e
6 0 s, c o m p u te r is e d d e s k to p p u b lis h in g re v o lu tio n is e d it a g a in
in th e 8 0 s. I n th e 9 0 s, th e r e w a s a te c to n ic s h if t g o in g o n
f ro m b r o a d c a s t T V to p a y TV , f ro m th e p o p te m p o to c y b e r­
s p a c e . T h is u p s e t q u ite a lo t o f th e s tr a te g ie s p u t in p la c e
o v e r th e la s t th ir ty y e a rs to s ta b ilis e a s u b u r b a n z o n e in w h ic h
a m a jo rity o f A u s tra lia n s c o u ld c r e a te im a g e s a n d s to rie s
a b o u t th e m s e lv e s . C y b e rs p a c e p lu s g lo b a lis a tio n p u t a n e n d
to th e c o sy fo r tr e s s o f A u s tr a lia n c u ltu r e m a k in g .
By th e e n d o f th e 90s, th e r e w as n o lo n g e r a c o n s e n s u a l
sp a c e to w h ic h ta lk in g h e a d s c o u ld a d d re s s th e ir a p p e a ls f o r
a n e w o r d e r . W h ile th is t e m p te d s o m e , f r o m R o b e r t M a n n e
to J o h n H o w a rd to P a u lin e H a n s o n , to p in e f o r a h a p p ie r
tim e , in tr u th , th e c o h e r e n c e a n d c o n fo rm ity o f A u s tra lia n
p o s t w a r s u b u r b i a w a s a lw a y s m o r e a p p a r e n t t h a n r e a l , p u r ­
c h a s e d a t th e e x p e n s e o f ig n o r in g m in o r ity a n d s u p p re s s in g
d is s e n t. T h e m e a n s w e re fe w b y w h ic h m in o r ity s e n s ib ility
c o u l d e x p r e s s a n d c o m m u n i c a t e i t s e l f . E v e n m a j o r i t i e s li v e d
i n r e l a t i v e s i l e n c e . I n t h e 5 0 s a n d 6 0 s , l e t ’s n o t f o r g e t , f e w
A u s tr a lia n film s w e re m a d e , a n d A u s tr a lia n te le v is io n w a s
d o m in a te d by A m e ric a n p ro g ra m m in g th a t w as m ade
a c c o r d in g to s tr ic t c e n s o r s h ip a n d p r o d u c tio n c o d e ru le s .
screening suburbia

T h e 5 0 s w a s n o t a b e t t e r t i m e ; i t w a s a t i m e t h a t j u s t l i e d to
its e lf b e tte r . T h e M e n z ie s a g e w as a s e lf-d e lu d e d a g e .
I d e a s a b o u t w h a t A u s tr a lia o u g h t to b e c o m e , lik e a n y o t h e r
m e d ia a rte fa c t, a r e s u b je c t to d e c is io n s b a s e d as m u c h o n
j u d g e m e n ts o f ta s te as p r a c tic a l r e a s o n . S o to o a r e p r o p o s i­
tio n s a b o u t w h o s h o u ld b e p r im e m in is te r, o r w h e th e r to
b e c o m e a r e p u b lic , o r w h e th e r to d o n th e g la d ra g s a n d c e l­
e b r a te A u s tra lia D ay o r th e G ay a n d L e s b ia n M a rd i G ra s, o r
i n d e e d w h e t h e r A b o r i g i n a l a n d w h i t e A u s t r a l i a n s c a n liv e
t o g e t h e r . A ll o f t h e s e t h i n g s a r e c l u s t e r s o f f e e l i n g s , p e r c e p ­
tio n s , s to rie s th a t p e o p le p e rc e iv e in a la rg e p a r t th r o u g h th e
m e d ia , a n d j u d g e a c c o r d in g to c r ite r ia o f ta s te . S in c e th e r e
a r e d if f e r e n t k in d s o f ta s te , p e o p le a r r iv e a t d if f e r e n t f e e lin g s
a b o u t th e s e th in g s . T h e s e fe e lin g s a r e s o m e th in g th a t a ffe c t
u s l o n g b e f o r e w e h a v e e v e n h e a r d a n a r g u m e n t o r a p o lic y ,
le t a lo n e fo rm u la te a n a d e q u a te c o n c e p t.
T o b e a b le to th in k a b o u t im a g in in g A u s tra lia as a p u b lic
s p a c e o r a p o litic a l s p a c e , q u e s tio n s o f ta s te a n d th e c u ltu r a l
d is tin c tio n s th a t ta s te s h a p e h a v e to b e a d d r e s s e d . T h e r e a r e
m a n y d if f e r e n t a n d o v e r la p p in g k in d s o f ta s te a n d th e y fo r m
m a n y d if f e r e n t k in d s o f c u ltu r e , a n d m a n y d if f e r e n t k in d s o f
c u ltu r e in tu r n d o th e ir b e s t to d e f in e a n d m a in ta in th e ir
p a r tic u la r s tr u c tu r e s o f ta s te . B u t o n e e n d u r i n g s tr u c tu r e
t h r o u g h w h i c h d i s t i n c t i o n s a r e m a d e is t h r o u g h t h e c r e a t i o n
a n d m a in te n a n c e o f th e s u b u r b a n . S o m e tim e s , th e s u b u r b a n
is m a d e o u t t o b e s y n o n y m o u s w i t h w h a t is A u s t r a l i a n . B y
d e f i n i n g a t l e a s t tw o o t h e r k i n d s o f p u b l i c c u l t u r e t h a t a r e
n o t s u b u r b a n , th e u r b a n e a n d th e v e rn a c u la r, I w a n t to g e t
t o t h e h e a r t o f t h e c o n f l i c t s o v e r w h a t i t is p o s s i b l e t o i m a g i n e
f o r A u s tra lia .

C lass S tru g g le in S ylva n ia W aters

T h e r e is a s u b u r b i a t o w h i c h v e r n a c u l a r a n d v i r t u a l r e p u b l i ­
c a n s m i g h t p r o p o s e t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e i m a g e s , t h e r e is a s u b ­
u r b ia to w h ic h m e d ia m a g n a te s a n d p o litic a l p a r tie s m ig h t
p i t c h w o o , b u t t h e r e is a l s o a s u b u r b i a t h a t e v e r y o n e w a n t s t o
d i s o w n a s q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e . S y l v a n i a W a te r s , a d o c u m e n t a r y
s e r i e s a b o u t L a u r i e a n d N o e l i n e D o n a h e r a n d t h e i r fa m ily ,
w h o l iv e d i n t h a t s u b u r b , s c r e e n e d i n 1 9 9 2 , c r e a t e d a f r e n z y
o f p u b l i c d e b a t e , a n d w a s f o r g o t t e n a s q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e . 33
 c l a s s s t r u g g l e in s y l v a n i a w a t e r s

“N o e l e n e D o n a h e r s e e m e d t o c o n f i r m s o m e p e o p l e ’s w o r s t
f e a r s ” a b o u t s u b u r b ia , w rite s J o h n H a rtle y . “S h e w a s t h e
A u s tra lia n d r e a m in c a r n a te , b u t w as it a n ig h tm a r e a fte r
a l l ? ”34 S h e b e c a m e a n i n s t a n t c e l e b r i t y , b u t a s G r a e m e T u r n e r
n o t e s , t h e p u b l i c c e l e b r a t i o n o f N o e l i n e w a s “a c t u a l l y c o m ­
p ro m is e d by th e e m b a rra s s in g p ro p o sa l th a t sh e w as
‘t y p i c a l ’. ”35 T o f i l m h i s t o r i a n T o m O ’R e g a n N o e l i n e w a s f r o m
a “l o n g lin e o f A u s tra lia n m o n s t e r s . ” 36 M u l t i c u l t u r a l i s t
s c h o la r M a ry K a la n tz is c o m p la in e d t h a t th e s h o w p r e s e n te d
y e t m o r e im a g e s o f a w h ite s u b u r b a n s te r e o ty p e , a n d th a t th e
p r o g r a m ’s p r o d u c e r s s h o u l d h av e e x p lo re d som e o f su b ­
u r b i a ’s e t h n i c d i v e r s i ty .37
S y l v a n i a W a te r s w a s s o m e t h i n g o f a t o u c h s t o n e f o r a n e m e r ­
g e n t A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s . 38 L i k e t h e N o t - M i m i p o r n
t a p e , S y l v a n i a W a te r s d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y f a s c i ­
n a tin g a n d re p u ls iv e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f re v e rs in g th e d ir e c tio n
o f th e v e c to r, c h a n n e llin g in f o r m a tio n o u t o f, r a t h e r th a n
in to , th e m o s t in tim a te a n d p r iv a te s p a c e . A n d lik e th e N o t-
M i m i t a p e , i t d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e d e g r e e t o w h i c h e v e r y d a y life
b o r r o w s its c o d e s f r o m t h e s c r e e n in th e f ir s t p la c e . W h e r e
N o t-M im i j o k e s a r o u n d a s if p la y in g a p o r n a c to r, N o e lin e
s t r i k e s r a t h e r m o r e s t a g e y p o s e s f r o m 8 0 s T V s o a p o p e r a s li k e
D a lla s o r D y n a sty .
S y l v a n i a W a te r s w a s a p r o j e c t i n s t i g a t e d b y t h e B B C . T h e
s t e r e o t y p e o f t h e s u b u r b a n A u s t r a l i a n s o m e t i m e s p la y s a r o l e
in B ritis h c u ltu r e a s th e a c c e p ta b le fa c e o f th e d e s p is e d
m i n o r i t y — its p o s s i b l e t o s a y a b o u t A u s t r a l i a n s w h a t t h e w e ll
m a n n e r e d w o u l d n o l o n g e r s a y a b o u t B la c k s o r J e w s . S o m e
o f th e o f f e n c e f e lt b y th e A u s tr a lia n p u b lic a b o u t S y lv a n ia
W a te r s w a s I t h i n k q u i t e g e n u i n e , a n d p e r c e i v e d t h i s b a r e l y
su p p re sse d ra c is m in th e m o tiv e s o f th e B B C . W h ile as
O ’R e g a n sa y s t h e m o t i v e m a y w e ll h a v e b e e n a d e s i r e f o r t h e
“u n v e i l i n g th e q u o tid ia n A u s tra lia n ‘r e a l i t y ’ b e h i n d th e
p u b lic fa c e p re s e n te d b y N e i g h b o u r s ”, i t a p p e a r e d in th e
A u s t r a l i a n c o n t e x t a s a n u n w e l c o m e f lo w o f i n f o r m a t i o n ,
back in to s u b u rb ia , about w hat s u b u rb ia w o u ld ra th e r
re p re ss.
W ith in th e S y d n e y c o n te x t, th e r e f u s a l to id e n tif y w ith th e
sh o w w as m o tiv a te d by a m o r e s u b tle fo rm o f p re ju d ic e . A s
C r a i g M c G r e g o r n o t e s , “A u s t r a l i a n s h a v e a v e r y w e ll d e v e l ­
o p e d a w a re n e s s o f th e p r e s tig e o f th e v a r io u s s u b u r b s in
screening suburbia

w h i c h t h e y li v e . ”39 S y lv a n i a W a t e r s is a n o u t e r s u b u r b , b u t o n e
t h a t l a c k s t h e ‘h e a r t l a n d ’ c r e d i b i l i t y o f t h e o u t e r w e s t. L a b o r
h o l d s o r c a n w i n m o s t o f t h e o u t e r s u b u r b s , b u t S y lv a n ia
W a t e r s is i n t h e s a f e L i b e r a l s e a t o f C o o k . I n t h e s p a t i a l i m a g ­
i n a t i o n , i t is a s u b u r b s o u t h o f t h e s o u l , p l a c e o f t h e a c q u i s i ­
tiv e , c o n s u m e r i s t d r e a m c o m e t r u e , b u t s o m e h o w l a c k i n g t h e
r e d e e m in g q u a litie s o f th e o th e r L ib e ra l s tr o n g h o ld s s u c h as
th e u rb a n ity of th e in n e r e a s t, or th e c o n s e rv a tiv e
r e s p e c ta b ility o f th e i n n e r n o r th . W h a t th e o th e r c o m p a s s
p o i n t c o l l u d e s i n a t t r i b u t i n g t o i t is a n u n e x a m i n e d a s p e c t o f
th e w h o le o f s u b u r b a n c u ltu r e — a t th e e n d o f th e ra in b o w
lie s o n ly b o r e d o m a n d b ic k e r in g , a n d t h e a b s o lu te , r e s o lu te
la c k o f s e lf-a w a re n e ss o f N o e lin e D o n a h e r.
W h e n S y l v a n i a W a te r s w a s m a d e , t h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n
s u b u r b s , i n t e r m s o f i n c o m e a n d o p p o r t u n i t y , w e r e s t a r t i n g to
a tte n u a te . R e se a rc h by B o b G re g o ry a n d B o y d H u n te r sh o w e d
t h a t b e tw e e n 1 9 8 0 a n d 1 9 90 , th e a v e ra g e ta x a b le in c o m e in
w e a l t h y e a s t e r n s u b u r b D o u b l e B a y g r e w tw ic e a s f a s t a s i n t h e
o u t e r w e s t e r n s u b u r b o f C a b r a m a t t a . I n le a f y n o r t h s h o r e
L in d fie ld , in c o m e g re w o n e a n d a h a lf tim e s th e r a te o f
F a i r f i e l d o u t i n t h e w e s t. N o t j u s t i n c o m e , b u t e m p l o y m e n t
a n d e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t y a r e a l s o i n c r e a s i n g l y d i v i d e d . 40
B o th C ra ig M c G re g o r a n d M a rk L a th a m h a v e d ra w n a tte n ­
tio n to th e w ay th is r e s e a r c h in d ic a te s a s p a tia l a s p e c t to
i n e q u a l i t y . 41 W h i l e S y d n e y s u b u r b s m i g h t l o o k l i k e a n e a t l y
g r a d e d c o n t i n u u m f r o m p o o r s u b u r b s l i k e G r e e n V a lle y o u t
w e s t to th e m o r e d e s ir a b le L in d f ie ld o n th e n o r t h e r n fla k o f
th e i n n e r s u b u r b a n rin g , th e s e g r a d a tio n s m a s k a n in c re a s ­
in g ly m a rk e d c la s s c o n flic t. If th e v e rn a c u la r la n g u a g e ,
s p o k e n e lo q u e n tly b y L e s M u rra y , a n d in m o r e c r u d e a n d
re s e n tfu l to n e s by P a u lin e H a n s o n m a d e in ro a d s in to th e
o u t e r s u b u r b s i n t h e l a t e 9 0 s , i t w a s a s a w a y o f v o i c i n g r e s is ­
ta n c e to th e in c r e a s in g ly u n s u s ta in a b le f ic tio n t h a t th e s u b ­
u r b a n fa ir g o w as a m a tte r o f in c r e m e n ta l im p ro v e m e n ts in
i n c o m e — a n d p o s t c o d e — a s w e a ll g r e w r e l a x e d a n d c o m ­
fo rta b le to g e th e r.
I n S y d n e y , a s ig n if ic a n t b r e a k w ith th e s u b u r b a n d r e a m
a p p e a r e d in th e 9 0 s in th e f o r m o f a re v e rs a l o f th e m ig r a tio n
o f t h e 5 0 s a n d 6 0 s f r o m c i ty o u t t o s u b u r b s . T h e c h i l d r e n o f
m a n y o f th a t g e n e r a tio n o f s u b u rb a n ite s h e a d e d b a c k in to
t h e c ity a n d n e w p a t t e r n s o f u r b a n l i v i n g . 42 T h i s w a s m o s t
 c l a s s s t r u g g l e in s y l v a n i a w a t e r s

n o tic e a b le in S y d n ey , b u t w as m ir r o r e d in o th e r A u s tra lia n

c i t i e s . A t a t i m e o f i n c r e a s i n g c l a s s d i f f e r e n c e , t h e i n n e r c ity
s ta r te d to lo o k lik e a s a f e r p la c e to b e t h a n th e o u t e r s u b u r b s .
M o v ie s l i k e I d i o t B o x a n d T h e B oys e x p re s s e d a le s s t h a n
c h e e r y v ie w o f o u t e r s u b u r b a n p r o s p e c t s .
In te re s tin g ly , u r b a n S y d n e y h a d o n ly h a d o n e s tr o n g a n d
r e g u la r b ro a d c a s t m e d ia im a g e , in s p i t e o f it s d i s p r o p o r ­
tio n a te w e a lth a n d c u ltu r a l re s o u r c e s . T h e te le v is in g o f th e
S y d n e y G ay a n d L e s b ia n M a rd i G ra s, w h ic h b e g a n in 1 9 9 4
w as p ro b a b ly th e s tro n g e s t e x p re s s io n o f b o th a n u r b a n a n d
a n u r b a n e c u ltu r e . T h e te le c a s t s u rv iv e d h a r a s s m e n t f r o m
S e n a to r R ic h a r d A ls to n a n d o r g a n is e d p r o te s t le tte r c a m ­
p a i g n s a n d w a s t h e A B C ’s m o s t p o p u l a r t e l e c a s t i n 1 9 9 4 .43
O n e w a y o f d e f i n i n g c la s s is i n r e l a t i o n t o a c c e s s t o c a p i t a l .
W o rk e rs s p e n d w h a t th e y g e t, w h ile th e b o s s e s g e t w h a t th e y
s p e n d . T h e r e a r e m a n y o t h e r w a y s o f d i s t i n g u i s h i n g c la s s e s
o n t h e b a s is o f w e a lth , p o w e r o r s ta tu s . W h a t I w o u ld lik e to
c o n c l u d e w i t h is a s k e t c h o f a n a p p r o a c h t o c la s s i n t e r m s o f
in e q u a litie s o f i n f o r m a ti o n . F irs t, t h e r e a r e t h e i n f o r m a ti o n
r ic h . T h e r e a r e th o s e w h o o w n a n d c o n tr o l th e v e c to rs a lo n g
w h ic h i n f o r m a t i o n tra v e ls — th e M u r d o c h s a n d P a c k e r s , f o r
in s ta n c e . T h e y m a y a ls o o w n s to c k s o f in f o r m a tio n — in te l­
l e c t u a l p r o p e r t y c a n b e a s v a l u a b l e a s r e a l e s t a t e . T h e r e is
a ls o a la r g e r g r o u p o f p e o p le w h o c a n c o m m a n d th e in f o r ­
m a t i o n a n a l y s i n g a n d g a t h e r i n g p o w e r o f o t h e r s . A ll o f t h e s e
m a k e u p th e in f o r m a tio n ric h .
A t t h e o t h e r e n d o f t h e s c a le a r e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p o o r .
T h is m a y b e n o t o n ly a la c k o f a c c e s s to in f o r m a tio n v e c to rs ,
and t h e s t o c k s a n d fl o w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n th a t th e y m ig h t
m a k e a v a ila b le , b u t a ls o a la c k o f a c c e s s to th e tr a in in g th a t
e q u ip s s o m e o n e to m a k e u se o f in fo rm a tio n in th e firs t
p la c e . In b e tw e e n th e s e e x tre m e s are th e k n o w le d g e
w o rk e rs , w h o h a v e a c c e ss to th e tr a in in g to u s e in f o r m a tio n ,
b u t g e n e r a lly d o n o t o w n th e m a jo r v e c to r s a lo n g w h ic h it
tr a v e l s , o r t h e s t o c k s o f i t w i t h w h i c h t h e y w o r k , a n d w h o m a y
b e a t th e c o m m a n d o f s o m e o n e e ls e a s to w h a t in f o r m a tio n
to w o rk o n a n d ho w .
A s th e A u s tra lia n e c o n o m y m o v e s aw ay f r o m m a n u f a c tu r in g
to w a rd s m o r e in f o r m a tio n - in te n s iv e in d u s tr ie s , a n d a s th e s e
a r e i n t e g r a t e d i n t o t h e g l o b a l e c o n o m y , t h e c la s s d i f f e r e n t i a ­
t i o n a c r o s s t h e s u b u r b s m a y v e r y w e ll h a v e m o v e d f r o m a d i f ­
screening suburbia

f e r e n tia tio n d riv e n b y p ro p e r ty a n d in c o m e to a d if fe re n tia ­

t i o n b a s e d o n a c c e s s t o i n f o r m a t i o n a n d t h e c a p a c i t y t o u s e it.
S u b u r b i a b a s e d it s d i s t i n c t i o n s o f s t a t u s o n o w n i n g t h i n g s . I t
d id n o t p u t to o m u c h s to re o n o w n in g in f o r m a tio n o r th e
c a p a c i t y t o u s e it, o t h e r t h a n i n t h e p u r e l y f o r m a l s e n s e o f
g e ttin g a g o o d q u a lific a tio n to g e t a g o o d jo b .
W h a t is t u r n i n g up m o re and m o re on th e A u s tra lia n
s c r e e n is a n a n x i e t y a b o u t t h e i n s t a b i l i t y o f t h i s s u b u r b a n
w o rld , w h e r e le a r n in g w as a o n e - o f f th in g n e c e s s a ry to g e t
y o u r p la c e in t h e s u b u r b a n la n d s c a p e , a f t e r w h ic h life c o u ld
be a b o u t th e a c c u m u la tio n o f th in g s . T h e g ro w th o f an
u r b a n c u l t u r e m i g h t a ls o b e r e l a t e d to t h e g r o w th o f a n in f o r ­
m a tio n e c o n o m y . U rb a n sp a c e h a s fo r a c e n tu ry s u p p o rte d
a n u r b a n e c u l t u r e t h a t p u t m o r e e m p h a s is o n a p u b lic life in
w h ic h in f o r m a tio n w as m o r e v a lu e d a n d m o r e fre q u e n tly
sought an d exchanged.
A t t h e m o m e n t t h i s is j u s t a w o r k i n g h y p o t h e s i s , b u t i t
se e m s to m e th a t i f th e c o n c e p t o f a m o v e fro m a m a n u fa c ­
t u r i n g t o a n i n f o r m a t i o n e c o n o m y h a s a n y v a lid ity , t h e n t h i s
w ill h a v e s i g n i f i c a n t c u l t u r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l c o n s e q u e n c e s . I t
m a y u n d e r m i n e t h e w h o le b a s is o f s u b u r b a n c u l tu r e , to th e
e x te n t th a t it p u t a p r e m iu m o n th e p riv a te a c q u is itio n o f
th in g s r a th e r th a n a p u b lic c u ltu re o f a c c u m u la tin g a n d
tr a d in g k n o w le d g e a n d in fo r m a tio n .
W h a te v e r te n s io n s in n e r s u b u rb ia m ig h t fe e l in su c h a n
e n v i r o n m e n t , t h e y a r e lik e ly t o b e m a g n i f i e d i n o u t e r s u b ­
u r b i a , w h e r e a c c e s s t o i n f o r m a t i o n r e s o u r c e s a n d t r a i n i n g is
v e ry s c a rc e . T h is m a y p r o d u c e n o t j u s t re la tiv e in e q u a lity , b u t
a c o m p le te d is e n fra n c h is in g o f a n o u te r s u b u r b a n frin g e . A
v e r n a c u la r c u l t u r e w ith tie s to t h e b u s h a n d to t h e p a s t m ig h t
h a v e m u c h m o r e a p p e a l th e r e th a n a v irtu a l c u ltu r e e m a ­
n a t i n g f r o m a n u r b a n a n d f o r w a r d l o o k i n g i n f o r m a t i o n c la s s .
S u c h a p o s s ib ility p la c e s s p e c ia l p r e s s u r e o n L a b o r, a s th e
p a rty th a t o n c e r e p r e s e n te d th e o r g a n is e d in d u s tr ia l w o rk in g
c la s s , b u t w h i c h a c q u i r e d a f o l l o w i n g a c r o s s s e v e r a l s a t u r n i n e
r i n g s o f s u b u r b i a . T h e c u l t u r a l t e r m s o f t h a t k i n d o f c la s s
a l l i a n c e m a y n o l o n g e r e x i s t . I f t h e c u l t u r e o f s u b u r b i a is i n
tr a n s itio n , a n d n o b o d y re a lly k n o w s to w h a t, t h e n th e c u ltu r e
o f L a b o r h a s t o c h a n g e a n d a d a p t i f i t is t o f o r g e a n e w
A u s tra lia n s e ttle m e n t, o n e th a t e m b o d ie s v e rs io n s o f s o m e o f
th e v a lu e s o f th e f a ir g o .
 17;

c h a p t e r ^

True believers
It m ay be that true believers in original sin can face life
only if they view it ironicaily.
Edmund Campion

T h a t L a b o r F eelin g
I t w a s t h e o n l y t i m e i n m y li f e t h a t I f e l t t h e m e m b e r s h i p c a r d
fo r th e A u s tra lia n L a b o r P a rty th a t I k e e p in m y w a lle t
b u r n in g a h o le in m e , s e a r in g fle s h . I w as a t th e S y d n e y H o te l
In te rc o n tin e n ta l on e le c tio n n ig h t, 1993, w h e re L ib e ra l
le a d e r J o h n H e w s o n e x p e c te d to m a k e h is v ic to ry a n n o u n c e ­
m e n t . O n l y i t w a s s o o n c l e a r t h a t t h e L i b e r a l P a r t y h a d l o s t.
I t w a s j u s t a m a tte r o f w a itin g a r o u n d f o r H e w s o n to m a k e h is
a p p e a r a n c e , a n d c o n c e d e d e fe a t. B o r e d jo u r n a lis ts m ille d
a r o u n d . Y o u n g L ib e r a ls in p r e s s e d s la c k s t r i e d to b e c h e e r f u l .
L ib e r a l w o m e n , w ith h a ir d o s t h a t c o u ld o n ly h a v e b e e n s e t in
s h a p e b y lo n g h o u r s in a w in d tu n n e l, c a r p e d a b o u t m e d ia
b ia s . T h e canapes tu rn e d soggy. T h e s tra g g le o f li s tle s s
b o d ie s o n ly h ig h lig h te d th e e m p tin e s s o f th e ro o m .
I c h a t t e d to t h e w r ite r L i n d a J a iv in , a n o ld K in g s C ro s s
m a te , w h o w ith h e r s h o c k o f o r a n g e h a ir lo o k e d e v e n m o r e
o u t o f p la c e th e r e th a n I d id a m o n g th o s e a m a z in g L ib e ra l
m a tro n s . T h o s e L ib e ra l w o m e n a re th e backbone o f th e
p a r t y . C r a i g M c G r e g o r o n c e d e s c r i b e d t h e m a s “a g e i n g , w e ll
g r o o m e d , p o lite , c a re fu lly e n th u s ia s tic w o m e n w h o m one
f e lt in s tin c tiv e ly w o u ld ... r e s e r v e t h e i r w o rs t s c o r n f o r a n y ­
true believers

t h i n g v u l g a r . ” 1 T o n i g h t t h e y a r e n o t h a p p y . “A t l e a s t o n e
L i b e r a l w o m a n is s n i f f i n g a n d t h e r e ’ll b e m o r e t e a r s t a i n s o n
C o u n t r y R o a d k h a k i b e f o r e t h e n i g h t is t h r o u g h ”, J a i v i n w ill
w rite o f th is n ig h t.2 T h e y s e e m e d to fe e l a s th o u g h s o m e th in g
h a d b e e n s to le n fro m th e m .
S o m e b o d y tu r n e d u p th e s o u n d o n th e T V a t th e b a c k o f
th e h a ll. A s P a u l K e a tin g a p p e a r e d o n s c r e e n in B a n k s to w n ,
a m o d e s t c ro w d g a th e r e d a t th e I n te r c o n tin e n ta l to lis te n as
h e c la im e d v ic to ry f o r L a b o r. T h e m o o d w as a b itte r m ix o f
a rs e n ic a n d b ile . P a u l a n d A n n ita K e a tin g w a lk e d a c ro s s
s ta g e in B a n k s to w n a n d o n s c r e e n a t th e I n te r c o n tin e n ta l.
‘T h i s is t h e s w e e t e s t v i c t o r y o f a l l ”, h e s a i d , a s t h e L i b e r a l
l a d i e s h i s s e d . T h i s is a v i c t o r y f o r t h e t r u e b e l i e v e r s . ” T h a t
o n e g o t a la u g h . I fe lt o u t o f p la c e a m o n g th e s e e a s te r n a n d
n o r t h e r n s u b u rb s p e o p le b u t w o n d e r e d if I w o u ld fe e l a n y
m o r e a t h o m e o u t a t B a n k s to w n in w e s te r n S y d n ey , a p la c e I
have n ev er b een .
B u t w h e n K e a tin g s p o k e o f h o w , u n d e r h is g o v e r n m e n t, n o
o n e w o u ld b e le f t b e h in d , s o m e th in g e ls e to o k h o ld o f m e . I
w as n o lo n g e r h e r e , a m id th e L ib e ra ls , a n d K e a tin g s e e m e d
n o l o n g e r th e r e , in B a n k s to w n . H e s p o k e , a n d I lis te n e d , o n
s o m e o th e r, m o r e s u b lim e p la n e , a p la n e th a t m ig h t b e m a d e
o f th e v e c to r th a t c o n n e c te d u s, a n d c o n n e c te d m a n y th o u ­
s a n d s o f o th e r s , a v e c to r o f ra d io w av es a n d s o u n d w av es a n d
v id e o p h o s p h o r e s c e n c e . A p la n e o f lig h t a n d s o u n d m a d e
p o s s ib le b y th e c r a c k lin g s ta tic s u r f a c e o f te le v is io n . B u t
th e r e w as s o m e th in g m o r e . W h a t K e a tin g a r tic u la te d w as th e
a c tu a l e x is te n c e o f a v irtu a l w o rld th a t c o n n e c te d p e o p le
in to s o m e th in g g r e a te r th a n th e m s e lv e s , s o m e th in g b e y o n d
t h e g r a d e d d i s tin c tio n s t h a t la y e r s u b u r b i a f r o m i n n e r p riv i­
le g e to o u te r d e p riv a tio n .
W h a t e v e r P a u l K e a t i n g ’s q u a l i t i e s a s a p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r , h e
w a s, in th a t m o m e n t, a fa ir d in k u m c e le b rity . I t d id not
m a tte r th a t th e L ib e ra ls a r o u n d m e m u tte r e d a n d g r u m b le d .
I t is n o t a lw a y s a c e l e b r i t y ’s j o b t o b e l i k e d . R a t h e r , i t is a
c e l e b r i t y ’s j o b t o a p p e a r , f o r a s m a n y p e o p l e a s p o s s i b l e , t o
a r tic u la te th e p o s s ib ilitie s o f th e m o m e n t. A n d th a t h e d id ,
b rillia n tly . T h a t it w a s p o s s ib le to c o m e f r o m B a n k s to w n a n d
b e c o m e P r im e M in is te r o f A u s tra lia . T h a t it w a s p o s s ib le , in
t h i s to p s y - t u r v y w o r l d , t o b e f r o m t h e L a b o r P a r t y a n d s till
m a n a g e to p a rla y th a t c ra n k y o ld in s titu tio n in to p o w e r. T h a t
 fa b le s of la b o r an d th e la b o u rs of fa b le s

i t is p o s s i b l e t o f e e l a s i f t h i n g s a r e p o s s i b l e — f o r t h i s , i n t h e
e n d , is t h e r e a l g i f t o f c e l e b r i t y . I t o p e n s u p a p l a n e f o r t h e
p o s s i b i l i t y o f p o s s ib il ity . A p u b l i c ’s s e n s e t h a t t h r o u g h t h e
a p p e a r a n c e o f t h i s c e l e b r i t y , s o m e t h i n g a p p e a r s t h a t is v i r t u ­
a lly i m a g i n a b l e is a s t e p t o w a r d it s b e c o m i n g a c t u a l l y s o .

F ables o f L a b o r a n d the L a b o u r s o f F a b les

B o b H a w k e w as a c e le b rity w h e n L a b o r e le c te d h im le a d e r o f
t h e p a r ty , a n d h i s c e l e b r i t y c o n t r i b u t e d , t h o u g h i n a n i n t a n ­
g i b l e a n d u n m e a s u r a b l e w a y , t o L a b o r ’s 1 9 8 3 e l e c t i o n w in . B y
th e tim e H a w k e w o n h is f o u r t h te r m , h e w a s r a r e ly a b le to
s tr o k e th e p u b lic w ith q u ite th e s a m e h e a t. H e b e c a m e P r im e
M in is te r in s m a ll p a r t b e c a u s e o f h is c e le b rity , b u t h e h e ld
pow er m o s tly on h is p o litic a l s k ills . I a g re e w ith C ra ig
M c G r e g o r ’s a s s e s s m e n t t h a t H a w k e w a s “a p o s t - M c L u h a n
p o l i t i c i a n , o n e o f t h e f i r s t t o r e a l i s e t h a t i t is i n t h e e l e c t r o n i c
m e d ia th a t a g r e a t d e a l o f th e p a s s io n p la y o f c o n te m p o r a r y
p o l i t i c s is e n a c t e d . ”3 T h a t is n o t t o s a y t h a t a l l o f p o l i t i c s is
a b o u t c e l e b r i t y , b u t c e l e b r i t y is o f t e n i n p a r t a b o u t p o l i t i c s .
I n 1 9 9 3 , a f t e r P a u l K e a t i n g ’s e l e c t i o n v i c t o r y , a f a i r c h u n k
o f t h e L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t b e c a m e t e m p o r a r y c e le b r itie s w ith
t h e A B C ’s s c r e e n i n g o f t h e e p i c fiv e h o u r f i l m L a b o r i n P o w e r .'1
T h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w a r n s o f “m e d i u m c o a r s e l a n g u a g e ”, f o r
th e s to r ie s a r e m o s tly to ld in w h a t th e p a r tic ip a n ts th e m ­
s e lv e s d e s c r i b e a s “c o l o u r f u l ” t e r m s . F o r b e s i d e s b e i n g a
c h ro n ic le o f A u s tra lia n p o litic a l in flu e n c e and c e le b rity ,
L a b o r i n P o w e r is a l s o a f a b l e a b o u t a c e r t a i n k i n d o f c u l t u r e
— t h e A u s t r a l i a n L a b o r P a r ty . A c u l t u r e K e a t i n g s o b r i l l i a n t l y
e v o k e d i n h i s ‘t r u e b e l i e v e r s ’ v i c t o r y s p e e c h , t a p p i n g t h a t
s t r u c t u r e o f f e e l i n g t h a t c o n n e c t s t h e L a b o r f a i t h f u l t o its
l e a d e r s , d e s p i t e t h e f a i l u r e s , t h e c o m p r o m i s e s , t h e v ic is s i­
t u d e s o f e v e n ts .
L a b o r i n P o w e r is a f a b l e in th e sa m e w ay th a t N o rm a n
L i n d s a y ’s M a g i c P u d d i n g is a f a b l e . 5 B u n y i p B l u e g u m m e e t s u p
w ith B ill B a rn a c le and Sam S a w n o ff. B ecause B lu e g u m
a p p e a r s t o b e s o n i c e , B ill a n d S a m d e c i d e t o s h a r e w i t h h i m
th e ir m a g ic p u d d in g . T h is d e c is io n tu r n s o u t to b e a g o o d
o n e , f o r w h i l e B u n y i p B l u e g u m c a n ’t s t o p t h e p u d d i n g t h i e v e s
f r o m s t e a l i n g t h e m a g i c p u d d i n g w i t h a ll t h e i r r u s e s a n d t r ic k s ,
h e a lw a y s h e l p s g e t i t b a c k w i t h a fe w t r i c k s o f h i s o w n .
true believers

F a b le s , th e lite r a r y th e o r is t T o m K e e n a n s a y s, a r e a b o u t
f a i l u r e . “W h a t is a t s t a k e i n t h e f a b l e is, m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g
e ls e , th e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d p r a c tic e o f r e s p o n s ib ility — o u r
e x p o s u r e t o c a lls , o t h e r s , a n d t h e n a m e s w i t h w h i c h w e a r e
q u e s t i o n e d a n d w h i c h p u t u s i n q u e s t i o n . ”b T h e p u d d i n g
th ie v e s p la y o n t h e p u d d i n g o w n e r s ’ g u llib ility , tr ic k in g t h e m
w i t h f a l s e c l a i m s . L i k e t h e t i m e t h e P o s s u m p o s e s a s a F ire
fig h te r, d is tr a c tin g th e p u d d in g o w n e r s w ith th e fu n of
f ig h tin g a f ir e w h ile h is c o - c o n s p ir a to r th e W o m b a t s te a ls th e
p u d d in g . T h in g s a r e n o t w h a t th e y s e e m , th e fa b le w a rn s ,
th in g s th a t se e m t r u e a r e o f te n j u s t m a d e u p — as in d e e d a r e
fa b le s .
F a b l e s , i f y o u ’v e e v e r h u n g a r o u n d t h e L a b o r P a r ty , a r e o n e
o f t h e t h i n g s t h a t b i n d its c u l t u r e t o g e t h e r . I n 1 9 9 8 I w a s a t a
f u n d r a is e r f o r T a n y a P lib e rs e k , L a b o r c a n d id a te f o r th e
F e d e r a l s e a t o f S y d n e y , w h e r e I h e a r d M a x S o ilin g te lls s o m e
g r e a t s t o r i e s a b o u t t h e f o r m e r i n n e r c it y m u n i c i p a l i t y o f
G l e b e . I t ’s p a r t o f L e i c h h a r d t C o u n c i l n o w — s u b j e c t o f a
m o r e c o n te m p o r a r y fa b le — t h a t g r e a t d o c u m e n t a r y f il m
R a ts i n th e R a n k s , a b o u t h o w L a b o r c o u n c i l l o r s a n d L a b o r
a p o s ta te s r u n th e ir p a tc h .7 O n c e u p o n a tim e , G le b e w as a
m u n i c i p a l i t y a ll o f i ts o w n , a n d f o r a w h i l e , a L a b o r o n e .
I a lw a y s w o n d e r e d w h y G l e b e ’s p a r k is c a l l e d F o l e y P a r k .
O ver e n tre e s , M ax to ld th e s to ry o f D oc F o le y , L abor
m a c h in e m a n , w h o b u il t h is p o w e r o n g iv in g f r e e m e d ic a l
h e lp to th e lo c a ls d u r i n g th e d e p r e s s io n — in e x c h a n g e f o r
t h e i r lo y a l ty i n p a r t y b u s i n e s s . S e n a t o r J o h n F a u l k n e r p r o ­
v id e d th e m a in c o u rs e fo r th e e v e n in g — th e ta le o f th e
c le a n in g u p o f th e c o r r u p t G le b e b r a n c h e s in th e 8 0 s —
s o m e o f th e la s t r e m n a n ts o f th e o ld r ig h t w in g m a c h in e s o f
t h e F o l e y ty p e . M o s t o f t h e b r a n c h e s a r o u n d G l e b e b e l o n g t o
th e le ft fa c tio n n o w , a n d th e r ig h t w in g o n e s a r e h o n e s t
b r a n c h e s . B u t t h e p a r k is s till c a l l e d F o l e y P a r k . T h e r e ’s a
m o r a l, o r p e r h a p s a le s s o n , in t h a t s o m e w h e r e .
A t firs t g la n c e it a p p e a r s th a t th e d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n le ft
a n d r i g h t w i n g f a c t i o n s i n t h e L a b o r P a r t y is t h a t o n t h e l e f t
p e o p le th in k fa b le s h a v e a m o r a l, w h ile o n th e r i g h t p e o p le
th in k th e y h a v e a le s s o n . T h e le ft s e e k s th e t r u t h b e h i n d th e
s h iftin g a p p e a ra n ce s. The rig h t seek k n o w le d g e o f how
a p p e a r a n c e s w o rk a n d c a n b e m a d e to w o rk . W h a t th e y h a v e
i n c o m m o n is b e i n g t r u e b e l i e v e r s — a p a r a d o x i c a l p h r a s e —
 the virtual party

i n t h e f a b l e s t h a t a r e t h e p a r t y ’s a c c u m u l a t i n g s t o c k o f t h e
w is d o m le a r n e d o f f a ilu re .
I u s e d t o b e a t r u e b e l i e v e r , a n d a l a b o u r m o v e m e n t le f t i s t ,
b u t t h e s e d a y s I ’v e l o s t f a i t h i n a n y t h i n g b u t t h e p r a c t i c a l i t i e s
o f f o r m in g e le c to r a l m a jo r itie s o u t o f a c o m m itm e n t to m in ­
im is in g w hat B ob E llis c a lls “a v o i d a b l e s u f f e r i n g ” .8
M i n i m i s i n g a v o i d a b l e s u f f e r i n g — i f t h e r e is a f e e l i n g t h a t
s t r u c t u r e s t h e w h o l e o f L a b o r c u l t u r e , I t h i n k t h a t ’s it. T h e
r e s t is t h e f o lly a n d f a n t a s y o f m a s t e r t h i n k e r s , w h o t h i n k p o l ­
i tic s is a m a t t e r o f i m p o s i n g a g r a n d p l a n o n p e o p l e , a g a i n s t
t h e i r w ill, b e c a u s e t h e m a s t e r d e e m s i t g o o d f o r t h e m . T h a t
is a l s o a fe e lin g th a t s tru c tu re s L abor c u ltu re . A ll th a t
c h a n g e d is t h a t t h e g r a n d p l a n s u s e d t o c o m e f r o m t h e l e f t
w i t h it s f a n t a s i e s o f s t a t e c o n t r o l ; t h e n t h e f o l l i e s c a m e f r o m
t h e r i g h t w i t h t h e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t t h e m a r k e t is t h e o n e b i g
a n sw e r.

The V irtu a l P a rty

T h e L a b o r P a r t y s t il l p a s s e s o n f a b l e s a s a n o r a l t r a d i t i o n , b u t
L a b o r o w e s its p e r p e t u a t i o n to a n o th e r m e a n s o f te llin g
s t o r i e s a s w e ll — t o t h e m e d i a . I n t h e m e d i a , L a b o r a p p e a r s
b e c a u s e it h a s p o w e r, a n d it h a s p o w e r b e c a u s e it a p p e a rs .
M o s tly , L a b o r a p p e a r s a s p a r t o f a n a d v e rs a ria l p ra c tic e .
J o u r n a lis m , in th e E n g lis h s p e a k in g w o rld , o w e s a lo t to th e
le g a l and p a rlia m e n ta ry tra d itio n o f a d v e rs a ria l ju s tic e ,
w h e r e r iv a l o r a t o r s p l e a d p r o a n d c o n . T r u t h is s e r v e d b y a
b a l a n c e b e t w e e n s o p h i s t r i e s , n e i t h e r o f w h i c h is e v e r t o b e
to o re a d ily b e lie v e d .
T h e ris e o f th e s w in g in g v o te r p a r a lle ls th e p e r v a d in g o f
c u l t u r e b y t h e m e d i a i n w h i c h t h e a d v e r s a r i a l s ty le o f j o u r ­
n a l i s m is t h e n o r m . L a b o r h a s h a d t o r e f a s h i o n i t s e l f , i n p a r t ,
i n t o a p a r t i c i p a n t i n t h i s m e d i a c r e a t e d a d v e r s a r i a l w o r l d . I t ’s
a l o n g w a y f r o m t h e b a c k r o o m s ty le o f t h e o l d p a r t y b o s s e s
l i k e D o c F o le y . I t h a s b e c o m e a v i r t u a l p a r t y , c r e a t i n g it s e l e c ­
to r a l b lo c o u t o f a n y a n d e v e ry p o s s ib le p riv a te d e s ir e it c a n
a tta c h to t h e a n c i e n t s ig n s a n d c u r r e n t ta lk in g h e a d s t h a t
c o n s t i t u t e its p u b l i c e x i s t e n c e .
S o m e tim e s , th e fa b le s o f L a b o r a p p e a r in th e m e d ia as
s o m e t h i n g c l o s e r t o t h e s t o r y t e l l i n g s ty le o f o r a l h i s t o r y .
T h e r e a r e a t le a s t t h r e e e p ic fa b le s o f L a b o r b r o a d c a s t o n
true believers

n a t i o n a l t e l e v i s i o n i n li v in g m e m o r y , o n e f o r e a c h o f L a b o r ’s
t h r e e r e c e n t p e r i o d s o f g o v e r n m e n t . B e s i d e s L a b o r i n P o w e r,
t h e r e is t h e K e n n e d y M i l l e r p r o d u c t i o n , T h e D i s m i s s a l , a n d
T r u e B e lie v e r s , w r i t t e n b y B o b E llis a n d S t e p h e n R a m s e y .9 I n
th is c h a p te r , I w a n t to w rite a b o u t th e s e th r e e L a b o r e p ic s .
T h e v i d e o s o f t h e m a r e n o t t o o h a r d t o f i n d . T h e y m a y la c k
t h e d e t a i l o f t h e m a n y b o o k s p u b l i s h e d o n t h e L a b o r P a rty ,
b u t th e y e m b o d y a g o o d d e a l m o r e o f th e s tr u c tu r e o f f e e lin g ,
t h e m e m o r y o f w h i c h is w h a t L a b o r c u l t u r e h a s t o w o r k w i t h
a s i t r e i n v e n t s i ts e lf , f o r t h e u m p t e e n t h t i m e , f o r its p u b l i c .
I t ’s n o t o f t e n th a t A u s tra lia n te le v is io n g e ts a r o u n d to
t e l l i n g its e p i c s t o r i e s , a n d w i t h t h e d e c l i n e i n f u n d i n g f o r t h e
n a t i o n a l b r o a d c a s t e r , t h e A B C , i t h a s b e c o m e le s s c o m m o n .
T h i s is a w o r r y , b e c a u s e t h e m e d i a , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e e l e c ­
tro n ic m e d ia , a c c o u n t fo r a la rg e p r o p o r tio n o f w h a t p e o p le
know a b o u t a w id e r w o rld , b e y o n d th e b o rd e rs o f th e ir
s u b u r b . W h ile e d u c a tio n m i g h t b e c h a r g e d w ith a l a r g e r
re s p o n s ib ility th a n th e m e d ia fo r e x te n d in g p o p u la r m e m o ry
a n d a w a r e n e s s b e y o n d t h e h e r e a n d n o w , i t ’s h a r d t o e d u c a t e
p e o p le w ith o u t p o p u la r s c re e n p r o d u c tio n s . T h r o u g h lo n g
y e a rs o f tr a in in g , A u s tra lia n s h a v e a c q u ir e d fin e in tu itiv e
s k ills i n r e a d i n g s c r e e n t e x t s , b u t a r e s o m e t i m e s le s s i n t e r ­
e s t e d i n t h e w r i t t e n w o r d . I f e d u c a t i o n is t o i n c l u d e t h e f a b l e s
o f p a s t e n c o u n t e r s w i t h c r i s is a n d c o n f l i c t o n a n a t i o n a l a n d
i n t e r n a t i o n a l s c a le , t h e n e d u c a t o r s n e e d t h e p r o g r a m s w ith
w h ic h to te a c h .
P o litic ia n s o f te n s e e m p u z z le d b y th e la c k o f in te r e s t th e
p u b lic fe ig n s in th e m a c h in e r y o f g o v e r n m e n t. L ik e m o s t
o b s e s s i v e h o b b y i s t s , p o l i t i c i a n s d o n ’t u n d e r s t a n d w h y o t h e r s
a r e n ’t a s f a s c i n a t e d a s t h e y b y fly f i s h i n g o r f r e t w o r k — o r
f e d e r a l g o v e r n a n c e . T h e y h a v e n o - o n e b u t th e m s e lv e s to
b la m e . B o th s id e s o f th e h o u s e h a v e so in tim id a te d and
n e g le c te d th e A B C th a t th e n a tio n a l b ro a d c a s te r h a s n e ith e r
th e tim e nor th e in c lin a tio n to pay m uch a tte n tio n to
m a k in g g o v e r n a n c e a s u b je c t f o r a n y th in g b u t th e p a s s in g
s h o w o f c u r r e n t a f f a i r s tri v ia .

The U n represen tab le H ero

T r u e B e lie v e r s w a s a n a p t t i t l e f o r t h e A B C T V s e r i e s B o b E llis
c o -w ro te o n th e fa b le s o f J o h n C u r tin , B e n C h ifle y a n d D o c
 the unrepresentable hero

E v a t t. T w o o f t h e s e L a b o r l e a d e r s l o s t t h e i r liv e s a n d o n e lo s t*
h is m in d in c o n f r o n ta tio n w ith th e e v e n ts o f th e 4 0 s a n d 50 s.
T h e firs t s c e n e h a s p o o r o ld J a c k C u r tin , P r im e M in is te r
f r o m 1 9 4 1 - 1 9 4 5 , o n h i s d e a t h b e d . 10 W e s e e t h r o u g h h i s e y e s
t h e c l u s t e r o f h i s s u c c e s s o r s w h o w ill h a v e t o p r o s e c u t e t h e
l a s t p a r t o f t h e w a r e f f o r t . I t ’s t e l l i n g t h a t w h i l e t h e s e r i e s t r i e s
its g u ts o u t to m a i n t a i n f o r t h e v ie w e r a n i n t i m a t e y e t d i s t a n t
r e g a r d f o r s u c h l e g e n d a r y f ig u r e s a s C h ifle y a n d M e n z ie s , n o
a c t o r a p p e a r s t r y i n g t o c a r r y o f f C u r t i n ’s m a n t l e . T h a t w o u l d
b e t o o g r e a t a ta s k . J o h n C u r t i n : m o d e s t , a u s t e r e , r e s e r v e d ,
a lw a y s tro u b le d by m e la n c h o ly and s e lf-d o u b t, w as an
u n l i k e l y s o u l t o b e c h o s e n , a s h e p u t it, a s “f a t e ’s w e a p o n . ”
A n d y e t th r o u g h th e a n x ie tie s o f w a r h e k e p t th e c o u n tr y
to g e th e r . E v e n m o r e re m a rk a b ly , h e k e p t th e L a b o r p a rty
to g e th e r.
C o n t e m p o r a r i e s c l a i m C u r t i n w a s a g r e a t o r a t o r . T h i s is d i f ­
f i c u l t t o u n d e r s t a n d i n a n a g e w h e n c y b e r s p a c e e x t e n d s i ts
e m b r a c e to a lm o s t e v e ry o n e a n d e v e ry th in g . E v e n o n ra d io ,
C u r tin s o u n d s lik e a m a n u s e d to s p e a k in g to la r g e g r o u p s o f
u n r u ly m e n in c a v e r n o u s h a lls . I n th e n e w s re e ls , h e s ta n d s
w e ll b a c k f r o m t h e m i c r o p h o n e , s w a y in g r h y t h m i c a l l y , t h e
w o rd s e x p r e s s e d f r o m th e m o v e m e n ts o f h is b o d y a s m u c h as
h i s m i n d . H a n d i n a w a i s t c o a t p o c k e t , g u a r d i n g h i s b e lly , h e
u n le a s h e s h is m in d . T h e w o rd s sw o o p a n d s q u a ll in e la b o r a te
a ra b e sq u e s.
S o m e tim e s h e even q u o te s p o e try . H e r e s p o n d s to th e
Jap an ese a tta c k on P e a rl H a rb o u r w ith lin e s fro m
S w in b u rn e . H e w rite s o f th e n e e d to s e e k A m e r ic a n a id f o r
th e w a r in th e P a c ific w ith lin e s f r o m B e rn a rd O ’D o w d .
“W i t h o u t a n y i n h i b i t i o n s o f a n y k i n d , I m a k e i t q u i t e c l e a r
t h a t A u s tr a lia lo o k s to A m e r ic a , f r e e o f a n y p a n g s a s to o u r
tr a d itio n a l lin k s o f k in s h ip w ith th e U n ite d K in g d o m .” I n th e
s a m e r e m a r k a b l e 1 9 4 1 e s s a y f o r t h e M e l b o u r n e H e r a ld , h e
a d m i t s t h a t i n h i s a t t e m p t s t o m o b i l i s e A u s t r a l i a n s f o r w a r, h e
e n g a g e d in a n “e x p e r i m e n t i n p s y c h o l o g y ” a i m e d a t “t h e
s o m e w h a t la c k a d a is ic a l A u s tr a lia n m in d .” W h ile A u s tra lia n s
h a v e a lw a y s b e e n p a t r i o t i c , h e c l a i m s t h a t “r e s p o n s e t o l e a d ­
e rs h ip a n d d ire c tio n h a s n e v e r b e e n r e q u e s te d o f th e p e o p le ,
a n d d e s i r a b l e t a l e n t s a n d u n t a p p e d r e s o u r c e s la y d o r m a n t . ”11
H e w as th e firs t A u s tra lia n le a d e r to e x p e r ie n c e p o w e r as th e
a b ility to d ir e c t th e e n e r g ie s o f th e n a tio n to w a rd th e p r o -
true believers

d u c t i o n o f a n e w v e r s i o n o f it s c o l l e c t i v e s e lf. T h e e x p e r i e n c e
t r o u b l e d h i m g r e a t l y . T h a t h e w a s t r o u b l e d b y p o w e r is a k e y
q u a lity in w h a t e n d u r e s o f h is c e le b rity .
C u r t i n ’s t a l e n t f o r f a s h i o n i n g h i m s e l f i n t o t h e v e r y i m a g e
of le a d e rs h ip in a c tio n , and th e w a rtim e c o n d itio n s
re s tric tin g d is s e m in a tio n o f d is s e n tin g in fo rm a tio n , m a d e
C u r tin in to a q u ite u n iq u e k in d o f c e le b rity in A u s tra lia n
h i s t o r y . T h e f a n t a s y h e s t o o d f o r s till h a d d i s t a n t e c h o e s h a l f
a c e n t u r y l a t e r . ‘T h i s g o v e r n m e n t ’s p o l i c y o f f u l l d e v e l o p ­
m e n t o f r e s o u r c e s , f u ll e m p l o y m e n t o f m a n - p o w e r a n d fu ll
p r o v i s i o n f o r s o c i a l s e c u r i t y is a b a s i s n o t o n l y f o r A u s t r a l i a n
r e c o n s t r u c t i o n , b u t a ls o f o r a s ta b le a n d p e a c e f u l c o m m o n ­
w e a l t h o f n a t i o n s . ” 12
F if ty y e a r s a f t e r C u r t i n ’s d e a t h , th is d r e a m of a s ta te -
d i r e c t e d m o b i l i s a t i o n o f r e s o u r c e s s t ill h a u n t e d t h e i m a g i n a ­
t i o n , n o t o n l y o f t h e L a b o r l e f t b u t a l s o o f P a u l i n e H a n s o n ’s
O n e N a t i o n P a r t y L t d . W h e t h e r H a n s o n ’s p o l i c y o f r e i n t r o ­
d u c in g c o n s c r ip tio n w as s u g g e s te d to h e r b y h e r m o th e r o r
by her m in d e r John P a s q u a re lli, b o th w o u ld s u re ly
re m e m b e r th e now fa d in g e c h o e s o f th e w a rtim e m e d ia
m o b ilis a tio n o f w h ic h J o h n C u r tin w as o n c e a c e le b r a te d a n d
r e v e r e d s y m b o l . 13 C u r t i n w a s a c r e d i b l e f i g u r e f o r t h e d r i v e t o
s e n d c o n s c r ip ts i n t o t h e P a c ific w a r n o t le a s t b e c a u s e h e
cam e fro m th e a n ti- c o n s c r ip tio n w in g o f th e l a b o u r m o v e ­
m e n t , a n d a p p e a r e d t o s u f f e r a c r i s is o f c o n s c i e n c e a b o u t
s e n d in g A u s tra lia n c o n s c rip ts in to b a ttle s th a t w e re not
f o u g h t f o r th e im m e d ia te d e f e n s e o f A u s tra lia . S o m e o f th e
e th o s g e n e r a te d b y th e m o b ilis a tio n o f p ro p ag an d a th a t
a c c o m p a n ie d c o n s c rip tio n c le a rly stic k s in th e m in d s of
s o m e o ld e r A u s tra lia n s .
W h a t is r e m a r k a b l e a b o u t T r u e B e lie v e r s is t h a t w h i l e i t n a r ­
r a t e s t h e t r i a l s o f f e d e r a l L a b o r f r o m C u r t i n ’s d e a t h t o D o c
E v a t t ’s 1 9 5 4 e l e c t o r a l d e f e a t a n d th e d e c lin e o f L a b o r ’s
p o s tw a r f o r tu n e s , th e im a g e o f C u rtin h im s e lf d o e s n o t
a p p e a r. I w o n d e r: h o w m a n y A u s tra lia n s m y a g e o r y o u n g e r
a r e m o r e f a m ilia r w ith t h e f a c e s o f C h u r c h i l l o r R o o s e v e lt?
H o w m a n y s tu d e n ts a t C u r tin U n iv e rs ity k n o w w h o th e p la c e
is n a m e d a f t e r ? P e r h a p s C u r t i n is n o t o n l y u n r e p r e s e n t e d i n
A u s tra lia n m e d ia c u ltu r e , b u t u n r e p r e s e n ta b le .
C u r t i n ’s s u c c e s s o r w a s B e n C h if le y , P r i m e M i n i s t e r f r o m
1 9 4 5 to 1 9 4 9 . 14 I n T r u e B e lie v e r s t h e a c to r E d D e v e re a u x
 th in g s w orth fig h tin g for

m a n a g e s to c o n v e y th e to w e rin g p illa r o f o r d in a r in e s s th a t
w a s C h i f . S i m o n C h i l v e r s m a k e s a n e x c e l l e n t D o c E v a tt, a n d
c o n v e y s th e v o la tile m ix o f b lu d g e o n in g in te llig e n c e a n d
t e n d e r s e l f r e g a r d . B u t C u r t i n h i m s e l f is a b s e n t . P e r h a p s t h e
film m a k e r s d id n o t d a r e p u ll h im d o w n f r o m h is p e d e s ta l,
a n d m a k e o f h i m a f a b l e ’s m o r e e q u i v o c a l c h a r a c t e r , b e n t b y
a n d a g a i n s t t h e tw is t o f a s t o r y ’s e v e n t s .

T h in g s W orth F ig h tin g F or
T h e m o r a l o f T r u e B e l ie v e r s m i g h t b e t h a t w h e n c o n f r o n t e d
w i t h t h e v e r t i g o o f c i r c u m s t a n c e , L a b o r h a s t o s t i c k t r u e t o its
i d e n t i t y , t o its p r i n c i p l e s . E v e n t s r e v e a l t h e t r u e i n n e r e s s e n c e
o f t h e p a r ty , w h i c h i ts l e a d e r s e i t h e r u p h o l d o r b e t r a y . B u t
th e le s s o n m ig h t b e th a t e v e n ts re v e a l th e a m b ig u itie s o f th e
p a r t y ’s i d e n t i t y . A t t r y i n g t i m e s , a l l t h e d i f f e r e n t c u r r e n t s a r e
e x p o s e d f o r w h a t th e y a r e , a n d in o r d e r to s u rv iv e t h e p a r ty
h a s to r e m a k e its e lf in a n e w im a g e o u t o f th e flu x a n d
c h a n c e i n h e r i t a n c e t h a t i t a lw a y s c o n t a i n s . W h e n I f i r s t s a w
th e s e rie s , I t h o u g h t th e f o r m e r ; n o w m o r e t h a n a d e c a d e
l a t e r I t h i n k t h e l a t t e r . T h a t a m b i v a l e n c e is a t t h e h e a r t o f
L a b o r c u ltu re .
T r u e B e lie v e r s p i c t u r e s a p i p e - s u c k i n g C h i f l e y t a l k i n g t o t h e
g re a t n a tio n b u ild in g b u r e a u c r a t N u g g e t C o o m b s, as b o th
le a n o n a s c a le m o d e l o f t h e S n o w y M o u n t a in s d a m a n d i r r i ­
g a tio n s c h e m e . C h if d re a m s o f o r c h a r d s a n d fa rm s, b u t as h e
a n d C o o m b s k n o w , t h e F e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t w ill n o t h a v e t h e
p o w e rs in peace tim e th a t it e n jo y e d d u rin g th e w a r to
m o b ilis e th e re s o u rc e s o f th e n a tio n . O n e s tra n d o f th e
d r a m a i n v o lv e s t h e c l a s h b e t w e e n C h i f l e y ’s v i s i o n o f a b e n e v ­
o l e n t s t a t e w i t h c o n t r o l o v e r t h e b a n k i n g s y s te m , a n d r e s i s ­
ta n c e b y th e b a n k s a n d b u s in e s s in te re s ts .
C h i f l e y ’s p u r s u i t o f s t a t e c o n t r o l l e d n a t i o n a l r e c o n s t r u c ­
t i o n is o n e o f t h e i s s u e s t h a t l e a d t o t h e d e f e a t o f L a b o r i n
th e 1 9 4 9 e le c tio n . W as th is a n h is to ric d e f e a t o f a la b o u r
m o v e m e n t t h a t f o r o n c e h a d t h e n e r v e t o s t i c k t o o n e o f its
p r i n c i p l e s ? O r w a s C h i f l e y n a i v e i n h i s v ie w t h a t t h e g o v e r n ­
m e n t c o u ld b e tr u s te d n o t to a b u s e s u c h e x te n s iv e p o w e rs? A
p o w e r f u l s c e n e sh o w s C h ifle y a n d R o b e r t M e n z ie s (Jo h n
B o n n e y ) t o a s t i n g e a c h o t h e r ’s h e a l t h o n t h e e v e o f t h e 1 9 4 9
e l e c t i o n . T h e h e a r t a n d s o u l o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n p e o p l e is a t
true believers

s t a k e , sa y s M e n z i e s . T h e h e a r t a n d s o u l a r e a lw a y s t h e r e , C h i f
r e p l i e s , t h e p o l i t i c i a n ’s j o b is j u s t t o s e e k i t o u t .
A s it t u r n e d o u t, M e n z ie s w a s r ig h t. T h e e le c to r a te d id n o t
w a n t th e c o n tin u a tio n in p e a c e o f w a rtim e s ta te a u th o rity . A
ris in g w h ite c o lla r s e g m e n t o f th e e le c to r a te c o u ld n o t b e
p e r s u a d e d t o s e e t h e n a t i o n a s o n e g i a n t s o c i a l f a c t o r y . “I t r y
t o t h i n k o f t h e l a b o u r m o v e m e n t n o t a s p u t t i n g a n e x t r a s ix ­
p e n c e i n t o s o m e b o d y ’s p o c k e t , o r m a k i n g s o m e b o d y P r i m e
M in is te r ,” a d e f e a t e d C h ifle y s a id , “ . . . b u t a s a m o v e m e n t
b r in g in g s o m e th in g b e tte r to th e p e o p le : b e tte r s ta n d a r d s o f
liv i n g , g r e a t e r h a p p i n e s s t o t h e m a s s o f t h e p e o p l e . W e h a v e
a g r e a t o b je c tiv e — th e lig h t o n th e h ill — w h ic h w e a im to
r e a c h by w o rk in g f o r th e b e tte r m e n t o f m a n k in d .... I f it w e re
n o t fo r th a t, th e la b o u r m o v e m e n t w o u ld n o t b e w o rth
f i g h t i n g f o r . ” 15 O n l y s o m e o n e a lw a y s s e e m s t o b e s t e a l i n g t h i s
r a d i a n t p o s s ib ility , r i g h t o u t f r o m u n d e r t h e P a r t y ’s n o s e .
T h a t s e n s e o f l o s s is a s m u c h a p a r t o f t h e s t r u c t u r e o f f e e l i n g
o f L a b o r c u l t u r e a s t h e e v e r - a b s e n t l i g h t o n t h e h i l l i ts e lf .
I f s e e k i n g e q u a l i t y a n d c o m m u n i t y m e a n s a lo s s o f l ib e r t y ,
t h e c r e a t i o n o f w h a t t h e f r e e t h i n k i n g o p p o n e n t o f L a b o r ’s
m a s te r th in k e rs , th e p h ilo s o p h e r J o h n A n d e rs o n , c a lle d a
“s e r v i l e s t a t e ”, t h e n t h e e n d s d o n o t j u s t i f y t h e m e a n s . “F o r
t h e m e a s u r e o f f r e e d o m i n a n y c o m m u n i t y is t h e e x t e n t o f
o p p o s itio n to th e r u lin g o r d e r , o f c ritic is m o f th e ru lin g
id e a s ; a n d b e lie f in e s ta b lis h e d f r e e d o m , o r in s ta te - g u a r a n ­
t e e d ‘b e n e f i t s ’, is a m a r k o f t h e a b a n d o n m e n t o f l i b e r t y . T h e
s e r v i l e s t a t e is t h e u n o p p o s e d s t a t e . ”16 Y e t m a n y i n t h e l a b o u r
m o v e m e n t in s is t o n s e e in g th e m e a n s o f s ta te c o n tr o l n o t
o n l y a s j u s t i f i e d b y s u c h a g o a l , b u t a s a n e n d i n i ts e lf .

The E v a tt E n ig m a
C h ifle y a n d E v a tt c o u ld n o t b e m o r e d i f f e r e n t k in d s o f L a b o r
c e l e b r i t y . C h i f s s i m p l i c i t y w a s l e g e n d a r y , a n d h i s is a s i m p l e
le g e n d — th e s e lf-e d u c a te d e n g in e d riv e r w h o s to k e d th e
b o i l e r s o f g o v e r n m e n t b u s i n e s s a s e f f i c i e n t l y a s a r a ilw a y
s t e a m e r . T h a t p l a i n s p e a k i n g , g r a v e l v o i c e , w i t h its s i m p l e
rh y th m s a n d ris in g in to n a tio n ; “o u r B e n ” t a l k i n g to th e
n a t i o n a s i f a d d r e s s i n g a g a t h e r i n g o f f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s in
h i s n a t i v e B a t h u r s t . B o b E llis o n c e d e s c r i b e d i t a s a “v o i c e li k e
b u r n t v e g e m i t e t o a s t . ”17 H e r u l e d f e d e r a l L a b o r c a u c u s w i th
 the evatt enigm a

h is fe ro c io u s a ffe c tio n . A m o v in g scene in T r u e B e lie v e r s

sh o w s C h ifle y p o p o f f h o m e r a t h e r th a n a t t e n d th e p a r ty f o r
th e ju b ile e a n n iv e rs a ry of th e o p e n in g of p a rlia m e n t.
M e n z ie s , r a d i a n t in w h ite tie , b e a m i n g lik e a n i g h t c lu b p r o ­
p r i e t o r w ith a fu ll h o u s e , re c e iv e s a m e s s a g e . H e s ile n c e s th e
b a n d a n d m a k e s t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t , B e n C h i f l e y is d e a d .
“W e h a v e l o s t a v e r y g r e a t A u s t r a l i a n . ”
T h e D o c is d i f f e r e n t . D r H e r b e r t V e r e E v a tt , w h o s u c c e e d s
C h if le y , is a d i f f e r e n t k i n d o f L a b o r l e a d e r . 18 E d u c a t e d b y t h e
u n i v e r s i t y a n d t h e p r o f e s s i o n o f la w r a t h e r t h a n o n t h e s h o p
flo o r, n ig h t s c h o o l a n d th e tra d e u n io n m o v e m e n t, E v a tt
s p e a k s a d i f f e r e n t l a n g u a g e . B e t w e e n C u r t i n a n d E v a tt, L a b o r
o r a to r y a c c lim a tis e s its e lf s o m e w h a t to s p e a k in g f o r th e r a d io ,
a d d r e s s in g p e o p le in th e ir p riv a te h o m e s r a t h e r th a n in a
p u b lic h a ll, b u t a s J u d i t h B r e tt a r g u e s , it w a s h is o p p o n e n t
M e n z ie s w h o w a s t h e m a s te r o f th e r a d i o v e c to r, u s in g it in
p a rtic u la r to a d d re s s w o m e n , in th e h o m e , in a la n g u a g e a n d
w ith a m o d e o f s p e e c h s u i t a b l e f o r t h e p r i v a t e d o m a i n . 19
E v a t t ’s s p e e c h s o u n d s a m o r e m a s c u l i n e s ty le , a n d i n f i l m
f o o t a g e , h e a lw a y s s e e m s t o w i e l d h i s r i g h t a r m a s i f i t w e r e a n
i n t e l l e c t u a l c l u b . I t w a s M e n z i e s w h o c r a f t e d a p u b l i c s ty le f o r
th e p riv a tis e d w o rld o f a n e m e r g in g fo rtre s s s u b u rb ia .
I n T r u e B e lie v e r s , E v a t t a p p e a r s a s a w e ll m e a n i n g l u n a t i c —
a q u ite d if f e r e n t p o r tr a it to th e h a g io g r a p h ic tr e a tm e n t o f
C h if le y . A n d y e t t h e r e is f o r m e a t l e a s t s o m e t h i n g t r u l y
m o v in g a b o u t th is b r illia n t, fla w e d , s e lf - d e s tr u c tiv e m a n , so
e n g a g in g ly p o rtra y e d by S im o n C h ilv e rs . He to o k on
M e n z i e s , t h e c o u r t s , t h e m e d i a a n d t h e e l e c t o r a t e t o tw ic e
d e f e a t M e n z i e s ’ a t t e m p t s t o b a n t h e C o m m u n i s t p a r ty . T h e
p o w e r s M e n z ie s s o u g h t, f irs t t h r o u g h le g is la tio n a n d th e n
th r o u g h r e f e r e n d u m , w e re a n e v e n c le a r e r b r e a c h o f lib e rty
th a n L a b o r ’s d e s i r e t o c e n t r a l i s e c o n t r o l o f b a n k i n g a n d
in v e s tm e n t. M e n z ie s w o u ld u s e , n o t th e th r e a t o f d e p r e s s io n
a n d fa s c is m a t h o m e , b u t th e t h r e a t o f S ta lin is m a b r o a d as
th e e x c u s e f o r a s e rv ile s ta te a t h o m e .
T h e e n i g m a o f E v a t t is t h e f o r c e w i t h w h i c h h e c o u l d a c t
upon s e e m in g ly c o n tra d ic to ry id e a s . As th e w a rtim e
A tto rn e y -G e n e ra l, h e c o u ld b e e v e n m o r e e n th u s ia s tic th a n
C u r t i n o r C h i f l e y f o r a g g r a n d i s i n g s t a t e p o w e r . “I n t h e f i r e s
o f w a r w e h a v e fa s h io n e d a n e w m a c h in e ry o f g o v e rn m e n t
d i v e r s e y e t u n i f i e d , w i t h its r o o t s i n t h e p e o p l e a n d y e t w i t h
true believers

e f f e c t i v e c e n t r a l d i r e c t i o n ; w e h a v e , t o o , f a s h i o n e d a s y s te m
o f e c o n o m ic r e g u la tio n b y w h ic h w e h a v e b u ilt a n d m a in ­
ta in e d a g ig a n tic w a r m a c h in e a n d a t th e sa m e tim e p r o ­
te c te d o u r p e o p le fro m w a n t a n d m is e ry . W e p r o f o u n d l y
b e lie v e t h a t th is m a c h i n e r y o f g o v e r n m e n t a n d th is s y s te m o f
c o n t r o l a n d o r g a n i s a t i o n a r e n e c e s s a r y a n d w e ll a d a p t e d t o
h a n d le th e e q u a lly d if f ic u lt a n d u r g e n t p r o b le m s o f th e p o s t
w a r p e r i o d . ” O r e v e n m o r e b l u n t l y : ‘T o t a l w a r c a l l s f o r t h e
o r g a n is a tio n o f th e w h o le c o m m u n ity . A u s tra lia h a s m o v e d
a n d is m o v i n g t o w a r d s t o t a l o r g a n i s a t i o n . ”20
E v a t t ’s f i n e s t h o u r , i n T r u e B e lie v e r s , is h i s s i n g l e - m i n d e d
c a m p a ig n a g a in s t M e n z ie s ’ a tte m p ts to a c q u ir e e x tr a o r d i­
n a ry p o lic e p o w e rs fo r th e a n ti- c o m m u n is t w itc h h u n t.
C o m m u n is m w o u ld s p lit t h e p a rty . J o h n D e r u m p la y s t h e
p a r t o f B . A . S a n t a m a r i a , t h e la y C a t h o l i c a c t i v i s t w h o o r g a n ­
is e d a n ti- c o m m u n is t c e lls w ith in th e t r a d e u n i o n m o v e m e n t
t o c o m b a t t h e r e d s . D e r u m c a p t u r e s S a n t a m a r i a ’s t r a d e m a r k
c o m b in a t io n o f g e n tle v o ic e , s e lf -s a n c tifie d a ir s a n d r u t h le s s
e n e rg y . T h e s e rie s e n d s w ith th e p a r ty b e s ie g e d f r o m th e le ft
b y th e C o m m u n i s t P a rty , f r o m th e r ig h t b y S a n ta m a ria .
E v a t t ’s j u d g e m e n t s o u r s a n d h i s m i n d u n r a v e l s , h i s l u c i d i t y
p r o b a b l y s a p p e d b y a r t e r i o - s c l e r o s i s . M e r c i f u ll y , T r u e B e lie v e r s
s p a re s u s h is y e a r o f p u b lic d e c lin e . B u t n o t b e f o r e it h a s c o n ­
v e y e d a l e s s o n a b o u t t h e d a n g e r s o f s t a y i n g t o o lo y a l t o a
le a d e r, f o r to o lo n g .

A C erta in H a u teu r
N o v e m b e r 1 1 t h o f 1 9 7 5 is o n e o f t h o s e d a y s w h e n m a n y
p e o p le c a n re c a ll th e ir w h e re a b o u ts w h e n th e y h e a r d th e
n ew s. I w as on a bus on th e w ay hom e fro m s c h o o l.
D a y d r e a m in g , lo o k in g o u t th e w in d o w a t th e p a s s in g s h o p
fro n ts of H u n te r s tre e t, N e w c a s tle , a new spaper p o s te r
b r o u g h t m e b a c k to m y s e lf w ith a shock: K E R R SA C K S
W H I T L A M it s a id , in f u n e r e a l b la c k c a p ita ls .
T h e D is m is s a l c o v e r s t h e la s t 12 m o n t h s o f t h e W h itla m g o v ­
e r n m e n t , f r o m D e c e m b e r 1 9 7 4 t o D e c e m b e r 1 9 7 5 .21 T h e s e
d a y s, d e s p it e a ll o f th e n o s ta lg ia f o r G o u g h W h itla m , L a b o r
P rim e M in is te r f ro m 1 9 7 2 to 1 9 7 5 , d e s p i t e a ll t h e s o c ia l
r e f o r m s h is g o v e r n m e n t p u s h e d th r o u g h , I f in d it h a r d n o t
t o a g r e e w i t h P a u l K e a t i n g t h a t i t w a s “a m a t e u r h o u r . ” O r
 a certain hauteur

p e r h a p s it w as w h a t L a b o r S e n ta to r J o h n B u tto n m o r e g e n ­
e r o u s l y d e s c r i b e s a s “m a g n i f i c e n t c h a o s ”.22 O r a s H a w k e sa y s
i n L a b o r I n P ow er, t h e W h itla m g o v e r n m e n t w o u ld b e r e m e m ­
b e r e d f o r w h e th e r it g o t th e e c o n o m y r i g h t o r n o t — a n d it
d id n o t.
In a frig h te n in g scen e in T h e D ism iss a l, R ex C o n n o r,
W h i t l a m ’s r e s o u r c e s m i n i s t e r , u n r o l l s a m a p o f A u s t r a l i a . H e
s w e e p s h is h a n d a c ro ss th e m a p , a lo n g th e lin e o f th e
p ip e lin e h e w a n ts to b u ild , r ig h t a c ro s s th e c o n tin e n t. H e
ja b s h is f in g e r a t th e n o r th , w h e r e h e w a n ts u r a n iu m e n r ic h ­
m e n t p l a n t s . T h e w h o l e c o n t i n e n t is j u s t m i n e r a l i s e d w e a l t h
t o t h i s m a s t e r t h i n k e r . B ill H u n t e r p la y s C o n n o r a s a g r u f f
A u s s i e b l o k e o n a m i s s i o n f r o m t h e p e o p l e . H e n e e d s b i l li o n s
o f d o l l a r s f o r h i s g r a n d i o s e s c h e m e s , a n d h e d o e s n ’t c a r e
h o w h e g e t s t h e m . H e ’s B ill H e s l o p , m o v e r , s h a k e r a n d f i x e r
o f P o r p o i s e S p it C o u n c i l — o n a f r i g h t e n i n g l y g r a n d sc a le .
A m o n g L a b o r ’s m o s t e n d u r i n g f a b l e s is t h a t o f t h e M o n e y
P o w e r, th e h y d r a - h e a d e d b e a s t o f in te r n a tio n a l c a p ita l t h a t
p lo ts a n d c o n s p ir e s to s te a l th e m a g ic p u d d in g f r o m d in k y d i
A u s t r a l i a n s . 25 C h i f l e y w a n t e d to n a tio n a lis e th e b a n k s in
o r d e r to p u t a n e n d to t h e i r im p e r ia l d o m in a n c e ; C o n n o r
w a n t s t o b o r r o w ‘P e t r o d o l l a r s ’ f r o m n e w ly r i c h A r a b s t a t e s ,
a n d so c ir c u m v e n t th e ir s tr a n g le - h o ld o n c a p ita l. H e w a n ts
m in e r a l w e a lth e x p lo ite d b y A u s tra lia n o w n e d in d u s try , e v e n
if, b y b o r r o w i n g t o t h e h i l t , t h e A u s t r a l i a n g o v e r n m e n t a n d
t h e r e b y t h e A u s t r a l i a n p e o p l e , t a k e a ll t h e r i s k . T h e f a i r g o
f o r C o n n o r , e v e n m o r e t h a n f o r C h if l e y , flo w s f r o m t h e d e v e l ­
o p m e n ta l s ta te .
J im C a ir n s , t h e T r e a s u r e r , a ls o w a n ts m o n e y . C a ir n s w as
once a ra d ic a l c e le b rity , m ade fam o u s by th e V ie tn a m
M o ra to riu m m o v e m e n t, b u t as a M in is te r h e a p p e a rs o u t o f
h i s d e p t h . J o h n H a r g r e a v e s p la y s h i m as th o u g h tfu l, in tro ­
s p e c t i v e , a l o n g w a y f r o m C o n n o r ’s u n r e f l e c t i v e a m b i t i o n . B u t
i t ’s t h e s a m e v i s io n o f t h e l i g h t o n t h e h i l l , a s s o m e t h i n g o n l y
a m a s t e r t h i n k e r w i t h a p l a n a n d a p o t o f c a s h c a n d e li v e r .
T h e m a i n d r a m a o f T h e D i s m i s s a l is t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c r is is ,
th e s o r d id c ir c u m s ta n c e s u n d e r w h ic h th e L ib e ra l o p p o s i­
t i o n g a i n e d c o n t r o l o f t h e S e n a t e , b l o c k e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s
b u d g e t b ill s , f o r c i n g t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l t o a c t . T h e p o r ­
tra y a l J o h n M e llio n in v e n ts f o r G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l S ir J o h n
K e rr, im a g in e s h im a s p o m p o u s a n d p e r m a n e n tly p is s e d .
true believers

W h e t h e r h e w a s r i g h t o r n o t t o w i t h d r a w G o u g h W h i t l a m ’s
c o m m is s io n a s P r im e M in is te r a n d h a n d it o v e r to M a lc o lm
F r a s e r is t h e g re a t u n k n o w n th a t th is fa b le c o m m its to
m e m o ry . T o m e th is p a le s in c o m p a r is o n to th e e ffo rts o f
C onnor and C a ir n s to ra is e m o n e y a b r o a d to fu n d th e ir
schem es.
H a d th e y p r o c u r e d th e s e lo a n s , A u s tr a lia m ig h t re a lly h a v e
becom e a banana r e p u b lic , s a d d le d w ith a m o u n ta in of
p u b lic d e b t a n d a p le th o r a o f e n v iro n m e n ta lly d e s tru c tiv e
q u a rrie s , tu rn in g m in e ra ls in to e x p o rts a t e v e r-d e c lin in g
p ric e s . I t m ig h t b e a h e r e tic a l t h o u g h t e v e n f o r a la p s e d tr u e
b e lie v e r, b u t it m a y b e th a t n o t o n ly A u s tra lia but th e
A u s tr a lia n L a b o r P a r ty a r e lu c k y s u c h p la n s n e v e r c a m e to
p ass.

L a b o r in Power: The M o vie

A s w i t h T r u e B e lie v e r s , a n d T h e D i s m i s s a l s o t o o w i t h L a b o r i n
P o w e r. I t ’s a f a b l e a b o u t L a b o r ’s e n c o u n t e r s w i t h w h a t is o t h e r
t o its n a t u r e — p o w e r . D e p e n d i n g o n h o w y o u l o o k a t it , t h e
m o ra l o f L a b o r in P ow er m ig h t b e th a t L a b o r d e c e iv e d th e
p e o p l e t o w in p o w e r , b u t i n d e c e i v i n g t h e p e o p l e d e c e i v e d
i t s e l f , a n d w h i l e i t s t ill t h o u g h t i t w a s a L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t , i n
t r u t h i t h a d b e t r a y e d its i d e n t i t y . O r , t h e l e s s o n o f L a b o r i n
P o w e r m ig h t b e t h a t y o u n e v e r c a n sa y m u c h a b o u t th in g s
b a s e d o n a p p e a r a n c e s , a n d y o u n e v e r c a n te ll w h e n y o u r o w n
a p p e a r a n c e s m ig h t d e c e iv e y o u a s to w h o y o u a r e s u p p o s e d
t o b e , b u t t h a t i t is p o s s i b l e , i n s p i t e o f i t a l l , t o k e e p g o i n g ,
to b e in p o w e r, to h a v e t h a t d i s e n c h a n te d p u d d i n g — a n d to
s h a r e it w ith y o u r m a te s .
“H e w a s a r e a l A u s t r a l i a n ”, sa y s A L P p o l l s t e r R o d C a m e r o n .
“H e ’s t h e e m b o d i m e n t o f t h e O s c a r W i l d e i s m t h a t t h e f l a t ­
t e r e r is s e l d o m i n t e r r u p t e d , ” sa y s f o r m e r N e w S o u t h W a le s
P r e m i e r N e v ille W r a n . T h e y a r e s p e a k in g o f B o b H a w k e ,
lo n g tim e le a d e r o f th e A u s tra lia n C o u n c il o f T r a d e U n io n s ,
w h ile b la c k a n d w h ite im a g e s g o b y o f a H a w k e w h o c o n v e y s
a s e n s e o f e l a n e v e n t h r o u g h t h e v e il o f o l d f i l m f o o t a g e .
P ic tu r e s o f H a w k e d r in k in g , la u g h in g , a n d , in th e la n g u a g e
o f t h e d a y , p o s i n g w i t h a b i r d o n e a c h a r m . I t w a s “n o t a
p r e t t y s i g h t w h e n h e w a s r e a l l y o n a b e n d e r ”, sa y s W r a n , b u t
i t d i d n ’t s t o p h i m g a r n e r i n g a F a t h e r o f t h e Y e a r a w a r d i n
 l a b o r in p o w e r : t h e m o v i e

1 9 7 1 . “T h e o n e w h o s h o u l d r e a l l y h a v e t h e t i t l e is m y w ife .
S h e h a s t o b e f a t h e r a s w e ll a s m o t h e r m o s t o f t h e t i m e , ”
q u i p s H a w k e . M a x H a r r i s i d e n t i f i e d H a w k e ’s t a c t i c e a r l y o n :
“M r R o b e r t H a w k e is h i g h l y e d u c a te d , but he a ffe c ts a
r a s p i n g , a g g re s s iv e s ty le ... T h e r a s p , t h e r e a d y a g g r e s s io n ,
th e a p p e a r a n c e o f b e in g o n th e lo o k -o u t f o r a n in te lle c tu a l
p u n c h - u p , is a n a t a v i s t i c s u r v i v a l o f t h e o ld - s t y l e A u s t r a l i a n
o c k e r d o m . ”24 H a w k e p l a y e d t o t h e s a m e s t r u c t u r e o f f e e l i n g
a s B a r r y M c K e n z ie .
H a w k e w as a L a b o r le a d e r w h o a p p e a r e d e v e ry in c h a m a n
o f t h e p e o p l e , j u s t l i k e B e n C h i f le y , o n l y h e w a s a d i f f e r e n t
m a n a n d h is w e re a d if f e r e n t p e o p le . B e n w a s s to lid , B o b w as
fla s h . B e n w a s s e lf-e ffa c in g , B o b w a s n o t h i n g b u t fa c e . W h ile
i t t o o k a n a c t o r o f E d D e v e r e a u x ’s s k ill t o p l a y B e n C h if l e y , i t
t o o k a n a c t o r o f B o b H a w k e ’s s k ill t o p l a y B o b H a w k e . W h e n
th e c o m e d ia n M a x G illie s a p p e a r e d w ith H aw ke o n TV,
d o in g h is f a m o u s i m p e r s o n a tio n o f H a w k e , w h a t s e e m e d to
m a k e H a w k e u n c o m f o r t a b l e w a s t h a t G illie s i m p e r s o n a t e d
H a w k e b e t t e r t h a n h e c o u l d i m p e r s o n a t e h i m s e l f . H a w k e ’s
H a w k e f i d d l i n g w ith a n e a r l o b e a n d p a t t i n g h is h a i r lo o k e d
l i k e a b a d c o p y o f G i l l i e s ’ H a w k e . I t ’s f i t t i n g , n o w t h a t p o l i t i c s
w ith a b a s is in s o c ia l s p a c e h a s b e e n r e p l a c e d b y p o litic s w ith
a p la c e in m e d ia s c h e d u le s , th a t L a b o r I n P o w er h a s th e p r in ­
c ip le a c to r s r e - e n a c t th e m s e lv e s .
W e d o n ’t s e e m u c h o f P a u l K e a t i n g ’s r i s e t o p r o m i n e n c e i n
L a b o r I n P o w e r. R i s i n g t h r o u g h t h e r a n k s o f t h e r i g h t w i n g o f
t h e N e w S o u t h W a l e s b r a n c h o f t h e L a b o r P a r ty , K e a t i n g
sw a m a g a in s t th e tid e . W h ile m a n y o f h is c o n te m p o r a r ie s
t u r n e d l e f t d u r i n g t h e V i e t n a m e r a , K e a t i n g s t a y e d lo y a l t o
th e C a th o lic s o c ia l t h o u g h t in w h ic h h e w as s c h o o le d . W h ile
H a w k e w a s a R h o d e s s c h o l a r , K e a t i n g is p e r h a p s t h e l a s t i n a
l o n g l i n e o f l e a d e r s w h o s e s c h o o l w a s t h e P a r t y its e lf .
T hat he lis te n e d to N SW L ab o r ren eg ad e Jack L a n g ’s
s t o r i e s is n o t h a r d t o b e l i e v e , g i v e n t h e l a c k o f r e s p e c t h e
la te r sh o w e d fo r th e m e m o ry o f C u rtin . T h a t h e w as o n c e a
p r o te g e o f R e x C o n n o r a p p e a r s a t f ir s t h a r d e r to b e lie v e ,
g iv e n h is p re fe re n c e fo r m a rk e t le d ra th e r th a n s ta te
d i r e c t e d g r o w t h . B u t l i k e C o n n o r h e s t ill b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e
lig h t o n th e h ill s h o n e to illu m in a te a m a s te r p la n fo r
m a k in g th e e c o n o m y p e r f o r m b e tte r th a n it w o u ld w ith o u t
L a b o r ’s e f f o r t s .
true believers

B ill H a y d e n l e d t h e F e d e r a l L a b o r P a r t y f r o m it s n a d i r o f
1 9 7 7 , b u t h e w o u l d n o t r e a p t h e b e n e f i t s o f L a b o r ’s c h a n g i n g
f o r tu n e s in th e 8 0 s. T h e c o n s e rv a tiv e F r a s e r g o v e r n m e n t w as
i n t r o u b l e i n t h e e a r l y 8 0 s . T h e “r e s o u r c e s b o o m ” F r a s e r
p r o m is e d in th e 1 9 8 0 e le c tio n f a ile d to m a te ria lis e , b u t th e
u n io n s g ra b b e d th e ir sh a re in advance in th e fo rm of
in c r e a s e d w a g e s, w h ic h a c h ie v e d little b e s id e s b u m p in g u p
in fla tio n . D ogged by s c a n d a ls in v o lv in g ‘b o t t o m of th e
h a r b o u r ’ t a x a v o i d a n c e s c h e m e s , F r a s e r ’s c o a l i t i o n g o v e r n ­
m e n t w a s o n t h e n o s e . A s a c o n s e q u e n c e , s o t o o w a s B ill
H a y d e n ’s l e a d e r s h i p o f L a b o r . S n i f f i n g a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o w in
g o v e r n m e n t, th e P a rty m o v e rs, s h a k e r s a n d fix e rs w a n te d a
l e a d e r w h o m i g h t h o l d t h e p u b l i c ’s a t t e n t i o n — a c e l e b r i t y .
H a w k e a n d K e a tin g m e t a t th e B o u le v a rd H o te l in S y d n e y
in 1980. H aw k e d e c la re d th a t h e w as g o in g to c h a lle n g e
H a y d e n f o r th e le a d e r s h ip , b u t t h a t h is a m b itio n to b e P r im e
M i n i s t e r d i d n ’t e x t e n d b e y o n d a c o u p l e o f t e r m s i n o f f i c e .
O r s o K e a t i n g c l a i m s . H a w k e sa y s h e s i m p l y s u g g e s t e d t h a t
th e r e f o r m p r o g r a m h e h a d in m in d w o u ld ta k e t h a t lo n g in
g o v e r n m e n t. B u t K e a tin g f o r m e d th e im p r e s s io n th a t if h e
b a c k e d H a w k e , “t h e r e w o u l d b e s o m e t h i n g i n i t f o r m e . ” A s
i n m a n y a m e m o r a b l e f a b l e , a g r e a t p o l i t i c a l p a r t n e r s h i p is
a b o u t to b e g in o n t h e b a s is o f m u t u a l m is u n d e r s ta n d in g .
E a r l y i n 1 9 8 3 L a b o r ’s s h a d o w c a b i n e t m e t i n B r i s b a n e t o
s p ill t h e le a d e rs h ip . ‘T h e s e th in g s w e re d is c u s s e d in an
a t m o s p h e r e o f h i g h d r a m a a n d e m o t i o n ”, H a w k e r e c a l l s . H e
t o o k t h e l e a d e r s h i p f r o m H a y d e n j u s t a s M a l c o l m F r a s e r c a lls
a s n a p e l e c t i o n . “I b e l i e v e t h a t a d r o v e r ’s d o g c o u l d l e a d t h e
L a b o r p a r ty to v ic to r y ,” a d e s p o n d e n t H a y d e n d e c la r e d . B u t
t h e d r o v e r ’s d o g w a s H a y d e n , w h o b r o u g h t t h e f l o c k s a f e ly
a c ro s s th e w ild e rn e s s , b u t w h o th e p a r ty j u d g e d a b it to o
m a n g y f o r th e h o m e s tre tc h .

The M essia h
“R e c o n c i l i a t i o n , r e c o v e r y a n d r e c o n s t r u c t i o n ” a r e H a w k e ’s
w a t c h w o r d s . H e w a n t s “t o b r i n g A u s t r a l i a n s t o g e t h e r i n a
u n i t e d e f f o r t u n t i l v i c t o r y is w o n . ” I t ’s a c a m p a i g n w e ll s u i t e d
t o H a w k e ’s p a r t i c u l a r a t t r i b u t e s a s a c e l e b r i t y . H i s o p e n n e s s
to p e o p le , th e s e n s e t h a t h e c a n p a r tic ip a te in y o u r jo y a n d
p a i n , h i s g e n u i n e b e l i e f t h a t t h e r e is a lw a y s a w a y t o a v o i d
 the m essiah 193

c o n f r o n ta tio n , to c o m b in e th e s tr e n g th s a n d e n e r g ie s o f d if­
f e r e n t p e o p le to g e th e r. T h e r e a re n o b a d g u y s in th is c a m ­
p a i g n o t h e r t h a n t h e L i b e r a l g o v e r n m e n t . T h r o u g h H a w k e ’s
b o d y , a s m a ll s m u d g e a c r o s s t h e s c r e e n , p a s s t h e p o s s ib ilitie s
o f t h e m o m e n t . H i s p r e s e n c e is a n i n v i t a t i o n t o j o i n t h e p o s ­
s ib le w o r ld h e e m b o d ie s , a n d to a c k n o w le d g e , t h r o u g h so
d o in g , b o th th e p o te n tia ls a n d lim ita tio n s o f th is w o r ld in
w h i c h w e liv e .
R i c h a r d F a r m e r , a H a w k e a d v is e r , s p e a k s o f H a w k e o n e l e c ­
t i o n n i g h t . R e l a x e d a n d c o m p o s e d a s h e c e l e b r a t e s h i s f a t h e r ’s
b i r t h d a y , “h e k n e w i t w a s h i s d e s tin y , t o b e P r i m e M i n i s t e r . ”
F a r m e r b e a r s w itn e s s to a p riv a te m o m e n t th a t, m a d e p u b lic ,
a d d s l u s t r e t o c e le b r ity . “I f o u n d i t a b i t e e r i e , h o w c a l m h e
w a s .” A c e l e b r i t y a t e a s e i n t h e tw is t a n d s n a p o f e v e n t s — a t
l e a s t a c c o r d i n g t o F a r m e r ’s t e s t i m o n y f o r t h e c a m e r a s .
H a w k e s a y s h e is “d e t e r m i n e d t o t r y a n d m a k e t h i s a l o n g
t e r m g o v e r n m e n t . ” T h e k e y is a b a n d o n i n g w h a t b o t h H a w k e
i n h i s m e m o i r s a n d c a b i n e t m e m b e r P e t e r W a ls h i n h i s c o n ­
fe s s io n s b o th c a ll t h e “m a g i c p u d d i n g ” m y t h . 25 “C u t a n d
c o m e a g a i n ”, t h e m a g i c p u d d i n g s a i d . B u t f o r H a w k e , g o v ­
e r n m e n t is n o t j u s t a p u d d i n g t o c u t a n d c u t a n d t h r o w t o t h e
p a r t y ’s s u p p o r t e r s u n til th ro w n out o f o ffic e . The bad
e x a m p l e o f W h i t l a m ’s g o v e r n m e n t is t h e f a b l e t h a t g u i d e s
h im h e re .
T h e r e is s o m e t h i n g p a r a d o x i c a l a b o u t f a b l e s , a n d m a g i c
p u d d in g s . O n e b e c o m e s re s p o n s ib le by h e e d in g th e bad
e x a m p l e . G o v e r n m e n t is n o t a m a g i c p u d d i n g t h a t y o u c a n
c u t a n d c o m e a g a i n . B u t i t is a n o t h e r m a g i c p u d d i n g , t h e
W h i t l a m i t e f a b l e o f h o w n o t t o g o v e r n , t h a t g o v e r n s H a w k e ’s
s e n s e o f re s p o n s ib ility . N o t d o in g th in g s th e w ay W h itla m d id
t h e m b e c o m e s H a w k e ’s o w n p e r s o n a l m a g i c p u d d i n g , a f a b l e
h e w ill c u t a g a i n a n d a g a i n w i t h o u t e v e r e x h a u s t i n g its f a b u ­
lo u s a u th o r ity .
T h in g s a re never q u ite w h a t th e y a p p e a r, p a rtic u la rly
d e f i c i t s . H a w k e d i s c o v e r s t h a t t h e T r e a s u r y d e p a r t m e n t ’s e s t i ­
m a t e o f t h e d e f i c i t is 9 . 6 b i l l i o n d o l l a r s , s o m e t h r e e b i l l i o n
m o re th a n p u b lic ly a n tic ip a te d . H aw ke and h is new
T r e a s u r e r P a u l K e a tin g u s e th is n e w d e f ic it a s a s tic k w ith
w h ic h to a tta c k th e d e p a r tin g F r a s e r g o v e r n m e n t, a n d as a
s tic k w ith w h ic h to beat o ff th e ir ow n m a g ic p u d d in g
p r o m i s e s m a d e d u r i n g t h e e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n . T h i s is t h e
true believers

s tic k a n d s tic k a p p r o a c h to g o v e r n m e n t, r a th e r th a n th e
m o r e u s u a l s t i c k a n d c a r r o t . I t is a l s o a b i t o f p o l i t i c a l g o o d
f o r t u n e . P o l i t i c s is t h e a r t o f e x p l o i t i n g t h e p o t e n t i a l o f t h e
m o m e n t , a n d a s e a c h m o m e n t d i f f e r s f r o m t h e n e x t , i t ’s n o t
a p r o f e s s io n f o r th e d u ll w itte d . H a w k e h a d th e n o u s to
e x p lo it th e b a d n e w s o f th e d e f ic it to a d v a n c e h is a g e n d a o f
e c o n o m ic m o d e rn is a tio n .
F o r e c o n o m is t a n d K e a tin g a d v is e r J o h n L a n g m o r e , th is
c h a n g e o f p o l i c y is “a s h a t t e r i n g l y d i s i l l u s i o n i n g e x p e r i e n c e ”.
No lo n g e r w o u ld c u ttin g e m p lo y m e n t b e th e g o a l, b u t
c u t t i n g t h e d e f i c i t . T h i s g o v e r n m e n t is n o t w h a t i t s e e m s . B u t
t o P a u l K e a t i n g , L a n g m o r e w a s j u s t a “t r u e b e l i e v e r i n t h e
m ix e d u p o r t h o d o x y o f th e L a b o r p a r ty o f th e 5 0 s a n d 6 0 s .”
L a b o r a b a n d o n s its K e y n e s i a n e c o n o m i c p o l i c y o f e x p a n d i n g
t h e d e f i c i t to a s s is t t h e p o o r , c r e a t e j o b s a n d p u m p u p t h e
e c o n o m y . T h e r e is n o m a g i c p u d d i n g t h a t y o u c a n c u t a n d
c o m e a g a in . G o v e r n m e n t re v e n u e s a re fin ite , d e p e n d e n t o n
t a x r e v e n u e s c o l l e c t e d t h r o u g h a n u n f a i r s y s te m , i n a s m a l l
c o u n t r y c o n n e c t e d t o a v e r y b i g w o r l d . L a b o r ’s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
is t o fix t h i s s m a l l e c o n o m y , s o t h a t t h e r e m i g h t t h e n b e t a x e s
t o r a i s e , a n d p u d d i n g t o s h a r e a r o u n d . T h i s w ill b e a g o v ­
e r n m e n t , n o t o f s o c ia l e q u ity , b u t o f e c o n o m i c r e f o r m . T h e
fa b le L a n g m o re te lls in L a b o r in P o w e r is n o t th e m a g ic
p u d d in g b u t a n o d d v e rs io n o f a b ib lic a l o n e : a f te r th e se v e n
le a n y e a rs o f th e C o a litio n g o v e rn m e n t co m e th e seven
b o u n t i f u l o n e s o f L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t . B u t g o v e r n m e n t is n o
m o r e a m a g ic h a r v e s t th a n a m a g ic p u d d in g .
S o m e s e e t h e e v il h a n d o f t h e T r e a s u r y d e p a r t m e n t i n th i s .
D a v i d M o r g a n , a s e n i o r T r e a s u r y o f f i c i a l sa y s: “T r e a s u r y g o t
m o re o f i ts a g e n d a u p u n d e r th e d e c a d e o f th e H aw ke-
K e a tin g g o v e r n m e n t th a n under th e re s t o f th e p o s tw a r
p e r i o d . ” B u t it d i d so , h e c la im s , b y a c c o m m o d a t i n g its e lf to
th e a g e n d a o f th e g o v e r n m e n t o f th e day. D id H a w k e a n d
K e a tin g a b a n d o n t h e t r u e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e P a rty ? O r d i d
th e y r e in v e n t th e m ? C e rta in ly , th e y w e re a lo n g w ay r e m o v e d
fro m th e s o c ia l re fo rm and d is trib u tiv e ju s tic e o f th e
W h itla m y e a rs, a n d w e re p e rh a p s even fu rth e r fro m th e
n a tio n a l d e v e lo p m e n t a n d b a n k n a tio n a lis a tio n p ro g ra m o f
t h e C h i f l e y y e a r s . B u t l i k e C h if le y , t h e y t h o u g h t y o u h a d t o
m a k e th e e c o n o m ic p u d b e f o r e y o u c o u ld , lik e W h itla m ,
s h a r e it a b o u t.
 the accord 195

The A ccord

The H aw ke agenda becam e c le a re r at th e N a tio n a l

E c o n o m ic S u m m it o f A p ril 1 9 8 3 . B ill K e lty , h e a d o f th e
A u s t r a l i a n C o u n c i l o f T r a d e U n i o n s , s a y s , “w h a t w e w a n t e d
w as a lo n g te rm L abor g o v e r n m e n t w ith a lo n g te rm
s tr a te g y .” T h a t s tra te g y , w h ic h t h e S u m m it w a s c a lle d u p o n to
w itn e s s , in v o lv e d a n A c c o r d b e tw e e n t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d
th e u n io n s , w h e re th e g o v e rn m e n t p ro m is e d ta x c u ts in
re tu rn fo r w age re s tra in t and a s o c ia l w age, in c lu d in g
M e d ic a r e . T h e ta x c u ts w o u ld m a k e u p f o r s o m e o f th e lo s t
w a g e c la im s , it w o u ld e n c o u r a g e b u s in e s s to e m p lo y m o r e
p e o p le , b y n o t p r ic in g w o rk e rs o u t o f a jo b , a n d it w o u ld h e lp
r e d u c e in f la tio n , by lo w e r in g th e w a g e c o m p o n e n t in p r ic e
r is e s .
T h e re is m o re to it t h a n th a t, but b a s ic a lly , i t is a n
e x c h a n g e o f p ro m is e s b e tw e e n g o v e r n m e n t a n d u n io n s . A s
K e lty sa y s, t h e A c c o r d “f o r c e d t h e u n i o n s t o c o m e t o t e r m s
w ith t h e p r o c e s s o f g o v e r n m e n t v e r y e a r ly .” T h e y h a d to se e
th a t th e y h a d a re s p o n s ib ility th a t s tre tc h e d beyond th e
im m e d ia te d e m a n d s o f th e ir m e m b e r s , s in c e a s h o r t te r m
a c t i o n li k e a w a g e d e m a n d h a d l o n g t e r m c o n s e q u e n c e s , f o r
in f la tio n , e m p lo y m e n t a n d in v e s tm e n t.
H a w k e b e l i e v e s t h e A c c o r d c a n w o r k . K e a t i n g d o e s n ’t, a n d
n e i t h e r d o e s T r e a s u r y . B u t th e T r e a s u r e r a n d T r e a s u r y d is ­
a g r e e o n a n o t h e r is s u e , t h e f l o a t i n g o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n d o l l a r
on th e fo re ig n exchange m a rk e ts . F e a rin g a L a b o r w in ,
m o n e y f l o w e d o u t o f t h e c o u n t r y . W h e n i t s t a r t s t o l o o k li k e
t h i s is n o t a m a g i c p u d d i n g g o v e r n m e n t , t h e m o n e y flo w s
b a c k i n . A s t h e m o n e y f lo w s i n a n d o u t , t h e R e s e r v e B a n k
r a i s e s a n d l o w e r s it s v a l u e . T h e s e p r i c e c h a n g e s d o n ’t j u s t
a f fe c t th e r e la tio n b e tw e e n b u y e rs a n d s e lle rs o f A u s tra lia n
d o lla rs . T h e y e f fe c t th e b u y e rs a n d s e lle rs o f e v e r y th in g th a t
c o m e s in o r g o e s o u t o f th e c o u n tr y . W ith th e d o lla r h ig h ,
im p o rts a re c h e a p e r, a n d th e p re s s u re o n in fla tio n fro m th e
c o s t o f i m p o r t s is lo w . W i t h t h e d o l l a r lo w , e x p o r t s a r e c o m ­
p e titiv e o n w o rld m a rk e ts , b u t im p o r ts a r e e x p e n s iv e .
T h e i d e a t h a t t h e R e s e r v e B a n k is r e a l l y i n c o n t r o l o f t h e
v a l u e o f t h e m o n e y g o i n g i n a n d o u t o f t h e c o u n t r y w ill t u r n
o u t to b e a n illu s io n . T h e a m o u n t o f m o n e y w as n o w so g r e a t
t h a t , a s H a w k e s a i d , i t w o u l d b e “a n e x e r c i s e i n f u t i l i t y ” t o t r y
1 96 true believers

a n d s t o p it. T h e R e s e r v e B a n k c o u l d s e t a p r i c e a n d c o u l d
b u y a n d s e ll d o l l a r s , b u t t r y i n g t o k e e p t h e A u s t r a l i a n d o l l a r
a t a r a te t h a t th e m a r k e t d is a g r e e d w ith c o u ld b e a v e ry
e x p e n s iv e e x e r c is e . S o w h y n o t j u s t a llo w th e m a r k e t to
d e c id e it s v a l u e ? The R e se rv e B ank lik e s th is id e a , b u t
T r e a s u r y d o e s n o t. H a w k e fa v o u rs a flo a t. K e a tin g , n o t y e t
s u r e o f h im s e lf a s T r e a s u r e r , h a s to s ta n d u p to th e a d v ic e o f
h is o w n d e p a r t m e n t , w h ic h h a s n o t q u ite g iv e n u p o n th e
id e a o f c o n tr o llin g th e fo re ig n e x c h a n g e as a to o l o f n a tio n a l
e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t. In L a b o r in P ow er, K e a tin g lo o k s
c a l m a n d s e l f - a s s u r e d a s h e r e c a l l s t h i s d e c i s i o n , b u t i t is a
s t r i k i n g i n s t a n c e o f t h e r is k y s i d e o f p o l i t i c a l f o r t u n e . E v e n
th e b e s t a d v ic e c a n b e b a s e d o n in c o m p le te in f o r m a tio n , o r
e v e n d o w n r ig h t w ro n g , a n d y e t s o m e tim e s a d e c is io n c a n n o t
w a it u n ti l to m o r r o w .
The d o lla r flo a ts , and th e w o rld does not end.
E m b o ld e n e d , K e a tin g p r o p o s e s d e r e g u la tin g th e b a n k s a n d
is s u in g lic e n c e s to f o r e ig n b a n k s . A s B a r b a r a W a rd , a k e y
K e a t i n g s t a f f e r s a y s , t h i s w a s “a d i f f i c u l t o n e f o r t h e L a b o r
P a rty .” B u t a t th e N a tio n a l C o n f e r e n c e in J u ly 1 9 8 4 , K e a tin g
p e r s u a d e s t h e P a r t y t o m a k e i t p o lic y . A s N e v i l l e W r a n sa y s,
t h i s is “e q u i v a l e n t t o s t e a l i n g t h e h o l y w a t e r . ” A s B o b H a w k e
s a y s, “t h e j o b w e h a d i n g o v e r n m e n t w a s t o c h a n g e t h e P a r t y . ”
T h e m a n f o r t h e j o b is K e a t i n g . A s L a b o r c a b i n e t m e m b e r
P e t e r C o o k sa y s , “h e w a s s o c e r t a i n a b o u t w h a t h e s a i d . ” H e
is a t r u e b e l i e v e r i n a n e w k i n d o f f a b l e . N o t t h e f a b l e o f t h e
m a g ic p u d d i n g , b u t t h e f a b le o f t h e in v is ib le h a n d . K e a tin g
w ill b e so happy w hen E urom oney m a g a z in e nam es h im
F in a n c e M in is te r o f th e y e a r in 1 98 4 . H e c a m e to b e lie v e it
h im s e lf . L ik e D o c E v a tt b e f o r e h im , i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c c la im
w o u ld m a k e h im a t r u e b e lie v e r in th e r a tio n a lity o f h is o w n
ju d g e m e n t.
L a b o r ’s p o p u l a r i t y is s o h i g h t h a t “i t w a s j u s t o b v i o u s w e
h a d to g o ” to a n e le c tio n , a c c o r d in g to S e n a to r G r a h a m
R i c h a r d s o n . B o b H a w k e is a c e l e b r i t y . H e is b e y o n d p o l i t i c s .
B u t t h e u s e t h e p a r t y w a n t s t o p u t t h i s t o w a r d is i n c r e a s i n g its
e l e c t o r a l m a j o r i t y . W i t h t h e e l e c t i o n i n m o t i o n , H a w k e ’s w if e
H a z e l i n f o r m s h i m o f t h e i r d a u g h t e r ’s h e r o i n a d d i c t i o n . T h e
new s so u n n erv es H aw ke th a t in a te le v is io n in te rv ie w
v ie w e r s s e e h i m l i c k i n g a t e a r t h a t h a s d r i b b l e d a ll t h e w a y
d o w n t o h i s lip .
 the accord 1 97

P e o p l e lo v e H a w k e p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e he b lu rs th e lin e
b e tw e e n th e p u b lic a n d th e p riv a te . B u t in th e e le c tio n c a m ­
p a ig n , h is p r iv a te g r i e f s ta in s h is p u b lic p e r f o r m a n c e . N o
m a t t e r h o w m u c h p e o p l e lo v e h i m , t h e y w ill n o t n e c e s s a r i l y
v o t e f o r h i m , f o r H a w k e ’s o w n a m b i v a l e n c e a b o u t h i s o w n
a m b itio n s has becom e tra n s p a re n t. A nd b e s id e s , th e
c e l e b r i t y t h a t e x t e n d s h i s a p p e a l o u t s i d e o f p o l i t i c s is b e i n g
u s e d fo r th e m o s t e le m e n ta r y p o litic a l p u r p o s e , th e e x te n ­
s io n o f th e m a n d a te . A s R o d C a m e r o n says, in r e tr o s p e c t, th e
c a l l i n g o f a n e a r l y e l e c t i o n f o r 1 9 8 4 w a s “p r o b a b l y H a w k e ’s
g r e a t e s t p o l i t i c a l m i s t a k e ”. H a w k e is n o l o n g e r t h e m e s s i a h .
K e a t i n g s a y s t h i s is w h e n “h e s t o p p e d n o u r i s h i n g u s . ”
B u t f o r th e L a b o r c a u c u s , as o p p o s e d to th e c a b in e t i n n e r
c i r c l e , H a w k e ’s f a i l u r e m i g h t b e le s s o n t h e p o l i c y f r o n t t h a n
h is w a n in g c e le b rity . H is in a b ility to t u r n h is p o p u la r i ty i n to
a s e c o n d b i g L a b o r m a j o r i t y is s i g n i f i c a n t b e c a u s e i t c o n t r a ­
d i c t s t h e t h e o r y t h a t p o l i t i c s is d r i v e n b y c e l e b r i t y a n d t h a t i n
th e p o s tm o d e r n a g e th e e le c to r a te h a s lo s t th e c ritic a l j u d g e ­
m e n t it a lle g e d ly h a d in th e g o o d o ld d a y s. I n th e c o n te m ­
p o r a r y m e d ia la n d s c a p e , p e o p le j u d g e c e le b ritie s , p o litic a l
o r o th e rw is e , a c c o r d in g to ra tio n a l, e m o tio n a l, e th ic a l, a e s­
th e tic a n d c u ltu r a l c r ite r ia . T h e m e d ia v e c to r s o f te le v is io n
a n d r a d i o m a k e i t p o s s i b l e t o a s s e s s H a w k e ’s c e l e b r i t y a l o n g
a l l t h e s e a x e s , a n d t h e p u b l i c j u d g e m e n t is m i x e d .
P a r t o f t h e d i f f i c u l t y is t h a t d i f f e r e n t p u b l i c s u s e d i f f e r e n t
k in d s o f ju d g e m e n t. Long e x p o su re to H aw ke m a k e s it
h a r d e r f o r u r b a n e , s u b u r b a n a n d v e r n a c u la r A u s tr a lia n s to
a ll s e e w h a t th e y w a n t to s e e in h im . P e o p le lo o k f o r d i f f e r e n t
th in g s in d if f e r e n t k in d s o f c e le b rity , b u t o n e r u n n i n g f o r
o ffic e h a s to f in d a m a jo r ity in w h o m to in s p ir e a f e e lin g o f
tr u s t, a n d H a w k e s tr u g g le d to p u ll t h a t o f f a s e c o n d tim e .
T h e r e a r e p u b lic s w h o a r e rig h tly d is d a in f u l o f le n g th y
r e c i t a t i o n s o f p o li c y , f o r t h e y k n o w t h a t p o l i t i c s is o n l y p a r t l y
a b o u t p o lic y . P o l i t i c s is a l s o a b o u t t h e a b ility to m anage
c o m p le x a n d s h iftin g s itu a tio n s — a n d in th e m o r e o p e n e c o ­
n o m ic tim e s H a w k e c r e a te d , p e r h a p s e v e n m o r e so . T h e ir o n y
o f e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s m is t h a t i t o p e n e d u p t h e c o u n t r y e v e r
s o s li g h t l y t o g l o b a l e c o n o m i c p o s s i b i l i t i e s , b u t i n t h e p r o c e s s
it a c tu a lly h e ig h te n e d , r a t h e r th a n le s s e n e d , th e p o litic a l
n a t u r e o f th e tim e s , a n d th e p o litic a l a s p e c t o f th e e x p e r ie n c e
o f tim e . P o litic s e x p e rie n c e s tim e in th e p re se n t te n s e .
198 true believers

P u n d its , c o lu m n is ts a n d c o m m e n t a t o r s e x p e r i e n c e d tim e in
t h e p a s t t e n s e . E c o n o m i s t s w ill e x p e r i e n c e t i m e i n t h e f u t u r e
( i m p e r f e c t ) o f f o r e c a s t s a n d ‘e x p e c t a t i o n s ’.
W h a t m a k e s L a b o r i n P o w e r s u c h a n i n t e r e s t i n g f a b l e is t h a t
i t is a b o u t h o w e v e n t s t e s t c h a r a c t e r . I t is a b o u t p o l i t i c s a s
M a c h ia v e lli u n d e r s t o o d it — a s f o r t u n e ’s t e s t o f v i r t u e —
r a t h e r t h a n a b o u t p o litic s as th e p o lic y w o n k a n d w a n k e r s
w o u l d h a v e it. “S i n c e . . . a ll h u m a n a f f a i r s a r e e v e r i n a s t a t e
o f f l u x a n d c a n n o t s t a n d s till, e i t h e r t h e r e w ill b e i m p r o v e ­
m e n t o r d e c l i n e , a n d n e c e s s i t y w ill l e a d y o u t o d o m a n y
t h i n g s w h i c h r e a s o n d o e s n o t r e c o m m e n d . ”26

C o n su m p tio n Tax
W ith H a w k e ’s r e l a t i v e f a i l u r e in th e re e le c tio n b id , P a u l
K e a tin g s ta r te d a c tin g as a m o r e c o n f id e n t a n d i n d e p e n d e n t
p u b lic f ig u r e , a n d to a c q u ir e h is o w n k in d o f c e le b rity . T h is
w o u ld b e c o m e v e ry c le a r in th e ta x r e f o r m p o litic s o f 19 85 .
H a w k e w a s a n o r g a n i c c e le b rity . H e g r e w o u t o f o r g a n is e d
L a b o r a n d c r e a te d h is o w n r e la tio n s h ip w ith a p u b lic o u t o f
th a t e x p e rie n c e . K e a tin g w o u ld be a m o re tra d itio n a l
c e l e b r i t y , b u t d r a w i n g h i s l e g i t i m a c y f r o m tw o v e r y d i f f e r e n t
k in d s o f tr a d itio n a l in s titu tio n : th e d ic tio n o f th e N S W L a b o r
p o w e r b r o k e r w o u ld b e m a d e to a r tic u la te th e id e a o f th e
T r e a s u r y e x p e r ts . B e h in d th e s e d if f e r in g k in d s o f c e le b rity
li e s d i f f e r e n t i d e a s a b o u t h o w k n o w l e d g e w o r k s i n p o l i t i c s , a s
w e s h a ll se e .
T h e m a g ic p u d d in g o f g o v e r n m e n t r e v e n u e c o m e s fro m
th e v e ry u n m a g ic a l, a lth o u g h r a t h e r m y s te rio u s , ta x a tio n
s y s te m . D u r i n g t h e e l e c t i o n , H a w k e r e s p o n d s t o a r a d i o i n t e r ­
v i e w e r ’s q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t a x r e f o r m b y a g r e e i n g t h a t a t a x
s u m m it m ig h t n o t b e a b a d id e a . A n d so , a f te r th e e le c tio n ,
H a w k e a n n o u n c e s a ta x s u m m it f o r J u ly 1 98 5 . K e a tin g d is a p ­
p ro v e s o f th e ta x s u m m it, a n d th is e x p o s e s f u n d a m e n ta l d if­
f e r e n c e s b e tw e e n th e w ay H a w k e a n d K e a tin g u n d e r s ta n d
g o v e r n a n c e . H a w k e w a n t e d t o c o n s u l t w id e ly , c o n s t r u c t a
consensus, a n d p e rfo rm th e s e m b la n c e o f c o n s u ltin g a n d
c o n s tr u c tin g in p u b lic , so th a t th e m e d ia m ig h t tra n s m it th e
im a g e o f c o n s u lt in g a n d c o n s tr u c tin g f a r a n d w id e . K e a tin g
t h o u g h t s u c h a c o m p le x a n d f u n d a m e n ta l q u e s tio n a s ta x a ­
tio n p o lic y o u g h t to b e n u t t e d o u t b e h i n d c lo s e d d o o r s by
 co n s u m p tio n tax 1 99

t h e e x p e r t s f i r s t , a n d p i t c h e d t o t h e p u b l i c v ia t h e m e d i a
a fte rw a rd s .
H a w k e p u ts K e a tin g in c h a r g e o f d e v e lo p in g th e ta x p o lic y
th a t th e L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t w ill p r o p o s e to th e s u m m it.
K e a tin g c o m e s u p w ith t h r e e o p tio n s . O p t i o n A : f ix in g th e
l o o p h o l e s i n t h e c u r r e n t s y s t e m . O p t i o n B : e x p a n d i n g s a le s
ta x . O p t i o n C : r e d u c i n g i n c o m e t a x b y i n t r o d u c i n g a w h o l e
n e w ta x o n c o n s u m p tio n . K e a tin g fa v o u rs th is la s t o p tio n . I t
w ill b e , i n D a v id M o r g a n ’s w o r d s , “b y f a r t h e b i g g e s t r e f o r m
w e h a d s i n c e f e d e r a t i o n . ” T r e a s u r y p u t s i n “t h e m o s t m a s s iv e
b u r e a u c r a t i c e f f o r t t h a t I ’v e e v e r s e e n ” t o c o m e u p w i t h a
c o n s u m p tio n ta x r e f o r m p a c k a g e t h a t K e a tin g ta k e s to th e
t a x s u m m i t . B u t H a w k e is c a u t i o u s .
T h e ta x is s u e r e v e a ls a f u n d a m e n t a l d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n
H a w k e a n d K e a tin g . A d if f e r e n c e n o t o f p o lic y o r c o n v ic tio n ,
b u t a d if f e r e n c e o f e p is te m o lo g y . E p is te m o lo g y , th e t h e o r y o f
k n o w l e d g e , is n o t a t o p i c m u c h d i s c u s s e d i n p o l i t i c s , b u t h e r e
i t b e c o m e s c r u c i a l . H a w k e ’s a p p r o a c h to th e p ro b le m of
k n o w le d g e re s ts o n th e a s s u m p tio n t h a t e v e r y o n e w ith a n
in f o r m e d o p i n i o n o f a to p ic lik e ta x r e f o r m is p r o b a b l y a t
l e a s t a l i t t l e b i t r i g h t . K e a t i n g ’s a p p r o a c h is t h a t o f e v e r y o n e ’s
v ie w o n t h e m a t t e r , o n e v ie w m u s t b e s u b s t a n t i a l l y r i g h t a n d
th e o th e rs w ro n g . H a w k e ’s a p p r o a c h is m o r e e m p iric a l,
b u i l d i n g a v ie w b i t b y b i t f r o m t h e b o t t o m u p , s u m m a r i s i n g
a n d s y n t h e s i s i n g v ie w s . H i s a b i l i t y t o s u m u p e v e n a l e n g t h y
a n d m e a n d e r i n g c a b i n e t d i s c u s s i o n is l e g e n d a r y . K e a t i n g ’s
a p p r o a c h is m o r e r a t i o n a l i s t . H e h e a r s c o m p e t i n g a r g u m e n t s
a n d ju d g e s o n e to b e w r o n g a n d th e o th e r rig h t.
A fte r a m a r a th o n tw o a n d a h a lf d a y c a b in e t m e e tin g ,
K e a tin g g e ts h is O p tio n C c o n s u m p tio n ta x u p a n d r u n n in g .
I t is a m a s s iv e , t o p d o w n r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n o f t h e t a x s y s te m w i t h
a c o m p re h e n s iv e p la n o f r e fo rm , p u t to g e th e r by so m e o f th e
b e s t m i n d s i n t h e e c o n o m i c m i n i s t r i e s . K e a t i n g t a k e s h i s “t a x
c a r t ” o n t h e r o a d , i n a n e l e c t i o n s ty le c a m p a i g n , w o r k i n g t h e
m e d i a a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y . B u t h e c a n ’t s e ll it. O p p o s i t i o n is
so s tr o n g th a t, th r e e d a y s in to th e ta x s u m m it, H a w k e d u m p s
it. H e o p t s f o r a p r a g m a t i c , i n c r e m e n t a l c h a n g e b a s e d o n
K e a t i n g ’s le s s r a d i c a l o p t i o n s r a t h e r t h a n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y
O p tio n C.
K e a t i n g c o n c e d e s a t a p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e : “I t ’s a b i t l i k e B e n
H u r — w e c r o s s e d t h e l i n e w i t h o n e w h e e l o f f ’. T h i s m a y b e
200 true believers

a lo w p o i n t i n K e a t i n g ’s p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r , b u t a s a c e l e b r i t y i t
is a m e m o r a b l e , a n d hence s u c c e s s fu l, m o m e n t. K e a tin g
d e f in e s h im s e lf g ra c e fu lly in r e la tio n t o t h e f a i l e d p o lic y ,
a d d in g s u b s ta n c e to th e c e le b rity , e v e n w h e n a n n o u n c in g
t h e f a i l u r e o f t h e p o lic y . P e o p l e j u d g e c e l e b r i t i e s b y h o w t h e y
c o p e w ith e v e n ts , a n d K e a tin g p u lle d it o ff. A f te r th e s u m m it,
K e a tin g g e ts a f r in g e b e n e f its ta x , r e f o r m s to b u s in e s s e n t e r ­
ta in m e n t e x p e n s e d e d u c tio n s a n d a c a p ita l g a in s ta x th r o u g h
c a b i n e t , a s w e ll a s a c u t i n t h e t o p m a r g i n a l r a t e . A n d h e d o e s
i t , h e f e e l s , w i t h o u t H a w k e ’s s u p p o r t — a b e t r a y a l h e w ill n o t
fo rg e t. T h e le s s o n K e a t i n g d r a w s is t h a t c o n s e n s u s is a n
o b s ta c le to c h a n g e .

B anana R e p u b lic
D is tra c te d by it s ta x agenda, th e g o v e rn m e n t m is s e s a
lo o m in g is s u e c o m in g a t it f r o m w ith o u t. T h e M ay 1 9 8 6 tr a d e
s ta tis tic s re v e a l a $ 1 4 7 6 m illio n d e f ic it. A s K e a tin g r e c a lls o n
L a b o r i n P o w e r , “w e c o u l d n o l o n g e r p a y o u r w a y w i t h o u t s u b ­
s t a n t i a l r e m e d i a l c h a n g e ”. A t a f u n c t i o n f o r a b a c k b e n c h e r ,
s ta f f e r s f in d a p h o n e in th e k i tc h e n f o r K e a tin g to ta lk w ith
S y d n ey -b ased ra d io a n n o u n c e r J o h n L aw s. A u d ib le in th e
b a c k g r o u n d is a c a t e r i n g w o r k e r , r e s e n t f u l — s o t h e f a b l e
goes — o f K e a t i n g ’s p r e s e n c e , b a n g i n g d i s h e s i n t h e s in k .
T h i s w ill b e c o m e th e fa b le d in te rv ie w in w h ic h K e a tin g
m a k e s h i s w a r n i n g a b o u t t h e d a n g e r s o f b e c o m i n g a “b a n a n a
r e p u b l i c ” e c o n o m y . H a w k e , o n t o u r i n C h i n a , is n o t a m u s e d .
T h i n g s g e t w o r s e . T h e E x p e n d i t u r e R e v ie w C o m m i t t e e o f
C a b i n e t is w h e r e k e y e c o n o m i c m i n i s t e r s m a k e m a n y o f t h e
h a r d d e c is io n o n g o v e r n m e n t s p e n d in g . M in is te rs f r o m th e
s p e n d in g d e p a rtm e n ts p itc h th e ir p ro g ra m s fo r h e a lth ,
w e lfa re , e d u c a tio n o r d e f e n c e s p e n d in g , a n d th e c o m m itte e
re v ie w s t h e m — a n d p r u n e s t h e m . T h e c o m m i t t e e m e e t s i n
J u l y 1 9 8 6 f o r a n e v e n le s s p l e a s a n t ta s k . I n J u ly , t h e f l o a t i n g
A u s t r a l i a n d o l l a r — s a n k . K e a t i n g s its i n t h e C o m m i t t e e r o o m
w ith a p o c k e t s c r e e n i n f r o n t o f h i m s h o w i n g R e u t e r s q u o t e s
o n t h e d o l l a r ’s d e s c e n t . T h e f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e m a r k e t s l o s t
c o n f id e n c e in t h e v a lu e o f th e A u s tr a lia n d o lla r — a n d o f th e
e c o n o m y b e h i n d it. F i n a n c e m i n i s t e r P e t e r W a ls h is c lo s e t o
d e s p a i r . A s w e w ill r e c a l l in h i s c o n f e s s i o n s : “H o w t h e h e l l w e r e
w e g o i n g t o g e t o u t o f it ? ” B y c u t t i n g g o v e r n m e n t s p e n d i n g .
 b a n a n a republic

T h e t h e o r y is t h a t t h e c u r r e n t a c c o u n t d e f i c i t is s o b a d
b e c a u s e A u s tra lia n s s p e n d m o r e th a n th e y sav e, a n d s p e n d a
lo t o n im p o r ts . T h e a g g r e g a te s ta tis tic s b e a r th is o u t. S o if th e
g o v e r n m e n t c u t s it s s p e n d i n g , t h i s s h o u l d h a v e s o m e e f f e c t ,
n o t j u s t o n th e b u d g e t d e fic it, b u t o n th e c u r r e n t a c c o u n t
d e f ic it to o . S o w ith th e p r e s s e s p r i n t i n g th e b u d g e t s to p p e d
a t th e e le v e n th h o u r, th e c o m m itte e m e e t to c u t a n a d d i­
t i o n a l 1 .5 b i l l i o n d o l l a r s f r o m i t a s q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e .
‘T h e d e c i s i o n w a s r a d i c a l , a n d a l s o t o u g h f o r t h e p a r t y ”,
H a w k e re c a lls . T h e re v is e d b u d g e t lif te d a b a n o n u r a n iu m
s a le s to F r a n c e , s a v in g 7 0 m illio n . W h e n th e b a n w a s in f o r c e ,
t h e G o v e r n m e n t b o u g h t t h e s t u f f a n d s t o c k p i l e d it, r a t h e r
th a n s e llin g it to F ra n c e . T h is w as in o r d e r to h o n o u r a n
e x i s t i n g c o n t r a c t w i t h t h e m i n i n g c o m p a n y . A c tu a lly , t h e b a n
s u ite d F ra n c e , as th e c o n tr a c t p ric e w as h ig h e r th a n th e
m a r k e t p r ic e , a n d th e b a n f r e e d th e F r e n c h to b u y c h e a p e r
u r a n i u m t h a n i f i t w a s o b l i g e d u n d e r it s c o n t r a c t t o p a y f o r
th e A u s tra lia n u r a n iu m . B u t it w as th e p r in c ip le o f th e th in g
t h a t a n g e r e d t h e L a b o r le ft. W h e n K e a tin g p r e s e n t e d t h e
b u d g e t, th r e e b a c k b e n c h e r s w a lk e d o u t. L e f t w in g e r N ic k
B o l k u s t h o u g h t i t w a s “o n e o f t h e s i l l i e s t ” d e c i s i o n s . E v e n
r i g h t w i n g e r G r a h a m R i c h a r d s o n c o n c e d e d t h a t i t w a s ‘j u s t
r e a l l y d u m b ”. T h e m o r a l o f t h e s t o r y f o r t h e L a b o r l e f t w a s
t h a t n o p r i n c i p l e w a s s a c r e d t o t h i s g o v e r n m e n t . L a b o r ’s
s u p p o r t d e c l i n e d . A s R o d C a m e r o n s a i d , “o r d i n a r y w a g e a n d
s a la ry e a r n e r s w e re n o t b e n e f itin g o u t o f a L a b o r g o v e r n ­
m e n t ”. M a n a g i n g t h e b i g n u m b e r s , e v e n w h e n i t p r o d u c e d
re a s o n a b ly good o u tc o m e s in te rm s o f g ro w th and new
e m p l o y m e n t , d i d n o t m a k e t h e e l e c t o r a t e h a p p y . T h e r e is
m o r e to p o litic s t h a n e c o n o m ic m a n a g e m e n t.
I t ’s a c u r i o u s c o n c e p t , ‘e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s m ’. I t r e s t s o n l y
in p a r t o n e x p e r ie n c e o f h o w th e e c o n o m y a c tu a lly w o rk s,
a n d p a r tly o n a t h e o r y a b o u t h o w it w o rk s, b u t a ls o in p a r t o n
a th e o ry o f h o w it o u g h t to w o rk . T ry in g to change th e
e c o n o m y in t h e l ig h t o f e c o n o m ic r a tio n a lis m b r in g s w ith it
c e r t a i n p r o b l e m s . C h a n g e is d r i v e n b y t h e n o r m a t i v e i d e a
a b o u t h o w m u c h b e t t e r t h e e c o n o m y w ill w o r k i n t h e f u t u r e
if L a b o r c h a n g e s it in th e p r e s e n t. I t e n v is a g e s a c h a n g e f r o m
p o litic a l to e c o n o m ic tim e , w h e re c h a n g e th a t c a n n o t b e
m e a s u r e d , t h e e v e n t f u l n e s s o f f o r t u n e , g iv e s w a y t o u n c e r ­
t a i n t y t h a t c a n b e q u a n t i f i e d , t h e c a l c u l u s o f ri s k . T h i s p u r e ,
202 true believers

q u a n tif ia b le tim e n e v e r a rriv e s , b u t it a c ts as a p e r m a n e n t

a lte rn a tiv e d re a m tim e , th e p u rity o f w h ic h s ta n d s as a
m e a s u r e o f th e im p u r ity o f th e s o r d id p o litic a l tim e o f th e
p re s e n t.
A s a c r itiq u e o f th e irr a tio n a lity o f A u s tra lia n e c o n o m ic
in s titu tio n s , e c o n o m ic ra tio n a lis m p e r f o r m s v e r y w e ll. I t ’s
n o t h a r d to s h o w w h y a n y g iv e n in s tit u tio n a l a r r a n g e m e n t
f a i ls t o m e a s u r e u p t o t h e i d e a l o f a p e r f e c t a l l o c a t i o n o f
r e s o u r c e s b y fu lly c o m p e titiv e m a rk e ts a c tin g o n p e rfe c t
i n f o r m a t i o n . I t is a c r i t i c a l m o r a l p h i l o s o p h y , b u t i t is a n
im p e r f e c t g u id e to p o s itiv e a c tio n . I t s u ffe rs th e s a m e f a te as
o t h e r c r itic a l m o r a l p h ilo s o p h ie s in th e p o s tm o d e r n w o rld .
I t f a lls v i c t i m t o d o u b t s s u s t a i n e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f it s a p p l i c a ­
t i o n . I t a p p e a r s , a f t e r a ll, n o t t o b e t h e l i g h t o n t h e h i l l . Y e t it
r e m a in s , lik e a ll m o ra l p h ilo s o p h ie s , a u sefu l c ritiq u e .
C r i t i q u e o f a n y k i n d is a p o o r s t a n d - i n f o r a p r a c t i c a l , e m p i r ­
i c a l a p p r o a c h t o p o lic y , a n d p o l i t i c s . L i k e a ll s p e c i e s o f r a t i o ­
n a lis m , it p riz e s its i n t e r n a l lo g ic a l u n ity m o re th a n its
c o m p a tib ility w ith th e m u ltip lic ity o f e x p e r ie n c e s w ith w h ic h
t h e w o r l d o f e c o n o m i c e v e n t s c o n f r o n t s u s . I t p r i z e s it s r a t i o ­
n a lis m a t th e e x p e n s e e v e n o f r e a s o n , w h ic h m ig h t c o u n s e l
s c e p tic is m a b o u t t h e a b ility o f t h e m i n d a lo n e to c o m p r e ­
h e n d , le t a lo n e ta k e c h a r g e , o f th e w o rld .

R ich o th e G reen ie
“G r a h a m h a s a lw a y s b e e n a z e a l o u s f e l l o w ”, sa y s t h e u r b a n e
K e a tin g , w ith h is s a llo w iro n y . The m o re c a lc u la tin g
R ic h a r d s o n s u m s u p h is s u d d e n e n th u s ia s m f o r th e G r e e n
m o v e m e n t a l i t t l e d i f f e r e n t l y : “I t w a s a v e r y h a p p y m i x t u r e o f
g o o d p o litic s w ith w h a t w a s r i g h t .” C u e f o o ta g e o f R ic h o h o b ­
b l i n g a w k w a rd ly t h r o u g h t h e b u s h . L e a d i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a l ­
is ts t o o k h i m f o r a b u s h p i c n i c . “H e w a s d e e p l y c o n c e r n e d h i s
R eeboks w e re g o in g to get d ir ty ”, says th e A u s tra lia n
C o n s e rv a tio n F o u n d a t i o n ’s P h i l l i p Toyne. T o g e t h e r w ith
P e te r G a r r e tt a n d B o b B ro w n , T o y n e b e c o m e s a fu lc ru m
f ig u r e in r e c o m p o s i n g a L a b o r m a jo rity .
T w o th in g s p u ll L a b o r th r o u g h th e 1 9 8 7 e le c tio n : K e a tin g
fin d s a $540 m illio n h o le in o p p o s itio n le a d e r J o h n
H o w a r d ’s t a x p a c k a g e , d e n t i n g t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f t h e L i b e r a l ’s
e le c tio n c a m p a ig n . R ic h a r d s o n g e ts le a d in g f ig u re s o f th e
 richo the g re e n ie 203

e n v iro n m e n ta l m ovem ent to e n d o rse L a b o r, and L abor

s q u e a k s in w ith th e h e lp o f G re e n p re fe re n c e s . W h e th e r
R ic h a r d s o n w a s r e s p o n s ib le f o r th is p o lic y o r n o t w o u ld b e
h o tly d is p u te d , b u t w h a t m a t t e r e d in th e m o m e n t w a s h is
c a p a c ity to a u g m e n t h is o w n c e le b rity b y c la im in g th a t it w as
h i s i d e a a ll a l o n g .
“B y 1 9 9 0 , n o A u s t r a l i a n c h i l d w ill b e l i v i n g i n p o v e r t y . ” I t ’s
a p ro m is e H a w k e m a k e s fo r th e c a m e ra s a t S y d n e y O p e r a
H o u s e a n d w ill r e g r e t t h e r e a f t e r . “I j u s t h a d t o w e a r t h a t
c r o s s ”, h e sa y s . W h a t ’s i n t e r e s t i n g is how it happened.
A c c o r d i n g to t h e H a w k e M e m o irs, it w a s a m a t t e r o f w h i ttlin g
th e c a m p a ig n s p e e c h in to fin e r a n d fin e r s h a p e , a n d n o t
n o t i c i n g a s u b t l e b u t c r u c i a l c h a n g e . T h e r e is a d i f f e r e n c e
b e t w e e n s a y i n g t h a t u n d e r a L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t n o c h i l d ’s
fa m ily n e e d la c k t h e f u n d s to k e e p a c h ild o u t o f p o v e r ty a n d
t h e c l a i m t h a t n o c h i l d w ill liv e i n p o v e r ty .
O r as M a rk L a th a m p o in ts o u t, t h e r e ’s a d iffe re n c e
b e tw e e n p r o v id in g p e o p l e w ith t h e w e lf a r e p a y m e n t to g e t b y
a n d p r o v i d i n g t h e m w i t h t h e s o c i a l c a p a c i t y t o l e a d a li f e o f
s e l f r e s p e c t . A h a l f c e n t u r y o n , w e ’r e r e a l l y a l o t c l o s e r t o B e n
C h i f l e y ’s l i g h t o n th e h ill. T h e s o c ia l s a fe ty n e t w a r tim e
L a b o r d r e a m e d o f is n o w s u b s t a n t i a l l y a r e a lity . B u t b y t h e
l i g h t o f t h a t a c h i e v e m e n t , a n e w l i g h t a p p e a r s , o n a s t ill m o r e
d is ta n t h ill. T h is o n e lig h ts th e w ay to g o v e r n m e n t t h a t d o e s
n o t j u s t th ro w m o n e y a t n e e d , m a k in g a n e e d a p riv a te
m a t t e r s o lv e d b y th e p u r c h a s e o f th in g s , b u t a g o v e r n m e n t
t h a t c a n a l s o s e e i n n e e d n o t j u s t a m a t e r i a l la c k , b u t a d e f i c i t
i n t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n o f p u b l i c li f e i ts e lf . W i t h i ts “t a r g e t e d ”
b e n e fits , th e H aw ke and K e a tin g g o v e rn m e n ts p ro v id e
m o n e y f o r n e e d s , b u t g e n e r a te a p u b lic m o o d th a t re s e n ts
th e c a te g o rie s id e n tif ie d b y th e ta rg e ts . A s m a te ria lly b e n e f i­
c i a l a s t a r g e t e d w e l f a r e s p e n d i n g m a y b e , i t is c u l t u r a l l y d e t r i ­
m e n ta l — a n d in th e e n d , e le c to ra lly d e tr im e n ta l. T h a t n o
c h i l d w ill liv e i n p o v e r t y is n o t a p r o m i s e a n y a m o u n t o f
m o n e y a lo n e c a n d e liv e r.
T h a t m e d i a h i c c u p a s i d e , t h e c a m p a i g n g o e s w e ll, w it h
L a b o r ’s s u p p o r t f a l l i n g i n s u b u r b a n h e a r t l a n d s e a ts , b u t w it h
g a i n s i n m a r g i n a l s e a t s t h a t o f f s e t t h e lo s s e s . H a w k e p r o m o t e s
R ic h a rd s o n in to c a b in e t, a n d h e b e c o m e s M in is te r f o r th e
E n v i r o n m e n t . H e s u p p o r t e d a c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t l o g g i n g in
T a s m a n i a . P e t e r W a ls h c a lls t h i s “d e c a d e n c e ”. J o h n B u t t o n
2 04 true believers

c a lls i t “i n d u l g e n t ”. B u t a s T o y n e sa y s, R i c h o “w a s a b o u t
k n o c k in g p e o p le d o w n a n d d ra g g in g th e m o u t” a n d h e p r e ­
v a ils . O f t h e “p o s t m a t e r i a l i s t ” a g e n d a , t h e G r e e n s t u f f f a ir s
b e t t e r t h a n l a n d r i g h t s . H a w k e ’s p r o m i s e s o n t h a t s c o r e a r e ,
a c c o r d i n g t o C h a r l e s P e r k i n s , “l i k e s n o w o n t h e d e s e r t s a n d s ”.
R ic h a r d s o n w as a c o m p le x c h a ra c te r. H e title d h is m e m o irs
W h a te v e r I t T a kes, a n d s ty le d h i m s e l f a s t h e u l t i m a t e m a c h i n e
p o litic ia n . A le s s fla tte rin g p o rtra it is j o u r n a l i s t M a ria n
W i l k i n s o n ’s T h e F ix e r .21 B o t h b o o k s a r e a f a s c i n a t i n g i n s i g h t
i n t o t h e c u l t u r e o f N S W L a b o r ’s m a c h i n e p o l i t i c s . I t is o n e o f
t h e f e w o r g a n i s a t i o n a l c u l t u r e s t h a t r e a l l y f i ts w i t h t h e c la s s ic
s ty le o f m u c k r a k i n g j o u r n a l i s m t h a t W i l k i n s o n b r i n g s t o it.
P e tty c r im s a n d p r o s t i t u t e s r u b s h o u l d e r s in th is b o o k w ith
b u s in e s s ty c o o n s and in te rn a tio n a l s ta te m e n . W h e re
R ic h a r d s o n p a in ts h im s e lf a s a t r u e b e lie v e r in th e tr a d itio n a l
L a b o r c r e e d o f h e lp in g th e litd e gu y, W ilk in s o n se e s h im as
h e lp in g h im s e lf a n d a h a n d f u l o f m a te s .
Y et in c o n c lu d in g h e r c h a p te r o n “G r a h a m G r e e n ”, s h e
q u o t e s B o b B r o w n : “R i c h a r d s o n m a d e t h e d i f f e r e n c e w h e n i t
c a m e to th e fo re s ts . W ith o u t h is a p p e a r a n c e o n th e s c e n e in
a w h o l e h o s t o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l is s u e s a r o u n d t h i s c o u n t r y ,
fro m t h e t r o p i c s o f Q u e e n s l a n d t o t h e s n o w c o v e r e d t a ll
e u c a ly p ts o f s o u t h e r n T a s m a n ia , th e y w o u ld n o t b e W o rld
H e r ita g e , th e y w o u ld n o t b e p r o te c te d a n d th e y w o u ld n o t b e
th e h e ir lo o m s th e y a r e g o in g to b e f o r th is c o u n tr y .” T h e
i r o n y is t h a t R i c h a r d s o n ’s p r i v a t e m o r a l i t y w a s i n t h e e n d
i r r e l e v a n t t o a t l e a s t t h i s p a r t o f h i s p u b l i c a c t i o n . I f t h e r e is
a v i r t u e i n t h e c u l t u r e o f m a c h i n e p o l i t i c s , i t is t h a t i t is a
m a c h i n e f o r m e s h i n g t h e d e s i r e s o f it s o p e r a t i v e s f o r p o w e r ,
p r e s tig e a n d p o ts o f lo o t w ith t h a t o f th e v o tin g p u b lic f o r a
f a ir g o f o r t h e m a jo rity .

Crash L a n d in g

‘T h i s is t h e o n e t h a t b r i n g s h o m e t h e b a c o n ”, is h o w P a u l
K e a tin g e x p la in e d th e 19 8 8 b u d g e t a t a p re s s c o n f e r e n c e in th e
new p a r l i a m e n t h o u s e . W h a t is n o t c l e a r is w h e t h e r i t is
e v e r y o n e ’s b a c o n o r K e a t i n g ’s o w n h e is s p e a k i n g a b o u t . P u r e
p r o d u c t o f m a c h i n e c u l t u r e t h a t h e is, t h e r e is n o n e c e s s a r y
c o n tr a d ic tio n . H a v in g g o t th e econom y on tr a c k , K e a t i n g
t h i n k s i t ’s t i m e — t i m e f o r H a w k e t o s t e p d o w n . H a w k e r e f u s e s .
 crash landing 205

I n A u g u s t, i n a n a p p e a r a n c e o n L a te lin e , H a w k e in d i c a t e s
t h a t i f K e a t i n g le a v e s T r e a s u r y , h e c a n b e r e p l a c e d . I t is a
r e m a r k B o b C o l l i n s r e c a l l s t h i n k i n g w a s “u n f o r g i v a b l e ”, b u t
K e a t i n g , h e sa y s , “w a s b e i n g e m o t i o n a l l y i m m a t u r e ”. H a w k e
a n d K e a tin g s trik e th e f a b le d K irrib illi H o u s e a g r e e m e n t,
u n d e r w h i c h H a w k e w ill s t e p d o w n a f t e r t h e 1 9 9 0 e l e c t i o n .
I t ’s t h e s e c o n d t i m e t h a t , m e e t i n g t o s t r i k e a d e a l , t h e s e tw o
c h a r a c te r s p u t o f f th e in e v ita b le c o n flic t b e tw e e n th e m .
D u r in g th e fra c a s b e tw e e n H a w k e a n d K e a tin g , s o m e b o d y
w ith a p h o n e fre q u e n c y s c a n n e r in te rc e p ts a p h o n e c a ll
b e t w e e n R i c h a r d s o n a n d K e a t i n g , i n w h i c h R i c h a r d s o n is
s p e a k i n g o n a m o b i l e p h o n e . T h e c a l l m a k e s i ts w a y i n t o t h e
p u b l i c d o m a i n . I t is a r e m a r k a b l e e v e n t , t h i s p u b l i c a i r i n g o f
t h e p r i v a t e t a l k o f p u b l i c f i g u r e s . I t ’s a s e m b a r r a s s i n g a s t h e
N o t - M i m i t a p e o r t h e D o n a h e r fa m ily . I t ’s is p o l i t i c a l r a t h e r
th a n d o m e s tic o r se x u a l p o rn o g ra p h y . I w o n d e r h o w w e
w o u ld th in k o f J o h n C u r tin if w e h a d a c c e s s to h is p riv a te
c a lls to o ? P e r h a p s w h a t m a d e L a b o r le a d e r s o f t h e 8 0 s a n d
9 0 s s e e m s m a l l e r t h a n l if e is t h a t , c o m p a r e d t o t h e i r p r e d e ­
c e s s o rs , w e sa w to o m u c h o f t h e m u p c lo s e . T h e i r c e le b r ity
w as in tim a te , m u n d a n e , r a th e r th a n s ta tu e s q u e .
‘T h i s is a b e a u t i f u l s e t o f n u m b e r s f o r u s ”, i n s i s t s K e a t i n g .
“I k e p t s a y i n g t h e r e w e r e v e r y d e p r e s s i n g m e s s a g e s f r o m o u t
t h e r e ”, r e c a l l s J o h n B u t t o n . C r e d i t g r o w t h f u e l l e d a s s e t v a l u e
in fla tio n . P u n te r s b o r r o w e d c h e a p m o n e y fro m b a n k s w h o
c o m p e te d to o a g g re s s iv e ly a g a in s t e a c h o th e r fo r m a rk e t
s h a re in th e n ew , d e r e g u la te d e n v ir o n m e n t. In v e s to rs p a r k e d
a chunk of b o rro w e d m oney in Sydney re a l e s ta te .
T h r o u g h o u t 1 9 8 8 t h e e c o n o m y r a c e d aw ay. I n t e r e s t r a te s
w e r e t o o lo w , a n d t h e e c o n o m y o v e r h e a t e d .
O r so it a p p e a r s in h in d s ig h t. T h e e c o n o m ic a d v is e rs a t th e
tim e a r e m o r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t th e 1 9 8 7 s to c k m a r k e t c ra s h ,
w h i c h is o n e o f t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e l o w i n t e r e s t r a t e s e t t i n g s .
T h e y a re th in k in g in te r m s o f th e p r e c e d e n t o f th e 2 0 s, w h e n
t i g h t e n i n g c r e d i t e x a c e r b a t e d t h e c r a s h . B u t t h i s is t h e 8 0 s ,
a n d w h ile t h e c r a s h c lip s t h e w in g s o f a fe w h i g h fly in g b u s i­
n e s s c e le b ritie s , s p e c u la tiv e g ro w th c o n tin u e s . T h e s u r g in g
e c o n o m y s u c k s in im p o r ts a n d in f la tio n ta k e s o ff. K e a tin g
m e e ts w ith th e T r e a s u r y a n d R e s e rv e B a n k o ffic ia ls a n d th e y
ja c k th e in te re s t ra te s u p a n d u p a n d u p .
U n t i l , f i n a l l y . . . “y o u c o u l d f e e l it. S o m e t h i n g s n a p p e d ”, a s
true believers

K e a tin g a d v is e r D o n R u s s e ll r e c a lls . K e a tin g r e f u s e d to i n s u ­

l a t e h o m e l o a n r a t e s f r o m t h e c r e d i t s q u e e z e . “W e r a n t h e
ris k o f a lie n a tin g e v e ry o n e w h o o w n e d a h o m e in A u s tra lia ”
a s R i c h a r d s o n sa y s. R i c h a r d s o n , w h o b e g g e d f o r a n e x e m p ­
tio n f o r h o m e b u y e r s , n e v e r t h e l e s s r e c a l l s K e a t i n g ’s s ty le
a d m i r i n g l y : “I t r e p r e s e n t s a c o m m i t m e n t t o a u t h o r i t y , a n d
t h e w a y i t is e x e r c i s e d ”.
T r o u b le o n a n o t h e r f r o n t. T h e E u r o p e a n s s u b s id is e a g r i­
c u l t u r a l e x p o r t s . D e c i d i n g t h a t i f y o u c a n ’t b e a t t h e m , j o i n
t h e m , t h e A m e r ic a n s fo llo w s u it. T h is h u r t s A u s tr a lia n a g r i­
c u ltu re , a n d th e r e a re ru m b lin g s fro m th e b u s h u rg in g th e
g o v e r n m e n t to th r e a te n to p u ll o u t o f th e W e s te rn a llia n c e .
H aw ke p ro p o se s A PE C — an e c o n o m ic fo ru m o f A s ia n
p o w e rs — a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e . M e a n w h i l e , t h e c o u n t r y s lip s
in to re c e s s io n .
I n F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 0 , H a w k e c a lls a n e le c tio n . L a b o r w in s it o n
th e second p re fe re n c e s tra te g y , an a p p ro a c h f o r w h ic h
R ic h a rd s o n c la im s th e c re d it. R o d C a m e ro n c a lls i t t h e
“b i g g e s t s i n g l e r e a s o n f o r t h e s u c c e s s o f L a b o r ’s c a m p a i g n ”.
B u t a fte r th e e le c tio n w in , H a w k e a lie n a te s R ic h a rd s o n ,
r e f u s i n g t o g iv e h i m h i s c h o i c e o f p o r t f o l i o i n t h e n e w g o v ­
e rn m e n t. “I th o u g h t th a t w as a b it r i c h ”, deadpans
R ic h a rd s o n .
T h e e c o n o m y h e a d s s o u th . T h e fo re c a s ts f ro m T re a s u ry
and th e R ese rv e B an k , th e P rim e M i n i s t e r ’s O f f i c e , t h e
S t a t i s t i c i a n — t h e y a ll t u r n o u t t o b e w r o n g . “W e w e r e a c t i n g
o n i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t w a s j u s t w r o n g ”, r e c a l l s M i c h a e l D u ffy .
P e r h a p s t h e l e s s o n h e r e is t h a t t h e r e is s o m e t h i n g t o b e s a i d
fo r “b e i n g p re p a re d to lis te n to a n e c d o ta l e v id e n c e ” as
H a w k e p u t s it. B u t t h i s w a s a g o v e r n m e n t t h a t i g n o r e d w h a t
p o litic ia n s le a r n f r o m ta lk in g to p e o p le a n d r e lie d in s te a d o n
th e m o d e ls a n d th e n u m b e rs . It w as a ra tio n a lis t r a th e r th a n
a n e m p iric is t g o v e rn m e n t. In M a rch 1 9 9 0 K e a t i n g is s till
s a y i n g i t w ill b e a s o f t l a n d i n g . W h i c h p r o m p t s P e t e r W a ls h to
s p e a k o f “t h e h a z a r d s o f s e l f d e l u s i o n ”. K e a t i n g f a m o u s l y c a lls
i t “t h e r e c e s s i o n A u s t r a l i a h a d t o h a v e ”. H e c l a i m s i n r e t r o ­
s p e c t t h a t t h i s w a s H a w k e ’s v ie w a l s o . H a w k e ’s r e s p o n s e i n
L a b o r i n P o w e r is d i r e c t : “a n y c l a i m t h a t I w a s c o n s u l t e d a b o u t
t h a t p h r a s e b e f o r e h a n d is a n a b s o l u t e l i e ”.
B ill K e lty p u s h e s f o r i n d u s t r y a s s i s t a n c e , b u t t h e g o v e r n ­
m ent is obsessed w ith te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s c o m p e titio n
 placido domingo 207

p o li c y . “I w a s a b i t m a n i c a b o u t i t ”, K e a t i n g l a t e r c o n c e d e s .
He is m a n i c a b o u t th e r a t i o n a l v ie w o f th e re la tio n s h ip
b e tw e e n k n o w le d g e a n d g o v e r n m e n t, a n d re fu s e s to c o n ­
s id e r a m o r e e m p ir ic a l, s u c k it a n d s e e a p p r o a c h . T h e f in a n ­
c i a l j o u r n a l i s t s e g g h i m o n . K e a t i n g is r e l e n t l e s s i n h i s p u r s u i t
o f h i s o w n a g e n d a . “H e c a n b r u i s e n o t j u s t t h e e g o b u t t h e
s p i r i t , a n d t h a t ’s w h e n h e g o e s t o o f a r ”, c o u n s e l s R i c h a r d s o n .
B u t K e a t i n g is l i k e A c h i l l e s d e n i e d h i s p r i z e . H i s p r i d e is
h u r t . O n H a w k e ’s l e a d e r s h i p : “I t b e c a m e a j o k e ”.

P la cid o D o m in g o
K e a t i n g ’s ‘P l a c i d o D o m i n g o ’ s p e e c h is a s t r a n g e t e x t H e g a v e
i t t o t h e N a t i o n a l P r e s s C l u b , i n D e c e m b e r 1 9 9 0 : “W h e n I
w a lk o u t o n t h a t s t a g e , s o m e p e r f o r m a n c e s w ill b e b e t t e r
t h a n o t h e r s . B u t I ’ll a lw a y s b e t r y i n g t o s p r i n g t h e e c o n o m i c s
a n d th e p o litic s to g e th e r . O u t th e r e o n th e s ta g e d o in g th e
P la c id o D o m in g o .” A n d d o in g it b e t t e r th a n h is m o r e p r o m i­
n e n t r iv a l, L u c i a n o P a v a r o t t i . “L e a d e r s h i p is n o t a b o u t b e i n g
p o p u l a r . I t ’s a b o u t b e i n g r i g h t , a b o u t b e i n g s t r o n g . A n d i t ’s
n o t w h e th e r y o u g o th ro u g h so m e s h o p p in g c e n tre trip p in g
o v e r t h e T V c r e w ’s c o r d s . I t ’s a b o u t d o i n g w h a t y o u t h i n k t h e
n a t i o n r e q u i r e s . ”28
I n th is f a m o u s s p e e c h , s u p p o s e d ly g iv e n o f f th e r e c o r d to
th e a n n u a l d in n e r o f th e N a tio n a l P re ss C lu b in D e c e m b e r
1 9 9 0 , P a u l K e a tin g c o n d e n s e s e v e ry th in g a b o u t h im s e lf th a t
p e o p l e lo v e t o h a t e a n d h a t e t h e m s e l v e s f o r l o v i n g . H e f l a t ­
t e r s a n d h e s c o l d s . H e p r a i s e s t h e “p a r t i c i p a n t s ” a n d b a g s t h e
“v o y e u r s ” i n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r c h a n g e . H e e v e n h a s t h e n e r v e
to d is m is s J o h n C u rtin a s a “t r i e r ” r a t h e r t h a n a le a d e r.
A u s t r a l i a n e v e r h a d l e a d e r s , h e sa y s. ‘W e ’r e a n a c c i d e n t . . . w e
n e v e r s a i d t h i s p l a c e is o u r s a n d w e a r e g o i n g t o r u n i t f o r
o u r s e lv e s .”
W ith th e p a s t th u s d im m e d , th e f u tu r e lo o m s b r ig h te r o n
t h e h o r i z o n . ‘W e h a v e t h i s c h a n c e ”, b u t i t r e q u i r e s “n a t i o n a l
w ill a n d n a tio n a l l e a d e r s h i p ”. K e a t i n g th e n d e fin e s th e
n a t u r e o f t h i s l e a d e r s h i p a s “h a v i n g a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h t h e
p u b l i c ”, w h i c h , i n a p e rv e rse s e n s e , is w h a t h e w a s p e r ­
fo rm in g in th is v e ry speech. P e rfo rm in g , lik e P la c id o
D o m i n g o , i n t h e s h a d o w o f o n e h e t h i n k s is a l e s s e r p e r ­
fo r m e r , w h o g e ts b ig g e r c h e e r s f r o m th e c ro w d .
 true believers

‘T h e r e ’s a n S & M g l o w a b o u t K e a t i n g , ” a s M e a g h a n M o r r i s
o b s e r v e s i n a p r o f o u n d e s s a y o n w a t c h i n g t h e T r e a s u r e r . 29 I n
th e in s ta n c e o f h is N a tio n a l P re s s C lu b s p e e c h th e e x q u is ite
to rtu re com es fro m it b e in g so q u o ta b le . By tra d itio n ,
s p e e c h e s g iv e n a t t h a t o c c a s io n a r e d e e m e d to b e o f f th e
r e c o r d , so jo u r n a lis ts lo o k f o r a w ay to b e n d th e r u le s , a n d
g e t K e a t i n g ’s b e s t l i n e s i n t o p r i n t .
L ik e D o c E v a tt, P a u l K e a tin g h a s a ll th e h a llm a r k s o f a
m a s te r th in k e r , o f s o m e o n e w h o th in k s h e c a n ta lk to th e
p e o p le o n t h e b a s is o f a h i g h e r k n o w le d g e o f t h e i r in te r e s ts
a n d n e e d s . 30 H e is l o v e d b y y u p p i e s w i n e a n d t a l k i n g h e a d
ty p e s f o r t h e f e a r l e s s n e s s w i t h w h i c h h e a s s e r t s t h e p r e r o g a ­
ti v e s o f t h e s t r o n g w ill a n d s h a r p m i n d . “A L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t
is a r a r e b r e e d o f h o r s e . Y o u d o n ’t r i d e i t b y c r a c k i n g t h e
w h i p a n d j a b b i n g y o u r s p u r s i n t o its f l a n k s . Y o u c o a x it,
s o o t h e it , t a l k t o it , e a s e i t a l o n g a n d p o i n t t h e w a y a h e a d . ”31
K e a t i n g ’s l e s s o n is t h a t o n l y a s m a r t a n d w ily d r o v e r c a n
m a s te r s u c h a d u m b a n im a l.
T h e s h o w d o w n w ith H a w k e h a s c o m e . E v e n th is p riv a te
m o m e n t is w a t c h e d , v i a c l o s e d c i r c u i t t e l e v i s i o n , b y t h e P r i m e
M i n i s t e r ’s s t a f f i n t h e n e x t r o o m . H a w k e s its b a c k r e l a x e d ;
K e a t i n g a n i m a t e d , p a c i n g . H a w k e w a s a n n o y e d b y K e a t i n g ’s
c la im th a t A u s tra lia h a d n o g r e a t le a d e r s . T h e m o u th w as
th e m o u th o f P a u l K e a tin g b u t th e w o rd s w e re th e w o rd s o f
J a c k L a n g . ” T o H a w k e i t is a n i n s u l t t o t h e m e m o r y o f C u r t i n .
I t is o f c o u r s e a l s o a n i n s u l t t o H a w k e , b u t I t h i n k H a w k e w a s
r e a l l y o f f e n d e d b y K e a t i n g ’s l a c k o f r e s p e c t f o r L a b o r s a i n t s .
T h e K i r r i b i l l i d e a l is o f f . “B o b h a d a n e a s y r i d e t h r o u g h
p u b l i c l i f e ”, r e m a r k s t h e c o n t e m p t u o u s K e a t i n g , w h o p r i d e d
h im s e lf o n d o in g it a lo n e .
“W e t h r e w t h a t y e a r a w a y ”, r e c a l l s C o l l i n s , o f t h e t i m e t h e
g o v e r n m e n t s p e n t m a r k in g tim e w h ile K e a tin g c h a lle n g e d
H a w k e . T h e G u l f w a r d e l a y s K e a t i n g ’s r u n . T h e g o v e r n m e n t
l o w e r s t a r i f f s — “a b i t q u i c k ” i n J o h n B u t t o n ’s v iew . “I j u s t d i d
n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y h a d g o t t h e e c o n o m y r i g h t ”, a d d s B ill
K e lty . S e n i o r l a b o u r m o v e m e n t f i g u r e s i n d a i l y c o n t a c t w i t h
b u s i n e s s d e c i s i o n m a k e r s t h i n k t h e e c o n o m y is i n a b a d w ay ,
but th e g o v e rn m e n t s til l ru n s e c o n o m ic p o lic y by th e
n u m b e r s a n d th e m o d e ls . K e a tin g m a k e s h is c h a lle n g e in
J u n e 1 9 9 1 , a n d lo s e s . H e r e t i r e s t o t h e b a c k b e n c h . H e t h i n k s
a b o u t a r t a n d c lo c k s a n d o t h e r th in g s , o r so it a p p e a r s .
 c o r o n a t i o n hi l l 2 09

C o ro n a tio n H ill

I t t a k e s fiv e a n d a h a l f h o u r s o f d e b a t e t o d e c i d e , b u t f i n a l l y
H a w k e s u p p o rts A b o rig in a l o p p o s itio n , o n re lig io u s g ro u n d s ,
to m in in g a t C o ro n a tio n H ill. E v e n K im B e a z le y , a lo y a l
H a w k e s u p p o r te r , fe e ls f o r c e d to c o n f r o n t h is l e a d e r a c ro s s
t h e t a b l e a n d i n s i s t t h a t h e “m a k e a d e c i s i o n ”. B u t i t is n o t t h e
d e c i s i o n L a b o r ’s h a r d - h e a d s w a n t . I n L a b o r i n P o w e r H a w k e is
s till i n d i g n a n t : “t h e h y p o c r i s y o f p e o p l e w h o c l a i m a d h e r e n c e
t o t h e C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n , w h o c a n e a s i ly a c c o m m o d a t e t h e
m y s t e r y o f t h e h o l y t r in it y , p o u r i n g s c o r n o n t h e b e l i e f s o f
o t h e r s b e c a u s e i t d o e s n ’t m a k e s e n s e , j u s t l e f t m e a p p a l l e d
b e y o n d m e a s u r e . ” E v e n w i t h h i n d s i g h t , i t s e e m s t o m y s tify
s o m e o f th e c a b in e t m e m b e r s as to w h a t th is in ta n g ib le th in g
w as th a t H a w k e fe lt c a lle d to a n s w e r to a n d p ro te c t.
John K e r i n , K e a t i n g ’s r e p l a c e m e n t a s T r e a s u r e r b r i n g s
d o w n t h e b u d g e t i n A u g u s t 1 9 9 1 . I t f a i ls t o i m p r e s s , a n d
H a w k e d r o p s K e rin in D e c e m b e r a f te r a b o tc h e d p r e s s c o n ­
f e r e n c e w h e r e h e c o n f u s e d e c o n o m i c t e r m s . ‘T h e r e w a s n ’t
m u c h f u t u r e f o r t h e g o v e r n m e n t u n d e r t h a t l e a d e r s h i p ”, is
J o h n D a w k i n s ’ a s s e s s m e n t . T h e n c o m e s t h e L i b e r a l P a r t y ’s
F ig h tb a c k ! p a c k a g e . A v ig o r o u s a n d f r e s h J o h n H e w s o n p r e ­
s e n ts a p o lic y to th e p u b lic t h a t w o u ld a c c e le r a te e c o n o m ic
re fo rm , p a rtic u la rly o n th e ta x a tio n fro n t. T h e g o v e r n m e n t
w a s s t r u c k d u m b ”, sa y s K e a t i n g , “F i g h t b a c k ! f i n i s h e d B o b o f f ,
n o t m e .”
B y D e c e m b e r 1 9 9 1 t h e r e a r e s ix m i n i s t e r s a s k i n g H a w k e t o
g o . A s G a r e t h E v a n s p u t s i t t o h i s l e a d e r : “P u l l o u t d i g g e r , t h e
d o g s a r e p i s s i n g o n y o u r s w a g .” R o b e r t R a y ’s a d v i c e t o H a w k e
is t o g e t o u t w h i l e o n t o p : “b a c k o f o u r m i n d s , L a b o r P a r t y
n e e d s s o m e ic o n s .” B o b C o llin s , w h o s p in s L a b o r fa b le s w ith
b a r r o o m d r a m a , r e c a l l s “t h e s m e l l o f d e a t h ”. S e c o n d t i m e
a r o u n d , K e a t i n g p o l l e d 5 6 v o t e s t o H a w k e ’s 5 1 . H a w k e ’s p r e s s
c o n f e r e n c e a f t e r h i s d e f e a t is e m o t i o n a l , p e r s o n a l . “I f t h i s w a s
e le v e n y e a rs a g o , I w o u ld b e g e ttin g v e ry th o r o u g h ly d r u n k .”

S w eetest V ictory of A ll
“W h y w o n ’t y o u c a l l a n e a r l y e l e c t i o n ? ” d e m a n d s H e w s o n , i n
p a r lia m e n t, s ittin g a t th e d is p a tc h b o x . K e a tin g r o u n d s o n
h im fro m t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e c h a m b e r : “T h e a n s w e r is,
true believers

m a t e , b e c a u s e I w a n t t o d o y o u s lo w ly .” I t ’s a r a r e o c c a s i o n
w h e re th e b ro a d c a s t c o v e ra g e o f P a rlia m e n t m a k e s g o o d
te l e v i s i o n . K e a tin g re le a s e d h is O n e N a tio n s ta te m e n t in
F e b ru a ry 1 9 9 2 . “W e h a d t o c h a n g e o u r p o s i t i o n ”, r e c a l l s
K e a t i n g , “r e o r d e r i n g t h e d e b a t e , s a y i n g t h e r e w a s a r o l e f o r
g o v e r n m e n t.” W ith H ew son p re s e n tin g th e L ib e ra ls a s a
p o te n tia l g o v e rn m e n t o f a c c e le ra te d e c o n o m ic re fo rm ,
K e a t i n g t a c k s t h e o t h e r w ay , a n d w i t h O n e N a t i o n p r e s e n t s a
p a c k a g e o f e m p lo y m e n t a n d tr a in in g m e a s u r e s . K e a tin g lo s t
f a ith in th e a d v ic e o f th e R e s e rv e B a n k a n d th e T re a s u ry :
“T h e j u d g e m e n t s la c k e d g u i l e ”. T h e r e a re one m illio n
jo b le s s .
S o m e h o w , h e p u lls it o ff. I n M a rc h 1 9 9 3 K e a tin g le a d s
L a b o r t o a n u n e x p e c t e d w in , h i s “s w e e t e s t v i c t o r y o f a l l ” a s h e
c a lls i t o n e l e c t i o n n i g h t , o u t a t B a n k s t o w n . T h i s is w h e r e w e
c a m e i n . B o b E l li s w a s a t B a n k s t o w n o n t h a t n i g h t , w h e n I
w a s a t t h e I n t e r c o n t i n e n t a l . ‘T h e n s u d d e n l y , v e r y q u i c k ly , I
w a s a t th e s id e o f th e s ta g e ... a n d K e a tin g , in h a lf p r o f ile , w as
a t t h e m i c r o p h o n e , a n d t h e c r o w d w a s s a y in g , ‘W e w a n t P a u l ,
w e w a n t P a u l ’, a n d h e w a s s a y in g , ‘Y o u ’v e g o t m e . ’ A n d t h e n
t h e r e w a s s i l e n c e , a n d h e s a i d , ‘T h i s is t h e s w e e t e s t v i c t o r y o f
a l l ’. . . and th e n lik e a te n n is b a ll to s se d back o v e r h is
s h o u ld e r to me a lo n e , ‘T h i s is a v ic to ry fo r th e tru e
b e l i e v e r s ’, a n d I d r a n k i n t h e m o m e n t k n o w i n g f e w a g a i n
w o u l d e v e r e q u a l i t . . . ”.32
T h e r e a r e t h o s e w h o f e e l t h a t t h e m o r a l P a u l K e a t i n g ’s
c e l e b r i t y s t a n d s f o r is t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e
t r a d i t i o n s o f t h e L a b o r P a r ty . D e a n J a e n s c h t i t l e d h i s b o o k o n
t h e s u b j e c t T h e H a w k e -K e a tin g H ija c k . P e t e r B e ilh a r z c a lle d
h is T r a n s fo r m in g L abor. G ra h a m M a d d o x ju x ta p o s e s The
H aw ke G o vern m ent a n d th e L a b o r T r a d i t i o n , 33 T h e s e books
c h o s e t o j u d g e t h e H a w k e g o v e r n m e n t , a n d K e a t i n g a s its
e c o n o m ic p rim e -m o v e r, b y th e s ta n d a r d s a n d v a lu e s o f th e
L a b o r c u ltu re o f th e p a s t, a lth o u g h th e a u th o rs a re not
a g r e e d o n e x a c t l y w h i c h v a l u e s i n L a b o r ’s p a s t a r e its t r u e
e s s e n c e . W h i l e e v e n le s s s y m p a t h e t i c t o t h e K e a t i n g v ie w o n
c r e a t i n g w e a l t h i n o r d e r t o s h a r e it, is C a r o l J o h n s o n ’s b o o k
T h e L a b o r L e g a c y . 34 A t l e a s t J o h n s o n r e c o g n i s e s t h a t i f L a b o r
h a s a t r a d i t i o n , i t is o n e o f v i r t u a l i t y , o n e o f i n v e n t i n g p r a g ­
m a tic w o r k in g r e la tio n s w ith c a p ita lis m th a t se c u re so m e ­
th in g fo r L a b o r ’s c o n s t i t u e n c e s . L a b o r ’s tra d itio n is a
 s w e e t e s t v i c t o r y of all 211

m o d e r n o n e , a tr a d itio n o f f r e s h in v e n tio n . T h e le s s o n o f h e r
s t u d y is n o t t h a t L a b o r b e t r a y e d a n y t h i n g , b u t r a t h e r t h a t i t
t r i e d w h a t i t a lw a y s t r i e s , t o c r e a t e a w o r k i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p
a m o n g c o n f lic tin g p a r tie s , a n e f f o r t t h a t e v e n tu a lly u n ra v e ls .
I d id n o t lo o k u p o n K e a tin g a s a tr a n s f o r m e r o r a h ija c k e r
o f a le g a c y o r t r a d i t i o n o n t h a t n i g h t . I t h i n k t h e l e s s o n is
r a t h e r t h a t L a b o r i n p o w e r a lw a y s a t t e m p t s t h e i m p o s s i b l e .
T h e p r o b l e m is a s k n o t t y a s t h i s : T h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f a b e l i e f
in w h ic h m a n y d o n o t b e lie v e to a p p e a r a n c e s t h a t a r e n o t
w h a t t h e y a p p e a r , b y p e o p l e w h o ’s l i m i t a t i o n s c a n o n l y b e
k n o w n i n t h e m i d d l e o f e v e n t s t h a t w ill e x p o s e l i m i t a d o n s ,
g u id e d by a k n o w le d g e o f h o w p o litic s a n d e c o n o m ic s s p rin g
to g e th e r t h a t c a n o n ly b e v e r if ie d to th e e x t e n t t h a t th is
k n o w le d g e fa ils . I f t h a t m e a n s w e can e x p e c t le s s f r o m
L a b o r ’s l e a d e r s t h a n f a i t h m i g h t o n c e h a v e i m p l i e d , t h e n i t
is a l l t h e m o r e r e a s o n t o i n s i s t t h a t L a b o r d e l i v e r w h a t l i t t l e
it c a n d e liv e r to m in im is e a v o id a b le s u ffe rin g .
T h e q u a lity o f a c e le b r ity m ig h t b e m e a s u r e d b y th e c o m ­
b in a tio n o f lo v e and h a te she or he in s p ire s . A L abor
c e l e b r i t y is m e a s u r e d o n l y b y t h e lo v e o f t h o s e w h o k n o w i n
th e ir h e a r ts t h a t th e ir s u f f e r in g , a n d t h a t o f th o s e c lo s e to
th e m w o u ld d e fin ite ly have been g re a te r had th e y not
b e lie v e d e n o u g h in th is c a u s e th a t it m ig h t c a u s e a t le a s t th is
l i t t l e . B u t t h e r e is n o m a s t e r p l a n , n o m a g i c p u d d i n g , a n d i f
t h e r e is a l i g h t o n t h e h i l l , i t is n o t t h a t its g l o w h a s d i m m e d ,
b u t th a t it illu m in a te s a s p e c tr u m o f th e m in d th a t h a s n o t
y e t b e e n b r o u g h t to b e a r o n r e t h i n k i n g th e L a b o r fa b le .
c ybe r spa ce
 21 £

c h a p t e r Q

Generational ganglands
The true critic is he who bears within himself the
dreams and ideas and feelings o f myriad generations,
and to whom no form o f thought is alien, no emotional
impulse obscure.
Oscar Wilde

The Itchy and Scratchy Movie is the defining m om ent

for our generation. H ow would you like it if som eone
had said you couldn't watch the m oon landing?
Lisa Simpson

H ugh M a c k a y ’s G e n e r a t i o n s
“G e n e r a t i o n X d i d n ’t O D o n t h e s o f a , ” w r i t e s C a m i l l a N e l s o n
i n T h e A u s t r a l i a n . “W e b e c a m e a n g r y . ” 1 I ’ll say ! I t ’s t h e s u b ­
je c tiv e s id e o f a v e ry r e a l p r o b le m : A u s tra lia a t th e e n d o f th e
9 0 s w as a m a tu r e e c o n o m y w ith a n a g e in g p o p u la tio n . T h o s e
a lre a d y in th e m o n e y m a d e d e a ls a m o n g s t th e m s e lv e s to
k e e p t h i n g s t h a t w ay , w h i l e a g e n e r a t i o n o f A u s t r a l i a n s w a s
w a r e h o u s e d i n t h e e d u c a t i o n s y s te m .
S o o n e r o r la te r th e y c a m e o u t th e o t h e r e n d . A s c a b d riv e rs
ta lk in g about d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is , w a itre s s e s q u a lifie d in
e c o n o m e tr ic s , s h o p a s s is ta n ts w ith in te r e s tin g th e o r ie s a b o u t
c h i l d p s y c h o lo g y . D i v e r s e p e o p l e w i t h d i v e r s e t a l e n t s , a l l w i t h
o n e t h i n g i n c o m m o n : r e s e n t m e n t f o r o l d e r a n d o f t e n le s s
t a l e n t e d p e o p l e w h o h o g g e d t h e t r o u g h a n d w ill h o g i t f o r
generational ganglands

s o m e tim e to c o m e , w h a t w ith h e a l t h c a r e , p e n s i o n s a n d
s u p e ra n n u a tio n .
A s t h e lu c k y c o u n t r y r a n o u t o f lu c k , is s u e s o f in te r - g e n e r -
a tio n a l e q u ity a p p e a r e d o n th e h o riz o n . I n e q u a litie s o c c u r
a c ro ss sp a c e , a n d c a n b e d e te c te d by c o m p a rin g th e o p p o r ­
t u n i t i e s f o r t h e liv e s p e o p l e c a n liv e w h e n t h e p o p u l a t i o n is
b r o k e n d o w n a c c o r d in g to p o s tc o d e s . I n e q u a litie s a ls o o c c u r
a c ro s s tim e , a n d c a n b e d e te c te d b y c o m p a r in g th e o p p o r tu ­
n i t i e s f o r t h e liv e s p e o p l e c a n liv e w h e n t h e p o p u l a t i o n is
b r o k e n d o w n a c c o r d i n g to a g e c o h o r t s . T h e s e tw o k in d s o f
d is e n f r a n c h is e m e n t c a n o v e rla p . T h e ris e in r h e to r ic s o f g e n ­
e r a tio n a l c o n f lic t in th e 9 0 s w a s la rg e ly c u ltu r a l, e x p r e s s in g
c o m p e tin g c la im s f o r a tte n tio n a m o n g a g e c o h o r ts w ith d if­
f e r e n t c u ltu ra l ta s te s . I t a ls o e x p re sse d s o m e th in g m o re
s e rio u s . P o c k e ts o f v e ry h ig h y o u th u n e m p lo y m e n t, c o n c e n ­
tr a te d in p a r tic u la r lo c a litie s , o f f e r e d th e b le a k p r o s p e c t o f
e n tre n c h in g a p e rm a n e n t d is e n fra n c h is e m e n t. As M a rk
L a th a m s ay s, “I t is p l a i n l y i n t o l e r a b l e f o r a n a t i o n t o h a v e
o n e - t e n t h o r m o r e o f it s c i t i z e n s a n d n e i g h b o u r h o o d s d i s e n ­
f r a n c h i s e d f r o m t h e n e w e c o n o m y , w i t h t h i s le v e l o f d i s a d ­
v a n ta g e th e n b e in g c o n v e y e d to th e n e x t g e n e r a tio n th r o u g h
th e tra g e d y o f e d u c a tio n a l u n d e r-a c h ie v e m e n t and s k ill
e x c l u s i o n . ”2
T h e s o c ia l p s y c h o lo g is t H u g h M a c k a y d e v o te d h is b o o k
G e n e r a tio n s to s t u d y in g t h e w a y th is p e r c e iv e d g e n e r a t i o n g a p
o p e n e d u p in A u s tr a lia n c u ltu r e .3 H e id e n tif ie s a g e n e r a tio n
o f B ab y B o o m e rs , b o r n in th e 5 0 s, w h o g re w u p in a n a tm o s ­
p h e r e o f o p tim is m a n d ris in g e x p e c ta tio n s , a n d w h o s ta g e d a
‘r e v o l u t i o n ’ a g a i n s t t h e v a l u e s o f t h e i r p a r e n t s . M a c k a y c a l ls
th is th e L ucky G e n e ra tio n , w ho liv e se c u re w ith in th e
c o m f o r t z o n e o f s u b u r b a n a fflu e n c e .
The c h ild re n of th e L ucky G e n e ra tio n a re th e B aby
B o o m e r s . L ik e H e le n T o w n s e n d , a u t h o r o f B a b y B oom ers,
M a c k a y fin d s th e y w e re ra is e d in a n a tm o s p h e r e o f p o s tw a r
m a te r ia l s e c u rity , b u t a g a in s t t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f t h e p e r m a ­
n e n t e m e r g e n c y o f t h e c o l d w a r. 4 T h e y a p p l i e d t h e c u l t u r a l
t r a i n i n g o f t h e c o l d w a r, w i t h i ts p e r m a n e n t m o b i l i s a t i o n , t o
t h e in c r e a s in g ly le s s m a te r ia lly s e c u r e y e a r s o f t h e 8 0 s a n d
9 0 s. T h e y b e c a m e p r o n e to s tr e s s in g o u t a b o u t th e p r e s e n t,
a n d f e e l i n g n o s t a l g i c f o r a m y t h i c a l 6 0 s o f p e a c e , lo v e a n d a
good bonk.
 h u g h m a c k a y ’s g e n e r a t i o n s 2 17

T h e c h ild r e n o f B a b y B o o m e r s , b o r n in th e 70 s, a r e w h a t
M a c k a y w a n ts to c a ll t h e O p t i o n s G e n e r a ti o n . H e d id n o t
s u c c e e d i n s h i f t i n g t h e m e d i a a w a y f r o m its c o n s e n s u s t e r m ,
G e n e ra tio n X , s o t h a t is w h a t I w ill c a l l t h e m . C a n a d i a n
a u t h o r D o u g la s C o u p la n d b o r r o w e d th e n a m e f r o m a 70s
p u n k b a n d , w h o in tu r n p in c h e d it fr o m th e title o f a 5 0 s
‘p r o b l e m y o u t h ’ b o o k . 5 G e n e r a t i o n X a r e t h e “m o s t h i g h l y
e d u c a t e d a n d m e d i a s t i m u l a t e d g e n e r a t i o n ”. T h e y e x p e r i ­
e n c e c y b e rsp a c e , n o t as s o m e th in g new , b u t as s o m e th in g
a lw a y s a l r e a d y t h e r e . A s t h e w r i t e r B e t h S p e n c e r s a y s , b e i n g
G e n e r a t i o n X “m e a n s b e i n g p a r t o f t h e f i r s t g e n e r a t i o n t o
g r o w u p o n t e l e v i s i o n . ”6
T h i s m i g h t b e w h y , i n M a c k a y ’s t e r m s , t h e y a r e a l s o t h e
“b o r e d g e n e r a t i o n ”, a s m e d i a - g e n e r a t e d n o v e l t y h a s , i n t h e i r
l i f e t i m e , b e c o m e r o u t i n e . A s A r i , w h o c o u l d b e a ty p i c a l
G e n e r a t i o n X p e r s o n f r o m o n e o f M a c k a y ’s r e s e a r c h f o c u s
g r o u p s , p u t s it: ‘T h e r e m u s t b e t h o u s a n d s o f m o v i e s I ’v e s e e n
o n te le v is io n .” M a c k a y says t h a t G e n e r a tio n X a r e u s e d to th e
id e a o f in s e c u rity w h e re w o rk a n d re la tio n s h ip s a re c o n ­
c e r n e d , h a v in g g r o w n u p w ith ris in g u n e m p lo y m e n t a n d
p a r e n ts to w h o m a n a r g u m e n t a b o u t s q u e e z in g th e to o th ­
p a s t e t u b e i n t h e m i d d l e is g r o u n d s f o r d i v o r c e . G e n e r a t i o n
X d o n ’t s h a r e t h e B o o m e r o p t i m i s m a b o u t th e f u tu re o f
A u s tra lia th a t B o o m e rs in h e r ite d fro m th e ir p a re n ts . B u t
th e y t e n d to r a te t h e i r o w n a w a r e n e s s o f d if f e r e n c e s a n d d if­
f i c u l t i e s p r e t t y h i g h ly . T h e y t h i n k t h e y c a n h a n d l e t h i n g s .
T h e y e x p e r ie n c e p riv a te h o p e a n d p u b lic d e s p a ir. T h e y k e e p
th e ir o p tio n s o p e n , m a k in g th in g s u p a s th e y g o a lo n g . O r as
A r i s a y s, “I m a y s e e n o f u t u r e b u t I g o t e t h i c s . ”
F o r M ack ay , p e o p le b o r n in th e 6 0 s a re P o s t B o o m e rs , a
s o r t o f c o f f e e b r e a k b e t w e e n g e n e r a t i o n s , w h o “w a n t t o m a k e
a n a r t f o r m o u t o f c r e a t i n g a l i f e s t y l e ”, b u t a r e o t h e r w i s e o f
l i t t l e i n t e r e s t . A s I w a s b o r n i n 1 9 6 1 , r e a d i n g M a c k a y ’s b o o k
m a k e s m e fe e l a s th o u g h I s h a r e o n ly s o m e o f th e B o o m e r
tra its , b u t t h a t I h a v e a lr e a d y e x p e r ie n c e d s o m e o f th e f r u s ­
t r a t i o n s w ith t h e m t h a t M a c k a y r e s e r v e s f o r h is O p t i o n s o r X -
e rs . C a th a r in e L u m b y , a ls o b o r n in 1 9 6 1 , d e s c r ib e s u s in
sim ila rly re la tio n a l te rm s as th e “S q u e e z e G e n e r a t i o n ”.7
P e r h a p s i t ’s t h i s i n - b e t w e e n n e s s t h a t m a k e s m e r e f l e c t o n
h o w d e b a te c o m e s to a c o n s e n s u s a b o u t th e v e ry e x is te n c e o f
th e s e k in d s o f C a p ita lis e d C o h o r ts a s p u b lic th in g s .
generational ganglands

M a c k a y ’s m e t h o d in v o lv e s b o t h g r o u p a n d i n d i v i d u a l i n t e r ­
v ie w s . A l o t o f t h e i n t e r v i e w s a p p e a r t o h a v e b e e n c o n d u c t e d
a t a t i m e w h e n g e n e r a t i o n a l i s m w a s a liv e i s s u e i n t h e m e d i a .
M ack ay p re s u m e s th a t th e m a in in flu e n c e o n g e n e ra tio n a l
i d e n t i t y is t h e r e l a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e f a m i l y b e t w e e n g e n e r a ­
t i o n s . T h a t m a y w e ll b e s o , b u t t h e r e s e e m s n o c l e a r w a y to
d is tin g u is h t h e in f l u e n c e o f t h e p r iv a te w o r ld o f t h e fa m ily
fro m th e in flu e n c e o f th e p u b lic w o rld , p a r tic u la r ly th e
m e d i a . T h e r h e t o r i c a l t o o l s a n d i m a g e s t h a t M a c k a y ’s i n t e r ­
v ie w e e s u s e s e e m t o m e t o b e d r a w n f r o m t h e m e d i a . W h i c h
is n o t t o s a y t h a t t h e f a m i l y c o u n t s f o r n o t h i n g . R a t h e r , t h e r e
e x is ts a c o m b in a tio n o f in f lu e n c e s , w h e r e th e ra w e x p e r ie n c e
o f b e i n g a m o t h e r o r d a u g h t e r , a g r a n d f a t h e r o r g r a n d s o n , is
a sse sse d a n d i n te r p r e te d in te r m s o f im a g e s a n d s to rie s m a d e
a v a i l a b l e v ia t h e v e c t o r s o f r a d i o , t e l e v i s i o n , v i d e o s , m a g a ­
z in e s a n d th e in te r n e t.

H ea rtb ea t o f the L i te r a ti
The s y n c h ro n is in g o f e x p e rie n c e is a c h a ra c te ris tic of
m o d e r n lif e . T h e l i t e r a r y c r i t i c G e o r g L u k a c s w r i t e s i n T h e
H is to r ic a l N o v e l a b o u t t h e w a y t h a t , s in c e t h e F r e n c h r e v o lu ­
tio n , m a ss m o b ilis a tio n f o r w a r c r e a te d a w h o le n e w k in d o f
“m a s s e x p e r i e n c e . ” W h e n a l o t o f p e o p l e e x p e r i e n c e t h e s a m e
e v e n t s a t t h e s a m e t i m e , “t h i s m u s t e n o r m o u s l y s t r e n g t h e n
t h e f e e l i n g f i r s t t h a t t h e r e is s u c h a t h i n g a s h i s t o r y , t h a t i t is
a n u n i n t e r r u p t e d p r o c e s s o f c h a n g e s a n d fin a lly t h a t it h a s a
d i r e c t e f f e c t u p o n t h e lif e o f e v e r y i n d i v i d u a l . ”8
T h e s y n c h r o n i s i n g o f m e d i a e x p e r i e n c e is a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
o f p o s t m o d e r n lif e . W h e r e w a r f a r e o n c e m o b i l i s e d a g e n e r a ­
tio n a n d m o v e d it a b o u t in s p a c e ; th e m e d ia n o w m o b ilis e a
flo w of im a g e s and m ove th e m about in sp ace.
C o m m u n ic a tio n v e c to rs , m o s t o f w h ic h d e v e lo p e d a s p a r t o f
th e m o d e r n w a r m a c h in e , te n d to b e c o m e e v e r m o r e g lo b a l
and s y n c h ro n is e d . N o w th e y p r o d u c e a s y n c h ro n is in g o f
e x p e r ie n c e e v e n in th e a b s e n c e o f a m o b ilis in g c o n flic t. T h is
m ay b e w hy c o m m o n g e n e r a tio n a l s tru c tu re s o f fe e lin g h a v e
b e e n g ro w in g q u ie tly s tro n g e r, u n n o tic e d b y a m e d ia a n d a
p u b lic w h ic h im a g in e s th a t g e n e r a tio n a l d if f e r e n c e w as a
o n e - o f f ‘6 0 s t h i n g ’.
T h e w h o le id e a o f g e n e r a tio n a lis m , th e id e a th a t th e r e a r e
 h e a rtb e a t of the literati 219

c o m m o n e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t d e f i n e a n a g e c o h o r t , is a m e d i a
a r t e f a c t . I t is a p e r c e p t i o n t h a t h a s o n l y c o m e t o e x i s t i n t h e
firs t p la c e a s th e m e d ia h a v e s y n c h r o n is e d th e c ir c u la tio n o f
in f o r m a tio n . S ta r tin g w ith th e firs t m a s s c ir c u la tio n n e w s p a ­
p e rs, th e n th e ra d io , c in e m a and e v e n tu a lly te le v is io n ,
p e r h a p s n o m o r e t h a n f o u r o r fiv e g e n e r a t i o n s h a v e l iv e d in
a m e d i a e n v i r o n m e n t t h a t m a d e i t p o ssib le to c i r c u l a t e im a g e s
a n d s to rie s a b o u t g e n e r a tio n s th a t p e o p le c o u ld u s e to th in k
th ro u g h th e ir e x p e rie n c e . A n d so w e h av e h a d th e L ost
G e n e ra tio n , th e M e G e n e ra tio n , a n d G e n e ra tio n X .
M a c k a y ’s b o o k is v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g a n d e n l i g h t e n i n g a b o u t
w h a t im a g e s a n d s to rie s p e o p le h a v e c o m e to a c c e p t a s c a te ­
g o rie s th e y c a n u s e f o r d e f in in g th e ir id e n tity a n d th e id e n ­
ti ty o f o t h e r s . B u t i t is le s s u s e f u l a s a n e x p l a n a t i o n o f h o w t h e
w h o le p ro c e s s w o rk s. T o d o th a t, I th in k w e h a v e to a sk a b o u t
w h a t k in d s o f m e d ia a re a v a ila b le th a t c a n s y n c h ro n is e
p e o p l e ’s p e r c e p t i o n s , w h a t s t o r i e s a n d i m a g e s a r e a v a i l a b l e
v ia w h i c h m e d i a v e c t o r s , a n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , w h o g e t s t o
m a k e th o s e im a g e s.
T h e m a s s b r o a d c a s t v e c to r s o f r a d i o a n d te le v is io n p r o d u c e
th e p h e n o m e n a o f p e o p le e x p e r ie n c in g th e s a m e im a g e s
s im u lta n e o u s ly . R a d io and te le v is io n w o rk th e ir w ay in to
e v e r y d a y lif e . T h e i m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s t h e y c a r r y p r o p o s e t e m ­
p l a t e s f o r r e a d i n g e x p e r i e n c e s i n e v e r y d a y li f e . T h e e x i s t e n c e
o f a s h a r e d p o i n t o f r e f e r e n c e , in t h e f o r m o f th is s y n c h r o n i­
s a tio n o f im a g e s , m a k e s th e s u b je c tiv e e x p e r ie n c e o f g e n e r a -
tio n a lis m p o s s ib le . W h ile th e im a g e s m a y b e c o m m o n , th e
e x p e r i e n c e s i n e v e r y d a y l if e t h a t t h e y c a n b e m a d e t o e x p r e s s
a r e n o t . W h a t a g e n e r a t i o n s h a r e s is n o t t h e s a m e e x p e r i ­
e n c e s , b u t r a t h e r d i f f e r e n t e x p e r i e n c e s r e a d v ia t h e s a m e
im a g e s .
G e n e r a t i o n X is n o t t h e f i r s t g e n e r a t i o n p r o d u c e d b y t h e
m e d ia , b u t it m a y b e t h e f ir s t t o r e a c h w i d e s p r e a d s e lf-a w a re ­
n e s s a b o u t t h e c o n s t i t u t i v e r o l e o f t h e m e d i a i n its s e l f - d e f i n ­
i t i o n . A s A r i sa y s: “M u m is p a r t o f t h e t e l e v i s i o n g e n e r a t i o n a s
w e l l ”. W h i c h m i g h t e x p l a i n w h y A r i t r e a t s t h e m e d i a m o r e
iro n ic a lly th a n y o u r a v e ra g e B o o m e r. H e g re w u p n o t o n ly o n
te le v is io n , b u t o b s e r v in g h is B o o m e r p a r e n ts , w h o c a m e to it
l a t e r i n lif e , r e l a t e t o t e l e v i s i o n a s w e ll.
In th e 9 0 s, th e m a r k e tin g a n d a d v e rtis in g in d u s trie s b e g a n
t h in k in g s e rio u s ly a b o u t h o w to ta r g e t G e n e r a tio n X c o n ­
220 generational ganglands

s u m e rs . A d v e rtis in g s ta r te d in te r n a lis in g th e k in d o f c ritic a l

and iro n ic d is ta n c e fro m a d v e rtis in g th a t m a rk e tin g
re se a rc h e rs id e n tifie d as th e h a llm a rk o f c o n te m p o ra ry
m e d ia re a d in g p ra c tic e s . T h e H e a rtb e a t m a rk e t re se a rc h
g r o u p , fo r in s ta n c e , la b e lle d c o n s u m e rs in th e ir 2 0 s a n d 30 s
th e L ite ra ti, o n th e a s s u m p tio n th a t w h a t d is tin g u is h e d th e m
w a s a d i s t i n c t i v e le v e l o f l i t e r a c y a b o u t m e d i a a n d m a r k e t i n g . 9
Som ew hat youn g er th a n M ackay, th e H e a rtb e a t te a m
v id e o ta p e th e ir fo c u s g ro u p s a n d m a k e th e ir r e s e a rc h re s u lts
a v a ila b le to t h e i r c lie n ts o n C D -ro m . T h e i r c o n s tr u c tio n o f
th e g e n e r a tio n a l o b je c t, in th is c a se c a lle d L ite ra ti r a th e r
t h a n O p t i o n s G e n e r a t i o n o r G e n e r a t i o n X , s im ila rly r e f le c ts
a m o r e m e d i a - s a t u r a t e d v ie w o f e v e r y d a y lif e . A c c o r d i n g t o
H e a r t b e a t , t h e L i t e r a t i “f e e l p u l l e d i n d i f f e r e n t d i r e c t i o n s b y
th e m u ltitu d e o f c h o ic e s a n d o p tio n s o p e n to th e m . T h e
i n t e r n e t , t h e w o r l d m e d i a , t h e g l o b a l v i l l a g e . I n f o r m a t i o n is
e v e ry w h e re . T h e y a r e tr y in g to th in k h o lis itic a lly in a g lo b a l
w o rld .” T h e le s s o n f o r m e d ia a n d m a r k e t i n g , is t h a t t h e
L ite ra ti “a r e lo o k in g f o r s ig n p o s ts th e y c a n re ly o n and
b r a n d s w h ic h o f f e r sta b ility a n d a s e n s e o f d ir e c tio n f o r th e
f u tu r e .” T h e y a re lite ra te a n d d is c rim in a tin g a b o u t m e d ia
im a g e s .
A c c o r d i n g t o H e a r t b e a t , t h e L i t e r a t i a r e n o d o p e s . ‘T h e y
s w it c h o f f f r o m m e s s a g e s t h a t , a s C h e r m a n f r o m I p s w i c h t o l d
u s , ‘d o n ’t t e l l t h e t r u t h , b u t d o n ’t l i e ’. ” T h e y r e s p o n d t o b o t h
fa n ta s y a n d re a lity b u t n o t a tte m p ts to p a s s o n e o f f a s th e
o t h e r . T h e y a r e “a g e n e r a t i o n o f r e a l i s t s ” a n d “t h e y d o n o t
s u f f e r p h o n e y s ”. Y e t t h e y c r a v e “s y m b o l s o f t h e i r b e l i e f s ”. A n d
y e t a r e s c e p tic a l o f im a g e s a n d s to rie s th a t o f f e r to o m u c h .
T h e c u lt o f c e le b rity h a s ta k e n a v e ry d if f e r e n t t u r n .... T h e
L ite ra ti re je c t ic o n s th a t s e e m id e a l.” In p la c e o f th e p e r f e c t
g l a m o u r o f t h e ‘g o l d e n y e a r s o f H o l l y w o o d ’, i t ’s t h e m i x o f
th e m u n d a n e a n d th e o th e r w o r ld ly th a t a p p e a ls .
The c u ltu ra l s tu d ie s s c h o la r D a v id M a rs h a ll w rite s in
C eleb rity a n d P o w e r a b o u t h o w c e l e b r i t y is p a r t o f a d o u b l e
r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n . 10 B u s i n e s s a n d p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s t r y t o r a t i o ­
n a lis e th e w a n ts a n d d e s ir e s o f p o p u la t io n s f r o m a b o v e w ith
v a rio u s q u a n tita tiv e and q u a lita tiv e re se a rc h to o ls .
H e a r t b e a t ’s C D - r o m , li k e H u g h M a c k a y s ’ M a c k a y R e p o r ts a r e
a n a tte m p t a t c o n s tru c tin g p o p u la r c u ltu re as a n o b je c t o f
re a s o n in g and c a l c u l a t i o n . W h i l e q u a n t i t a t i v e d a t a is s till
 r ic h a r d n e v ille on t h e f r o n t l i n e 221

u s e fu l, b y th e tim e G e n e r a tio n X a rriv e o n th e s c e n e , r e a ­

s o n in g a b o u t p o p u la r d e s ire s h a s s ta r te d to g e t w ay to o c o m ­
p lic a te d f o r s im p le su rv e y s. B o th th e w ay G e n e r a tio n X
r a tio n a lis e s th e w o rld t h r o u g h m e d ia im a g e s , a n d th e w ay
m e d ia m a n a g e r s a n d m a r k e te e rs try to g a u g e w h a t k in d s o f
i m a g e s G e n e r a t i o n X w ill e m b r a c e , h a s b e c o m e a n i r o n i c
d o u b l e g a m e . A f t e r a ll, G e n e r a t i o n X is i t s e l f a r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n
o f t h e m e s s y b e h a v i o u r s o f d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e ’s e v e r y d a y liv e s.
O n e t h i n g t h a t is c e r t a i n is t h a t t h e S o n y C o r p o r a t i o n , f o r
in s ta n c e , has c re a te d a m o re p o w e rfu l re la tio n to th e
G e n e r a t i o n X p u b lic t h a n a n y p o litic a l p a rty . P o litic s a s a
w h o le b e c o m e s j u s t a b r a n c h o f th e m e d ia a n d a s p e c ie s o f
c e le b rity , a n d a s s u c h h a s to c o m p e te o n u n f a v o u r a b le te r m s
w ith o t h e r k in d s o f m e d i a im a g e a n d s to ry . I n t h e 9 0 s , t h e
m a jo r p a r tie s tr ie d to in s e r t tr a d itio n a l p o litic a l im a g e s a n d
p e rs o n a litie s in to th e k in d o f m e d ia G e n e r a tio n X m ig h t
re a d . In th e 1998 e le c tio n , L abor le a d e r K im B e a z le y
ap p e a re d in th e ‘y o u t h c u ltu re ’ m a g a z in e J u ic e , and
a p p e a r e d a lo n g s id e p o p u la r b a n d T h e W h itla m s a t s u ita b le
p h o t o o p p o r t u n i t i e s . 11 T h i s w a s m o r e a c a s e o f c o m m u n i ­
c a tin g th e o ld p o litic s to e m e r g in g p u b lic s t h a n o f tr y in g to
r e a d a n d a r tic u la te a n e w p o litic s th a t m ig h t e m e r g e o u t o f
th e G e n e r a tio n X o r L ite ra ti c u ltu r e — if s u c h a th in g c a n b e
s a id to e x is t.

R ich ard, N e v ille on the F r o n tlin e

W h ile m a r k e te e r s m ig h t e m b r a c e y o u n g e r p e o p le a s c o n ­
s u m e r s , a n d p o litic a l p a r t ie s m i g h t c h a s e a f t e r t h e i r v o te s ,
th e m e d ia in d u s tr ie s h a v e n o t b e e n u n iv e rs a lly e n th u s ia s tic
a b o u t t h e n e w s e n s i b i l i t y t h a t is s p r e a d i n g a c r o s s p o p u l a r
c u ltu re . T h e c o n s titu tio n o f g e n e r a t i o n a l i d e n t i t y v ia t h e
m e d ia o f te n ta k e s p la c e n e g a tiv e ly , b y d e f in in g a g e n e r a t i o n
in te r m s o f p r o p e r tie s it d o e s n o t s h a r e w ith a n o t h e r g e n e r ­
a tio n . T h is c r e a te s n o t o n ly th e p e r c e p tio n o f g e n e r a tio n a l
id e n tity , b u t a ls o o f g e n e r a tio n a l c o n f lic t.
H e n c e th e p o p u la rity , in th e m e d ia , f o r d e f in in g y o u n g e r
p e o p l e i n t e r m s o f w h a t is u r r o n g W i x h t h e m . B o o m e r t a l k i n g
heads a re a lw a y s l o o k i n g fo r re a so n s n o t to g iv e y o u n g
p e o p l e t h e c a r k e y s . T h e r e is n o s h o r t a g e o f s u p e r a n n u a t e d
c o m m e n ta to r s w h o c a n th in k o f n o th in g m o r e c r e a tiv e th a n
2 22 generational ganglands

to b la m e a ll o u r p r o b le m s o n y o u n g p e o p le . A g e in g p u n d it s
q u e u e u p to d e n o u n c e a n y id e a a n y o n e e v e r h a d s in c e th e y
l a s t r e a d a b o o k . Y e s t e r d a y ’s h e r o e s o f l e f t , r i g h t a n d o f f - t h e -
m a p c a n ’t s t o p t h e m s e l v e s f r o m a d d i n g n e w b i t s t o a s e lf-
s e r v in g fa n ta s y t h a t p o r tr a y s th e y o u th o f to d a y a s d e lu d e d
d o p e s . T h e y j u s t d o n ’t g e t it. B u t t h e y w o n ’t s h u t u p a b o u t it.
T a k e , as a r e p re s e n ta tiv e B o o m e r ta lk in g h e a d , R ic h a rd
N e v ille . T h e f o r m e r c o - e d i t o r o f O z m a g a z in e h a s m e llo w e d
i n t o a k i n d o f n e w a g e s a g e o f s u b u r b i a . 12 H e s a y s o f Q u e n t i n
T a r a n t i n o , w h o h e t h i n k s is a “s k i l f u l b u t u l t i m a t e l y s h a l l o w ”
F ilm d i r e c t o r , “e v e r y o n e is s o d a z z l e d b y t e c h n i q u e a n d t h e r e
is n o t r e a l l y a l o t o f s u b s t a n c e i n w h a t h e s a y s .”13 B u t l e t ’s
c o n s i d e r a n o t h e r h y p o t h e s i s : I t ’s N e v i l l e w h o is s k i l f u l b u t
u l t i m a t e l y s h a llo w . T h e l a c k o f s u b s t a n c e i n h i s c o m p l a i n t s
a b o u t T a r a n t i n o is t h e f i r s t p i e c e o f e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t h i m .
H e is s i m p l y i n c a p a b l e o f h e a r i n g w h a t t h i s f i l m m a k e r h a s
t o say . W h e r e a y o u n g e r N e v i l l e a t t a c k e d s u b u r b i a f o r its
re s is ta n c e to n e w in f o r m a tio n , N e v ille in m id d le a g e h a s
b e c o m e th e m o u th p ie c e fo r ju s t su c h a s u b u rb a n n a rro w in g
o f th e c h a n n e ls .
M a n y o f th e ta lk in g h e a d s a n d g a te k e e p e rs o f th e m e d ia
a re B o o m e rs w h o a c q u ir e d th e ir p o s itio n s d u r in g th e e x p a n ­
s io n o f th e m e d ia , c u ltu r e a n d a rts in d u s tr ie s th a t d a te s b a c k
to th e G o r to n a n d W h itla m g o v e r n m e n ts o f th e 70 s. T h a t o ld
c u r m u d g e o n L e s M u r r a y c a lls t h e m , w i t h a c e r t a i n C e l t i c
ir o n y , t h e W h i t l a m A s c e n d a n c y . 14 I p r e f e r t o c a l l t h e m th e
B u r b l e r s . T h i s is t h e s o u n d t h e y m a k e i n t h e m e d i a — b u r b l e
b u r b l e . B u t i t is a l s o t h e p l a c e — s u b u r b i a — f r o m w h i c h t h a t
s o u n d c o m e s . T h e B u rb le rs h a v e r e tir e d , o n e w ay o r a n o th e r,
fro m p u b lic lif e , a n d m ake th e ir p ro n o u n c e m e n ts fro m
p r i v a t e r e t r e a t i n t h e s u b u r b s . C u t o f f f r o m t h e u r b a n e g iv e
a n d t a k e o f a p r o p e r l y p u b l i c lif e , t h e y b e c o m e c r a n k y a n d
p r e o c c u p ie d w ith g r u d g e s a n d n o s ta lg ia . T h e i r p e r c e p tio n s
n o lo n g e r k n it to g e th e r in to a c o n s e n s u a l m a p th a t y o u n g e r
p e o p l e c a n a c c e p t — n o t le a s t b e c a u s e p a r t o f t h a t c o n s e n s u s
is a d e m o n i s i n g o f n e w i d e a s a n d f r e s h c u l t u r a l m o v e m e n t s .
A t f i r s t s i g h t , a l i e n a t i n g y o u n g e r r e a d e r s a n d v ie w e r s m i g h t
s e e m lik e a p u z z lin g t h i n g f o r m a r k e t- d r iv e n m e d ia to d o . I n
an e p is o d e o f th e com edy TV s h o w F r o n tlin e c a lle d ‘M y
G e n e r a t i o n ’, t h e e x e c u tiv e p ro d u c e r o f th e fic tio n a l T V
c u r r e n t a f f a i r s h o w F r o n t l i n e ’e x p l a i n s w h y h i s s h o w r o u t i n e l y
 ric h a r d n e v ille on t h e f r o n t l i n e 223

p o rtra y s y o u n g p e o p le as u n e d u c a te d , u n e m p lo y a b le , d ru g -
ta k in g little a lie n s f r o m P la n e t N in te n d o : “O u r a u d i e n c e
l i k e s f e e l i n g s u p e r i o r t o t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n . ”15 S i n c e
m o s t o f t h e a d v e r t i s i n g b e t w e e n w h i c h t h e f i c t i o n a l ‘F r o n t l i n e ’
r u n s is f o r s u p e r a n n u a t i o n s c h e m e s , y o u n g p e o p l e “a r e t h e
o n e d e m o g r a p h i c w e c a n a f f o r d to a l i e n a t e .” G iv e n t h a t m o s t
o f t h e a n ti- y o u th s to r ie s t h a t F r o n tlin e p o r tr a y s a s r u n n i n g o n
‘F r o n t l i n e ’ c o v e r s a r e s t o r i e s t h a t h a v e a c t u a l l y r u n o n ‘r e a l ’
c u r r e n t a ffa irs sh o w s, I th in k w e c a n ta k e it t h a t th e e x p la n a ­
t i o n is p r e t t y a c c u r a t e .
L o o k in g a t th e f o r m a tio n o f a g e n e r a tio n a l r h e to r ic in th e
m e d ia f r o m m y s u p p o s e d ly S q u e e z e G e n e r a tio n lo c a tio n , it
s e e m s to m e t h a t a lo t o f u s in o u r 3 0 s w h o w e re s c r a tc h in g
a r o u n d tr y in g to c a r v e o u t a s p a c e in th e m e d ia , th e a r ts o r
th e a c a d e m y g o t c a u g h t in th e m id d le . T h e e a sy w ay o u t, p a r ­
tic u la r ly in t h e fir s t h a l f o f th e 9 0 s, w a s to c r e a te s o m e t h in g
th a t w o u ld p le a s e th e B u rb le rs : r e h a s h th e s a m e im a g e s a n d
s to rie s , c o n f ir m th e ir p e r c e p tio n s o f th e w o rld , a n d in p a r ­
tic u la r, b e th e to k e n y o u n g ( is h ) p e r s o n w h o c o u ld b e tr o tte d
o u t to b a s h a n y n e w id e a firm ly o n th e h e a d . T h e Y o u n g
Fogeys w h o le a rn e d to b u rb le got ahead, and a re now
e n t r e n c h e d in th e c u ltu r e in d u s tr ie s . F o r th e m , th e b a r w as
lo w e re d .
I n t h e l a t e 9 0 s , t h e a x is s t a r t e d t o s h i f t , i f i m p e r c e p t i b l y a t
firs t. S in c e t h e o n ly v o ic e s t h e B u r b le r s e v e r h e a r a r e e a c h
o t h e r s ’, t h e i r c o l l e c t i v e d r i f t i n t o i r r e l e v a n c e w e n t u n n o t i c e d
a m o n g s t t h e m , w h i l e t h o s e a l l e g e d y o u n g ‘v i c t i m s ’ o f p o l i t ­
ic a l c o r r e c tn e s s a n d p o s ts tr u c tu r a lis m a n d p o s tm o d e rn is m
a n d t h e s la c k e r m e n ta lity g o t o n w ith w r itin g t h e i r n o v e ls ,
p u t t i n g u p t h e i r w e b s ite s , f i n is h in g t h e i r d o c t o r a t e s , p o l­
is h in g th e ir s ta n d - u p c o m e d y , r e h e a r s in g th e ir m u s ic — a n d
f illin g in th e ir d o le fo r m s . W h a t th e y h a v e to say o f te n h a s a
h a r d e r e d g e . ‘T h e r e is a l a s t , a n d v e r y c h e r i s h e d , u r b a n
m y t h ”, sa y s A r i , “t h a t e v e r y n e w g e n e r a t i o n h a s i t b e t t e r t h a n
t h e o n e t h a t c a m e b e f o r e it. B u l l s h i t . . . . T h e r e ’s n o j o b s , n o
w o rk , n o f a c to r ie s , n o w a g e p a c k e t, n o h a l f a c r e b lo c k . T h e r e
is n o m o r e l a n d . I a m s l i d i n g t o w a r d s t h e s e w e r , a n d I ’m n o t
e v e n s t r u g g l i n g a g a i n s t t h e flo w . I c a n s m e l l t h e p u n g e n t
a r o m a o f s h i t , b u t I ’m s til l b r e a t h i n g . ”
S u c c e s s is t h e b e s t r e v e n g e . A s m a t e r i a l s u c c e s s is i n c r e a s ­
i n g l y d e n i e d t h e m i n t h e ‘r e a l ’ w o r l d , G e n e r a t i o n X s p e n d
224 generational ganglands

th e ir e n e rg ie s c re a tin g a v irtu a l c u ltu re in s te a d . The

r e s p o n s e is a s c r e a t i v e a s i t is a n g r y . T h e e m e r g e n t c u l t u r e o f
t o d a y is a s e c r e t p i c n i c . I f t h e r e is s o m e t h i n g p o s i t i v e i n t h e
m e d ia a rte fa c t o f g e n e ra tio n a lis m i t is t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t
G e n e r a tio n X c o u ld b e c o m e th e firs t tr u ly v irtu a l g e n e r a ­
tio n . V irtu a l in th e s e n s e o f e m b r a c in g th e p o s s ib ility o f
s ta y in g t r u e to t h e m a in b e n e f i t o f b e i n g y o u n g — t h e a b ility
to th riv e o n n e w in f o r m a tio n , to a b s o r b it c re a tiv e ly in to
o n e ’s b e i n g . W e r e G e n e r a t i o n X t o b e c o m e t h e f i r s t v i r t u a l
g e n e r a tio n , it w o u ld b e c o m e th e la s t g e n e r a tio n . I t w o u ld
re fu se th e lim ite d s e t o f p o s s ib ilitie s t h a t g o w ith b e in g
d e fin e d as a g e n e ra tio n .
T h e p r e s s u r e t o s ta y w i t h i n t h e b o u n d s o f g e n e r a t i o n a l a n d
s u b u r b a n c o n f o r m ity a p p e a r s in th e m e d ia to c o m e m o s t
s tro n g ly fr o m B u rb le r B o o m e rs w h o have e m b ra c e d th e
im p o v e r is h m e n t o f s u b u r b ia a n d w o u ld fo is t it o n th e y o u n g
a s w e ll, a n d s o b o t h g e n e r a t i o n a l i s m a n d s u b u r b i a a p p e a r a s
s o m e th in g lin k e d in a lo t o f th e a r t th a t trie s to e s c a p e fro m
t h o s e n o r m s . I t is t h e r e m a r k a b l e s k ill f o r c o n n e c t i n g n e w
in fo rm a tio n to th e c o n tin u ity o f e x p e r ie n c e t h a t B u r b le r s
s e e m to m o s t lo u d ly re s is t a n d r e s e n t a b o u t t h e ir o ffs p rin g .
G e n e r a t i o n a l i s m is t o t i m e w h a t s u b u r b a n a l i t y is t o s p a c e
— a re fu sa l o f p o s s ib ilitie s beyond an a rb itra ry n o rm .
O v e rc o m in g g e n e ra tio n a lis m is lik e o v e rc o m in g su b u r­
b a n a lity . P e o p le e s c a p in g th e fo rm e r in te r s e c t w ith th e
p e o p l e e s c a p i n g t h e l a t t e r , a n d t h e p o i n t o f i n t e r s e c t i o n is
u rb a n ity . In th is c h a p te r , I w a n t to ta lk a b o u t th e w o rk o f a
fe w c o n t e m p o r a r i e s o f m in e w h o s e e m to m e to b e o n th e
f r o n tlin e in d e f in in g a n d e s ta b lis h in g a n u r b a n ity t h a t a ris e s
o u t o f liv in g d e e p in t h e b r o a d c a s t a g e , b u t w h ic h m i g h t a ls o
lo o k fo rw a rd to th e e m erg en ce o f th e m o re d is trib u te d
v e c to rs o f c y b e rs p a c e .

M ark D a vis in G a n gla n d

“O n c e b e i n g y o u n g w a s a r o m a n t i c a d v e n t u r e ”, w r i t e s M a r k
D a v is . “N o t o n e t h a t e n d e d i n t h e p o p u l a r s t e r e o t y p e s o f t h e
d o le q u e u e , th e te e n g a n g , th e s in g le m o th e r , o r th e f e m in is t
d a u g h t e r . ” D a v is ’ b o o k G a n g la n d a r r i v e d in 1 9 9 7 a s a b r e a t h
o f f r e s h a i r . lh I t s e t o u t i n c l e a r a n d d e t a i l e d f o r m e x a c t l y h o w
t h e B u r b l e r w o r l d v ie w i n A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r e c o n t r i b u t e d t o
 m a r k d a v i s in g a n g l a n d 225

th is n o w n a tio n a l tr e n d o f d e m o n is in g th e y o u n g a n d th e
m a r g i n a l f o r a l l t h e n a t i o n ’s p r o b l e m s . F in a lly , t h e B u r b l e r s
w e re b r o u g h t to b o o k f o r t h e i r p a r t in th e d e c lin e o f c o n f i­
d e n c e a n d th e ris e o f r e a c tio n .
T h e t h e m e o f G a n g l a n d is t h e “c u l t u r e w a r s ” o f t h e m i d 9 0 s ,
i n w h i c h y o u n g p e o p l e “g e t t o s i d e w i t h t h e p o p u l a r , t h e
p o s t m o d e r n , th e u n t r u t h f u l a n d th e s e lf - d e c e iv e d ” — a t le a s t
in th e p a r a n o id m in d s e t o f a g e in g B u r b le r s w h o a r e lo s in g
t h e i r g r i p o n r e a lit y , t h e a g e n d a , a n d t h e p u b l i c i m a g i n a t i o n .
“M a n y o f t h e p r o t a g o n i s t s a r e f o r m e r c o l d w a r r i o r s o u t o f a
j o b . ” U n lik e th e y o u th u n e m p lo y e d , th e y w e re a b le to in v e n t
th e ir o w n m a k e -w o rk sc h e m e , b y tr a n s fe rrin g th e c o ld w a r
s e n se o f p e r m a n e n t e m e rg e n c y fro m th e re d s u n d e r th e b e d
to t h e y o u n g p e r s o n ly in g f la k e d o u t — p r o b a b ly o n d r u g s —
o n t o p o f it.
P o litic s a n d r e lig io n a r e n o l o n g e r th e a r e n a s w h e r e v a lu e s
a n d i n t e r e s t s a r e t h r a s h e d o u t . N o w i t ’s c u l t u r e . O n l y t h e
B u rb le rs try to m a in ta in th e ir a u th o r ity b y p r o c la im in g a
m o n o p o ly o n th e c u ltu ra l h ig h g r o u n d , a t th e e x p e n s e o f th e
y o u n g . T h i s “g e r r y m a n d e r o f t h e i d e a s m a r k e t ”, a s D a v is c a l ls
it, is d e t r i m e n t a l . “O u r c u l t u r a l l a n d s c a p e is c u r r e n d y p e p ­
p e r e d w i t h e x a m p l e s o f a d e s p e r a t e , b a c k w a r d l o o k i n g s ta s is ,
a f e a r f u l h a n g i n g o n , m a n i f e s t e d a s a l o n g , slo w , u n p r o d u c ­
tiv e w h i n g e . ”
B u rb le rs lin k e th ic a l a n d a e s th e tic d e c lin e to th e id e a o f
t h e y o u n g a s f a i l u r e s , b u t i f t h e r e is a c a u s e o f d e c l i n e i t is
th is c o n s tip a tio n o f th e m e d ia s p h e r e — u n a b le to p u r g e
i t s e l f o f t h e le s s n u t r i t i o u s p a r t s o f t h e B u r b l e r g a n g . T h e
B u r b l e r s l i k e t o m o n o p o l i s e t h e r h e t o r i c o f ‘s t a n d a r d s ’, b u t
th e f a c t is t h a t s o r t i n g o u t w h a t is d u r a b l e and w h a t it
e p h e m e r a l in B u rb le r c u ltu re is a p a r t o f th e o n g o in g
d e b a te a b o u t s ta n d a rd s .
A l e a d i n g s y m p t o m o f t h e B u r b l e r s ’ d e c l i n e is “l e g i s l a t e d
n o s t a l g i a ” — a t e r m D a v is b o r r o w s f r o m D o u g l a s C o u p l a n d .
L e g is la te d n o s ta lg ia is t h a t e x c r u c i a t i n g fe e lin g one has
w h ile b e in g m a d e to e n d u r e th e e n d le s s r e p e titio n s o f a
d e w y -e y e d fa n ta s y a b o u t th e 6 0 s, a s s u m m e d u p in th e title o f
R i c h a r d N e v i l l e ’s m e m o i r , H i p p i e H i p p i e S h a k e .11 T h e 6 0 s w a s
n o t a m a g i c a l t i m e . I t w a s a t i m e l i k e a n y o t h e r , b u t n o w i t is
e n d le s s ly p r e s e n te d th ro u g h th e g o ld e n le n s o f n o s ta lg ia
r a t h e r t h a n a g e n u i n e , c r i t i c a l c u l t u r a l h i s t o r y . 18
226 generational ganglands

T h e d e n ia l o f a p o s itiv e s p a c e in s o -c a lle d h ig h c u ltu r e a n d

li t e r a r y life f o r y o u n g p e o p l e fits w ith a m o r e g e n e r a l r e p r e s ­
s iv e c l i m a t e . L o c a l a n d s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t s i n c r e a s i n g l y d e n y
b a s ic rig h ts to y o u th w ith s p e c ia l p o lic in g p o w e rs, se n ­
t e n c i n g la w s a n d c u r f e w s . A f t e r t h e f a t a l s t a b b i n g o f p o l i c e
o f f ic e r P e te r F o rs y th , b y w h a t th e S u n -H e r a ld d e c id e d w a s a
“g a n g o f y o u n g d r u g d e a l e r s ”, i n m y o w n s t r e e t i n U l t i m o ,
S y d n e y , I f e l t a b r i e f p a n g o f a n t i - y o u t h h y s t e r i a m y s e lf . A
f e e l i n g s o m e o f m y n e i g h b o u r s a l r e a d y e x p e r i e n c e d : “r e s i ­
d e n t s h a v e r a i s e d s e r i o u s c o n c e r n s a b o u t d a n c e p a r t i e s ”, t h e
S u n - H e r a l d r e p o r t s . 19 B u t it a la r m e d me th a t w h e n new
p o lic e p o w ers w e re s u g g e s te d as th e re m e d y fo r k n ife
a t t a c k s , t h e s u g g e s t i o n w a s t h a t i t w a s o n l y a n d a lw a y s y o u t h
w ho w e re th e p e o p le w ho needed to be se a rc h e d fo r
w eapons.
T h e s e m e a s u r e s w e re a d v o c a te d in s p ite o f th e fa c t th a t, as
t h r e e c o m m u n i t y w e l f a r e e x p e r t s d e c l a r e d , “t h e r e is o f t e n a n
in v e r s e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e d e p i c t i o n o f ‘t h e j u v e n i l e
c rim e p ro b le m ’ and th e a c tu a l n a tu re and le v e l of
o f f e n d i n g . ”20 T h e m e d i a c o v e r a g e o f t h e F o r s y t h s t a b b i n g
s h o w s w h y D a v is is r i g h t i n t h i n k i n g t h a t g e n e r a t i o n a l i s m is
m o r e th a n j u s t a m a t t e r o f a fe w B u r b le r s n e e d i n g to b e p e n ­
s io n e d o ff. M e d ia -g e n e ra te d p e rc e p tio n s o f g e n e ra tio n a l
a t t r i b u t e s c a n c o n t r i b u t e t o p u b l i c p e r c e p t i o n s . A s A r i sa y s,
“t h e r i c h d o n ’t f e a r t h e u n i o n i s e d w o r k e r , t h e y d o n ’t f e a r t h e
m ilita n t. T h e y f e a r th e c rim , th e m u r d e r e r , th e b a s h e r .” A n d
w e m ig h t p u t a h a r d a n d fre s h y o u n g fa c e o n h im in o u r
im a g in a tio n w ith o u t th in k in g .
D a v is is p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d o n t h e h y s t e r i a a r o u n d p o l i t i c a l
c o r r e c t n e s s . H e f i t s i t i n t o a c o l d w a r s ty le o f m o r a l p a n i c
a b o u t ra c e , w o m e n , y o u n g p e o p le , a n d th e m e n ta lity th a t
d e c la r e s t h e e n d o f w e s te r n c iv ilis a tio n o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t
k id s w e a r t h e i r b a s e b a ll c a p s b a c k w a rd s . T h e r e m a r k a b le
t h i n g is h o w m u c h a i r t i m e a n d h o w m a n y c o l u m n i n c h e s
w e ll- e n tr e n c h e d p u n d its w a s te d p r o c la im in g t h a t th e y w e re
b e i n g ‘c e n s o r e d ’ b y p o l i t i c a l c o r r e c t n e s s — Paul S h eeh an
b u i l t a c a r e e r o n i t . 21 D a v is p o i n t s t o t h e s e l f - e v i d e n t a b s u r d i t y
o f th i s . “I f t h i s is d i s s e n t , t h e n i t ’s a s t a g e m a n a g e d a f f a i r
in d e e d — d iv e rs io n d e s ig n e d to m ake ta m e o r th o d o x ie s
l o o k s t a l e . ” I t ’s a s u r e s i g n t h a t a B u r b l e r is c l u e l e s s a b o u t
c o n te m p o r a r y re a lity a n d h a s r u n o u t o f id e a s w h e n s h e o r
 m a r k d a v i s in g a n g l a n d 227

h e s p e n d s tim e d e c la r in g th a t th e ir o ld id e a s a r e s o m e h o w
u n d e r fe ro c io u s a tta c k fro m o fte n u n s p e c ifie d a n d u n n a m e d
y o u n g w h i p p e r s n a p p e r s . B u t t h e n , a s D a v is s a y s, “t h e y ’v e
b e e n b r e a t h i n g e a c h o t h e r ’s a i r f o r t o o l o n g . ”
D a v is f a u l t s t h e B u r b l e r s n o t o n l y f o r d e t r i m e n t a l e f f e c t s o n
th e p o litic s o f p u b lic c u ltu r e , b u t a ls o f o r th e s ta g n a tio n a n d
b o re d o m o f lite ra ry h ig h c u ltu re . T h e ir “g r e a t e s t s i n g l e
t a l e n t is e l e v a t i n g t h e m i d d l e b r o w . ” S o i n b o o k a f t e r b o o k w e
g e t e n d le s s r e p e titio n s o f th e lite ra ry a s p ira tio n s o f s u b u rb a n
t a s t e . A l l e g e d l y u n i v e r s a l “v a l u e s ” a r e m e r e l y a s s e r t e d , n e v e r
ju s tifie d o r s c ru tin is e d . T h e B u rb le rs h a v e p re s id e d o v e r a
s u b u r b a n is a tio n o f A u s tr a lia n le tte r s , c u ttin g it o f f f r o m a n y ­
t h i n g t h a t m i g h t c h a l l e n g e i ts p r e t e n s i o n s .
B u rb le rs m ake a h a b it o f c o n fu s in g s to ry te lle rs w ith
th in k e r s , ta lk in g h e a d s w ith in te lle c tu a ls . T im e a n d a g a in ,
s t o r y t e l l e r s s h o o t t h e i r m o u t h s o f f a b o u t c o n c e p t s t h e y d o n ’t
u n d e r s t a n d b u t n e v e r t h e l e s s d o n ’t l i k e , w i t h f e w p r o f e s s i o n a l
th in k e r s e v e r g e ttin g a w o rd in e d g e w is e . W e n e e d b o th
s t o r i e s a n d c o n c e p t s i n a p u b l i c l i t e r a r y lif e , b u t r e v i e w e r s ,
p u b lis h e r s a n d p u b lic is e r s h a v e , s in c e th e 6 0 s, p u s h e d o n e a t
th e ex p en se of th e o th e r. ‘T o o o fte n w hat passes fo r
d e b a t e . . . is n o m o r e t h a n a n a t t e m p t t o d i s c r e d i t m o t i v e s
a n d c re d e n tia ls .”
B u r b l e r s h a v e c r e a t e d a n a n t i - i n t e l l e c t u a l c u l t u r e . D a v is
o ffe rs as e v id e n c e a s trin g o f q u o te s fro m th e Y o u n g F o g e y
s ty le o f h i g h j o u r n a l i s m o f th e b r o a d s h e e ts . F o r in s ta n c e :
“F o r m a n y d e c o n s t r u c t i o n i s t s t h e r e is n o s u c h t h i n g a s t r u t h
a n d f a ls e h o o d , g o o d w r itin g o r b a d ; o r in d e e d , n o re a lity
o u t s i d e o f t e x t s . ” T o w h i c h D a v is r e s p o n d s d r y ly : “N o t h e o r i s t
a rg u e s a n y th in g re m o te ly so r id ic u lo u s .” A n in c re a s in g ly
e d u c a t e d p o p u l a t i o n a r e c o m i n g t o s e e t h is .
D a v is e f f e c t i v e l y t u r n s t h e t a b l e s o n o u r l e a d i n g B u r b l e r s .
W h e r e t h e y s e e d e c l i n e a n d f a ll e v e r y w h e r e b u t i n t h e i r o w n
b a c k y a r d , D a v is l o c a t e s t h e p r o b l e m s q u a r e l y w i t h B u r b l e r s
a n d t h e i r la z y m i n d e d w a y s. I t ’s n o t w o m e n , m i n o r i t i e s o r t h e
y o u n g t h a t a r e t h e p r o b l e m . T h e p r o b l e m is t h a t a n a g e i n g
B u r b l e r a s c e n d a n c y c a n ’t o r w o n ’t m a k e a n e f f o r t t o u n d e r ­
s ta n d th e c o n te m p o r a r y ra n g e o f e x p e rie n c e s a n d p o in ts o f
v ie w .
I f t h e r e is h o p e , t h e n f o r D a v is i t c o m e s f r o m a s p o n ta ­
n e o u s , b o tto m -u p u rb a n ity th a t b y p a sse s B u rb le r-d o m in a te d
228 generational ganglands

v e c t o r s . O u t i n c o m m u n i t y r a d i o , z i n e p u b l i s h i n g , w e b s ite s ,
lis ts e rv e rs , s e lf-o rg a n is e d c a m p u s r e a d in g g r o u p s , a n d a t p e r ­
f o r m a n c e n ig h ts a t th e lo c a l p u b — p e o p le a r e d o in g it fo r
th e m s e l v e s . P e o p l e a r e w o r k i n g t h r o u g h t h e c u l t u r a l i s s u e s
a n d e x p e rie n c e s th a t th e m a in s tre a m p u t in th e to o -h a rd
b a s k e t.
A s D a v is s a y s , y o u n g p e o p l e k n o w m o r e a b o u t t h e m e d i a
t h a n t h e i r e l d e r s . T h e y d i d n ’t c o m e t o t h e c u r r e n t m e d i a
v e c t o r s l a t e i n li f e , t h e y g r e w u p w i t h t h e m a n d l e a r n e d t h e i r
w a y s a n d m e a n s e a r ly . W h e n A C u r r e n t A f f a i r h o s t R a y M a r t i n
d e c id e d to a b a n d o n th e la s t s h r e d o f h is 6 0 s le ftie c r e d a n d
f r o n t f o r a s o r d id r e p o r t b y M ik e M o n r o e t h a t a t ta c k e d th e
u n e m p l o y e d P a x to n k id s , n o t e v e r y o n e t o o k th is s o r r y b i t o f
h a te - T V ly in g d o w n . S o m e w e r e b u s y h a n d - p r i n t i n g P a x to n
F a n C lu b t-s h irts .
The p u b lic a tio n of G a n g la n d w as s ig n ific a n t n o t ju s t
because it id e n tifie d th e p a ra ly s is g e n e ra tio n a lis m has
c a u s e d , b u t b e c a u s e th e r e a c tio n to th e b o o k b y th e B u r b le r
c r o w d p r o v e d a g o o d d e a l o f it s t h e s i s . T h e p r i n c i p l e t a r g e t s
o f h is a tta c k c o m m a n d e e r e d as m u c h m e d ia a c re a g e as p o s ­
s ib le to denounce G a n g la n d , th u s p ro v in g its h y p o t h e s i s
a b o u t t h e a b ility o f t h e B u r b le r s to m o n o p o lis e a g o o d m a n y
v e c to rs a lo n g w h ic h im a g e s a n d s to rie s p a ss in to th e p u b lic
r e a lm . B u t th e m o r e e n c o u r a g in g s id e o f th e G a n g la n d a ffa ir
is t h a t s o m e o f t h e m e d i a ’s g a t e k e e p e r s d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t
t h e i r r e s p o n s ib ility tr a n s c e n d s g e n e r a t io n a l r h e to r ic s . A little
b it m o r e r o o m o p e n e d u p in th e m e d ia .
T h e i r o n y is p r e c i s e l y t h e e x c l u s i o n o f y o u n g e r v o i c e s f r o m
s e rio u s c o n s id e r a tio n in th e m e d ia th a t c r e a te d th e s p e a k in g
p o s i t i o n f r o m w h i c h D a v is c o u l d a p p e a r a s t h e c r i t i c o f s u c h
e x c l u s i o n . A s a r e s u l t o f h i s i n t e r v e n t i o n , a fe w p e o p l e i n
t h e i r 3 0 s e lb o w e d th e ir ( o u r ) w ay in to ta lk in g h e a d s ta tu s .
T h e o n u s is o n t h e m ( u s ) t o c r e a t e s t il l m o r e r o o m f o r t h o s e
s t ill e x c l u d e d . A s p a r t o f t h a t p r o c e s s , I w a n t t o w r i t e a b o u t
w h a t w as d is tin c tiv e a b o u t th e e x p e r ie n c e o f m y c o n te m p o ­
r a r i e s . T h i s is n o t m e a n t t o l e g i s l a t e f o r a n e w n o s t a l g i a .
R a th e r, try in g to id e n tify s o m e d if f e r e n c e s a n d c o n tin u itie s
fr o m th e 6 0 s to th e 7 0 s a n d 8 0 s m ig h t b e a w ay o f p ro v id in g
a n e n a b lin g f a b le f o r o th e r s to m a r k th e ir o w n e x p e r ie n c e ,
o f th e 9 0 s a n d b e y o n d , in te r m s o f d if f e r e n c e s a n d c o n tin u ­
i t i e s t h a t m a y s til l b e e m e r g i n g .
 christos ts iolkas gets lo ad e d 229

C h risto s T siolkas G ets L o a d e d

I n a n o w f a m o u s s c e n e i n Q u e n t i n T a r a n t i n o ’s f i l m P u lp
F i c t i o n , B u t c h ( p l a y e d b y B r u c e W il lis ) g e t s f r e e f r o m a p a i r
o f p sy c h o s in te n t o n to r tu r in g h im in th e ir d u n g e o n , o u t
b a c k o f a p a w n s h o p . A s h e m a k e s h i s e s c a p e , h e p a u s e s . S ti ll
t r a p p e d b a c k t h e r e is a m a n w h o w a n t s t o k ill h i m , a m a n
B u t c h h a s c h e a t e d , b u t t o w h o m h e s til l f e e l s a m o r a l o b l i g a ­
tio n . H e d e c id e s to g o b a c k a n d r e s c u e h im . B u t firs t, B u tc h
m u s t c h o o s e a w e a p o n . H e p ic k s u p , a n d r e je c ts , a b a s e b a ll
b a t a n d a c h a i n sa w , b e f o r e f i n a l l y s e t d i n g o n a sa m u ra i
s w o rd a s h is w e a p o n o f c h o ic e .
B u tc h e x a m in e s a n d re je c ts w e a p o n s th a t h e , th e o th e r
c h a r a c t e r s i n t h e f i l m , t h e f i l m ’s m a k e r s , a n d a v i e w e r l i k e A r i
w ho has seen a lo t o f m o v ie s o n T V , w ill r e c o g n i s e as
b e l o n g i n g to p a r t i c u l a r k in d s o f m o v ie . B u tc h b a s ic a lly h a s to
d e c i d e w h a t k i n d o f m o v i e t h i s is t o b e c o m e . Is i t a s l a s h e r
f l i c k l i k e t h e T e x a s C h a i n s a w M a s s a c r e ? Is i t i n t h e g a n g s t e r
g e n r e , l i k e S c a r fa c e ? N o , i t i s n ’t, a n d t h e c h a i n s a w a n d b a s e ­
b a l l b a t a r e d i s c a r d e d . I t ’s n o t H a m m e r H o r r o r e i t h e r . I t ’s a
s a m u r a i f i l m . T h e t h e m e is n o t b l o o d l u s t o r r e v e n g e , i t ’s
h o n o u r . T h i s is a f i l m a b o u t j u s t i c e , a b o u t a n e t h i c s o f l i v i n g
o u t s i d e t h e law .
F o r p e r h a p s th e f ir s t tim e in th e h is to r y o f c in e m a , th e film
m a k e r s , t h e f i l m c h a r a c t e r s a n d t h e f i l m ’s a u d i e n c e s h a r e a
m o m e n t o f fu ll r e c o g n i t i o n , f r e e f r o m ir o n y o r p a ro d y , t h a t
w e a ll s h a r e a c e r t a i n m e d i a c u l t u r e . N o t o n e t h a t d e t e r ­
m in e s w h o w e a re a n d w h a t w e d o , b u t o n e th a t o ffe rs a
ra n g e o f a c tio n s a n d c o n c e p tio n s f o rm w h ic h w e h a v e to
m a k e c h o i c e s . I t is t h e s e l f - c o n s c i o u s p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n t e r ­
p r e ta tio n o f s h a r e d im a g e s th a t c o n s titu te a v ir tu a l r e s e r v o ir
o f p o s s ib le a c tio n , p o s s ib le w o rld s .
W h i l e t h e r e is a s y n c h r o n i s i n g e f f e c t t h a t g o e s w i t h t h e
g lo b a lis a tio n of c y b e rsp a c e, it i s n ’t n e c e s s a rily a
h o m o g e n is in g e ffe c t. G lo b a l m e d ia v e c to rs m a k e d if f e r e n t
p e o p le e x p e r ie n c e th e s a m e im a g e s a t th e s a m e tim e , b u t
w h a t p e o p le m a k e o f th e m d iffe rs f r o m p la c e to p la c e . T h is
is w h y a t r a n s - n a t i o n a l g e n e r a t i o n a l i s m a p p e a rs as a re a l
e ffe c t o f m e d ia g lo b a lis a tio n , b u t n o t q u ite in th e w ay s o m e
o f t h e p u n d i t s t h i n k . I t d o e s n ’t m a k e p e o p l e t h i n k o r f e e l t h e
s a m e w ay , i t j u s t m e a n s t h a t p e o p l e t e n d t o t h i n k a n d f e e l , a t
230 generational ganglands

t h e s a m e t i m e , b u t i n t h e i r d i f f e r e n t w a y s, v ia t h e s a m e s e t o f
im a g e s .
W h e n p a r a l l e l s t o C o u p l a n d ’s G e n e r a t i o n X s t a r t e d t u r n i n g
u p in A u s tr a lia n w ritin g , th e B u r b le r r e s p o n s e w a s to s e e it as
j u s t a n e ffe c t o f th e g lo b a l m a r k e tin g o f th e G e n e r a tio n X
a e s th e tic . B u t th is m is s e d s o m e th in g q u ite fu n d a m e n ta l.
P u n k g o t g o in g in d e p e n d e n tly in se v e ra l d if f e r e n t p la c e s a t
o n c e o n t h e p r i n c i p l e o f “h e r e a r e t h r e e c h o r d s , n o w f o r m a
b a n d ”.22 S o t o o d i d t h e s o - c a l l e d G r u n g e L i t g e t g o i n g o n t h e
b a s i s o f : “h e r e a r e 2 6 l e t t e r s o f t h e a l p h a b e t , g o w r i t e y o u r
n o v e l . ”23 B o t h punk and g ru n g e began as lo c a l and
a u to n o m o u s a p p r o p r ia tio n s 6 f a s h a re d m e d ia m o m e n t.
G r u n g e w rite rs w e re j u s t a p a r tic u la r k in d o f y o u n g w rite r
w h o u s e d th e r e p e r to ir e o f im a g e s th a t th e y h a d in c o m m o n
w ith o th e r s w h o p a y a t te n tio n to m e d ia a e s th e tic s . T h a t th e s e
b o o k s s o l d w e ll is le s s a t r i b u t e t o t h e m a r k e t i n g g e n i u s o f
p u b lis h e r s , a n d m o r e to th e s im p le fa c t th a t r e a d e r s r e c o g ­
n is e d in g r u n g e w ritin g a c o m m o n w o rld o f m e d ia e x p e r i­
e n c e . G r u n g e f i c t i o n , l i k e P u l p F ic ti o n , p l a y e d w i t h a c o m m o n
w o r ld o f film a e s th e tic s . W h a t r e a d e r s r e c o g n is e d in t h e w rit­
in g s o f E d w a rd B e r r id g e , J u s tin e E ttle r, A n d r e w M c G a h a n ,
L u k e D a v ie s a n d C h r is to s T s io lk a s w e r e w r ite r s w h o a r t i c u ­
la te d a w id e s p r e a d s e n s ib ility a b o u t w h a t k in d o f m ilie u th is
is w e liv e i n , e v e n i f t h e y m a d e , a n d i n d e e d w e a l l m a k e ,
r a t h e r d i f f e r e n t t h i n g s o u t o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s i t g e n e r a t e s . 24
“I ’v e j u s t g o t u p a n d I ’m a l r e a d y b o r e d ”, sa y s A r i, a s i f a n t i c ­
i p a t i n g w h a t is e x p e c t e d o f h i m w i t h a w r y s m i l e . T h e j o k e is
th a t a lo t o f r e a d e r s f o u n d A ri h im s e lf r a th e r in te re s tin g . H e
is t h e c e n t r a l c h a r a c t e r i n C h r i s t o s T s i o l k a s ’ n o v e l L o a d e d P
H e a ls o a p p e a r s in t h e film b a s e d o n t h e b o o k , c a lle d H e a d
O n , p l a y e d b y A l e x D i m i t r i a d i s . W h i l e i t is a n e n j o y a b l e f i l m ,
i t i s n ’t h a l f a s i n t e r e s t i n g a s t h e n o v e l , a n d s t r a n g e l y , h a s le s s
t o s a y a b o u t c i n e m a t h a n t h e n o v e l . 28
O v e r th e c o u rs e o f a n e n e r g e tic 150 p a g e s, A ri tra v e rs e s th e
f o u r c o r n e r s o f M e l b o u r n e , t h e s a m e c it y w h e r e M a r k D a v is
t e r r o r i s e d th e r e s i d e n t B u r b le r s . B u t T s io lk a s ta k e s h is b e a r ­
i n g s l e s s f r o m t h e i n t e r - g e n e r a t i o n a l t e n s i o n s o f M e l b o u r n e ’s
s u b u r b a n t a l k i n g h e a d s t h a n f r o m its m i g r a n t a n d w o r k i n g
c la s s s u b u r b s . W h e n i t c o m e s t o t h e a f f l u e n t a n d c o n s u m e r i s t
s i d e o f p o s t w a r B o o m e r l if e , a s A r i s a y s, “t h e w o g s , b e i n g
p e a s a n ts , d o it b e s t .. . T h e y h a v e m i g r a t e d to e s c a p e th e
 christos tsiolkas gets lo aded

c h a o s o f h is to ry a n d th e y k n o w , th e y k n o w f u n d a m e n ta lly ,
t h a t p r o p e r t y is w a r .”
A ll t h e s a m e I ’d l i k e t o t h i n k t h a t D a v is m i g h t h a v e c l e a r e d
a s p a c e w h e r e w e c a n h e a r t h e v o i c e o f A ri t h a t T s i o l k a s
c r e a t e d . T s i o l k a s ’ a c h i e v e m e n t is i n c re a tin g a c h a ra c te r
t h r o u g h w h ic h w e c a n r e a d t h e lim its , b u t a ls o t h e p o s s ib ili­
ti e s o f a c e r t a i n h i s t o r i c a l m o m e n t . H e g iv e s u s a r i c h l y
d e ta ile d p o rtra it of a young G re e k m a l e ’s su b u rb a n
M e l b o u r n e . M i k e a n d C a r o l B r a d y l a n d i t a i n ’t, b u t s o m e o f
t h e q u a l i t i e s T s i o l k a s s e e s t h r o u g h A r i ’s e y e s d e f i n e a w i d e r
m i l i e u . “I k e e p t h i n k i n g o f s o m e y o u n g g i r l i n f u l l c h a d o r ,
her v e il c o v e r i n g h e r W a lk m a n , w a lk in g dow n a s tre e t,
i g n o r e d b y a l l t h e s e M u s l i m m e n , a n d s h e ’s l i s t e n i n g t o ‘L i k e
a V i r g i n ’ o r ‘J u s t i f y M y L o v e ’. A n d g o i n g h o m e , a l o n e i n h e r
b e d r o o m , t o u c h i n g h e r c u n t , l i k i n g it. B le s s t h e M a d o n n a . ”
I n te r e s tin g h o w th e g irl, th e s tr e e t, th e M u s lim m e n , n o
le s s t h a n t h e s o n g , c o u l d b e i n M e l b o u r n e , o r J a k a r t a , o r
Is la m a b a d . M e d ia v e c to rs c re a te p o s s ib ilitie s , but w hat
p e o p l e m a k e o f t h o s e p o s s i b i l i t i e s is n o t d e t e r m i n e d e n t i r e l y
b y m e d ia v e c to rs . M e d ia m a k e it p o s s ib le f o r A ri to fa n ta s is e
t h e g ir l w ith th e h e a d p h o n e s . I f s h e e x is ts , m a y h a v e a q u ite
d if f e r e n t fa n ta s y s p a c e w ith in w h ic h sh e h e a rs M a d o n n a.
L i k e A r i , s h e m a y w e ll p a r t a k e i n a f a n t a s y s p a c e o f g l o b a l
p r o p o r t i o n s , a n d i n w h i c h M a d o n n a is a s h a r e d i m a g e , b u t
o th e rw is e d iffe re n t.
“I c a n ’t r e c i t e a p o e m , a n y p o e m , b u t m y m i n d is a n a u t o ­
m a t i c m e m o r y t e l l e r o f p o p m u s i c ”, sa y s A r i. A n d w h a t h e
w i t h d r a w s f r o m i t is t h e “s o u n d t r a c k t o m y h a p p i n e s s ”. F o r
A ri, “f a v o u r i t e songs, lik e fa v o u rite film s , lik e fa v o u rite
p e o p l e , c h a n g e d a y b y d a y , m o m e n t b y m o m e n t . ” T h e r e is n o
o n e t u n e t h a t s u m s u p t h e t i m e s , j u s t a s t h e r e is n o o n e p e r ­
s o n a lity ty p e t h a t d e f in e s a g e n e r a t i o n . A ri d e s c r ib e s J o e a s
s o m e o n e w h o “k e e p s h i s c r e w c u t b e c a u s e h e s t il l w a n t s t o
d ip o n e fo o t in to th e p o o l o f f r e e d o m .” A h a! T h e O p tio n s
G e n e r a t i o n . B u t A r i , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h a s o p t e d o u t o f a ll
t h a t . “T h e r e a r e tw o t h i n g s i n t h i s w o r l d g u a r a n t e e d t o m a k e
y o u o l d a n d fla b b y . W o r k a n d m a r r i a g e . I t is i n e v i t a b l e . ”
T h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t c o n f r o n t s e v e r y o n e i n t h e s a m e w a y is
th e th in g th a t c o n f r o n ts e v e ry o n e as th e s a m e th in g : m o n e y .
‘W e a ll h a v e t o s e ll o u r s e l v e s . . . . b u t y o u d o n ’t h a v e t o s e ll a ll
o f y o u r s e l f . T h e r e is a s m a ll p a r t o f m y s e lf , d e e p i n s i d e m e ,
232 generational ganglands

w h ic h I le t n o o n e to u c h . I f I le t it o u t, le t s o m e o n e h a v e a lo o k
a t it, b r u s h t h e i r h a n d s a c r o s s t h a t p a r t o f m y s o u l , t h e n t h e y
w o u l d w a n t t o h a v e it, b u y it, s t e a l it, o w n it. J o e ’s p u t t h a t p a r t
o f h i m s e l f u p f o r m a r k e t . .. h e ’s j u s t w a i t i n g f o r t h e r i g h t b i d . ”
A ri re s is ts , a n d e x p r e s s e s t h a t p a r t o f C h r is to s T s io lk a s t h a t
re s is ts . O r r a t h e r , u n lik e A ri, T s io lk a s ta k e s to m a r k e t a b o o k
t h a t h a s h i d d e n i n i ts f o l d s a l i t t l e t a s t e o f t h a t w h i c h c a n n o t
b e tr a d e d , n o t e v e n o n th e b la c k m a r k e t: th e p o s s ib ility o f
m a k in g s o m e th in g o u t o f p o s tm o d e r n c a p ita lis m o t h e r th a n
m o r e o f th e s a m e . S o m e o f th e r e s o u r c e s f o r th is lie in
re s is tin g th e c o rro s iv e flo w of m a rk e ta b le m e d ia , th e
r e s o u r c e s o f f r i e n d s h i p , c a m a r a d e r i e , lo v e .
S o m e o f t h e r e s o u r c e s a r e a ls o o u t t h e r e in t h e e th e r , in th e
s ig n s and flo u ris h e s th e m e d ia v e c to r sp re a d s fro m
M e lb o u r n e to M o ro c c o . U r b a n e im a g e s a n d s to rie s th a t a r e
u s e fu l p re c is e ly b e c a u s e th e y a r e o n e s th a t B u tc h o r A ri o r
th e g ir l in t h e c h a d o r c a n a ll r e c o g n is e a n d s h a r e w ith o th e r s
a s a m u t u a l r e c o g n i t i o n . “T h e i m a g e s h a v e s t a y e d i n my
h e a d . ” I n t h e e n d w h a t is d i s t i n c t i v e a b o u t t h e a r t t h a t b e g i n s
w i t h G e n e r a t i o n X is t h e r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t t h e t i m e h a s c o m e
to ta lk a b o u t , a n d e v e n to e n a c t , t h e f a ir g o , v ia t h e v e ry
im a g e s th a t a c o m m o d if ie d w o rld w o u ld s u b s titu te f o r th e
f a ir g o .
T h e S q u e e z e G e n e r a tio n e x p lo r e d th e ir o n ic p o s s ib ilitie s
o f p la y in g w ith th o s e im a g e s , b u t G e n e r a tio n X c r e a te d a
n e w w o r l d o u t o f t h e m . A n i m a g e is n o t d e f i n e d b y its o r i g i n .
The lim ita tio n o f su b u rb a n ta s te is t o c a te g o r is e im a g e s
a c c o r d in g to th e ir o rig in s . U r b a n ity b e g in s w h e n im a g e s a r e
u n d e r s to o d r a t h e r in te r m s o f th e s h if tin g c o n te x ts in w h ic h
th e y m ig h t b e m a d e to y ie ld d if f e r e n t m e a n in g s . T h e lim it
i m p o s e d o n c u l t u r e b y B u r b l e r a e s t h e t i c s is t o s h u t d o w n t h e
v ir tu a l p la y o f m e a n in g in th e e v e ry d a y t h a t f r e e in g im a g e s
fr o m o r ig in s c re a te s .
G e n e r a t i o n X is a t e r m w h i c h h a s o u t l i v e d i t s u s e f u l n e s s a s
a n e n a b lin g f ic tio n in e v e ry s e n s e b u t o n e . I t n a m e d a n e w
k in d o f u rb a n ity , o n e th a t c o u ld a ris e r ig h t in th e h e a r d a n d
o f s u b u r b a n s p a c e . A n u r b a n ity tu n e d to th e v ir tu a l h id in g
w ith in th e m a tr ix o f im a g e s th a t m e d ia v e c to rs in s in u a te in to
th e h e a r t o f th e s u b u rb a n . In th e o v e rc o m in g o f g e n e r a ­
t i o n a l b o u n d a r i e s li e s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e l e a s i n g t h e v i r t u a l
p o te n tia l o f c y b e r s p a c e , th e v ir tu a lity o f tim e .
 essaying urbanity 233

E ssa yin g U rb a n ity

I f i t ’s t r u e , a s M a r k D a v is c l a i m s , t h a t i n t h e m e d i a e n v i r o n ­
m e n t o f th e la te 9 0 s, G e n e r a tio n X g e t to s id e w ith th e
“u n t r u t h f u l a n d t h e s e l f - d e c e i v e d ”, t h e n t h e e n t h u s i a s m f o r
y o u n g fic tio n w rite rs m ig h t b e p a r t o f th e p r o b le m a s m u c h
a s p a r t o f th e s o lu tio n . Y o u n g p e o p le a r e e x p e c te d to w rite
“g r u n g e f i c t i o n ”, b u t n o t o t h e r k i n d s o f f i c t i o n — a n d c e r ­
t a i n l y n o t n o n f i c t i o n . T h i s is w h y I w a n t t o c o n c e n t r a t e o n
w h a t is m o s d y n o n f i c t i o n w r i t i n g , i n a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l e s s a y
f o r m , b y s o m e o f m y c o n t e m p o r a r i e s : C h r is to s T s io lk a s , B e th
S p e n c e r a n d C h r i s G r e g o r y . 27
Its a r e m a r k a b l e e x p e r i m e n t — tw o w r i t e r s o f d i f f e r e n t
a g e s a n d b a c k g ro u n d s c o lla b o ra te d o n th e o n e a u to b io g ­
ra p h y , a d o c u m e n t o f th e s p a c e s b e tw e e n th e m . C h ris to s
T s io lk a s ( b o r n 1 9 6 5 ) a n d S a s h a S o ld a to w ( b o r n 1 9 4 7 ) c o m ­
p o s e d J u m p C u ts a s a m e d le y o f a l t e r n a t i n g v o ic e s , a r g u i n g
a n d i n v e n t i n g , a n d p o p p i n g o u t t o b u y C D ’s t o t e s t S a s h a ’s
t h e o r y t h a t B e e t h o v e n i n v e n t e d j a z z . U n t i l f i n a l l y t h e r e is a
b r e a k in t h e te x t. T s io lk a s w ith d r a w s f r o m t h e d ia lo g u e . A s
S o ld a to w re c o rd s, “H e accu sed me of tre a tin g h im as
G e n e r a t i o n X , a t e r m I d o n ’t u s e b e c a u s e i t is j u s t a n o t h e r
jo u rn a lis tic b e a t u p .”
A n d s o i t is. W h e t h e r S o l d a t o w lik e s it o r n o t , g e n e r a ­
tio n a lis m s tr u c tu r e s a t le a s t s o m e p a rt o f th e exchange.
T s io lk a s th in k s t h r o u g h t h e 9 0 s in p a r t a s a r e a c t i o n to t h e
w ay S o ld a to w th in k s th r o u g h th e 6 0 s. H e re a c ts , p a rtic u la rly ,
to th e baggage S o ld a to w c a rrie s fro m th e 6 0 s lib e ra tio n
m o v e m e n ts . W h ile th e s e m ig h t h a v e b e e n a n ti- a u th o r ita r ia n
m o v e m e n ts , “y o u r m o ra lis m is e q u a lly a u t h o r i t a r i a n ”,
c h a r g e s T s i o l k a s . “I n o w h a v e a k n e e - j e r k r e a c t i o n t o t h e
t e r m T h i r d W o r ld . I t m a k e s m e w a n t t o le a v e t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n ,
e x it th e r o o m a n d w a tc h m o r e te le v is io n .” T s io lk a s s u m s u p
t h e l e s s o n f o r G e n e r a t i o n X o f t h e 6 0 s : “S e l f - r i g h t e o u s n e s s
d o e s n o t e q u a l id e a lis m . P u rity d o e s n o t e q u a l tr u th . S e x
d o e s n o t e q u a l lib e ra tio n .”
S o l d a t o w c o u n t e r s t h a t “y o u r g e n e r a t i o n d o e s n ’t u n d e r ­
s ta n d th e b r e a d t h o f m e a n in g w e tr ie d to s la m in to th is w o r d
p o litic a l. ” W h a t h e d o e s n ’t q u i t e g ra sp is t h e b re a d th of
m e a n i n g T s io lk a s f in d s , n o t in t h e w o r d c u l t u r e , b u t in th e
p r a c t i c e o f it, i n e v e r y d a y li f e . A v e t e r a n o f h a r d c o r e u r b a n
generational ganglands

m o v e m e n ts s u c h as th e S y d n ey lib e rta ria n p ush and th e

M e l b o u r n e lib e r a t io n is t P r a m F a c to ry , S o ld a to w s e e m s to se e
in T s io lk a s a n h e i r w h o c a n n o t q u ite b e t r u s te d w ith a n
i n h e r i t a n c e . “S o m e t h i n g h a p p e n s w h e n t h e p a s t , i n t h i s c a s e
m i n e , is r e s u r r e c t e d . I t c o m e s t o b e r e d e f i n e d a c c o r d i n g t o
o t h e r p e o p l e ’s n e e d s . ”
O n e o f t h e t h i n g s G e n e r a t i o n X m e a n s is t h i s r e d e f i n i n g o f
w h a t is u s e f u l a b o u t t h e 6 0 s . A s a l a b e l f o r a g r o u p o f p e o p l e
i t is a l a r m i n g l y a r b i t r a r y . A s a w a y o f d e s i g n a t i n g a n e w k i n d
o f f a b le a b o u t th e p a s t, a n d a n e w b u n c h o f ta lk in g h e a d s
w h o a r e p r o p o s i n g s u c h f a b l e s , i t ’s q u i t e a p t . A s t h e w r i t e r
B e t h S p e n c e r s a y s , “X is t h a t l e t t e r o n t y p e w r i t e r s u s e d t o
o b l i t e r a t e e r r o r s a n d s l ip s , t o m a r k t h e l o s t a n d f o r g o t t e n . I t
a ls o im p lie s a k in d o f g e n e r ic , n o - n a m e s ta tu s . A s s u c h t h e
te rm w as a r e a c tio n a g a in s t th e B o o m e r e th o s th a t e v e ry ­
t h i n g w o r th d o i n g o r e x p e r i e n c i n g o r s a y in g o r w r itin g a b o u t
h a d h a p p e n e d i n t h e s i x t ie s ; t h e v ie w t h a t s a w t h e s e v e n t i e s
a s j u s t a s a d , e m b a r r a s s i n g m i s t a k e . ”28 W h e t h e r i t is r e w r i t i n g
th e 60s, or fillin g in th e B la n k e ty -B la n k s of th e 70s,
G e n e r a t i o n X is a r e v i s i o n i s t f a b l e , o n e w i t h c o n s e q u e n c e s
f o r liv in g in t h e p r e s e n t, to o .

G en eratio n M oo n w alk

I n t h e B o o m e r m y t h o l o g y o f t h e 6 0 s , i t w a s a t i m e o f a c tiv i s m
in th e s tre e ts . I c a n r e m e m b e r b e in g ta k e n to a V ie tn a m
M o ra to riu m m a rc h w h e n I w as a b o u t n in e . T h e r e w e re c o p s
o n h o r s e s . I w a s s c a r e d , a n d h e l d m y b i g s i s t e r ’s h a n d . M o s t
o f m y m e m o r ie s o f th e w o rld o f th e 6 0 s a r e n o t o f m a r c h in g
in th e s tr e e ts , b u t o f s ittin g c ro s s -le g g e d in f r o n t o f th e te le ­
v i s i o n . T h e b i g e v e n t o f t h e 6 0 s is n o t r e a l l y V i e t n a m , b u t
w h a t C a t e R a y s o n i n h e r b o o k G l u e d to t h e T e lly c a l l s “t h e u l t i ­
m a t e t e l e v i s i o n m o m e n t ” .29
W h e n N e il A r m s tr o n g w a lk e d o n th e m o o n , I w a tc h e d it o n
t e l e v i s i o n f r o m a b e d o u t o n t h e v e r a n d a h o f t h e c h i l d r e n ’s
w a r d a t R o y a l N e w c a s tle H o s p ita l. I h a d b o th le g s in p la s te r
c a s t s , a n d a lw a y s t h o u g h t m y i n t e n s e m e m o r y o f t h a t t e l e v i ­
s io n e v e n t w as p e c u lia r to m e , a n d g e n e r a te d b y th e c a llo u s
iro n y of b e in g im m o b ilis e d w h ile A rm s tro n g c a v o rte d
a m o n g t h e m o o n d u s t . R e c e n t l y , I ’v e d i s c o v e r e d t h r e e w r i t e r s
w h o , o n e w ay o r a n o t h e r , a ls o h a v e m e m o r ie s o f th a t e v e n t:
 generation m oonw alk 235

B e th S p e n c e r ( b o r n 1 9 5 8 ), C h r is to s T s io lk a s ( b o r n 1 9 6 5 ),
C h ris G re g o ry (b o rn 1 9 7 0 ). W h ile th e re is a w i d e gap
b e tw e e n th e ir ag es, I th in k th e y can be c o n s tru c te d as
‘G e n e r a t i o n M o o n w a l k ’ i n t h a t t h e y c a n l o c a t e t h e m s e l v e s
and id e n tify th e m s e lv e s in re la tio n to th is s h a r e d m e d ia
e v e n t.
W h i l e I w a s i n a h o s p i t a l b e d o n t h a t d a y i n 1 9 6 9 , h e r e is
h o w S p e n c e r r e m e m b e r s it: “W h e n I w a s t e n , N e i l A r m s t r o n g
a n d B uzz K e n n e d y la n d e d o n th e m o o n a n d ‘t h e w o r l d ’
w a t c h e d w i t h b a t e d b r e a t h , fu z z y g r a i n y p i c t u r e s i n w h i c h
v e ry little h a p p e n e d o v e r w h a t s e e m e d lik e h o u r s a n d h o u r s
c r a m p e d fiv e i n a d o u b l e d e s k i n t h e g r a d e fiv e a n d s ix c l a s s ­
ro o m s a t B a y s w a te r S ta te S c h o o l.” (A c tu a lly it w a s B u zz
A l d r i n , b u t t h e c o n f l a t i o n o f t h e m o o n s h o t w i t h J F K is i n t e r ­
e s t i n g i n i t s e lf ) M e a n w h i l e , e l s e w h e r e : “I w a s a s m a l l c h i l d
w h e n th e N o r th A m e ric a n a s tr o n a u ts la n d e d o n th e m o o n .
A c ro w d g a th e r e d in m y p a r e n ts lo u n g e r o o m to w a tc h th e
h i s t o r i c l a n d i n g ”, w r i t e s T s i o l k a s .
G r e g o r y r e m e m b e r s it, o d d l y e n o u g h , e v e n t h o u g h h e w a s
t o o y o u n g t o e v e n b e a liv e a t t h e t i m e : “I w a s b o r n a b o u t n i n e
m o n th s a f te r th e firs t m o o n la n d in g a n d y o u c a n fig u re th a t
one o u t f o r y o u rs e lf. M y g r a n d m o t h e r to ld me th a t m y
p a r e n ts h e ld a b ig p a r ty f o r th e f irs t m o o n la n d in g . T h e y
b o u g h t t h e i r f ir s t te le v is io n s e t f o r t h e o c c a s io n , a n d m a y b e
I a tta c h m o r e im p o r ta n c e to th is c o r r e la tio n th a n I s h o u ld .”
E n c o u ra g e d by th e r e m a rk a b le c o in c id e n c e o f fin d in g th e
m o o n w a l k i n a ll t h r e e o f t h e s e a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l w r i t i n g s , I
d e c i d e d to e m a il a ll o f th e a u t h o r s I f o u n d u s e f u l in w r itin g
th is b o o k , to se e if G e n e r a tio n M o o n w a lk m ig h t b e s o m e ­
th in g to w h ic h o th e rs b e lo n g to o . S c o tt M c Q u ire (b o rn
1 9 6 2 ) , e m a i l e d b a c k : “I c a n r e m e m b e r g e t t i n g o f f s c h o o l t o
w a t c h a t a f r i e n d ’s h o u s e a c r o s s t h e r o a d . A ll t h e o t h e r k i d s
w e re w a tc h in g in th e a s s e m b ly h a ll. I g o t b o r e d a n d w e n t o f f
to p la y a f te r a w h ile .” S u r e e n o u g h , th e v e c to r o f te le v is io n
lo d g e d v a rie d m e m o rie s o f th e m o o n w a lk in s o m e im p re s ­
s io n a b le y o u n g m in d s . R a th e r th a n s u m m a r i s e , I w a n t to
p r e s e n t th e s e v a rie d m e m o rie s , c u t fro m th e sa m e m e d ia
t e m p l a t e , i n t h e a u t h o r ’s o w n w o r d s .
D a r r e n T o f t s ( b o r n 1 9 6 0 ) r e c a l l s t h e m o o n w a l k “v iv id ly ”.
H e w r i t e s , “I w a s i n g ra d e th re e a t H o ly N a m e P rim a ry
S c h o o l , i n E a s t P r e s t o n , t h e n o n e o f M e l b o u r n e ’s m o r e n o t o ­
generational ganglands

rio u s n o r th e r n s u b u r b s . I w a s t a u g h t b y a M a la y s ia n n u n
(its e lf e x o tic ), a n d w e h a d a p o r ta b le T V s e t b r o u g h t in to th e
c la s s e s p e c i a l l y . .. T h e r e w a s a v e r y s t r o n g s e n s e o f o c c a s i o n
a b o u t it, t h a t w e w e r e w a t c h i n g s o m e t h i n g v e r y s p e c i a l . . .
T h e r e w a s a s e n s e t h a t it w a s a te le v is io n e v e n t, a s m u c h a s a
h is to ric a l o n e .”
C a th a rin e L u m b y (b o rn 1 9 6 1 ) a ls o c o n n e c ts th e m o o n -
w a lk w ith s c h o o l, a n d t e l e v i s i o n : “I r e m e m b e r a b o u t o n e
h u n d r e d o f u s s ittin g in th e in f a n ts s c h o o l h a ll s q u in tin g a t
th is tin y b la c k a n d w h ite s c r e e n . I t w a s in c r e d ib ly e x c itin g
a n d a fte rw a rd s I r u s h e d h o m e a n d b e g g e d m y p a r e n ts to b u y
m e a n o r a n g e p la s tic m o d e l o f A p o llo E le v e n . I t w a s b ig
e n o u g h to s it in a n d p r a c tic e y o u r m o o n l a n d i n g s .”
M a r k D a v is ( b o r n 1 9 5 9 ) w r i t e s : “I c a n r e m e m b e r m y d a d
g e ttin g m e u p in th e e a rly h o u r s o f th e m o r n i n g to w a tc h
e i t h e r t h e l a u n c h o r t h e l a n d i n g . I d o n ’t q u i t e r e c a l l e x a c t l y
w h i c h . . . . M y m o t h e r h a d g o n e t o b e d a n d m y tw o y o u n g e r
b r o t h e r s w e r e c o n s i d e r e d ‘t o o y o u n g ’. A t f i r s t I t h o u g h t t h e
h o u s e m u s t h a v e b e e n b u r n in g d o w n o r s o m e th in g , b u t th e n
h e le a d m e , h a lf a s le e p in to th e lo u n g e to w a tc h th is th in g ,
w h i c h , g i v e n t h a t T V w a s a lw a y s s w i t c h e d o f f i n o u r h o u s e a t
7 -3 0 , a f t e r t h e n e w s . . . S o i t w a s a r e a l b o n d i n g m o m e n t f o r
m e a n d d a d . H e s a t t h e r e w ith a g la s s o f b e e r a n d a f f e c te d a
s u ita b le s i l e n t g r a v ita s w h ile t h e w h o le d a m n th in g to o k
p la c e . I a d m it I w as im p re s s e d t o o .”
I n te re s tin g ly , w h a t M a c k a y th in k s o f as th e p r im a r y m e a n s
b y w h ic h g e n e r a tio n s c o m e to a p p r e c ia te t h e i r r e la tio n to
e a c h o t h e r , t h r o u g h f a m i l y c o n t a c t , is h e r e m e d i a t e d b y t h e
p l a c e o f t e l e v i s i o n i n e v e r y d a y lif e . “I ’m n o t s u re if I h a d
f a l l e n a s l e e p a t t h e a c t u a l m o m e n t ”, w r i t e s D a v id M a r s h a l l
(b o rn 1 9 5 8 ) . “W e w e r e s t a y i n g u p a l l n i g h t o n a h o t J u l y
n i g h t a n d m y m e m o r y is e v e r y o n e w a s s l e e p i n g o r t r y i n g t o
s ta y a w a k e a r o u n d t h e s e t i n v a r i o u s s p r a w l e d s t a t e s . I t w a s
d e fin itiv e ly a fa m ily event b ecause it o cc u rre d in m id ­
s u m m e r in C a n a d a .”
T h e q u a lity o f th e m o o n w a lk as s o m e th in g p r o d u c e d b y a
t e l e v i s i o n v e c t o r w a s n o t l o s t o n t h e y o u n g M a r k D a v is , w h o
l i k e L u m b y , e x p e r i e n c e d i t a s a t e m p l a t e f o r a c h i l d ’s d e s i r e s :
“T h a t i t w a s h a p p e n i n g liv e , r i g h t t h a t v e r y m i n u t e , i t w a s r e a l
im p re s s iv e . O v e r s u b s e q u e n t d a y s a n d w e e k s m y b r o t h e r s
a n d I c o lle c te d e v e ry s in g le p ie c e o f m e m o r a b ilia /s o u v e n ir
 brady bunching 237

w h ic h w a s p u b lis h e d in th e p a p e r s ( a n d in c o lo u r to o —
a n o th e r , p a ra lle l, te c h n o lo g ic a l m a rv e l), a n d m a d e th e m u p
i n t o a s c r a p b o o k e a c h , w h i c h I s t ill h a v e . ”

Brady B u n ch in g

The m o o n w a l k is c l e a r l y a t e l e v i s i o n e v e n t th a t c h ild re n
e x p e rie n c e d as s o m e th in g p r e s e n te d to th e m by p a re n ts o r
te a c h e r s , o r in m y c a s e , b y th e n u r s e s a t th e h o s p ita l. A m o r e
d is tin c tiv e ly g e n e r a tio n a l e x p e r ie n c e w as B ra d y B u n c h in g .
T h e B ra d y B u n c h p e r f o r m e d m u c h th e sa m e ro le fo r p e o p le
g r o w in g u p in t h e 6 0 s a n d 7 0 s a s N e ig h b o u r s d i d f o r p e o p l e
g r o w in g u p in t h e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s. I t p r o v id e d a w id e ly s h a r e d
m a tr ix o f im a g e s a n d s to rie s w ith in w h ic h y o u n g p e o p le
c o u l d p l a c e t h e m s e l v e s i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f t h e i r p a r e n t ’s i n f l u ­
e n c e . In a ra re b re a k fro m th e re s tric te d ra n g e o f s u b u rb a n
im a g e s o f t h e tim e , it s h o w e d a b l e n d e d fa m ily t h a t c o m ­
p r i s e d tw o p a r e n t s ( M i k e a n d C a r o l ) , t h r e e g i r l s ( f r o m o l d e s t
to y o u n g e s t: M a rs h a , J a n , C in d y ), th r e e b o y s (G re g , P e te r,
B o b b y ) a n d a m a id (A lic e ).
I f t e l e v i s i o n is a m a s s v e c t o r f o r d i s t r i b u t i n g a c r u d e s e t o f
i m a g e s f a r a n d w i d e , e m a i l is a w o n d e r f u l l y s u b t l e v e c t o r f o r
g e n e r a tin g m u c h m o r e p re c is e c o h o rts . A fte r g e ttin g in te r ­
e s tin g a n sw e rs o n th e m o o n w a lk , I tr ie d a s k in g w h e th e r
p e o p l e w a t c h e d T h e B r a d y B u n c h . “O h s u r e ”, w r i t e s D a r r e n
T o fts , “R e l ig io u s l y , i n f a c t... I w a n te d to fu c k M a rsh a . I
s u p p o s e I w as G re g ; b e in g th e e ld e s t o f 4 b r o th e r s , a n d p re tty
m u c h t h e s a m e a g e a s G r e g , I s ’p o s e I i d e n t i f i e d w i t h h i m r e
t h e t e e n a g e t h a n g ; h e w a s c o o l , a lw a y s b o r d e r i n g o n b e i n g a
g ro w n u p , w h ile P e te r a n d B o b b y w e re d e f in ite ly t r a p p e d in
a n e o te n y tim e w a r p .”
D a v i d M a r s h a l l : “I o n l y w a t c h e d T he B rady B u n ch a t m y
next door n e ig h b o u rs [th e V an B e rk e ls ], I c a n ’t q u ite
e x p l a i n w h y t h i s is t h e c a s e o t h e r t h a n t h e y w e r e r e g u l a r
v i e w e r s a n d w e w e r e n ’t — a l t h o u g h I w a s o v e r t h e r e a l o t .
(T h e y m ay h a v e h a d a b e tte r a n te n n a fo r th a t p a rtic u la r
s t a t i o n — m a y b e t h e s a m e s t a t i o n t h a t s h o w e d S t a r T r e k .) S o
I a s s o c ia te it w ith th e V a n B e r k e ls a n d I a s s o c ia te th e id e n t i ­
tie s o f th e V a n B e rk e ls w ith th e B ra d y s. I n e v e r saw m y s e lf as
o n e o f th e m , a lth o u g h I r e la te d to th e y o u n g e r b o y b e c a u s e
h e w a s th e y o u n g e s t in h is fa m ily a s I w as in m in e . B u t in
generational ganglands

t e r m s o f d r e s s s ty le — G r e g . S o m e t i m e s I t h o u g h t o f P e t e r
lik e m y b r o t h e r A la n .”
C h r i s t o s T s io l k a s : “T h e B r a d y B u n c h w a s a l i t t l e l i k e r e a d i n g
E n id B ly to n books; it w as c o m f o rta b le and sa fe , as w as
G i l l i g a n ’s I s l a n d a n d e v e n t h o u g h e v e r y e p i s o d e w a s d i f f e r e n t
i t w a s a lw a y s t h e s a m e ( a n d c o m f o r t i n g f o r t h a t ) . I l o o k b a c k
o n it a s s u c c o u r d u r in g m y tr a n s itio n f r o m e a rly c h ild h o o d
t o y o u t h , b o r n e o u t b y t h e f a c t I d i d n ’t m i n d t h e r e - r u n s . M y
fa v o u r ite B ra d y ? C h ris t! J a n , I g u e s s , f o r th e o b v io u s re a s o n s .
I n p a r t i c u l a r w h a t s t a n d s o u t is h e r e n v y o f M a r c i a ’s b e a u t y
a n d t h e g e t t i n g g l a s s e s e p i s o d e . I ’m n e r d - i d e n t i f y i n g t h e r e . . .
A s f o r t h e o n e I w a s a t t r a c t e d to , a ll o f th e m ! I s t a r t e d s e r io u s
w a n k in g re la tiv e ly y o u n g , a r o u n d n in e o r te n , a n d I do
r e m e m b e r a n e a r ly s c e n a r io in v o lv in g M r B ra d y , P e t e r a n d
G r e g a ll g o i n g f o r it. A t t h e t i m e I t h i n k I w a s a t t r a c t e d t o
G r e g . . . ”.
C a t h a r i n e L u m b y : “A lw a y s w a t c h e d T h e B r a d y B u n c h a f t e r
s c h o o l a n d — n a tc h — I w a n te d to b e M a rc ia b u t id e n tif ie d
w ith J a n . O d d ly e n o u g h I h a d a c r u s h o n M r B ra d y w h o
t u r n e d o u t t o b e g a y i n r e a l lif e . B u t t h e n I a l s o h a d a c r u s h
o n J o e H a s h a m w h o p la y e d D o n in N u m b e r 9 6 ( m o r e p h o to s
ta k e n o f f th e T V ) — so m a y b e it w as j u s t a fa g h a g th in g .”

The C o u n td o w n G en eratio n R evisited

W h i l e i t ’s p o s s i b l e t o c o n s t r u c t q u i t e a n i n t e r e s t i n g c r o s s -
s e c tio n o f g e n e r a tio n a l im p re s s io n s b y B ra d y B u n c h in g , th e
d is tin c tiv e te x t f o r A u s tr a lia n s w h o w e re te e n a g e r s in th e 70s
h a s t o b e C o u n t d o w n . 30 A s S c o t t M c Q u i r e sa y s, “C o u n t d o w n i n
its e a r l y y e a r s w a s a f i x t u r e . ” F o r D a r r e n T o f t s , “C o u n t d o w n
w a s a d e f i n i n g p h e n o m e n o n f o r m e . . . C o u n t d o w n w a s a v ita l
a n d i r r e p r e s s i b l e p a r t o f lif e . W h e n y o u w e r e n ’t w a t c h i n g i t
y o u w e r e t a l k i n g a b o u t it; i n t h e d a r k d a y s b e f o r e v i d e o y o u
w o u l d j u s t b e h a n g i n g o u t f o r i t . . . “.
C a th a rin e L u m b y : “C o u n t d o w n w a s t h e b ig e v e n t o f th e
w e e k e n d f o r m o s t o f t h e e a r l y t o m i d - 7 0 s a s I r e m e m b e r it. I
g o t h o o k e d w h e n I f e ll i n lo v e w i t h T o n y M i t c h e l l , t h e b a s s
g u ita r is t in S h e r b e r t. T o m y h o r r o r , I d is tin c tly r e m e m b e r
ta k in g p h o t o g r a p h s o f h im o f f t h e te le v is io n a n d p r e t e n d i n g
t h e y w e r e liv e s n a p s . ”
D a r r e n T o f ts : “I t w a s a f o c u s o f w h a t w a s g o i n g o n i n t h e
 the co u n td o w n g en eratio n revisited

f a s h i o n , t h e s o u n d s a n d t h e a t t i t u d e s o f t h e s t r e e t lif e o f t h e
s u b u rb s. It w as a k in d o f re a s s u rin g m e a s u re a n d r e c o g n itio n
o f h o w p e o p l e a c t u a l l y l iv e d ; t h e w h o l e s h a r p i e t h i n g w a s
h u g e i n [ M e l b o u r n e ’s] n o r t h e r n s u b u r b s , a n d i t w a s s h a r p s
w h o w o u ld b e r u b b e r - le g g in g it in th e s tu d io w h ile H u s h
p l a y e d ‘B o n e y M o r o n e y ’; t h e n i t w o u l d b e d o w n t o t h e l o c a l
c h u r c h h a l l d r e s s e d i n ‘c o n n i e ’ c a r d i g a n s a n d B a t s a n i s s h o e s
t o r u b b e r - l e g t o a c o v e r b a n d p l a y i n g ‘B o n e y M o r o n e y ’. ”
B e t h S p e n c e r : “I w a s i n t o pop m u s ic v e ry y o u n g , f r o m
a b o u t a g e s e v e n ... B y th e tim e C o u n td o w n c a m e a lo n g , I
w a t c h e d it , b u t n o t s o r e l i g i o u s l y , a n d I t h i n k i n a r a t h e r d i s ­
d a i n f u l w a y I ’m a f r a i d . I t w a s p r o b a b l y f a r t o o p o p u l a r - m u s i c
a n d c ra s s a n d te e n y - b o p p e r ( a n d p o s s ib ly to o A u s tr a lia n ) f o r
m y ta s te s by th e n . ( T h e n I w e n t to u n i a n d h a d to e a t m y
w o r d s a s w e a ll d a n c e d t o A C -D C a n d S k y h o o k s . ) B u t I d o
h a v e to say t h a t w h e n R a g e r a n s o m e o ld C o u n td o w n e p is o d e s
a few y e a rs a g o in th e w e e h o u r s I f o u n d it u tte r ly e x c r u c ia t­
in g ly to e - c u r lin g ly e v o c a tiv e a n d fa m ilia r. ( T h e h a ir - s ty le s ,
th e c lo th e s , th e v e ry e x tr a - o r d in a ry A u s tra lia n -s u b u rb a n o f
it). I ta p e d s o m e o f th e s e a n d I ’m s till b u i l d i n g u p th e
c o u ra g e to go and w a tc h th e m a g a in (fo r re se a rc h fo r
c u r r e n t b o o k ) .... S o I g u e s s I h a v e m ix e d fe e lin g s a b o u t
C o u n td o w n ."
C h r i s t o s T s i o lk a s : “Y es, I w a t c h e d C o u n t d o w n a s a k i d . I w a s
s til l i n p r i m a r y s c h o o l w h e n i t b e g a n a n d o n e t h i n g is v e r y
c le a r f o r m e , w ith in th e s c h o o ly a rd o f N o r th R ic h m o n d
P r im a r y a n d w ith in th e e n v ir o n s o f B la c k b u r n a n d B o x H ill,
th e s h o w h a d a n e f f e c t in s h a p in g a s e n s e o f p o p u l a r m u s ic
a n d c u l t u r e . C o u n td o w n d e f in ite ly a f f e c t e d m y e a r l i e s t e x p o ­
s u r e to n o n - G r e e k m u s ic . I t d id s h a p e ta s te b u t n o t s tr a ig h t­
fo rw a rd ly ; m a y b e ta s te f o r m a n y p e o p le w a s d e f in e d b y th e ir
o p p o s i t i o n t o C o u n t d o w n . I ’m th in k in g in p a r tic u la r a b o u t
th e e ffe c ts o f p u n k , n e w w ave a n d th e ris e o f i n d e p e n d e n t
m u s ic . A s a n e m e r g in g q u e e r , th e e x p o s u r e to a n d r o g y n y
a n d s e x u a l i t y w a s n o t u n i m p o r t a n t . E v e n t h o u g h M o l l y ’s s e x ­
u a lity w as n e v e r d e c la r e d , th e r e w as m u c h c a m p b a n te r in g , I
r e m e m b e r . A n d a ls o , I f o u n d m u c h f a n ta s y m a te r ia l f r o m m y
v ie w i n g o f C o u n t d o w n . I n p a r t i c u l a r I h a v e a s t r o n g m e m o r y
o f M u m d e c l a r i n g S t a t u s Q u o a s m a l i a r e o r ‘l o n g h a i r s ’, d i s ­
m is s in g th e m , b u t m e b e in g c o m p le te ly e n t r a n c e d b y th e
w o rn c ro tc h e s o n th e ir je a n s .”
generational ganglands

M a r k D a v is : “A g a i n s t t h e g r a i n I s u p p o s e , b u t I f o u n d t h e
w h o le e r a r e g r e tta b le . O n ly ir o n ic d is ta n c e sav es it n o w ! I f it
s h a p e d h is ta s te it w a s o n ly a s a k in d o f n e g a tiv e th e o lo g y .”
D a v is r a t e s i t s w i d e r i n f l u e n c e a s “a b s o l u t e l y m e g a - h u g e . I t
s e e m e d to b e a ll a n y o n e e v e r s p o k e a b o u t a t s c h o o l t h e fo l­
l o w i n g M o n d a y — w h i c h is w h y m e a n d m y d o w n b e a t f r i e n d s
to o k s u c h p le a s u re in b e in g a n ti-e v e ry th in g C o u n td o w n . I t
w a s d e f in ite ly a s h o w t h a t b r o k e n e w a c ts , m a d e ta s te s a n d so
on; and th o s e b a n d s th a t M e ld ru m d i d n ’t l i k e w e r e a l s o
a s s u re d a k in d o f n o to rie ty if th e y e v id e n c e d th e r ig h t s o r t o f
a n t i - C o u n t d o w n ‘c o d e ’ i n d r e s s , s n e e r a n d s o o n . I r e m e m b e r
w h e n M e ld r u m c a lle d th e S a c r e d C o w b o y s th e w o r s t b a n d to
e v e r b e o n T V . Y o u c o u l d n ’t m o v e a t t h e i r n e x t g i g . ”
C h r i s G r e g o r y : “Y e a h , I w a t c h e d i t r e l i g i o u s l y l i k e a ll o t h e r
k id s m y a g e , th e r e p e a t f r o m th e w e e k b e f o r e o n S a tu r d a y
a n d t h e n e w e p i s o d e o n S u n d a y , b u t I ’m p r o b a b l y o n e o f t h e
la s t o n e s . P e o p le a c o u p le o f y e a rs y o u n g e r t h a n m e m a y
h a v e w a t c h e d C o u n t d o w n R e v o l u t i o n , b u t i t w a s n ’t t h e s a m e
and d i d n ’t h a v e a s s t r o n g a n a p p e a l . ” J u s t a s C o u n td o w n
R e v o lu tio n t o o k t h e p l a c e o f C o u n td o w n , s o R a g e a n d R ec o v e ry
m i g h t s o m e d a y f o r m t h e b a s is o f a s h a r e d m e m o r y , a s e n s e
o f th e c o n te m p o ra ry , a n d a n e w p r e te x t fo r c re a tin g a g e n ­
e r a t i o n . T h e S im p s o n s m a y ta k e t h e p la c e o f T h e B r a d y B u n c h ,
a n d S o u th P a r k o f T h e S im p s o n s. A s w ith C o u n td o w n , a n d T h e
B ra d y B u n c h , th e y m ig h t b e th e s h a r e d im a g e s o u t o f w h ic h
d if f e r e n t se n se s o f s e lf e m e rg e .
T h i s is o n l y li k e l y i f b r o a d c a s t t e l e v i s i o n r e m a i n s a k e y
v e c t o r t h a t a t t r a c t s a w i d e a u d i e n c e . A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y is
t h a t g e n e r a t i o n a l d i f f e r e n c e w ill b e m a r k e d b y t h e e m e r ­
g e n c e o f a p o s t b r o a d c a s t s e n s ib ility . R a t h e r t h a n m a jo r itie s
t u n e d to m a s s im a g e s a n d a m in o r ity a l i e n a t e d f r o m it, t h e r e
m i g h t i n s t e a d e m e r g e a p lu r a lity o f m in o r itie s , w h o a ll h a v e
to n e g o tia te w ith e a c h o th e r . T h is m ig h t r e p la c e th e s itu a ­
t i o n t h a t s til l p r e v a i l e d a t t h e e n d o f t h e 9 0 s , w h e r e m i n o r i ­
tie s n e g o t i a t e w ith in t h e g a p s c r e a t e d b y b r o a d c a s t m e d i a
t e x t s . F o r i n s t a n c e , M a r k D a v is a n d B e t h S p e n c e r q u i t e s e l f ­
c o n s c io u s ly id e n tif ie d th e m s e lv e s as p u n k o u ts id e r s in r e la ­
t i o n to C o u n td o w n . C h r is to s T s io lk a s a n d C a t h a r i n e L u m b y
e x p e rie n c e d m o m e n ts o f s e x u a lly a m b ig u o u s , or even
‘q u e e r ’ d e s i r e , i n m is re a d in g th e ro le s T h e B rady B u n c h
o ffe re d th e m .
 culture g en e ra to rs

C u ltu re G en erators

T h e m o o n w a lk w as a s in g le , s y n c h r o n is in g e v e n t. P e r h a p s
n o t a n e v e n t f o r ‘t h e w o r l d ’, a s S p e n c e r p o i n t s o u t , b u t c e r ­
ta in ly o n e t h a t a lo t o f p e o p le in te le v is io n -ric h s u b u r b a n
A u s tr a lia s h a r e d w ith o t h e r s s o e n d o w e d a r o u n d t h e w o rld .
T h e T V s e r i e s w o r k s le s s t h r o u g h it s e v e n t f u l n e s s a n d m o r e
as a c h r o n ic r e p e titio n o f a fix e d r e p e r to ir e o f c h a r a c te r s a n d
s i t u a t i o n s . E i t h e r w ay , w h a t t h e m e d i a e v e n t o r t e l e v i s i o n
s e r i e s p r o d u c e s is a n e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y . C a t c h ­
a ll t e r m s s u c h a s G e n e r a t i o n X a r e u s u a l l y b a s e d o n a c a t c h ­
a ll m i x o f s u p p o s e d l y k e y m e d i a e x p e r i e n c e s f o r a m a j o r i t y o f
c o n t e m p o r a r i e s . W h a t m i g h t b e m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g , I ’m s u g ­
g e s t i n g , is t o b r e a k i t d o w n i n t o s p e c i f i c c o h o r t s t h a t s h a r e d
e x p o s u r e to p a r tic u la r te x ts , a n d t h e n lo o k a t w h a t k in d s o f
s h a r e d s e n s e e m e r g e s in c o n n e c t in g d is p a r a te e x p e r ie n c e s o f
th e s e m e d ia m o m e n ts .
I t ’s t h r o u g h a p a t c h w o r k o f s h a r e d m e d i a t h a t t h e d i v e r s e
e x p e r ie n c e s o f g ro w in g u p in th e 6 0 s a n d 7 0 s c a n b e n a r ­
r a t e d , a n d is s t a r t i n g t o b e n a r r a t e d , i n t h e b o o k s a n d e s s a y s
p u b lis h e d by G re g o ry , Spencer and T s io lk a s . B ro a d c a st
v e c to r s a r e g e n e r a to r s o f s h a r e d im a g e s . M o r e d iv e rs e v e c to rs
o f d is tr ib u tio n , fro m th e p r in te d b o o k to th e in te r n e t, g e n ­
e r a te m o r e s p e c ific a n d d if f e r e n t k in d s o f im a g e s a n d s to rie s ,
b u t in c re a s in g ly , th e s e ta k e a s t h e i r ra w m a te r ia l e le m e n ts o f
th e s h a r e d e x p e r ie n c e o f m e d ia . I n th e w ritin g s o f th e s e c o n ­
te m p o r a r ie s , I th in k th e re is a s u g g e s tio n of how an
e m e r g i n g , p o s t b r o a d c a s t c u l t u r e m i g h t w o r k . O n e s ti ll b a s e d
o n m e d ia e x p e r ie n c e s a m a jo r ity s h a r e , b u t e x p lo r in g th e d if­
fe re n c es a n d s p e c ific itie s o f th a t e x p e r ie n c e , r a t h e r th a n
h o m o g e n i s in g it u n d e r m a s s la b e ls , o f w h ic h g e n e r a ti o n a l
la b e ls a r e a c o n s p ic u o u s e x a m p le .
A s S p e n c e r w r i t e s i n a n i l l u m i n a t i n g e s s a y : “B e i n g X m e a n s
b e in g b o u n d to g e th e r as a d o le s c e n ts b y e n d le s s r e p e a ts o f
G i l l i g a n ’s I s l a n d a n d G e t S m a r t , a s w e i m m e r s e d o u r s e l v e s i n
t h e liv e s o f T h e P a r t r i d g e F a m il y , T h e M u n s t e r s , a n d T h e B r a d y
B u n c h as o u r o w n fa m ilie s b e c a m e in c re a s in g ly c r a c k e d a n d
d y s fu n c tio n a l.” O f c o u r s e n o t e v e ry o n e w a tc h e d th e s a m e
sh o w s. N o t e v e r y o n e e v e n had a t e l e v i s i o n . B u t s till, T V
s h a p e d a k in d o f e x p e rie n c e , a n d now s h a p e s a k in d o f
m e m o ry .
generational ganglands

S p e n c e r ’s e x p e r i e n c e o f w h a t s h e c a lls “o u t e r o u t e r s u b ­
u r b i a ” w a s a n A n g lo o n e , b u t T s io lk a s g re w u p in m u c h th e
sam e k in d o f su b u rb a n M e lb o u rn e , am ong p e o p le w ho
s p o k e m o s t l y G r e e k . ‘T h e o n l y E n g l i s h I k n e w w a s f r a g m e n t s
a n d v e r s e s f r o m p o p m u s i c ”, h e r e c a l l s . W h i l e i t ’s a d i f f e r e n t
e x p e r ie n c e , it h a d s o m e o f th e s a m e r e s o u r c e s , th a n k s to th e
c o m m o n w o r ld flo w in g in to th e p r iv a tis e d h o m e s o f s u b u r b ia
f r o m t h e v e c t o r o f te l e v i s i o n . “M y b r o t h e r a n d I u s e d t o p la y
te l e v i s i o n s h o w s t o g e t h e r . W e ’d p l a y G i l l i g a n ’s I s l a n d o r t h e
B ra d y B u n c h a n d I o f te n e n d e d u p b e in g G in g e r o r M ary -
A n n . W e n e v e r th o u g h t it s tr a n g e .”
“W h e n I w a s f o u r y e a r s o l d I w a t c h e d t h e A u n t y J a c k s h o w
e v e r y w e e k ”, w r i t e s C h r i s G r e g o r y . “I w a s a f r a i d n o t t o w a t c h ,
b e c a u s e a t t h e e n d o f e v e r y e p i s o d e A u n t y J a c k w o u l d say : ‘i f
y o u d o n ’t w a t c h m y s h o w n e x t w e e k I ’ll r i p y o u r b l o o d y a r m s
o f f .’ I f I m is s e d a n e p is o d e I w o u ld s le e p in m y to y b o x so
A u n t y J a c k c o u l d n o t f i n d m e . . . . ”. S p e n c e r a n d T s i o l k a s a l s o
r e p o r t a n in v a s io n o f t h e im a g in a tiv e life b y im a g e s to w h ic h
th e y h a d b e e n e x p o s e d b y m e d ia v e c to rs . S p e n c e r d r e a m s o f
a d a y o u t w i t h M a d o n n a : “w e s h o p p e d a r o u n d f o r h o u r s a n d
e v e n tu a lly M a d o n n a c h o s e a S is te r M a ry M a c K illo p s h o w b a g
w i t h c r u c i f i x e s a n d b e a d s a n d a n g e l s w i n g s ( t h a t l o o k e d lik e
c i c a d a w i n g s ) . . . ”. T s i o l k a s r e c a l l s t h a t w h e n h e w a s y o u n g , “I
m a s t u r b a t e d o v e r J a c k T h o m p s o n . . . ”.
N o t o n l y d i d t h e d e s i r e s o f t h e b o d y c o n n e c t t o t h i s f lo w o f
im a g e s , so to o d i d t h e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f t h e m in d . R e c a lls
T s io l k a s : “I h a v e o n e m e m o r y o f t h e V i e t n a m w a r. I ’m a k i d ,
p la y in g w ith D a d o n t h e flo o r, a n d I h e a r m y M u m s ta rt
s n i f f i n g . T h e r e ’s f o o t a g e o n t h e b l a c k - a n d - w h i t e t e l e v i s i o n
sc re e n o f s o ld ie rs c a rry in g d e a d m en th ro u g h a m uddy
s w a m p . ” I t is a l s o t h e y o u n g C h r i s t o s ’ s o u r c e o f c o n c e p t s w it h
w h i c h t o i n t e r p r e t h i s o w n e x p e r i e n c e . “I t w a s f r o m b la c k
A m e r ic a n s th a t I firs t le a r n e d o f th e w o rld r a c is m ... T h e
m in i- s e r ie s R o o ts c h a n g e d m y w o r l d . ” A n d it l e d h i m to r e a d
b la c k m u s ic p o litic a lly , a n d to s e e k o u t b la c k w rite rs , s u c h as
J a m e s B a l d w i n . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , “N i e t z s c h e d i d n o t t e a c h
m e th a t G o d w as d e a d . I le a r n e d a b o u t it fro m a n E lto n J o h n
s o n g , ‘L e v o n ’. ”
T h i s f lo w o f i m a g e s a n d s t o r i e s , s o m e t i m e s e v e n c o n c e p t s ,
fro m w ith o u t p ro v id e s a s o m e tim e s d is c o r d a n t a c c o m p a n i­
m e n t t o s u b u r b a n e v e r y d a y lif e . G r e g o r y r e c a l l s v i s i t i n g r e l a -
 culture gen era to rs

fiv e s a n d l i s t e n i n g t o a c o u s i n p l a y i n g A B B A o n a hom e
o r g a n “w i t h a r h u m b a a c c o m p a n i m e n t ” — s h a d e s o f M u r i e l ’s
W e d d in g h e r e . H is m o t h e r u s e s th is a s a p r e t e x t to im p r e s s o n
h im th e le s s o n o f th e s u b u r b a n c a p a c ity to m a k e d is tin c tio n s :
“m y m o t h e r w o u l d t e l l m e t h a t t h e h o m e o r g a n w a s a ta c k y
in s tr u m e n t, a d e g r a d e d p i a n o .” S h e w a n ts h e r s o n to b e a c u t
a b o v e , s o s h e e n r o ls h im in p i a n o le s s o n s . O n ly s o m e th in g
g o e s a w ry . “W e o w n e d t h r e e t e l e v i s i o n s , ” w r i t e s G r e g o r y , “b u t
I w as n o t s u p p o s e d to h a v e th e te le v is io n in t h e r e c r e a ti o n
r o o m t u r n e d o n w h ile I w a s p r a c tic in g th e p i a n o .”
S p e n c e r a ls o e x p e r ie n c e d th e k in d s o f d is tin c tio n s u b u r b ia
m a in ta in e d . “W e ll th e boys fro m C a u lfie ld G r a m m a r ...
m ig h t b lith e ly f lir t w ith a p r e tty g ir l f r o m th e o u te r o u te r
s u b u rb s , th e y m ig h t e v e n f o r m in te n s e frie n d s h ip s ( h o u r s o n
th e t e l e p h o n e , th ric e -w e e k ly le tte r s ) b u t th e y w o u ld n e v e r
m a r r y o n e . ” C a u l f i e l d , w h i c h w a s N i c k C a v e ’s s c h o o l , m i g h t
b e l o c a t e d i n t h e s u b u r b s , b u t w a s n o t o f it.
In th e g a p b e tw e e n th e s u b u r b a n s p a c e , w h e re as S p e n c e r
sa y s, “t h e t e l e v i s i o n h u m s q u i e t l y i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d ”, a n d
t h e w o r l d s t h e t e l e v i s i o n v e c t o r r e v e a l s , w h a t o p e n s u p is a
p r i m a r y e x p e r i e n c e o f iro n y , o f d i s p l a c e m e n t . G r e g o r y s ta r ts
to see s o m e th in g s tra n g e in h is f a m i l y ’s F r a n k l i n M in t
l i m i t e d e d i t i o n c o l l e c t a b l e s , t h e r e is s o m e t h i n g j u s t a b i t o f f
a b o u t t h e i d e a o f “i n s t a n t h e i r l o o m s ”, k e p t i n t h e “l iv i n g
ro o m , w h e re n o b o d y w e n t b e c a u se t h e r e w a s n o T V .” A
y o u n g C h r i s G r e g o r y p u t s tw o a n d tw o t o g e t h e r : “A t a n e a r l y
a g e I r e a l i s e d t h a t I w a s li v i n g i n a w o r l d f u l l o f b a d d e s ig n . I
h a d n e e d e d n o le a p o f f a ith to c o n c l u d e t h a t I liv e d in a
b a d ly d e s ig n e d w o r ld .”
S p e n c e r r e c a l l s : “I u s e d t o w o r k i n o n e o f t h e f i r s t s h o p p i n g
c o m p le x e s w hen I w as fifte e n , m a k in g s a n d w ic h e s and
s e rv in g a f te r n o o n te a s a n d m e a t p ie s o n p a p e r p la te s .... I
h a d p la tfo rm s h o e s a n d I w as p r o u d o f k n o w in g th a t th e
b ro w n s tu ff o n to p o f th e c a p p u c c in o (in s ta n t) c o ffe e w as
c o c o a .” W h a t p a s s e s f o r k n o w in g n e s s , d is tin c tio n , in a s u b ­
u r b a n c o n te x t h a s b e e n s u b tly u n d e r m i n e d b y p a y in g j u s t a
b it to o m u c h a t t e n t i o n to o t h e r w o rld s .
T h e r e a r e tw o o t h e r w o r l d s t h a t a t t r a c t a s s u b u r b i a l o s e s its
c h a r m s . M o re th a n th e ir A m e r ic a n c o u n te r p a r ts , A u s tra lia n
G e n e r a t i o n X f a b le s in v o lv e a t u r n i n g aw a y f r o m s u b u r b i a
a n d a r e t u r n t o t h e c ity . S p e n c e r r e c a l l s : “I l o v e d c o m i n g t o
generational ganglands

t h e c ity w h e n I w a s a t e e n a g e r . S o b l o o d l e s s a n d a r t i f i c i a l . ”
W h i c h c a n b e r e a d a s a n i r o n i c c o m p l i m e n t . “I w o u l d g o
s h o p p in g in th e b a rg a in b a s e m e n ts a n d I n d ia n S h o p s , b u y
m y l u n c h a t S o u l F o o d s a n d v is it t h e A r t G a l l e r y a n d t h e
m u s e u m .”
T h e b r e a k w i t h s u b u r b i a is n o t a u n i v e r s a l g e n e r a t i o n a l
e x p e rie n c e . M any p e o p le chose to fo llo w th e ir p a re n ts ’
e x a m p l e a n d s e e k a h a p p y lif e t h e r e . A s S p e n c e r w r i t e s , “M y
b r o t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s i n v i t e m e o u t t o v is i t t h e i r h o m e s t o
a d m ire th e m ic ro w a v e s a n d th e n e w ca rs a n d th e g a m e s
ro o m s and th e s w im m in g p o o ls . T hey fe e d me fro zen
d in n e r s a n d s h o w m e p h o to s o f th e ir little g irls d r e s s e d u p
lik e c h ild p r o s titu te s f o r th e c a llis th e n ic s te a m .” S u b u r b ia
n e v e r q u it e lo o k s th e s a m e to th o s e w h o le f t it, a n d th e y a r e
t h e o n e w h o , i n p r i n t f o r m a t l e a s t , g e t t o t e l l its s to r y .
T h e te m p o r a l g a p b e tw e e n g e n e r a tio n s in te r s e c ts w ith th e
s p a tia l g a p b e tw e e n s u b u r b a n a rid u r b a n . T h e s tr a n g e th in g
is h o w a s u b u r b a n e n v i r o n m e n t , b a s e d o n o b s e r v i n g d i s t i n c ­
t i o n s a n d r e s t r i c t i n g flo w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n , c o u l d s t ill p r o v i d e
t h e s e t h r e e w r i t e r s w i t h t h e r e s o u r c e s t o c r i t i q u e it. C h r i s
G r e g o r y d e c l a r e s : “I n e v e r t a l k e d t o m y p a r e n t s a b o u t a n y ­
t h i n g m u c h . T h e y d i d n o t r e a d o r l i s t e n t o m u s i c . A ll t h e y d i d
w a s w o r k a n d c o m e h o m e l a t e a n d f a ll a s l e e p i n f r o n t o f t h e
te le v is io n a n d t h e n w a k e u p f o r lo n g e n o u g h to g o to b e d . ”
B e t h S p e n c e r w r i te s : “I k e e p m y lif e s a f e f r o m m y f a m i l y a n d
I k e e p t h e m s a f e f r o m m y lif e . N o t s o d i f f i c u l t b e c a u s e t h e y
a r e fa irly i n c u r io u s a b o u t m y w o r ld a l th o u g h th e y s o m e h o w
a ssu m e a p p ro v a l fo r th e ir s .” T h e s u b u rb a n g a p , u n lik e th e
g e n e r a t i o n g a p , is n o t s o m u c h o p p o s i t i o n a l a s a s t r u c t u r e o f
m u t u a l i n d i f f e r e n c e . A s T s i o l k a s s a y s , “I m o v e d a w a y a s f a s t a s
I c o u l d b e c a u s e I id e n tif ie d th e s u b u r b s w ith v a p id c o n f o r ­
m ity . I ’d h e a r d o f a m o r e c o l o u r f u l w o r l d . ”
“I c a m e t o t h e p u n k s c e n e l a t e . I t s m u s i c h a d i n f i l t r a t e d t h e
s u b u r b s ”, T s i o l k a s w r i t e s . “I s t r i p p e d m y s e lf o f a f o r m e r
l i f e . . . , t h e l if e o f a p l u m p s u b u r b a n p r o u d - l i t t l e - G r e e k - b o y . ”
R e v is itin g t h e s u b u r b s in t h e 9 0 s, h a v in g b e c o m e s o m e t h i n g
lik e th e u r b a n e p e r s o n h e w a n te d to b e c o m e , T s io lk a s f in d s
i t a c h a n g e d s p a c e . “N o w t h e n e w s a g e n t o p p o s i t e m y o l d s u b ­
u r b a n s c h o o l s t o c k s g a y p e r i o d i c a l s . ” S p e n c e r is n o t s o s u r e
— t o h e r i t is s t ill t h e s u b u r b s . T s i o l k a s , w h i l e f l e e i n g t h e
s u b u r b s , “g r a n t e d th e m th re e g ra c e s. T h e b e st jo k e s a re
 culture generato rs

h e a r d in th e s u b u rb s . Y ou g e t th e b e s t d r u g s th e r e . A n d th e
m o s t g o r g e o u s g u y s liv e o u t t h e r e . ”
Spencer re m e m b e rs 1972 n o t ju s t as th e year G ough
W h i d a m w o n t h e f e d e r a l e l e c t i o n , b u t a ls o a s t h e y e a r H e l e n
R e d d y w o n a G r a m m y A w a r d f o r h e r s o n g ‘I A m W o m a n ’.
S h e r y n G e o r g e , f o r m e r e d i t o r o f A u s t r a l i a n W o m e n ’s F o r u m , a
p a r tic u la r ly u r b a n e p u b lic a tio n th a t in f iltr a te d th e s u b u r b s in
t h e 9 0 s , sa y s s h e u s e d t o k n o w a ll t h e w o r d s t o t h a t s o n g . I n a
p e r c e p tiv e e ssa y o n g r o w in g u p f e m a le in t h e 6 0 s a n d 7 0 s in
s u b u rb ia , G e o rg e n o te s its p a rtic u la r te n s io n s : “B a s ic a lly ,
l o o k i n g s e x u a l w a s n ’t o n , y e t e v e r y t h i n g w a s i n f u s e d w i t h s e x
w h e n I w a s g ro w in g u p . T V , p a r tie s , th e b e a c h , p o s te r s , m u s ic .
T h e f o r b i d d e n w as a l lu d e d to e v e ry w h e re . A lth o u g h g irls w e re
s u p p o s e d to b e b e a u tif u l — e v e n se xy — th e n u n s a n d sh o w s
li k e C la s s o f 7 4 s u g g e s t e d g o o d g i r l s h a t e d a c t u a l l y h a v i n g s e x ,
e v e n w h e n th e y w e r e m a r r i e d to t h e i r o n e a n d o n ly t r u e lo v e .”
S o m e h o w , th r o u g h s o m e v e c to r, in f o r m a tio n le e c h e s in to
s u b u rb ia , fro m s o m e w h e r e . “I n s i x t h g r a d e , t h r e e b o l s h i e
g irlf rie n d s a n d I s a n g a s o n g a t th e e n d -o f-y e a r c o n c e r t c a lle d
‘W o m e n A r e R e a l P e o p l e ’ ( W A R P ) . . . I h a v e n o i d e a w h e r e
w e d u g it u p f ro m . (I h a v e a d im m e m o r y o f M a rc ia b e in g
b rie fly e m p o w e r e d o n t h a t m o s t s e x is t o f p r o g r a m s , th e B ra d y
B u n c h .) We m u st have lo o k e d p r e tty fu n n y , f o u r s tu b b y
e le v e n -y e a r-o ld s h o ld in g up p la c a rd s in d e fia n c e of our
o p p r e s s io n , b u t th e iro n y o f o u r p r o te s t a c ro n y m s p e llin g
‘w a r p ’ w a s l o s t o n u s . ”'’1
T h is w as th e o th e r lin e o f e s c a p e o p e n o u t o f th e s u b u rb s
b e s i d e s t h e c ity : t h e m e d i a , o r r a t h e r , c u l t i v a t i n g a n u r b a n e
w a y o f a p p r e c i a t i n g m e d i a . T h i s m a y m e a n a c ti v e ly s e e k i n g
e x p o s u r e to a b r o a d e r r e p e r t o i r e th a n w as a v a ila b le o n T V .
‘T h e im a g e ... sed u ced me fro m an e a r l y a g e ”, T s i o l k a s
w r i t e s , a n d , “t h e i m a g e h a s b e e n u b i q u i t o u s i n m y l i f e . ” B u t
t h e r e a r e i m a g e s a n d i m a g e s . “U n l i k e t e l e v i s i o n , w h i c h w a s
im m e d ia te , p a r t o f t h e h o u s e , t h e h u g e s c r e e n in th e m o v ie
th e a tre w as a space th ro u g h w h ic h I d is a p p e a re d in to
f a n t a s y . ” S p e n c e r : “I lo v e m a t i n e e s . I a v o i d S a t u r d a y n i g h t s ,
because i t ’s a lw a y s c o u p le s . I p re fe r d a y tim e , m id w e e k :
p la y in g s o lita ir e w ith th e o ld , th e h o m e ly , th e c h ip r u s tle r s
a n d fu rtiv e c h o c o la te e a te rs , th e h a n k y -b rin g e rs .” G re g o ry :
“W h a t I s a w o n t e l e v i s i o n a n d a t t h e M o n s t e r M o v ie M a t i n e e
p r o v id e d m e w ith a s u b s ta n tia l p a r t o f m y im a g in a tiv e lif e .”
generational ganglands

T h e re s u lts o f s u c h a n e x p o s u re c o u ld b e s o m e w h a t m ix e d .
T s io lk a s re p o rts th a t he le a rn e d about S tu d e n ts fo r a
D e m o c ra tic S o c ie ty th ro u g h H a s k e ll W e x l e r ’s ra d ic a l
M c L u h a n i t e f i l m o f 1 9 6 9 , M e d i u m C ool. G r e g o r y r e c a l l s t h a t :
“A ll I w a n t e d t o b e w a s t h e g u y w h o w o r e t h e G o d z i l l a s u i t
a n d g o t t o s t o m p a l l o v e r a m i n i a t u r e T o k y o . ” E i t h e r w ay,
w h a t r e s u l t s is a k i n d o f u r b a n i t y , w h a t S p e n c e r c a lls “a s e c r e t
h id d e n le f t- h a n d e d n e s s o f th e s o u l.”

The U rbane an d th e S c e p tic

T h e s p a c e o f t h e c it y is b y i t s e l f n o t e n o u g h to p r o d u c e
u r b a n i t y . I t is q u i t e p o s s i b l e t o e x p e r i e n c e t h e c i ty i n a s u b ­
u r b a n w ay. G r e g o r y t h i n k s L i b e r a l P r e m i e r J e f f K e n n e t t ’s
e v e r y d a y e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e c ity is e n t i r e l y s u b u r b a n . H e s e e s
i t u n d e r g la s s , t h r o u g h a w in d s c re e n , s h u ttlin g b e tw e e n
hom e and w o rk , b a re ly s e ttin g fo o t in it. “P e r h a p s
M e lb o u r n e w a s o n e o f th e la s t p la c e s w h e r e s o m e o n e c o u ld
s ti ll s e e t h e c it y a s s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n a n o b s t a c l e t o m o v e ­
m e n t ”, G r e g o r y l a m e n t s . T h e to llw a y s c a r v e c o r r i d o r s f o r
s u b u r b a n d r iv e r s to g e t in a n d o u t o f it in t h e p riv a c y o f t h e i r
c a rs, w ith o u t ris k in g b e c o m in g a p u b lic .
G r e g o r y w rite s a b o u t th e g r e a t H o n g K o n g film s ta r J a c k ie
C han m a k in g a m o v ie in M e l b o u r n e , a c ity c h o s e n as a
c h e a p e r s t a n d - i n f o r N e w Y o rk . G r e g o r y w a n t s t o m e e t J a c k i e
C h a n , w h o m a k e s m u c h m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g f il m s , i n G r e g o r y ’s
v ie w , t h a n u s u a l A u s t r a l i a n s u b u r b a n m e l o d r a m a s . H e t h i n k s
h e a n d J a c k i e h a v e s o m e t h i n g i n c o m m o n . “I w a n t e d t o t e ll
h im h o w m u c h o f m y o w n w o rk in v o lv e d th e im p o s itio n o f
i n c o n g r u o u s s c e n e s u p o n r e a l p h y s i c a l l o c a t i o n s . ” G r e g o r y ’s
w r i t i n g c r o s s e s t h e f lo w o f h i s b o d y ’s m o v e m e n t a c r o s s p h y s ­
i c a l s p a c e w i t h t h e f lo w o f h i s m i n d ’s a w a r e n e s s o f m e d i a
s p a c e . T w o k in d s o f v e c to rs in te r s e c t: m o v e m e n t in s p a c e , o n
tra m s , in c a rs; m o v e m e n t o f m e d ia , a lo n g p h o n e lin e s a n d
o n v id e o s c re e n s.
T h e u r b a n e lo v e t h e i d e a o f t h e i r h o m e city . T h e u r b a n e
th in k of th e c ity as hom e. G re g o ry c le a rly lo v e s h is
M e l b o u r n e . H e g e t s f a s c i n a t e d b y t h e w a y s o m a n y o f its b u i l d ­
in g s a r e c o p ie s o f m o r e fa m o u s b u ild in g s in m o r e fa m o u s
c i ti e s . T h i s a n t i p o d e a n c ity is i t s e l f i n l o v e w i t h t h e i d e a o f t h e
c ity , o n l y it s i d e a o f t h e c ity is R o m e o r L o n d o n . A n d s o w h y
 the urbane and the sceptic

n o t N e w Y o rk ? G r e g o r y s e e s J a c k i e C h a n ’s c r e a t i o n o f a N e w
Y o r k f i lm i n M e l b o u r n e a s s o m e t h i n g a k i n t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f
a ‘R o m a n ’ c a t h e d r a l t h e r e . “W h a t j a c k i e C h a n is d o i n g m a k e s
s e n s e , g iv e n t h a t t h e h is to r y o f M e l b o u r n e h a s b e e n a c o n ­
s t a n t p r o c e s s o f i m i t a t i o n a n d r e p r o d u c t i o n a n y w a y .”
A e s th e tic s , o r th e c o n c e p t o f a r t, m a tte r s a g r e a t d e a l to
G r e g o r y , S p e n c e r a n d T s i o l k a s . W r i t i n g a b o u t a e s t h e t i c s is a
p r o b l e m , b e c a u s e c r i t i c a l w r i t i n g is i t s e l f a n a r t , a n d t h e f o r m
o f e x p r e s s io n h a s to b e r ig h t to o . G r e g o r y c o m e s c lo s e s t to a
u n iq u e e x p r e s s io n o f a p o s ts u b u r b a n a e s th e tic s in h is e ssa y
on th e e x tin c tio n o f m ock c h ic k e n , o n e o f th e c u lin a ry
d e l i g h t s o f w h a t G r e g o r y d e s c r i b e s a s h i s “w h i t e t r a s h ” s u b ­
u r b a n c h i l d h o o d . “I l i k e d e a t i n g m o c k c h i c k e n . A t t h e t i m e
I lik e d m o c k c h ic k e n m o r e t h a n I lik e d re a l c h ic k e n . T h e
te x tu re w as m o re c o n s is te n t, a n d th e sk e w e r w as m u c h m o re
c o n v e n ie n t a n d le s s d i s t u r b i n g th a n re a l c h ic k e n bones.
E a tin g m o c k c h ic k e n w a s lik e e a tin g a c a r to o n c h ic k e n .”
W h a t is a e s t h e t i c a b o u t t h i s w r i t i n g is t h e w a y G r e g o r y is
a b le to se e e v e n a d e g r a d e d fro z e n m e a l e x p e r ie n c e as a n
e x p r e s s i o n o f s ty le . “M o c k c h i c k e n w a s t h e p r o d u c t o f m o r e
o p tim is tic tim e s , w h e n p e o p le b e lie v e d t h a t h u m a n b e in g s
c o u l d i m p r o v e o n n a t u r e . ” G r e g o r y g a v e u p p i a n o le s s o n s .
He gave u p a s p irin g to a su b u rb a n id e a o f re fin e m e n t.
R a t h e r t h a n a s p i r e t o a n i d e a l k i n d o f a r t i s t i c p e r f e c t i o n in
a n u n t h i n k i n g w ay , h e a c h i e v e s a v e r y t h o u g h t f u l r e l a t i o n to
th e d e g r a d e d a n d fa r fro m id e a l m a te ria ls h e fin d s a r o u n d
h im , f r o m m o n s te r m o v ie s to m o c k c h ic k e n .
G r e g o r y d o e s n o t l e t t h e m a t t e r r e s t w ith a n ir o n ic , p o s t­
m o d e r n r e v e r s a l o f v a l u e s , m a k i n g m o c k c h i c k e n s u p e r i o r to
c h ic k e n . S o m e s e c re t h id d e n le ft-h a n d e d n e s s o f th e so u l
o b lig e s h im to p re s s th e re v a lu a tio n o f v a lu e s a b it f u r th e r .
C a n w e re a lly a s s u m e t h a t w e k n o w th e v a lu e o f c h ic k e n , th e
th in g a g a in s t w h ic h m ock c h ic k e n is to be m e a su re d ?
G re g o ry q u e s tio n s th e v a lu e re p re s e n te d by th e w o rd
‘c h i c k e n ’ t o o , a n d t h e r e b y u n d o e s t h e j u d g e m e n t h e h a s j u s t
p a s s e d o n its r e l a t i o n t o m o c k c h i c k e n .
“T h e c h i c k e n is a n e l e g a n t a n d h i g h l y s o p h i s t i c a t e d p i e c e
o f m o d e rn t e c h n o l o g y ”, h e w r i t e s , a n d th e n d e s c r i b e s in
a la rm in g d e ta il th e in d u s tria l p r o d u c tio n o f c h ic k e n . M o c k
c h ic k e n m ay b e a f a ile d im p ro v e m e n t o n n a tu re , b u t a
c h i c k e n is n o t a n a r t e f a c t o f n a t u r e a n y m o r e , b u t o f t e c h ­
generational ganglands

n o lo g y . T h e r e is n o o l d v a l u e t o g o b a c k t o , n o w G r e g o r y
w a n ts to tre a t th e m o d e rn is in g a s p ira tio n s o f th e m ock
c h ic k e n e a te rs to g e n tle p a ro d y . T h e id e a o f a r e tu r n , a ru s ­
t i c a t i o n , is a s u b u r b a n o n e , a w a y t o g r a s p a s t a b l e v a l u e —
‘n a t u r e ’ — n o w t h a t i m p r o v i n g o n n a t u r e n o l o n g e r s e e m s
p o s s ib le . G re g o ry , by c o n tra s t, e m b ra c e s a m ovem ent
f o r w a r d , b u t w i t h o u t t h e l u x u r y o f b e l i e v i n g i n it. “I f e e l t h e
sa m e w ay a b o u t c h ic k e n as I im a g in e m o r e p o litic a lly c o n ­
s c i o u s p e o p l e f e e l a b o u t t h e d e m o c r a t i c s y s te m o r u n i v e r s a l
s u f f r a g e .”
T h e r e is s o m e t h i n g s c e p t i c a l i n t h e s e w r i t e r s t h a t I f i n d
c o n g e n ia l, as if it c a m e fro m s o m e s h a r e d e x p e r ie n c e . A n d
y e t i t is a c o m m i t t e d , a c t i v e , e t h i c a l k i n d o f s c e p t i c i s m . I f i n d
it u tte rly re m o v e d fro m th e supposed “r e l a t i v i s m ” t h a t
B o o m e r c r itic s id e n tify , in th e ir c ru d e w ay , a s t h e p o s t­
m o d e r n s ty le . W h a t I f i n d i n S p e n c e r , T s i o l k a s a n d G r e g o r y
is not re la tiv is m or th e d e s tru c tio n o f v a lu e s , but th e
r e v a l u i n g o f v a l u e s . W h a t I f i n d is n o t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e
d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n h i g h a n d lo w a r t b u t a c o n s t a n t q u e s ­
tio n in g o f j u s t w h e r e a n d h o w a e s th e tic q u a lity c a n e m e rg e ,
o u t o f a n y a n d e v e r y m e d i a f lo w o r e v e r y d a y s i t u a t i o n .
T h e r e is a s c e p t i c i s m a b o u t t i m e , a b o u t c a u s e a n d e f f e c t ,
a b o u t h o w a c tio n s in th e p r e s e n t c r e a te c o n d itio n s in th e
f u t u r e . T h e r e is a l s o a c e r t a i n c o m m i t m e n t , p a s s i o n , w ill,
w h ic h I th in k c o n n e c ts m o r e to s p a c e th a n to tim e . T h e
s p a c e o f u r b a n ity h o ld s th e s e d is p a r a te w rite rs to g e th e r . T h e
u r b a n e is a s h a r e d f a n t a s y i n w h i c h d i f f e r e n c e s c a n b e a r t i c ­
u l a t e d , s i m u l a t e d , c e l e b r a t e d . I t ’s c o m m o n t o t h i n k o f ‘s u b ­
u r b i a ’ a s a fa n ta s y s p a c e w h ic h g e n e r a te s a c e r ta in k in d o f
A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r e , b u t w h y is t h e r e n o ‘u r b i a ’ t o w h i c h s u b ­
u r b s m i g h t c o n t r i b u t e ? T h i s u r b i a is a l r e a d y a c u l t u r a l a l t e r ­
n a tiv e to th e s u b u r b a n . P e r h a p s , if c y b e rs p a c e re a lly d o e s
b re a k u p th e m a jo rita ria n q u a lity o f m e d ia te d c u ltu r e , it
m ig h t a p p e a r , re tro s p e c tiv e ly as th e b e g in n in g s o f a p o litic a l
c r i t i q u e o f s u b u r b i a a s w e ll.

P a u l i n e P a n t s d o w n ’s D i s c o N a tio n
S e c r e t h i d d e n l e f t - h a n d e d n e s s o f t h e s o u l d o e s n ’t q u i t e g o
fa r e n o u g h to d e s c rib e th e a c h ie v e m e n t o f S im o n H u n t,
b e t t e r k n o w n t o a w i d e r p u b l i c a s P a u l i n e P a n t s d o w n . I t ’s
 p a u l i n e p a n t s d o w n ’s d i s c o n a t i o n

m o re o f th e o rd e r o f D ave G r a n e y ’s “m y s t e r i o u s k i n k ”.
P a u l i n e b e g a n lif e a s a D r a g Q u e e n a t o n e o f J a m i e a n d
V a n e s s a ’s p a r t i e s i n i n n e r c ity S y d n e y . W h i l e t h e s e p a r t i e s
h a d a s t r o n g g a y fl a v o u r , t h e y w e r e p o p u l a r w i t h a w i d e r a n g e
o f y o u n g u rb a n ite s . P a u lin e p e rfo rm e d ‘I ’m a B ackdoor
M a n ’, a s o n g p u t t o g e t h e r o u t o f b i t s o f P a u l i n e H a n s o n ’s
s p e e c h e s a n d m e d ia p e rfo rm a n c e s , c u t u p a n d r e a r r a n g e d
o n a c o m p u t e r , a n d w i t h a d a n c e t r a c k o f H u n t ’s o w n c o m ­
p o s itio n a d d e d .
T h e A B C R a d i o ‘y o u t h n e t w o r k ’, T r i p l e J , s t a r t e d b r o a d ­
c a s t i n g t h e s o n g , a n d i t q u i c k l y b e c a m e p o p u l a r w i t h lis­
te n e rs o n t h e r e q u e s t s h o w . ‘B a c k d o o r M a n ’ f e a t u r e s t h e
v o i c e o f P a u l i n e H a n s o n s p e a k i n g l i n e s s u c h a s: “I ’m a b a c k ­
d o o r m a n . I ’m a h o m o s e x u a l ” a n d “I ’m a b a c k d o o r m a n f o r
t h e K u K l u x K l a n , w i t h v e r y h o r r e n d o u s p l a n s . I ’m a v e r y
p r o u d p o t a t o . ”32 I t d i d n ’t t a k e l o n g f o r t h e w r i t s t o a r r i v e .
H a n s o n ’s la w y e r s s o u g h t a n i n j u n c t i o n t o p r e v e n t T r i p l e J
f r o m b r o a d c a s t i n g it , a n d s u e d f o r d e f a m a t i o n . T h e y p l e a d e d
th a t th e s o n g c o u ld b e ta k e n b y o r d in a r y p e o p le to m e a n
t h a t H a n s o n e n g a g e d in u n n a t u r a l s e x a c ts , a n d w a s th e
“r e c e i v e r o f a n a l s e x . ”33 Q u e e n s l a n d j u d g e s t o o k a d i m v ie w
o f P a u l i n e P a n t s d o w n ’s f r e e s p e e c h rig h ts , a n d f o u n d in
f a v o u r o f P a u l i n e H a n s o n ’s r i g h t t o p r o t e c t h e r r e p u t a t i o n .
W h a t m a d e th e d e c is io n o ffe n s iv e to c o m m o n s e n s e w as th a t
H a n s o n ’s la w y e r s s u c c e e d e d i n a r g u i n g t h a t t h e p u b l i c h a s
t h e r e a d i n g s k ill s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e e x p r e s s i o n “b a c k ­
d o o r m a n ” re fe rs to a n a l sex , b u t n o t to u n d e r s ta n d th a t th e
r e c o r d i n g is i n t h e g e n r e o f s a t i r e .
I r o n i c a lly , t h e e x p r e s s i o n ‘b a c k d o o r m a n ’, h a s q u i t e a n o t h e r
h is to r y in p o p u l a r m u s ic . I n C h ic a g o b lu e s l e g e n d H o w lin g
W o l f s f a m o u s p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e b l u e s s t a n d a r d ‘B a c k D o o r
M a n ’, h e is b r a g g i n g a b o u t h i s s u c c e s s a s a n a d u l t e r e r , b u t
m o r e s p e c if ic a lly , h i s s u c c e s s a s a b l a c k m a n i n f u c k i n g w h i t e
w o m e n . 34 S o m e h o w I d o n ’t q u i t e s e e P a u l i n e H a n s o n a s a
b l a c k m a n w h o f u c k s w h i t e w o m e n , a l t h o u g h i f w e f o ll o w
H a n s o n ’s la w y e rs d o w n t h i s t r a c k o f a t t r i b u t i n g r e a d i n g a b ility
t o t h e p u b l i c , t h i s is w h a t t h a t p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c w h o a r e b l u e s
fa n s w o u ld s u p p o s e d ly b e le d to b e lie v e b y th e s o n g . O f c o u r s e
i f t h i s p u b l i c h a s a n y r e a d i n g a b ility , t h e y w o u l d m o s t lik e ly s e e
H u n t ’s c u t - u p a r t a s s a t i r e , a n d m a k e n o s u c h a s s u m p t i o n s
a b o u t P a u l i n e H a n s o n ’s r a c i a l o r s e x u a l p r e f e r e n c e s .
generational ganglands

P a u l i n e P a n t s d o w n w a s n o t e a s ily s i l e n c e d . S h e r e l e a s e d
a n o t h e r s o n g , ‘I D o n ’t L i k e I t ! ’.35 T h e C D s h o w s P a n t s d o w n
i n H a n s o n d r a g , d r a p i n g h e r s e l f i n t h e A u s t r a l i a n f la g . “I
d o n ’t li k e it , w h e n you tu rn m y v o ic e a b o u t ”, r u n s th e
o p e n i n g l i n e . T h i s t i m e H u n t ’s d i g i t a l d e c o n s t r u c t i o n d r a w s
a t t e n t i o n t o i t s e l f a n d its r e l a t i o n t o H a n s o n r i g h t f r o m t h e
g e t g o . “M y l a n g u a g e h a s b e e n m u r d e r e d ”, H a n s o n — o r is
i t P a n t s d o w n ? — sa y s. T h e b a c k h a l f o f t h i s l i n e w o u l d m o s t
li k e l y r e m i n d t h e a t t e n t i v e r e a d e r o f H a n s o n ’s f a m o u s d e a t h
v i d e o , o n w h i c h s h e s a y s , “I f y o u a r e s e e i n g t h i s , I h a v e b e e n
m u r d e r e d . ” I t w a s a b i z a r r e l a s t w ill a n d t e s t a m e n t l e f t i n c a s e
o f h e r a s s a s s i n a t i o n . ‘I D o n ’t L i k e I t ’ w e n t t o n u m b e r 1 3 o n
th e A R IA n a tio n a l m u s ic c h a r t.
S im o n H u n t c h a n g e d h is n a m e b y d e e d p o ll a n d r a n as a
S e n a t e c a n d i d a t e i n N e w S o u t h W a le s . J o u r n a l i s t C a r o l i n e
O v e r i n g t o n r e p o r t s o f P a n t s d o w n ’s c a m p a i g n p e r f o r m a n c e :
“I n t r u t h , P a n t s d o w n d o e s n o t d o M r s H a n s o n ’s v o i c e v e r y
w e ll a n d , m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y f o r a p o l i t i c a l s a t i r i s t , s h e is n o t
p a rtic u la rly fu n n y , but p e rh a p s t h a t ’s th e p o i n t . ”36
P a n t s d o w n ’s c a m p a i g n a p p ea ra n ce s in c lu d e d K in g s te a m
S a u n a , T h e T oday S how , th e S y d n e y G a y a n d L e s b ia n M a rd i
G r a s S l e a z e B a ll, a n d a f i s h s h o p — F i s h R e c o r d s o n O x f o r d
s t. A s t r i k i n g l y u r b a n e m ix .
J u i c e m a g a z i n e d e s c r i b e d P a n t s d o w n ’s e l e c t i o n p o l i c i e s a s
b e i n g “a s s h a l l o w ( a n d f u l l o f p is s ) a s a k i d d i e s s w i m m i n g
p o o l . ”37 S i m o n H u n t s tre s s e d th a t th e p o in t o f th e D ra g
Q u e e n v e rs io n o f H a n s o n w as to h ig h lig h t th e fa c t th a t b o th
w e r e “c o m p l e t e l y c o n s t r u c t e d ”. T h e s a m e f r o c k s a n d h a i r d o ,
o n a m a n ’s b o d y , d r a w s a t t e n t i o n t o t h e c o l o u r a n d s h a p e a s
a rtific e . If th e re is a d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n H anson and
P a n t s d o w n , f o r t h a t l a t t e r i t is “t h a t I m a k e u p t h e t h i n g s I sa y
m y s e lf.” N e i t h e r g o t th e m s e lv e s e l e c t e d in 1 9 9 8 . P a n ts d o w n
p o ll e d o n ly 2 2 9 5 v o te s . T h is o t h e r P a u lin e d i r e c t e d p r e f e r ­
e n c e s t o tw o o t h e r S e n a t e c a n d i d a t e s . O n e o f w h o m , A d e n
R id g e w a y , h a d a n a r r o w w i n , a n d b e c a m e o n l y t h e s e c o n d
A b o r ig in a l e le c te d to f e d e r a l p a r lia m e n t. I t w o u ld b e n ic e to
th in k th a t P a n ts d o w n m a d e a d iffe re n c e .
T o m e , P a u l i n e P a n t s d o w n is a s i n g u l a r e x p r e s s i o n o f a n
a ttr ib u te I r e c o g n is e a s c o n te m p o r a r y : th e c a p a c ity to d e c o n ­
s tr u c t m e ssa g e s re c e iv e d a n d b e c o m e , in th e p ro c e s s , th e
a p p a r e n t a u t h o r o f a u n iq u e ta k e o n w h a t th e v e c to r th ro w s
 p a u l i n e p a n t s d o w n ’s d i s c o n a t i o n

a t u s a ll, r e v e a l i n g t h e s e n s e - m a k i n g m a c h i n e r y a t w o r k t h a t
p r o d u c e d t h e a p p a r e n t l y s e a m l e s s , o b v i o u s “m o c k c h i c k e n ”
w o rld of th ird n a tu re . I c a n ’t speak fo r how P a u lin e
P a n ts d o w n a r r iv e d a t s u c h a c a p a c ity f o r f in d in g th e v irtu a l
i n t h e b a n a l . M a y b e t h a t l i e s i n S i m o n H u n t ’s e x p e r i e n c e o f
s u b u r b a n li f e a s b e i n g s o m e h o w a w ry . “O r m a y b e i t b e g a n
t h a t d a y , ” a s B e t h S p e n c e r sa y s “b a c k j u s t b e f o r e I w a s b o r n ,
w h e n m y f a th e r w a lk e d in to th e h o u s e c a r r y in g a b r a n d n e w
t e l e v i s i o n . ”38
S p e n c e r sa y s t h a t s h e m a k e s h e r w r i t i n g o u t o f “e v e r y t h i n g
f r o m a ll t h e s to r ie s a n d a n e c d o te s p e o p l e h a v e e v e r to ld m e ,
to b its fro m The D onahue Show , th e B ib le , In B ed W ith
M a d o n n a , b o o k s o n in fe rtility a n d b ir th , lin e s fr o m p o p u la r
s o n g s , g o s s ip ite m s f r o m N e w Ide a, f r a g m e n ts f r o m p h ilo s ­
o p h y te x ts , to u r is t in f o r m a tio n , c h a r a c te r s f r o m d e te c tiv e
n o v e ls , e x c e r p ts f r o m 1 9 60s sc h o o l te x t b o o k s, a n d so o n .”
T h e m a t e r i a l f o r h e r a r t is “T h e c a s t - o f f s o r t h e m a s s - p r o ­
duced — a ll t h e th in g s f lo a tin g o r le f t ly in g a r o u n d out
th e re . T h e sp a c e ju n k .”
B u t lik e P a u lin e P a n ts d o w n , th is g o t h e r i n t o tr o u b l e , a n d
h e r e is w h e r e t h e p o l i t i c s o f c u l t u r e m e e t s t h e c u l t u r e o f p o l ­
itic s f o r t h e m b o t h . W ith P a n ts d o w n , t h e is s u e w a s d e f a m a ­
tio n . W ith S p e n c e r , th e is s u e w a s in te lle c tu a l p r o p e r ty . W h a t
c o n s t i t u t e s “f a i r u s e ” o f t h e m a t e r i a l i n w h i c h o t h e r p e o p l e
h o ld th e c o p y rig h t? E r r in g o n th e s id e o f c a u tio n , S p e n c e r
s o u g h t p e r m is s io n to r e p r o d u c e e v e ry la s t s to le n s o u n d b ite
in h e r b o o k , e v e n tra c k in g d o w n ro c k le g e n d L o u R e e d a n d
p le a d in g w ith h im to in te r c e d e a n d h a v e s o m e lu d ic ro u s ly
h i g h c h a r g e s d r o p p e d s o s h e c o u l d u s e a fe w w o r d s f r o m o n e
o f h is so n g s.
S o m e o f m y m o st c h e ris h e d a n d p e rs o n a l m e m o rie s a re
c o p y r i g h t , a n d t h e c o p y r i g h t is o w n e d b y s o m e o n e e l s e . I d o
n o t a c t u a l l y o w n m y f a n t a s i e s a b o u t M a r c i a B r a d y — o r A l ic e
th e m a id . O n th e c u s p b e tw e e n th e b r o a d c a s t e r a a n d c y b e r­
space, th e w e a lth o f c re a tiv ity b lo c k e d b y B u r b le r g a te ­
k e e p e rs o f th e m a in s tre a m a n d m a jo rita ria n m e d ia p o u rs
lik e san d th ro u g h th e cra c k s o p e n in g up in th e e d ific e
c o m p le x . W h a t a p p e a r s o n th e h o r iz o n , b e s id e s th is v irtu a l
o p e n i n g , a r e t h e l i m i t a t i o n s t h a t w ill h a v e t o b e a d d r e s s e d
t h r o u g h a m o r e s u b tle a n d d iv e rs e p o litic s o f in f o r m a tio n ,
m e d ia , c o m m u n ic a tio n a n d c u ltu re .
•52

c h a p t e r 0

Regenerating Labor
While it has been said that the m eek shall inherit the
earth, they are unlikely to do so while leading the
Australian Labor Party.
Graham Richardson

T he F u tu re of B arry Jones

“R e s p e c t e d b y a ll, f e a r e d b y n o n e ”, is h o w o n e j o u r n a l i s t
su m s u p th e c a re e r o f B a rry J o n e s , w h o a m o n g m a n y o th e r
th in g s , w as M in is te r f o r S c ie n c e f o r s e v e n y e a rs u n d e r th e
H aw ke g o v e r n m e n t.1 If a n y o n e had a v is io n o f w h e re
A u s t r a l i a w a s h e a d e d , a n d h o w L a b o r c u l t u r e w a s f a i l i n g to
a n tic ip a te th e e ffe c t o f th e c a s c a d in g c h a n g e s o f th e 8 0 s a n d
9 0 s , i t w a s J o n e s . T h i s c h a p t e r r e v is i ts h i s le g a c y t o m a p o u t
th e s p a c e J o n e s a n tic ip a te d A u s tra lia w o u ld f in d its e lf in , a n d
t h e n t u r n s t o a y o u n g e r w r i t e r f r o m w i t h i n t h e L a b o r P a rt y ,
L in d s a y T a n n e r , to lo o k a t w h a t q u e s tio n s e m e r g e d a t th e
e n d o f t h e 9 0 s , w h e n A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r e l a n d e d m o r e o r le s s
w h e re J o n e s p re d ic te d .
I t is f i t t i n g t h a t A u s t r a l i a ’s f i r s t p o s t m o d e r n p o litic ia n
b e c a m e a c e le b rity th r o u g h h is te le v is io n a p p e a r a n c e s . In
t h e 6 0 s , h e a p p e a r e d 2 0 8 t i m e s o n B o b D y e r ’s q u i z s h o w P i c k
A B o x . I f J o n e s is t h e o n l y L a b o r p o l i t i c i a n o f h i s g e n e r a t i o n
w h o c o u l d s a f e ly b e d e s c r i b e d a s l o v a b l e , i t is i n p a r t b e c a u s e
h is c e le b rity o r ig in a te d in th e s e te le v is e d d is p la y s o f h is
b r o a d e r u d itio n . H e w as th e a c c e p ta b le fa c e o f th a t su b ­
 the future of barry jones

u r b a n o d d ity , th e m a n w h o k n e w to o m u c h . H e w as th e
p e r f e c t g o -b e tw e e n f o r u r b a n e k n o w le d g e to th e s u b u r b a n
p u b lic , a n d v ic e v e rs a . W ith h is r u m p l e d s u its s c r u n c h e d o v e r
h is s h o u ld e r s , h is s a lte d b e a r d , a n d a g a z e t h a t s e e m e d to
s e a r c h o u t s o m e t h i n g o n a h i g h d i a g o n a l i n t h e sky, J o n e s
e m b o d i e d a n i d e a o f w h a t i t ’s l i k e t o b e a p o l i t i c i a n w i t h a
b ra in .
“A m I i n t e r e s t e d i n i d e a s ? Y es. M o r e t h a n p o w e r ? Y e s.” I t ’s
a fa ta l a d m is s io n , a n d a s ig n o f w h a t k e p t J o n e s aw ay f r o m
re a l a u th o r ity w ith in th e L a b o r P a rty o r in g o v e rn m e n t.
J o n e s w as th e p o litic a l c e le b r ity o f th e lo s t id e a . W h ile h e d id
g e t s o m e a d d itio n a l f u n d in g o u t o f H a w k e f o r th e s c ie n c e s ,
h i s m a i n l e g a c y m a y w e ll b e h i s p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m
b u ild in g u p f o r L a b o r c u ltu r e as it c o n f r o n ts a n e v e r m o r e
c o m p l e x c y b e r s p a c e , a n d t r i e s t o t u r n i ts c u l t u r a l v a l u e s i n t o
p o w e r th r o u g h p u b lic d e b a te a n d th e p o litic a l p ro c e s s .
I f t h e s u r v i v a l o f d e m o c r a c y is p r e d i c a t e d o n t h e i n f o r m e d
c i t i z e n , t h e n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n r e v o l u t i o n is a p o l i t i c a l r e v o l u ­
tio n to o . J o n e s u n d e r s to o d m o r e c le a rly t h a n m o s t th a t g o v ­
e r n m e n t is a s m u c h a b o u t i n f o r m a t i o n a s i t is a b o u t p o w e r ,
and th a t in fo rm a tio n te c h n o lo g y tra n s fo rm s re la tio n s of
p o w e r . T h i s is o n e o f t h e m o s t r e m a r k a b l e t h e m e s h e t o o k u p
i n h i s p r o v o c a t i v e b o o k , S le e p e r s W a k e !. W h i l e o t h e r i n s t i t u ­
tio n s h a v e m o d if ie d th e m s e lv e s , o f te n b e y o n d r e c o g n itio n ,
in o r d e r to m a k e th e tr a n s itio n to c y b e rs p a c e , p a r lia m e n t h a s
c h a n g e d o n ly in c re m e n ta lly .
I n th e c e n tu r y s in c e f e d e r a tio n , th e n u m b e r o f m e m b e r s
s ittin g in th e H o u s e o f R e p re s e n ta tiv e s w e n t fr o m 7 5 to 1 47 ,
a n d t h e n u m b e r o f p e o p l e t h e y r e p r e s e n t e d w e n t f r o m 3 .7
m i l l i o n t o 1 7 .8 m i l l i o n . T h e n u m b e r o f p e o p l e i n t h e p u b l i c
s e rv ic e th e y h a d to o v e rs e e w e n t f r o m 11 t h o u s a n d t o 3 5 0
th o u s a n d , b u t th e n u m b e r o f h o u rs m e m b e rs d e lib e ra te d
w e n t d o w n f r o m 8 6 6 to 6 0 3 .2 T h e a m o u n t o f p u b lic e x p e n ­
d itu r e p e r p e r s o n m a y h a v e in c r e a s e d s p e c ta c u la rly , b u t th e
a m o u n t o f it a c tu a lly b r o u g h t b e f o r e t h e H o u s e f o r re v ie w in
th e a n n u a l b u d g e t p a p e rs d e c lin e d . In s h o rt, m o r e p e o p le
a n d m o r e p u b lic s e rv ic e , p r o d u c in g m o r e in f o r m a tio n t h a t
is s u b j e c t t o le s s a n d le s s s c r u t i n y b y e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
o f th e p e o p le .
F o r J o n e s , t h e c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h i s t r e n d is d i s t u r b i n g :
‘T h e d e m o c r a t i c s y s t e m m a y b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y i r r e l e v a n t
 regenerating labor

a s a m e a n s o f d e t e r m i n i n g a n d im p l e m e n t i n g s o c ia l g o a ls , o r
a llo c a tin g f u n d s o n th e b a s is o f c o m m u n ity n e e d s , i f e le c te d
p e r s o n s d o n o t u n d e r s ta n d h o w to e v a lu a te a n d r e la te se g ­
m e n ts o f i n f o r m a t i o n in w h ic h e a c h e x p e r t w o r k s .” P o w e r
h a s s h i f t e d f r o m r e p r e s e n t a t i v e g o v e r n m e n t t o “s t r a t e g i c a l l y
p la c e d m in o rity g ro u p s o c c u p y in g th e c o m m a n d in g h e ig h ts
in p a r tic u la r a r e a s o f s o c ie ty — te c h n o c r a ts , p u b lic s e rv a n ts ,
c o r p o r a t i o n s , u n i o n s . ” A lis t to w h ic h t h e S ile n t M a jo r ity I I I
r e p o r t c le a rly a d d s th e m e d ia . A s c y b e rs p a c e a c c e le ra te s ,
m o r e v e c to rs c a r r y m o r e in f o r m a tio n , a n d m o r e in f o r m a tio n
le a d s to a n in c r e a s e d d iv is io n o f la b o u r , a s p e o p le s p e c ia lis e
m o r e a n d m o r e to c a p tu r e a s p e c ific p a r t o f th e in f o r m a tio n
f lo w a n d b r i n g i t u n d e r t h e i r a u t h o r i t y .
O n e u n e x p e c te d c o n s e q u e n c e o f th is s h ift in th e b a la n c e
o f p o w e r is t h a t i t f e d i n t o t h e r i s e o f H a n s o n i t e p o p u l i s m .
F o rm e r H an so n m in d e r J o h n P a s q u a r e lli in s is ts t h a t s h e
s i m p l y r e f u s e d t o a b s o r b h i s b r i e f i n g s . “I n r e s p o n s e t o m y
c ritic is m o f h e r s la c k n e ss, P a u lin e , in a fit o f p iq u e , sw e p t
s o m e o f t h e b r i e f i n g n o t e s o n t h e f l o o r s a y in g , ‘I c a n ’t r e t a i n ,
I c a n ’t r e t a i n ’. ”3 I f t h i s is t r u e , i t w o r k e d i n h e r f a v o u r o u t o n
th e f r in g e s o f s u b u r b ia . H a v in g w itn e s s e d p o p u la r p o litic ia n s
s u c h a s B o b H a w k e s u c c u m b to th e s p e c ia lis t a p p a r a tu s o f
th e p u b lic s e rv ic e a n d e lite a c a d e m ic p o lic y s p e c ia lis ts , p a r t
o f th e a p p e a l o f P a u lin e w as th e n o tio n o f th e id e a -p ro o f
p o litic ia n .

The In fo rm a tio n P ro leta ria t

J o n e s i d e n t i f i e d e a r l y o n t h a t “A u s t r a l i a is a n i n f o r m a t i o n
s o c ie ty in w h ic h m o r e p e o p l e a r e e m p lo y e d in c o lle c tin g ,
s to rin g , re trie v in g , a m e n d in g , a n d d is s e m in a tin g d a ta th a n
a r e p r o d u c in g fo o d , fib re s a n d m in e r a ls , a n d m a n u f a c tu r in g
p r o d u c t s . ” T h i s is t h e p r i m a r y s e n s e i n w h i c h A u s t r a l i a c a n
b e c a lle d a “p o s t i n d u s t r i a l ” n a t i o n . C h a n g e s t o w h a t t h e
e c o n o m y p r o d u c e s a l s o c h a n g e s its c la s s s t r u c t u r e . J o n e s
i d e n t i f i e d t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a n “i n t e l l e c t u a l
p r o le ta r ia t” c o m p o s e d o f p e o p le lo c k e d o u t o f th e b e n e fits
o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n e c o n o m y . E d u c a t i o n is t h e m a i n t i c k e t
i n t o t h e i n n e r s u b u r b a n a n d u r b a n e k n o w l e d g e c la s s w h o
h a v e t h e s p e c i a l i s e d s k il ls t o p r o c e s s i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e e d u ­
c a t e d p r o t e c t t h e i r k n o w l e d g e a s s e t s c lo s e ly , a n d t r y h a r d t o
 the info rm atio n proletariat 255

m a k e th e m s e lv e s a h e r e d i t a r y c a s te , p a s s in g o n th e c u ltu r e o f
k n o w le d g e to t h e ir c h ild r e n .
E x ile d w e st o f th is s tr a ta o f c o m f o r ta b le u r b a n a n d i n n e r
su b u rb a n in fo rm a tio n b u r g h e r s is t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p ro le ­
t a r i a t . A ‘c h e c k o u t c h i c k ’ p a s s i n g g r o c e r i e s o v e r t h e s c a n n e r
is d o i n g t h e m a n u a l l a b o u r o f c y b e r s p a c e , p r o d u c i n g t h e r a w
i n f o r m a t i o n o n w h i c h , e v e n t u a l l y , t h e s u p e r m a r k e t ’s m a n ­
a g e r s w ill b a s e t h e ir b u s in e s s d e c is io n s . A n u n e m p lo y e d
m a c h in is t w h o c a s h e s h is d o le c h e q u e a n d g a m b le s it o n th e
n a g s is a l s o , s t r a n g e l y e n o u g h , p a r t o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o ­
l e t a r i a t , a s h i s b e t s c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e s t a t i s t i c a l m a t r i x t h a t is
th e c y b e rs p a c e o f th e g a m b lin g in d u s try . A c o u c h p o ta to
l y i n g o n t h e s o f a w i t h a b a g o f c h i p s z a p p i n g t h e r e m o t e is
p a r t o f th e in f o r m a tio n p r o le ta r ia t. T h e ra tin g s fig u re s , o n
w h ic h a d v e rtis in g ra te s fo r th e c o m m e rc ia ls b e in g z a p p e d
a r e b a s e d , is a s t a t i s t i c a l p r o j e c t i o n o f t h e n u m b e r o f c o u c h
p o ta to e s . In fo rm a tio n p ro le ta ria t is w h a t th e K e rrig a n s
w o u l d b e i f T h e C a s t le d i d n ’t e n d h a p p i l y e v e r a f t e r .
T h e in fo rm a tio n p r o le ta r ia t g e ts little b e n e f it f r o m th e
in f o r m a tio n it g e n e r a te s , o n w h ic h so m u c h o f th e p o s tin ­
d u s tria l e c o n o m y d e p e n d s . T h e y a re lo c k e d o u t o f th e e d u ­
c a t i o n t h a t m i g h t g iv e t h e m s o m e l e v e r a g e i n t h i s e c o n o m y .
T h e y a r e a s s u m e d t o b e p a s s iv e o b j e c t s f r o m w h i c h s p e c i a l i s t s
o f a ll k i n d s , i n h e a l t h , e d u c a t i o n , e c o n o m i c s , w e l f a r e , m a r ­
k e tin g , e x tr a c t in f o r m a tio n , a n d o n to w h ic h th e y p r o je c t
p la n s a n d im p o s e d e c is io n s . T h e s e in fo -p ro le s in c re a s in g ly
r e s e n t th e w ay in f o r m a tio n is u s e d a s a p o w e r o v e r a n d
a g a in s t th e m , th e y re s is t it. The u n s p e a k a b le m a jo rity
re fu s e s , m o r e a n d m o r e , to b e s p o k e n to o r fo r.
The ra d ic a l p ro le ta ria t th a t K a rl M arx im a g in e d w as
d e n i e d th e m a te r ia l b e n e f its o f c a p ita lis m . H is p r o le ta r ia t
s o u g h t k n o w le d g e in o r d e r to o v e rth ro w such an u n ju s t
o r d e r . W h a t a ro s e in th e la te 9 0 s w as a ra d ic a l p r o le ta r ia t th a t
h a d s o m e m in im a l le v e l o f m a te r ia l b e n e f its g u a r a n t e e d b y a
L a b o r-sp o n so re d w e lfa re s e ttle m e n t, b u t w as d e n ie d th e
v irtu a l b e n e f its o f c y b e rs p a c e . S o th e in fo -p ro le s r e s is te d
k n o w l e d g e a n d t h e u n j u s t s o c i a l o r d e r t h a t w e n t w i t h it. T h e
l e s s o n , o r t h e m o r a l , is t h a t u n l e s s t h e f r u i t s o f t h e p r o d u c ­
t i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n a r e s h a r e d , c y b e r s p a c e c a p i t a l i s m w ill b e
re s is te d , j u s t as in d u s tria l c a p ita lis m w as re s is te d , u n til th e
la b o u r m o v e m e n t w o n a s h a r e o f th e m a te r ia l b e n e fits . T h e
regeneratin g labor

a g e n d a f o r L a b o r b e y o n d 2 0 0 0 is c l e a r : i t h a s t o s p r e a d t h e
c u ltu ra l a n d e c o n o m ic b e n e fits o f c y b e rsp a c e .
T h i s is L a b o r ’s p r o b l e m : t o m a k e i t s e l f t h e p o w e r t h a t
m ig h t b r o k e r th e in te re s ts o f th e in f o r m a tio n p ro le ta ria t.
B lu e c o lla r v o te r s w h o in 1 9 9 6 v o te d f o r th e c o n s e rv a tiv e s ,
w h o i n 1 9 9 8 v o t e d f o r P a u l i n e H a n s o n ’s O n e N a t i o n L t d ,
h a v e to b e p e r s u a d e d t h a t it w a s n o t re a lly in th e ir in te r e s ts
to r e s is t th e p o s tin d u s tr ia l o r d e r . T h is m e a n s L a b o r h a s to
fin d b e n e fits fo r th o s e c h u n k s o f s u b u rb ia th a t h a v e b e e n
s h u t o ff, o r w a n te d to s h u t th e m s e lv e s o ff, f r o m a b s o r b in g
a n d a p p ly in g n e w in f o r m a tio n . A t th e s a m e tim e , it h a s to
p e r s u a d e th e m o r e u r b a n e b e n e f ic ia rie s o f c y b e rs p a c e t h a t it
is a l s o i n t h e i r i n t e r e s t s t o d e f u s e s u c h r e s i s t a n c e .
‘T h e c o m m u n i t y is t h e c o lle c tiv e v ic tim o f p ro fo u n d ly
u n e q u a l a c c e s s t o i n f o r m a t i o n ”, B a r r y J o n e s w r o t e i n 1 9 9 5 .
B y 1 9 9 6 ,1 th i n k it fa ir to say t h a t w h a te v e r o u t e r s u b u r b ia d id
n o t k n o w , it k n e w t h a t it w a s th e v ic tim o f th is n e w k in d o f
in e q u a lity . R e s e n tm e n t o f th is k in d o f in e q u a lity to o k th e
f o r m o f w h a t I w o u ld c a ll b a d i n f o r m a tio n . T h e in f o - p r o le s
w e r e a r m e d w i t h t h e a t t a c k o n “p o l i t i c a l c o r r e c t n e s s ” a n d
“p o s t m o d e r n i s m ” s p o n s o r e d b y Q u a d r a n t a n d T h e A u s t r a l i a n
th a t w e re a m p lifie d and s im p lifie d by ta lk b a c k r a d i o ’s
“e m p e r o r s o f a i r ”.4 R e s i s t a n c e flo u ris h e d as a d e lib e ra te
f lo u tin g o f th e c o n s e n s u s v a lu e s o f c y b e r s p a c e in s id e rs .
I r o n i c a l l y , t h i s m i g h t in v o l v e t h e u s e o f t h e s a m e v e c t o r s o f
c y b e rs p a c e f o r th e c r e a tio n o f j u s t s u c h a c u ltu r e o f re s is ta n c e
as a re u s e d f o r p ro fita b le a n d p ro d u c tiv e e n d s b y o th e rs . T h e
o n l i n e n e w s p a p e r t h e N e w A u s t r a l i a n , w i t h i ts f r o n t p a g e l i n k s
to b o th O ne N a tio n and th e N a tio n a l F r o n t is a good
e x a m p le . W r itin g b e f o r e P a u lin e H a n s o n p u t Ip s w ic h o n th e
m a p b y w in n in g th e Ip s w itc h - c e n tr e d s e a t o f O x le y in 199 6,
B a r r y J o n e s w r o t e t h a t “i n I p s w i c h , a t o w n w i t h h i g h e r t h a n
a v e ra g e u n e m p lo y m e n t, n e a r ly 7 0 % o f t h e h o m e s w ith c h il­
d r e n h a v e c o m p u t e r s . ” H e u s e s I p s w i c h ’s l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t
s p o n so re d in te rn e t access p ro g ra m as a n e x a m p le o f th e
“c a p a c i t y o f c o m p u t e r s t o e n h a n c e t h e l e a r n i n g e x p e r i e n c e . ”
S o m e a d u lts m a y b e le a r n in g h o w to re s is t th e o p e n in f o r m a ­
tio n v e c to rs o f c y b e rs p a c e b y u s in g th o s e s a m e v e c to rs to
c re a te a cosy th ir d n a tu r e th a t c a n r e p e l n e w in fo rm a tio n ,
r e a d in g a n d w ritin g f o r th e N e w A u s tr a lia n a n d m a n y o th e r
p u b lic a tio n s f lo u ris h in g o n th e n e t.
 the in form ation proletariat 257

A s J o h n H o w a r d l e a r n e d t h e h a r d w ay , p l a y i n g w i t h b a d
i n f o r m a t i o n is p l a y i n g w i t h f i r e . T h i s p o p u l i s t r e s i s t a n c e o n l y
lo o k e d th o r o u g h ly s tu p id . I t w as c o m p o s e d o f p e o p le w h o ,
n o m a tte r h o w h u m b le th e ir f o r m a l e d u c a tio n , h a d s o p h is ti­
c a te d a n d fin e ly tu n e d b u lls h it d e te c to r s . T h e s e th e y f ir e d u p
th e in s ta n t th e y c a m e a c ro s s p o litic a l c e le b rity , s p r e a d in g
its e lf a b o u t o n te le v is io n , r a d io , o r th e p o p u l a r p r in ts . H a r d
as it m a y b e f o r th e i n n e r rin g s o f s u b u r b ia to g ra s p , th e
o u t e r rin g s w h o m a k e u p th is p o p u lis t re v o lt d id n o t n e e d
th e ir p a tro n is in g a tte m p ts a t e n lig h te n m e n t so m u c h as a
g o o d r e a s o n to a c tu a lly j o i n th e e m e r g in g p u b lic c o n s e n s u s
o n h o w t o s p e a k a n d a c t i n p o s t i n d u s t r i a l s o c ie ty . T h e i n f o -
p ro le s , b a n is h e d to th e o u te r o u te r s u b u rb s b y d e c lin in g
d e m a n d f o r b lu e c o lla r la b o u r , saw n o r e a s o n to a tta c h th e ir
c la s s i n t e r e s t s to t h o s e o f i n n e r s u b u r b i a , w h e r e e d u c a t i o n
p ro v id e d som e k in d o f b rid g e in to th e e m e r g in g g lo b a l
in fo rm a tio n e c o n o m y .
I r r a tio n a l r e s is ta n c e w a s a r e a s o n a b le c h o ic e , a n d it w o rk e d .
F ro m th e e m e r g e n c e o f H a n s o n th r o u g h to th e 1 9 9 8 F e d e ra l
e le c tio n , a ll t h e p o litic a l p a r tie s , t h e u r b a n e m e d i a a n d c u l­
tu r a l ta lk in g h e a d s , th e b u r b lin g h ig h m o ra lis ts , e v e r y o n e
d ir e c te d th e ir a tte n tio n to f ig u r in g o u t h o w to p r e v e n t th e
s p r e a d o f p o p u lis t c u ltu r e a n d th e b a d in f o r m a tio n in w h ic h
it r e v e lle d a n d o n w h ic h it th r iv e d . M u c h r h e to r ic w as a im e d
a t t h e r e s i s t a n c e , b u t fe w g o o d r e a s o n s w e r e g i v e n f o r g i v i n g
u p re s is ta n c e a n d jo in in g th e p u b lic c o n s e n s u s .
P a r t o f t h e r e s i s t a n c e w a s t h e N a t i o n a l P a r t y ’s p r o b l e m .
T h e j u n i o r p a rty in J o h n H o w a r d ’s C o a l i t i o n w a s c l e a r l y
u n d e r p r e s s u r e a f te r it lo s t s ig n ific a n t g r o u n d to O n e N a tio n
a t th e Q u e e n s la n d e le c tio n o f 1 9 9 8 . I t s ta v e d o f f th e e le c to r a l
c h a lle n g e o f O n e N a tio n in th e 1 9 9 8 F e d e r a l e le c tio n . E v e n
t h o u g h O n e N a tio n a c tu a lly p o lle d m o r e v o te s a c ro s s th e
c o u n tr y , it w o n n o lo w e r h o u s e s e a ts a n d o n ly o n e S e n a te
p l a c e . P a r t o f t h e r e s i s t a n c e w a s L a b o r ’s p r o b l e m , a s b l u e
c o lla r s u b u r b a n c u l t u r e w a s c le a r ly a c o m p o n e n t o f t h e re s is ­
t a n c e t h a t P a u l i n e H a n s o n ’s O n e N a t i o n L t d w a s a b l e t o c o ­
o p t. T h e y a re th e s y m p to m o f a lo n g te r m p ro b le m fo r
L a b o r , a n d t h e t i t l e o f B a r r y J o n e s ’s b o o k S le e p e r s W a k e ! m i g h t
j u s t a s w e ll b e d i r e c t e d a t t h e c u l t u r e o f t h e L a b o r P a r ty . A s
f o r m e r L a b o r S e n a t o r J o h n B u t t o n o b s e r v e d , “i n C a n b e r r a
J o n e s w a s s u r r o u n d e d b y s l e e p e r s s lo w t o w a k e . ” 5
258 regen era tin g labor

B ib and Bub

In th e w a k e o f th e 1 9 9 6 d e m is e o f th e K e a tin g L a b o r g o v ­
e r n m e n t, q u ite a fe w jo u r n a l i s t s s e t a b o u t a tt e m p t i n g to
id e n tify n e w ta lk in g h e a d s a n d n e w fa b le s f o r L a b o r.6 I t w as a
t i m e w h e n , a s C r a i g M c G r e g o r s a i d , L a b o r f o u n d i t s e l f “w i t h
a d w i n d lin g w o r k in g c la s s b a s e a n d a n o n - a l i g n e d m i d d l e . ” I t
w o u ld h a v e to lo o k b e y o n d th e b lu e a n d w h ite c o lla r w o rk e rs
f o r it s m a j o r i t y .
A t th e e n d o f th e 9 0 s, it s e e m e d u n lik e ly t h a t s u rv iv o rs
f r o m th e H a w k e a n d K e a tin g y e a rs c o u ld w in b a c k v o te r s w h o
a s s o c ia te d L a b o r w ith h i g h v e lo c ity e c o n o m i c r e f o r m th a t
in c re a s e d u n c e rta in ty and a n x ie ty , even th o u g h m any
A u s tra lia n s b e n e f ite d f r o m th e g ro w th o f a c o m p e titiv e a n d
o u t w a r d l o o k i n g e c o n o m y . P e r c e p t i o n s c a n o f t e n b e s lo w t o
c a t c h u p w i t h e v e n t s . A t t h e e n d o f t h e 9 0 s , t h e r e w a s s till
w h a t J o h n B u t t o n c a l l e d “a h a n k e r i n g f o r t h e g o o d o l d d a y s
w h e n e m p lo y e r s a n d u n io n m e m b e r s s h a r e d th e s p o ils o f
p ro te c tio n fro m im p o r ts in h ig h e r p ro fits a n d w ag es, a n d
c o n s u m e r s p a id th e p r ic e .” M a n y p in e d f o r a r e t u r n to a n
econom y ru n on th e ‘n o t m y d e p a r t m e n t ’ t h e o r y : ‘T h e
b o sse s b la m e d th e u n io n s a n d th e u n io n s b la m e d th e b o sses.
T h e r e w e r e s c a p e g o a t s f o r a l l o c c a s i o n s . ”7 L a b o r ’s s e n i o r
ta lk in g h e a d s s e e m e d e i t h e r to b e t a r r e d w ith t h e r e f o r m o f
t h e o l d s y s t e m , o r t a r r e d w i t h b e i n g it s f o r m e r f u n c t i o n a r i e s .
T w o L a b o r p ro fe s s io n a ls s to o d o u t fro m th e p a c k as p o te n ­
t ia l n e w s ta rs w h o e s c a p e d f r o m th e m in d s e t o f th e o ld
s y s t e m a n d t h e c u l p a b i l i t y f o r r e f o r m i n g it . T h e y b o t h h a d
s o m e th in g m o r e th a n a n im a g e to b u r n is h ; th e y h a d id e a s to
b r a n d is h : L in d s a y T a n n e r a n d M a rk L a th a m . L a th a m p u b ­
lis h e d a s ig n ific a n t b o o k C iv ilis in g G lo b a l C a p ita l, e a r ly in
1 9 9 8 . T a n n e r w as w o rk in g o n o n e , te n ta tiv e ly title d O pen
A u s tr a lia , d u e f o r p u b lic a tio n a f te r th e 1 9 9 8 F e d e ra l e le c ­
tio n .8 T h e m e d ia o f te n lin k e d th e ir f o r tu n e s , m a k in g th e m
a p p e a r , i n L a t h a m ’s t y p ic a l ly t e r s e l a n g u a g e , a s t h e “B ib a n d
B u b ” o f a p o te n tia lly n e w k in d o f L a b o r c u ltu re .
In a w o rld o f e v e r m o r e s p e c ia lis e d in f o r m a tio n in e v e r
m o r e f o r m a l i s e d f o r m a t s , t h e b o o k - l e n g t h e s s a y is s t ill o n e
w ay o f c r e a tin g an in fo rm a tio n v e c to r th a t c a n a d d re ss
p e o p le a s c itiz e n s . A g o o d e ssay lin k s to g e t h e r e x p e r ie n c e s ,
s to rie s , c o n c e p ts , a r g u m e n ts , a n d s h a p e s a d ia lo g u e , w ith in
 bib and bob 259

a n d b e y o n d its p a g e s , t h a t c o n n e c t s p e o p l e i n a n e t w o r k o f
se n s e -m a k in g , r a t h e r th a n tr e a tin g p e o p le as th e o b je c t o f
s p e c ia lis e d a u th o rity . N o t m a n y p e o p le m ig h t r e a d e ith e r
L a t h a m ’s b o o k o r T a n n e r ’s, b u t w o r d f i l t e r s o u t , f r o m t h o s e
w h o h a v e r e a d t h e m , v ia i n t e r m e d i a r i e s t h a t m a k e u p t h e
p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e o f p o l i c y a n d p o l i t i c a l ta l k .
O f c o u r s e p e o p le w ith a s tr o n g d e s ir e f o r p o lic y a n d p o li­
ti c s w o u l d l i k e t o t h i n k t h e s e a r e m o r e w o r t h y d e s i r e s t h a n
o t h e r k i n d s , a n d t h a t t h e m a c h i n e r y t h a t p r o p a g a t e s t h e m is
s o m e h o w m o r e r a tio n a l th a n th a t w h ic h p r o p a g a te s o t h e r
k in d s o f d e s ire s , c o n d e n s e d a r o u n d o t h e r k in d s o f im a g e s o f
c e l e b r i t y . B u t l e t ’s b e h o n e s t : p o p s t a r s , c e l e b r i t y s k i n a n d
f a s h io n s p r e a d s g e t s o m e p e o p l e h a r d a n d w e t, b u t a g o o d
p o l i c y d o c u m e n t is w h a t i t t a k e s t o l i g h t s o m e p e o p l e ’s f i r e .
A c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f L a t h a m a n d T a n n e r ’s f u t u r e i n A u s t r a l i a n
p o litic a l c u ltu r e h a s to ta k e a c c o u n t o f th e s tra te g ie s th e y
p u r s u e , w h ic h in c lu d e s s e e k in g c r e d ib ility t h r o u g h w r itin g in
a c u r i o u s l y h e i g h t e n e d w ay.
W h ile h a r d ly th e f irs t L a b o r p o litic ia n s to w rite b o o k s , w h a t
w a s c u r i o u s is t h e w a y t h e m e d i a r e s p o n d e d t o T a n n e r a n d
L a th a m a s, re s p e c tiv e ly , a n i n t e l l i g e n t p o litic ia n a n d a p o lit­
ic a l in te lle c tu a l. T h e y a p p e a r e d a s L a b o r ta lk in g h e a d s w h o
m ig h t q u a lify fo r le a d e rs h ip in th e p o s tin d u s tria l, p o s t­
m o d e r n , in f o r m a tio n a g e . I n th e r e s t o f th is c h a p t e r a n d in
th e n e x t, I w ant to lo o k at th e w ritin g s of th e s e tw o
y o u n g (is h ) L a b o r c e le b u ta n te s o f th e la te 9 0 s, a n d se e w h a t
k i n d o f f u t u r e t h e f a ir g o m i g h t h a v e b y t h e i r lig h ts .
C r a i g M c G r e g o r o n c e d e s c r i b e d M a r k L a t h a m a s “t h e t a l ­
e n t e d N S W r i g h t w i n g e r ”, a n d L i n d s a y T a n n e r h e n o m i n a t e d
“a key th in k e r o n th e V ic to ria n le f t.” G iv e n th a t it w as
M c G r e g o r w h o s p o t t e d P a u l K e a t i n g ’s p o t e n t i a l w h e n h e w a s
ju s t a ju n io r sh ad o w m in is te r, h is in te r e s t in T a n n e r a n d
L a th a m h a s s o m e w e ig h t.9 B o th T a n n e r a n d L a th a m m ay
h a v e t o w a i t t h e i r t u r n , a s L a b o r ’s F e d e r a l f r o n t b e n c h w a s
s til l d o m i n a t e d a t t h e e n d o f t h e 9 0 s b y s u r v i v o r s f r o m t h e
K e a t i n g e r a : K i m B e a z le y , S i m o n C r e a n a n d t h e w o m a n t h e
m e d ia ta g g e d “L a b o r ’s s t a r r e c r u i t ” C h e r y l K e r n o t . B o t h
B e a z le y a n d K e r n o t c o - o p e r a te d w ith h a g io g ra p h e rs w h o
w r o t e b o o k s a b o u t t h e m , b u t t h i s is n o t q u i t e t h e s a m e t h i n g
a s a t t e m p t i n g t o m a k e a m a r k o n t h e p u b l i c w i t h o n e ’s o w n
w r i t i n g . 10
2 60 regeneratin g labor

T o n y W rig h t, a jo u r n a l i s t f r o m T h e A ge, r e c o u n ts a te llin g

a n e c d o te fro m th e 1 998 F e d e ra l e le c tio n c a m p a ig n a b o u t
th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e s e o ld e r L a b o r p o litic ia n s a n d
t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n : “W h a t h a p p e n e d w a s t h a t B e a z le y , i n
o n e o f h is n u m e r o u s g e n ia l c h a ts to jo u r n a lis ts d o w n th e
b a c k o f h is V IP B o e in g 7 0 7 , to ld th e t r u t h . A s k e d o n h is la s t
f lig h t o f t h e c a m p a i g n a b o u t a s p i r a n t s to l e a d e r s h i p , B e a z le y
m e n tio n e d , a m o n g o th e rs , L a th a m a n d . . . T a n n e r . B e a z le y
a g r e e d t h a t t h e tw o , k n o w n a s T h e Y o u n g a n d t h e R e s tle s s , w e r e
lik e ly to b e w o r th y c o n t e n d e r s in t h e f u t u r e , a n d u s e d t h e
th r o w a w a y l i n e t h a t t h e y w e r e a b i t ‘i n t e l l e c t u a l l y p r o u d ’. ” 11
T anner becam e Shadow M in is te r f o r F in a n c e a f te r th e
1 9 9 8 e l e c t i o n , a n d w a s d i s c r e e t l y s i l e n t a b o u t B e a z l e y ’s j i b e .
L a t h a m , i n t h e j o u r n a l i s t i c v e r n a c u l a r , “s p a t t h e d u m m y ”
a n d w o u n d u p o n th e b a c k b e n c h a fte r a irin g c o m p la in ts
a b o u t t h e “p a l o o k a s ” o n B e a z l e y ’s s t a f f a n d t h e l a c k o f a r e a l
p o l i c y d e b a t e w i t h t h e L a b o r P a r ty . W h e t h e r B u b e v e r m a k e s
a n y m o r e h e a d w a y t h a n B ib to w a r d s le a d in g th e p a rty , o n e
t h i n g t h a t t h e s e e v e n t s m a k e e v i d e n t is t h e t e n s i o n s w i t h i n
L a b o r c u ltu r e a b o u t th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n c o n c e p ts a n d
p o lic ie s .

L a b o r in C yberspace
T h e c h a n g e s L a b o r its e lf u n le a s h e d w h e n in o ffic e c r e a te d
a n e c o n o m y , a p o lity a n d a c u ltu r e th a t w e re c o n s id e ra b ly
m o r e d y n a m ic t h a n th e q u ie t b a c k w a te r in w h ic h p e o p le o f
m y a g e , w h o I ’ll c a l l G e n e r a t i o n G o u g h , w e r e p r o b a b l y t h e
la s t to e x p e r in c e . T h e s e n s e t h a t th e r e m a y b e p r o f o u n d
q u a lita tiv e c h a n g e s a f o o t in t h e 9 0 s c o n t r i b u t e d to t h e re s is ­
ta n t m o o d o f th e in fo rm a tio n p ro le ta ria t a n d th e re a c ­
t i o n a r y i n s t i n c t s o f H a n s o n i t e p o p u l i s m . N o le s s w o r r y i n g
w e r e t h e s i g n s o f s o f t H a n s o n i s m , e v e n i n t h e L a b o r P a rt y ,
w h ic h to o k th e f o r m o f a d e s ir e to m a k e u p p o lic ie s th a t k e p t
a s m u c h o f t h e o l d s u b u r b a n w a y o f l i f e a l iv e r e g a r d l e s s o f its
in tr in s ic q u a lity o r s u s ta in a b ility . R e s is ta n c e to th e n e e d to
in v e n t n e w c o n c e p ts f o r a n e w s itu a tio n , to fin d n e w w ays o f
g r a p p lin g w ith c o m p le x in f o r m a tio n , s e e m to m e to f o r m a
p a r t o f t h e d i s d a i n B e a z l e y v o i c e d f o r t h e “i n t e l l e c t u a l p r i d e ”
o f th o s e L a b o r f ig u r e s w h o saw th e n e e d to th i n k a g a in —
a n d w h o c la im e d th e c a p a c ity to th in k it t h r o u g h .
 l a b o r in c y b e r s p a c e

A s T a n n e r w ro te in 1 9 9 1 , a b a d y e a r f o r th e L a b o r g o v e r n ­
m e n t, a d iv is io n e m e r g e d in th e L a b o r P a rty d u r in g th e
H aw ke an d K e a tin g y e a rs. T h is w as n o t th e o ld d iv is io n
b e t w e e n l e f t a n d r i g h t w i n g f a c t i o n s , b u t o n e t h a t “s t r a d d l e s
f a c t i o n a l b o u n d a r i e s . T h e d i v i s i o n is b e t w e e n t h o s e w h o m a y
b e d e s c r i b e d a s ‘r a t i o n a l i s t s ’ a n d o t h e r s w h o m a y b e s e e n a s
‘t r a d i t i o n a l i s t s ’ ( o r i n e a c h o t h e r ’s o p i n i o n s , s e l l o u t s a n d
t r o g l o d y t e s ) . ” 12 T anner id e n tifie d th e s lo g a n of th e
t r o g l o d y t e t r a d i t i o n a l i s t s , a s “r e t u r n i n g to o u r tra d itio n a l
b a s e ” a n d t h a t o f t h e s e l l - o u t s , o r r a t i o n a l i s t s , a s “a d a p t i n g i n
a c h a n g in g w o rld .” I n th e 1 9 9 8 F e d e ra l e le c tio n c a m p a ig n , it
w a s c l e a r t h a t L a b o r ’s t r a d i t i o n a l i s t s w e r e e x e r t i n g a s t r o n g
in flu e n c e . T h e p a rty d id w e ll w i t h it s “t r a d i t i o n a l b a s e ”,
p i l i n g u p u s e le s s s w in g s in o u t e r s u b u r b a n s e a ts i t a lr e a d y
h o ld s .
T h e t r o u b l e w a s t h a t L a b o r n e e d e d t o a p p e a l t o b o t h its
tr a d iti o n a l b a s e a n d a ls o to p e o p le w h o h a d b e n e f i t e d f r o m
th e H aw ke and K e a tin g ra tio n a lis a tio n o f th e econom y.
T hese a p p e a re d to be m u tu a lly e x c lu s iv e g o a ls . L abor
n e e d e d t o h a n g o n t o t h e lo y a lty o f w h a t h a d b e c o m e t h e
in f o r m a tio n p r o le ta r ia t, g ro w in g in c re a s in g ly a n x io u s a n d
re s is ta n t in o u te r s u b u rb ia , a n d it n e e d e d to r e p o s itio n its e lf
as a fo rw a rd lo o k in g p a rty th a t u n d e r s to o d th e n e w a g e n d a s
d riv e n by u r b a n e b e n e fic ia rie s o f a n o p e n a n d in f o r m a tio n
in te n s iv e e c o n o m y . I t n e e d e d to b e a p a r ty th a t c o u ld d ra w
m o r a l s f r o m i ts f a b l e d p a s t , b u t a l s o t h a t c o u l d d r a w l e s s o n s
f r o m th e e v e n ts o f th e p r e s e n t.
T h e m o r a l o f L a b o r ’s 1 9 9 8 d e f e a t w a s t h a t t h e p a s t L a b o r
n e e d e d to r e t u r n to w as n o t a n y p a r tic u la r s a c r e d r e lic o f
p o li c y . I n s t e a d i t n e e d e d t o r e v i e w t h e w a y t h o s e p o l i c i e s h a d
a r is e n in th e firs t p la c e — as th e e x p r e s s io n o f a n a llia n c e o f
p o p u la r in te r e s ts a n d d e s ire s . L a b o r p r o p o s e s , b u t th e e le c ­
t o r a t e d i s p o s e s . P a r t y a p p a r a t c h i k s m i g h t w r i t e t h e p o li c y ,
b u t th e p u b lic k n o w s h o w to re a d . I t c a n r e a d th e q u a litie s o f
t h e p a r t y ’s t a l k i n g h e a d s a n d sa v o u r th e te x tu re o f th e ir
s p e e c h a s w e ll a s i t c a n r e a d a n y o t h e r k i n d o f c e l e b r i t y o r
c o m m e rc ia l.
T h e le s so n w as th a t L a b o r d id n o t n e e d to s u b s titu te a n e w
c a te c h is m o f ra tio n a lis m f o r it o ld d o g m a s , b u t to b e c o m e a
m o re e m p iric a l u s e r o f in f o r m a tio n and a c c u m u la to r o f
k n o w le d g e . W h e n P a u l K e a tin g s a id o n L a b o r in P o w e r th a t h e
regen era tin g labor

s to p p e d re ly in g on T re a su ry a d v ic e because w h ile he
t h o u g h t i t w a s w e ll i n f o r m e d and i n t e l l i g e n t , i t “l a c k e d
g u i l e ”, t h i s w a s a p o t e n t i a l l y i m p o r t a n t m o m e n t i n t h e p a r t y ’s
u n d e r s ta n d in g o f its e lf as a n in f o r m a tio n g a th e r in g o r g a n i­
s a tio n . I th in k K e a tin g re a lis e d la te in th e g a m e th a t p o w e r
in th e p o s tin d u s tr ia l a g e m e a n s b e in g a b le to d ra w in te lle c ­
tu a l c o n f id e n c e fro m s c e p tic is m r a t h e r t h a n f r o m dogm a.
H e c h o s e t h e w o r d g u ile c a re fu lly , a n d w h a t I t h i n k h e m e a n t
b y it w a s a c e r ta in k in d o f c u n n in g t h a t c o m e s f r o m k n o w in g
t h a t k n o w l e d g e is a r t i f i c e .
I f L a b o r is t o s u r v i v e i n c y b e r s p a c e i t h a s t o a s k i t s e l f w h a t
i ts r e l a t i o n t o i n f o r m a t i o n is, w h a t k i n d s o f k n o w l e d g e i t c a n
c la im to d r a w f r o m th e in f o r m a tio n it ta p s , a n d w h a t k in d s o f
s k ills i t n e e d s t o c o m m u n i c a t e its k n o w l e d g e . A n n e S u m m e r s
n o te d rig h t a t th e s ta rt o f th e H a w k e e r a th a t o n e k in d o f
k n o w le d g e L a b o r w a s g a th e r in g w ith in c r e a s in g e ffe c tiv e n e s s
w a s s u r v e y p o l l i n g d a t a a n d f o c u s g r o u p s t u d i e s . “O n e h a l l ­
m a r k o f t h e r e c o n s t r u c t e d L a b o r p a r t y is its r e s t r a i n e d a n d
r e a s s u r in g l a n g u a g e ... i t w o u ld b e p o s s ib le to c o m p ile a g lo s ­
s a r y o f k e y w o r d s . .. I t w o u l d i n c l u d e s u c h w o r d s a s ‘r e a l i s t i c ’,
‘r e s p o n s i b l e ’, ‘s t a b l e ’, ‘m o d e r a t e ’, ‘c a r e f u l ’, ‘d e c e n t ’. T h e
w o rd s , a n d th e th e m e s th e y e n u n c ia te , c o m e in a la r g e p a r t
f r o m th e r e s e a r c h o n s w in g in g v o te r s a n d th e y th u s r e f le c t
th e v a lu e s w h ic h s ig n if ic a n t s e c tio n s o f th e A u s tra lia n e le c ­
t o r a t e r e s p o n d t o . ”13
D e s p ite th e p o p u lis t r h e to r ic in th e 9 0 s to th e e f f e c t t h a t
l e a d e r s w e r e ‘n o t l i s t e n i n g ’ t o s u b u r b i a , S u m m e r s m a r v e l l e d
a t “t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h v o t e r s t h e m s e l v e s a r e w r i t i n g t h e
s p e e c h e s w h ic h t h e p o litic a l le a d e r s d e liv e r. T h e n o t i o n t h a t
p o lic ie s s h o u ld b e b a s e d o n r e s e a r c h r a t h e r th a n o n id e o lo g y
and lo n g -h e ld p rin c ip le s u s e d to be a n a th e m a to L abor
p o litic ia n s .” I t w a s p r o g r e s s to b e a b le to m a k e p o lic y t h a t
d re w o n in f o r m a tio n a b o u t th e d e s ire s o f th e p u b lic a n d th e
la n g u a g e in w h ic h it w as e x p re s s e d . T h is m a k e s m o r e se n s e
th a n th e a u th o r ita r ia n p r a c tic e o f r a tio n a lis in g f r o m b e lie f,
g iv e n t h a t w h a t c o u n t s a s th e c a te c h is m o f t r u e b e lie f in t h e
L a b o r P a rty w a s u s u a lly a m a t t e r o f id e o lo g ic a l c o n tr o l by
fu n c tio n a rie s r a th e r th a n d e m o c ra tic in fo rm a tio n g a th e rin g .
W h a t L a t h a m o b j e c t e d t o i n t h e p a r t y ’s a t t e m p t t o f o r m u l a t e
a s o ft H a n s o n ite e le c tio n p o lic y p la tf o r m in 1 9 9 8 w a s th a t
w h a t th e p u b lic w a n te d w as n o t filte re d th r o u g h a n y s e rio u s
 l a b o r in c y b e r s p a c e 2 63

a tte m p t to c o n c e p tu a lis e th e s o u rc e s o f p o p u la r o p in io n , o r
h o w o p i n i o n c o u l d b e m o v e d t o s o u n d p o lic y . A s u c c e s s f u l
p a r t y c a n n o t i n f o r m i ts p o l i c i e s s o l e l y b y d o g m a o r t h e p o l l s .
O n t h e o t h e r s id e o f t h e p r o c e s s , a ll o f t h e m a j o r p a r tie s
a c q u ire d e la b o ra te m a c h in e s fo r g ra b b in g space in th e
m e d ia v e c to r s to c o m m u n ic a te in a s c a re fu lly m a n a g e d a w ay
a s p o s s ib le w h a te v e r p o lic y w a s d e c id e d . A s m u c h a s th is to o
is a n o b j e c t o f c o m p l a i n t w i t h i n t h e e l e c t o r a t e , t h e d e n s i t y o f
th e v e c to rs o f c y b e rs p a c e m a k e it in e v ita b le . A s S u m m e r s
w ro te o f th e 1983 e le c tio n c a m p a ig n , “t h e p a rtie s w e re
g e a r e d to m o n i t o r w h a t p o litic ia n s w e r e s a y in g a n d to b lo w
a n y little p h r a s e u p in to a p o litic a l s to r m . T h e te c h n iq u e w as
to ta lly d e p e n d e n t o n th e te c h n o lo g y o f th e ta p e r e c o r d e r ,
th e tr a n s c r ib in g m a c h in e a n d th e v o c a d e x .” A n d o f c o u rs e
s u c h te c h n o lo g ie s h a v e im p r o v e d r e m a r k a b ly s in c e 1 98 3 .
S o o n o n e s id e , a n y L a b o r p o litic ia n a n d a n y L a b o r p o lic y
o r s l o g a n w ill b e r o a d - t e s t e d b y t h e p o l l i n g a n d f o c u s g r o u p
p ro c e s s — as lo n g a s th e p a rty a p p a r a tc h ik s h a v e a n y th in g to
d o w i t h it. A n d o n t h e o t h e r s i d e , a n y L a b o r p o l i t i c i a n a n d
a n y L a b o r p e r s o n a l i t y , p o l i c y o r s l o g a n w ill a l s o h a v e t o g e t
o u t t o t h e p e o p l e v ia a p r o f e s s i o n a l m e d i a a p p a r a t u s . A s J o h n
B u t t o n r e m a r k e d , “i n C h i f l e y ’s d a y t h e r e w e r e a r m i e s o f p a s ­
s io n a te t r u e b e lie v e r s ... th e y t u r n e d o u t in th e ir th o u s a n d s
f o r p o l i t i c a l m e e t i n g s i n p u b l i c h a l l s . T o d a y ’s p o l i t i c s a r e f il­
t e r e d t h r o u g h te le v is io n a n d r a d i o . E le c tio n s a r e m o r e lik e
c o n t e s t s b e t w e e n r iv a l m a n a g e m e n t t e a m s . ” 14
A ll o f t h i s is b o l t e d r a th e r u n h a p p ily o n to L a b o r ’s o l d
in d u s tr ia l a g e m a c h in e r y o f d e c is io n m a k in g , a n d th e h is ­
to r ic c u ltu r e o f th e b r a n c h e s . S o m e o f th o s e b r a n c h e s a r e
s t r o n g . I n S y d n e y ’s i n n e r w e s t , w h e r e I liv e , t h e y h a v e b e e n
a n e v o lv in g p a r t o f t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d f o r a c e n tu r y . P a r ty
b r a n c h e s h a v e n o t e x a c t l y s p r e a d o u t w a r d s e v e n l y a s t h e c it y
h a s l a y e r e d r i n g a f t e r r i n g o f s u b u r b s a r o u n d i t s e l f . T h e r e is
a d e d i c a t e d a n d i n t e l l i g e n t m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e p a rty , b u t t h e
r e s o u r c e s L a b o r d e v o t e s t o its e d u c a t i o n a r e m i n i m a l . T h e
o n l y c o n s o l a t i o n is t h a t t h i s o s s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e b r a n c h s t r u c ­
t u r e is n o t u n i q u e t o L a b o r , b u t is s h a r e d b y a l l o f t h e m a j o r
p a rtie s .
O n e th in g th a t d o e s m a rk o u t th e L a b o r p a rty as a u n iq u e
c u l t u r e is i t s lo n g e v i ty . I t s u r v i v e d l o n g e r t h a n a n y o f t h e
o t h e r m a jo r p o litic a l c u ltu r e s . I t s u rv iv e d f a r w o rs e tim e s
regeneratin g labor

t h a n t h e d e f e a t o f 1 9 9 6 — I ’v e o n l y p r e s e n t e d a f e w f a b l e s
f r o m t h e s e c o n d h a l f c e n t u r y o f L a b o r ’s s a g a . T h a t h i s t o r y
s h o u l d p r o v id e s o m e c o n f i d e n c e , a n d a ls o s o m e le s s o n s a n d
m o r a l s f o r a r e i n v e n t e d L a b o r ’s s e c o n d c e n t u r y . L a b o r m a d e
th e tr a n s itio n f ro m a n a g ra ria n to a n in d u s tria l la b o u r m o v e ­
m e n t p a r t y . T h e a s y e t u n a c k n o w l e d g e d c h a l l e n g e is t o m a k e
it a ls o t h e p a r ty o f th o s e w h o w o r k w ith i n f o r m a t i o n , w ith o u t
f o r g e ttin g th o s e le f t b e h in d in c y b e rs p a c e , th e in f o r m a tio n
p ro le ta ria t.
I f L a b o r is a c u l t u r e t h e n i t is f l a n k e d o n o n e s i d e b y t h e
p ro b le m o f c e le b rity a n d o n th e o th e r b y th e p r o b le m of
c y b e rs p a c e . B y c e le b rity , I m e a n th e n e e d to c r e a te a n im a g e
f o r th e v e c to rs o f th e m e d ia , th r o u g h w h ic h th e p u b lic re a d s
p ro p o s a ls f o r w h a t it c o u ld d e s ire . By c y b e rs p a c e , I m e a n th e
n e e d to l e a r n e m p ir ic a lly f r o m th e g r e a t w e a lth o f in f o r m a ­
tio n a v a ila b le a n d c r e a te th e p e c u lia r k in d o f s p e c ia lis e d
k n o w l e d g e t h a t is t h e g u i l e o f t h e p o l i t i c a l g e n e r a l i s t . F o r
w h i l e B a r r y J o n e s is r i g h t i n c o m p l a i n i n g o f t h e c a p t u r e o f
pow er b y w e ll-e d u c a te d s p e c ia lis ts d e d ic a te d to d is c re te
k i n d s o f i n f o r m a t i o n , L a b o r p o l i t i c s is a l s o a k i n d o f e d u c a ­
tio n in a k in d o f s p e c ia lis e d k n o w le d g e — s p e c ia lis in g in
p u ttin g d if f e r e n t k in d s o f s p e c ia lity to g e th e r .
O ne t h i n g t h a t L a b o r m a y h a v e t o i n t e g r a t e is a m o r e
fo rw a rd -lo o k in g k n o w le d g e a b o u t th e m e d ia , a n d n o t j u s t
t h e c u r r e n t a ff a ir s m e d i a t h a t f o c u s e s o n p o litic s , b u t a ls o th e
w id e r c u ltu r a l s ig n if ic a n c e o f th e m e d ia . I f th e b a s ic id e a o f
t h e p r e v i o u s c h a p t e r is e v e n p a r t l y r i g h t , t h e n i t is i n c r e a s ­
in g ly f r o m t h e m e d i a t h a t p e o p l e g e t t h e ra w m a te r ia l o u t o f
w h i c h t o s h a p e t h e i r v a l u e s a n d s e n s i b i l i t i e s . I f t h e m e d i a is
e d g i n g o u t t h e fa m ily a s a lo c u s o f i d e n t i t y a n d s e lf-a w a re ­
n e s s , t h e n i t m u s t s u r e l y b e o v e r t a k i n g le s s p e r v a s i v e i n s t i t u ­
t i o n s s u c h a s t h e p o l i t i c a l p a r ty .

G en eratio n Gough
I t ’s o n e t h i n g t o s a y L a b o r c o u l d p a y m o r e a t t e n t i o n t o t h e
p o litic s o f c u ltu r e , b u t b y th e s a m e to k e n , a c a d e m ic w o rk in
fie ld s lik e c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s c o u ld b e n e f it b y p a y in g m o re
a tte n tio n to th e c u ltu r e o f p o litic s . I n th e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s, w h e n
L a b o r w a s in p o w e r, c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s m o s tly p o s itio n e d its e lf
to th e le ft o f L a b o r, w o rk in g th e c u ltu ra l m a rg in s th a t m a in ­
 generation gough 265

s tre a m p o l i t i c s e x c l u d e d . 15 T h i s w a s p a r t l y a r e s p o n s e to
L a b o r ’s m a j o r i t a r i a n p o litic s , w h ic h d id not re a lly o ffe r
m uch to th e m ost m a rg in a lis e d g ro u p s, p a rtic u la rly
A b o r ig in a l A u s tra lia n s .
P a r d y , i t is a l s o a n u n i n t e n d e d c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e i n f l u ­
e n c e in A u s tra lia n c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s w o rk o f A m e r ic a n r e a d ­
in g s o f th e fo rm a tiv e E n g lis h w o rk in c u ltu ra l s tu d ie s .
L a c k in g a m ass s o c ia l d e m o c ra tic p a rty , th e A m e ric a n
r e a d in g o f th e E n g lis h w o rk e m p h a s is e d th e 6 0 s r a d ic a l s id e
o f c u l t u r a l s t u d i e s . P a r t o f t h e m o t i v a t i o n f o r t h i s b o o k is t o
try a n d d ra w th e c u l t u r e o f p o litic s a n d th e p o litic s o f c u ltu r e
c lo s e r to g e t h e r a g a in , in a s p e c ific c o n te x t. I t w a s n o l o n g e r
th e c a se , a t th e e n d o f th e 9 0 s, th a t c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s c o u ld
c o m fo rta b ly p o s itio n its e lf to th e le ft o f L a b o r, w h e n L a b o r
its e lf n o lo n g e r a ttr a c te d e le c to r a l m a jo ritie s .
I n th in k in g a b o u t th e n e x u s b e tw e e n th e c u ltu r e o f p o litic s
a n d t h e p o l i t i c s o f c u l t u r e , t h e m o m e n t t h a t s t a n d s o u t is t h e
p e r io d o f th e W h itla m L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t, 1 9 7 2 to 1975.
W h i l e t h i s is w i d e ly r e c o g n i s e d a s b e i n g a m o m e n t o f b o t h
p o litic a l a n d c u l tu r a l t r a n s f o r m a t io n , I w a n t to lo o k a ls o a t
th e w ay th e m e d ia o p e r a te d to g e n e r a te a s y n c h ro n is in g te m ­
p la te o f th o s e tim e s . B e s id e s b e in g c u ltu r e a n d p o litic s , th e
W h i t l a m f a b l e is a l s o t e l e v i s i o n . F o r s o m e o f m y c o n t e m p o ­
r a r ie s , i t w a s m o r e te le v is io n t h a n a n y th i n g e ls e .
W h e n I a s k e d D a r r e n T o fts a b o u t h is e x p e r ie n c e o f th e
W h i t l a m y e a r s , h e e m a i l e d b a c k : “Y es, I r e m e m b e r W h i t l a m
b e in g sa c k e d ; in fa c t m y e n tir e s e n s e o f it w as d e riv e d fr o m
t h e t e l e v i s i o n c o v e r a g e ; m y r e c o l l e c t i o n o f h o w I f e l t a b o u t it
a t th e tim e w as o f a s e n s e o f s o m e th in g th a t h a d g o n e d r a s ti­
c a lly w r o n g ; t h a t t h i s w a s j u s t n o t o n . T h o u g h I h a v e t o s a y
t h a t o t h e r th in g s w e r e e q u a lly p r e s s in g a n d m o m e n to u s in
m y o w n li f e a t t h e t i m e ; o n e w a s b e i n g a 1 5 - y e a r - o ld i n a
re p re s s iv e s e c o n d a r y C a th o lic s c h o o l, w h e r e c o r p o r a l p u n ­
i s h m e n t w a s d e r ig u e u r , a n d s e x u a l i n t i m i d a t i o n w a s a r e g u l a r
o c c u r r e n c e . T h e o t h e r t h i n g w a s C o u n t d o w n . ”16
A n e m a i l r e p l y f r o m M a r k D a v is s e t s a v iv id s c e n e o f t h e
in te r s e c tio n o f p o litic s a n d c u ltu r e in th e W h itla m y e a rs , a s a
y o u n g p e r s o n e x p e r i e n c e d t h e m : “T h e e l e c t i o n i n 7 2 w a s
a n o t h e r s i g n a l m o m e n t i n D a v is f a m i l y h i s t o r y . T o s e t t h e
s c e n e , w e li v e d i n a l a r g e h o u s i n g c o m m i s s i o n e s t a t e o n t h e
e d g e o f a c o u n t r y to w n — m a d e o f f ib r o , e v e r y t h i r d h o u s e
regen e ra tin g labor

t h e s a m e f l o o r p l a n , a n d s o o n — w h e r e w e w e r e ‘b i l l e t e d ’
b e c a u s e m y f a t h e r w a s a t e a c h e r . W e w e r e a lw a y s ‘b r o k e ’, a n d
a c c o m m o d a tio n w as s h o rt. T h e e s ta te w as a lm o s t e n tire ly
p o p u la te d b y o t h e r te a c h e r s , A b o rig in e s , w h a t w e re th e n
c a l l e d ‘n e w A u s t r a l i a n s ’, a n d t h e b u r n t o u t w r e c k s o f c a r s . M y
p a re n ts , o f c o u rs e , w e re L a b o r. O n m y b e d h e a d in th o s e d ay s
w a s a f o r l o r n ‘S w in g t o L a b o r ’ s t i c k e r , i n a k i n d o f b u r n t
o r a n g e — a r e m n a n t o f th e 1 969 c a m p a ig n w h e n e v e ry o n e
th o u g h t W h itla m w o u ld w in .”
T h i s w a s t h e c o n t e x t i n w h i c h t h e 1 3 - y e a r - o ld D a v is e x p e r i ­
e n c e d W h i t l a m ’s 1 9 7 2 e l e c t i o n v i c t o r y : “T h e t e l e c a s t w a s o n
a n d w h e n it b e c a m e c le a r th a t W h itla m w a s g o i n g to w in , m y
f a th e r , in a fit o f e n th u s ia s m , d e c id e d th e b e s t th in g to d o w a s
t o g o ‘b e a t t h e d r u m ’ f o r t h e L a b o r p a r t y , w h i c h c o n s i s t e d o f
b e ltin g th e m e ta l b a s e o f th e [w a te r] ta n k in a rh y th m ic
f a s h io n w ith h is fis t f o r a h a l f h o u r o r so . T h in g s h a d g o t
p r e t t y o u t o f h a n d b y t h e n . A b o u t 6 .3 0 a m t h e n e x t m o r n i n g ,
w h e n e v e r y o n e w a s s t ill a s l e e p , a h a i l o f h a l f - b r i c k s c a m e
t h r o u g h t h e f r o n t ‘p i c t u r e - w i n d o w ’, s h a t t e r i n g e v e r y s i n g l e
o n e o f its s ix l a r g e p a n e s . T h e t a n k , lu c k ily , w a s s p a r e d . ”
D a v is r e m e m b e r s t h e 1 9 7 5 d i s m i s s a l o f t h e W h i t l a m g o v ­
e r n m e n t a s s o m e th in g t h a t w a s a ls o a m e d ia te d e x p e r ie n c e :
“T h e d i s m i s s a l w a s a s c h o o l y a r d r u m o u r t h a t s p r e a d l i k e
w ild fire a t A s h w o o d H ig h , a n d I r e m e m b e r w a lk in g h o m e
f r o m s c h o o l n o t b e lie v in g th a t it c o u ld b e t r u e in a W e s te rn
d e m o c ra c y , a n d so o n . W h e n I g o t h o m e I f o u n d m u m in th e
k itc h e n , e a r g lu e d to th e r a d io . E v e r y th in g f r o m th e n o n
to o k p la c e in a n a tm o s p h e r e o f d is b e lie f. I c a n r e m e m b e r
w a t c h i n g B r i a n N a y lo r , I t h i n k i t w a s , o n t h e n e w s t h a t n i g h t ,
a n d t h e n W h i t l a m o n t h e f r o n t s t e p s o f p a r l i a m e n t — “Y o u
m a y w e ll say , ‘G o d s a v e t h e Q u e e n ’, b e c a u s e n o t h i n g w ill s a v e
th e G o v e r n o r G e n e r a l! ” — it w a s a s ig n a l m o m e n t . W e w e n t
t o t h e v a r i o u s d e m o s i n t h e c ity a n d s o o n , f u l l o f r i g h t e o u s
p a s s io n (y e s , i r o n i c d i s t a n c e a n d T i m o r G a p h a s t a k e n its
t o l l ) . I s t ill h a t e [ L i b e r a l l e a d e r M a l c o l m ] F r a s e r . A ll t h a t
t h i r d w o r l d s t u f f j u s t d o e s n ’t w a s h . H e ’ll a lw a y s b e t h e s to n y -
f a c e d , E a s te r I s la n d ty p e g u y th e y in te r v ie w e d o n t h e n e w s
th a t n ig h t to m e .”
L i n d s a y T a n n e r w a s a l s o a t e e n a g e r d u r i n g t h e b r i e f flo w ­
e r i n g o f t h e W h i t l a m L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t . G o u g h ’s c e l e b r i t y
b r o u g h t h im e v e n m o r e d ire c tly in to L a b o r c u ltu re th a n
 on m y le ft, li n d s a y t a n n e r 267

D a v is ’ p a r t i c i p a t i o n in th e a n ti-d is m is s a l d e m o n tra tio n s .

T a n n e r w a s a b r a n c h v o l u n t e e r o n W h i t l a m ’s 1 9 7 4 r e - e l e c ­
t i o n c a m p a i g n . “H e w a s a lw a y s a b i g h e r o a n d I s p e n t c o u n t ­
l e s s h o u r s b u s t i n g a g u t t o g e t h i m r e - e l e c t e d ”, r e m e m b e r s
T a n n e r . 17 W h e r e f o r T a n n e r , G o u g h W h i t l a m ’s c e l e b r i t y w a s
a c a t a l y s t f o r d i r e c t l y p o l i t i c a l d e s i r e s , f o r T o f t s a n d D a v is , i t
is p a r t o f q u i t e d i f f e r e n t c o n s t e l l a t i o n s o f m e m o r i e s , d e s i r e s ,
in te re s ts .
P a rt o f th e c h a lle n g e fo r L a b o r a t th e e n d o f th e 90s
b e c a m e t h a t o f f i n d i n g w a y s o f a r t i c u l a t i n g t h i s b r o a d e r , le s s
d i r e c t l y p o l i t i c a l m e m o r y o f L a b o r ’s p a s t t o t h e p a r t y ’s f u t u r e
e le c to r a l a m b itio n s . T h e m e d ia v e c to r d is tr ib u te s im a g e s o f
p o litic a l c u ltu r e f a r a n d w id e , lo b b in g th e m r ig h t in th e in ti­
m a te s p a c e o f h o m e a n d s u b u r b . T h is d is tr ib u tio n o f im a g e s
o f t h e p o l i t i c a l v ia t h e m e d i a is a l s o t h e i r d i s p e r s a l . T h e y e n d
o f w o v e n t o g e t h e r w i t h a ll k i n d s o f i m a g e s , u s e d a s r e s o u r c e s
f o r r e a d i n g a ll k in d s o f e x p e r ie n c e .
W h e n G o u g h W h i t l a m a p p e a r e d o n s t a g e a t t h e 1 9 9 8 A R IA
m u s ic a w a rd s c e re m o n y , h e w as to p r e s e n t a n a w a rd to th e
ro c k b a n d T h e W h itla m s . H e o p e n e d th e e n v e lo p e and
m o c k e d s u r p r i s e : “a n d t h e a w a r d g o e s t o — m y f a m i l y ! ” T h e
(m u s ic a l) W h itla m s a r e o ld e n o u g h to r e m e m b e r th e ( p o lit­
ic a l) W h i t l a m s , a n d t o a s s o c i a t e t h e m w i t h a c e r t a i n k i n d o f
p r o g re s s iv e , o p tim is tic , e n l i g h t e n e d c u ltu r e , a n d h e n c e to
n a m e a b a n d a f t e r t h e m . I t ’s a s t r i k i n g i n s t a n c e o f t h e p o l i t ­
ic a l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o c e l e b r i t y b e i n g d r a w n u p o n i n t u r n b y
c u l t u r e . T h e t r i c k f o r t h e L a b o r P a r t y is t r y t h i s i n r e v e r s e ,
a n d d ra w p o litic a l s u p p o r t fro m th e c u ltu r e . A lth o u g h in th e
u n l i k e l y e v e n t t h a t t h e r e is e v e r a b a n d c a l l e d T h e H a w k e s , I
d o u b t th e y w o u ld b e as m e lo d io u s .

On M y L eft, L in dsa y Tanner

L i k e M a r k D a v is , L i n d s a y T a n n e r m i g h t c o u n t a s p a r t o f
G e n e r a t i o n G o u g h . L i k e D a v is , h e g r e w u p i n r u r a l V i c t o r i a ,
i n t h e t o w n o f O r b o s t . L i k e D a v is , T a n n e r c a m e f r o m a p o l i t ­
ic a ll y s e l f - c o n s c i o u s f a m ily . H i s m o t h e r w a s s e c r e t a r y t o a
m in is te r in th e F ra se r g o v e rn m e n t a n d h is f a t h e r w a s a
m e m b e r o f t h e N a t i o n a l P a r ty . W h e r e D a v is f o u n d p u n k
m u s ic a n d c u ltu r e u p o n c o m in g d o w n to M e lb o u r n e , T a n n e r
f o u n d s t u d e n t p o l i t i c s . W h i l e D a v is o c c u p i e s a n u r b a n e p o s i ­
regeneratin g labor

tio n w ith in th e p o litic s o f c u ltu r e , it s e e m s to m e T a n n e r

e s p o u s e s a m o r e s u b u r b a n v e rs io n o f th e c u ltu r e o f p o litic s .
O r b o s t , T a n n e r s ay s, w a s a “b a s i c s o r t o f p l a c e . ” H e r e m e m ­
b e r s a tim e b e f o r e t h e to w n h a d e le c tric ity , g a s , s e w e ra g e —
o r t e l e v i s i o n . I t ’s a l i f e T a n n e r sa y s “c ity t y p e s d o n ’t u n d e r ­
s ta n d . M e l b o u r n e in th e 4 0 s w a s O r b o s t in t h e 6 0 s .” L ik e B e n
C h if le y , T a n n e r t u r n e d r u r a l i s o l a t i o n t o h i s a d v a n t a g e b y
b e c o m in g a r e a d e r . E n c o u n te r in g w r ite r s lik e G e o r g e O rw e ll
a t a n im p re s s io n a b le a g e p ro b a b ly p ro v id e d th e in fo rm a tio n
w i t h w h i c h t o t h i n k o f a lif e b e y o n d . G i v e n h o w p e r v a s i v e t h e
m e d ia h a v e b e c o m e s in c e th e s a te llite o p e n e d a v e c to r th a t
b r i n g s a l m o s t a ll o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n c o n t i n e n t w i t h i n i t s r e a c h ,
T a n n e r m a y w e ll b e o n e o f t h e l a s t p o l i t i c i a n s n o t r a i s e d i n its
e m b ra c e .
E v e n a s tric t b o a r d in g s c h o o l c o u ld n o t is o la te T a n n e r
f r o m t h e m e d i a a f t e r s h o c k s t h a t e m a n a t e d f r o m 6 0 s a c t iv is m .
H is c h a n c e to b e c o m e a p a r tic ip a n t r a t h e r th a n a s p e c ta to r
c a m e a t M e lb o u rn e U n iv e rs ity in th e la te 70 s, w h e r e h e
e d i t e d t h e s t u d e n t p a p e r , F a r r a g o . A f t e r t h a t , h i s c a r e e r is
w i t h i n t h e l a b o u r m o v e m e n t : w i t h a l a b o u r la w f i r m , p a r t y
s ta ffe r, u n i o n s e c r e t a r y . H e w r o t e tw o b o o k s , o n e o n h is
u n i o n e x p e r i e n c e s a n d o n e o n e n v i r o n m e n t a l p o l i c y . 18 T h e n
p r e s e l e c t i o n f o r a s a f e i n n e r c i ty M e l b o u r n e s e a t , w h i c h h e
w o n in 1 9 9 3. T h is r ic h a n d v a r ie d e x p e r ie n c e m a y lie b e h i n d
T a n n e r ’s d i s t i n c t i v e b l e n d o f v ie w s .
T a n n e r i d e n t i f i e s t h e r e s e n t m e n t o f ‘p o l i t i c a l c o r r e c t n e s s ’ a s
a b a c k l a s h a g a i n s t t h e e x t e n s i o n o f n e w i d e a s f lo w i n g f r o m t h e
6 0 s s o c ia l r e v o l u t i o n i n t o e v e r y d a y lif e . A t a t i m e w h e n t h e 8 0 s
e c o n o m ic re v o lu tio n in tro d u c e d even m o re d e s ta b ilis in g
id e a s, p o p u la r r e s e n tm e n t ro s e a g a in s t n e w th in k in g o n an y
f r o n t. A n ti-p o litic a l c o r r e c tn e s s w a s a r e a c tio n b y th o s e f o r m e d
by p a s t a c c re tio n s o f su b u rb a n oudook w ho re se n t th e
u n tim e ly in tr u s io n o f n e w m o d e s o f th o u g h t a n d la n g u a g e .
F o r th e m o s t p a r t T a n n e r a p p e a r s to fa v o u r a n u r b a n e
r e a s s e s s m e n t o f A u s t r a l i a ’s h i s t o r y a n d t h e o n g o i n g p r o p o s a l
o f n e w i m a g e s o f i d e n t i t y . I f i t is a c h o i c e b e t w e e n b e i n g a n
o p e n a n d fo r w a rd lo o k in g n a tio n , o r a c lo s e d a n d b a c k w a rd
l o o k i n g o n e , T a n n e r ’s f a v o u r s t h e f o r m e r . H e a l s o r i g h t l y
s t r e s s e s t h e t e n s i o n s c a u s e d b y L a b o r ’s p a r t i a l s u p p o r t f o r
s o m e o f t h e l i b e r t a r i a n e t h o s o f t h e 6 0 s , w i t h it s c o n c e r n f o r
c iv il l i b e r t i e s , s e x u a l a n d r a c i a l e q u a l i t y , e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o ­
 on m y le ft, lin d s a y t a n n e r 269

te c tio n . H e u n d e r s ta n d s th a t th e s e o n c e u r b a n e n o tio n s h a v e
a lr e a d y p a r tly f ilte r e d t h r o u g h s u b u r b ia . H e a ls o p e rc e iv e s
t h a t m a n y in th e c o m m u n ity f e e l th e y h a v e p a id to o h ig h a
p r i c e f o r l i b e r a t i o n . T h e d o w n s i d e is t h e “lo s s o f c o m m u n i t y
w h i c h s e e m s t o a f f l i c t c o n t e m p o r a r y A u s t r a l i a . ” 19
C o m m u n ity is s o m e th in g of a ‘m o t h e r h o o d ’ t e r m in
A u s t r a l i a n p o l i t i c a l c u l t u r e , c o n j u r i n g u p i m a g e s o f a s m a ll
to w n li f e w h e r e ev e ry b o d y kn o w s e v ery b o d y a n d t h e r e ’s
a lw a y s s o m e o n e t o l e n d a h e l p i n g h a n d . J o h n B u t t o n g iv e s a
c o n tr a s tin g p o r t r a i t o f th e c o m m u n a l id e a l in h is m e m o ir A s
I t H a p p e n e d . H e d e s c r ib e s g r o w in g u p in B a lla r a t in th e 3 0 s
and 40s, w h e re h is f a th e r w as th e P re s b y te ria n M in is te r.
W h a t ’s s t r i k i n g t o m e is t h e “t r i b a l b i g o t r y ” B u t t o n d e s c r i b e s :
“M y f a t h e r w a s s o m e t i m e s c r i t i c i s e d b y h i s p a r i s h i o n e r s f o r
h a v i n g m o r n i n g t e a w i t h t h e n u n s a t S t M a r y ’s . ” T h e B u t t o n s
d e a l t o n ly w ith P r e s b y te r ia n s h o p k e e p e r s a n d p r o f e s s io n a ls .
“A n g l i c a n s had second p r e fe re n c e .” T hey shunned
C a t h o l i c s . ‘T h e o n l y p e o p l e w h o m n o b o d y g o s s ip e d a b o u t
w e r e t h e C h i n e s e . ”20 T h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f a c o m m u n a l l i f e a r e
r a r e l y a c k n o w l e d g e d i n t h e y e a r n i n g f o r c o m m u n i t y . I t ’s n o t
a ll a s jo lly a s S ea C h a n g e.
I t ’s l a r g e l y a f a n t a s y t h a t t h e r e w e r e o n c e h a p p y l i t t l e c o m ­
m u n i t i e s . W h a t h a s r e a l l y c h a n g e d is t h a t , t h a n k s t o l i b e r ­
ta ria n s o c ia l change and p ro life ra tin g m e d ia v e c to rs ,
A u s tr a lia n s n o w h a v e a n o p e n d is c u s s io n a b o u t t h e s o c ia l
p r o b l e m s t h a t h a v e a lw a y s e x i s t e d . S e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t , h o m o ­
p h o b ia , sp o u sa l a b u s e a n d d r u g a d d ic tio n a re n o t n e w p h e ­
n o m e n a . T h e s e th in g s e x is te d , a c k n o w le d g e d m o s tly in th e
m a r g in s , t h r o u g h o u t th e g o ld e n e r a o f s u b u r b a n A u s tra lia .
W h a t w as c h a ra c te ris tic o f th e s u b u r b a n c u ltu r e w as n o t th a t
it m a d e th e w o rld sa fe a n d w a r m f o r e v e r y o n e , b u t t h a t it
a p p e a r e d to b e b lo c k in g a c c e ss to in f o r m a tio n a b o u t th e
d o w n s i d e o f m o d e r n lif e . T a n n e r g iv e s t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t
s o c i a l d i s l o c a t i o n is a n e w p r o b l e m . W h i l e t h e f o r m s o f s o c i a l
d is lo c a tio n t h a t p e o p le s u f f e r c h a n g e o v e r tim e , th e re a lly
d r a m a t i c c h a n g e t h a t T a n n e r d o e s n ’t a c k n o w l e d g e is t h e
i n c r e a s i n g a v a i l a b l i t y o f i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t it.
T a n n e r a ls o id e n tif ie s a te n s io n in th e c u ltu r e e x p r e s s e d as
th a t b e tw e e n in d iv id u a lis m a n d c o m m u n ity . I th in k th a t if
t h e r e h a s b e e n a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n A u s t r a l i a n c u l t u r e , i t is
n o t f r o m t h e c o l l e c t i v e t o i n d i v i d u a l i s m , i t is f r o m f o r m s o f
regeneratin g labor

c o m p u l s o r y s o l i d a r i t y t o v o l u n t a r y o n e s . I n d i v i d u a l i s m is a n
i l l u s i o n . W e a lw a y s c o n f r o n t e a c h o t h e r i n s o c i a l lif e i n p a c k s ,
b a n d s , b u n c h e s — a n d n o w in c y b e rs p a c e , n e tw o rk s . T h e d if­
f e r e n c e is t h a t t h e r e ’s n o w m o r e f l e x i b i l i t y a b o u t b e l o n g i n g .
I t ’s b e t t e r t o s u f f e r a b i t o f a n x i e t y o f c h o i c e t h a n to b e
fo r c e d to c o n f o r m to c o m p u ls o r y f o rm s o f a s s o c ia tio n , s u c h
a s t h e c h u r c h e s o r t h e o l d s ty le t r a d e u n i o n s w e r e i n t h e s u p ­
p o s e d ly g o o d o ld d ays.
T o m y m in d , T a n n e r c o n c e d e s to o m u c h to th e c o n s e rv a ­
tiv e v iew , t h a t l i b e r t a r i a n c h a n g e h a s s o m e h o w g o n e ‘t o o f a r ’,
a n d t h a t in d iv id u a lis m h a s c o r r u p t e d c o m m u n ity v a lu e s . B u t
t h e r e is n o m i s t a k i n g h i s c o m p a s s i o n f o r t h e s e n s e o f a n x i e t y
a n d lo s s p e o p l e f e e l. H e a ls o c o r r e c t l y id e n t i f i e s a s a f u n d a ­
m e n t a l is s u e t h e d e s ir e to r e c o n c ile lib e r ty a n d s o lid a rity .
T a n n e r is c l o s e s t t o t h a t s e c t i o n o f t h e L a b o r P a r t y t h a t is
e d u c a t e d , w h i t e c o l l a r s u b u r b i a . W i t h it s a d m i x t u r e o f l i b e r ­
t a r i a n a n d p r o g r e s s i v e v a l u e s , i t ’s a f a d i n g r e s i d u e o f t h e 6 0 s .
Its a n x ie tie s a b o u t s e c u rity a r e c a u s e d b y fe e lin g to o e x p o s e d
to th e fo r c e s o f e c o n o m ic c h a n g e in th e 80s.
T h e d i l e m m a is w h e t h e r a d j u s t i n g t o e c o n o m i c c h a n g e
re q u ire s a tu r n to m o r e c u ltu r a lly c o n s e r v a tiv e v a lu e s , o r
w h e t h e r i t is p o s s i b l e t o c r e a t e a s e n s e o f s e c u r i t y , t r u s t a n d
c o n fid e n c e th a t in c o rp o ra te s th e b e s t o f th e lib e rta ria n
s p i r i t . W h a t ’s b e s t i n L i n d s a y T a n n e r , a s a t h i n k i n g p o l i t i c i a n ,
is h i s a w a r e n e s s o f t h e s e a m b i v a l e n c e s . H e r e p r e s e n t s a n
a d v a n c e d p o i n t in th e r e t h in k in g o f th e v a lu e s o f w h a t w as
o n c e t h e l e f t o f t h e L a b o r P a r ty .

The L eft a n d th e L e fto v e r s

I t ’s h a r d t e l l w h a t is t h e l e f t a n y m o r e . M a n y o f it s o n c e v o c a l
ta lk in g h e a d s h a v e a b a n d o n e d a n y c o h e r e n t d e f e n c e o f th e
o l d l e f t ’s f a i t h i n t h e c e n t r a l i s e d e c o n o m y . T h e y h a v e a l s o
r e t r e a t e d f r o m t h e l i b e r t a r i a n a n d l i b e r a t i o n i s t s o c i a l v ie w s
t h a t b u b b l e d u p w i t h t h e n e w l e f t o f t h e 6 0 s . T h e l e f t a r e in
d a n g e r o f b e c o m in g le fto v e rs — a re s id u a l a n d re s is ta n t
f o r c e w ith o u t a p o s itiv e a n d p ro g re s s iv e c u ltu r e o f c h a n g e .
S o m e t i m e s t h e o l d l e f t a n d t h e o l d n e w l e f t s e e m n o t to
n o tic e th e y h a v e b e c o m e th e n e w n e w r ig h t. T h e y fa v o u r g o v ­
e r n m e n t in te rv e n tio n in th e e c o n o m y , b u t o n ly to a r r e s t
c h a n g e a n d p r o t e c t th e in te r e s ts o f w o r k e r s in a fe w u n io n s ,
 th e left and th e le fto v e rs

a t th e e x p e n s e o f o th e r w o rk e rs. T h e y fa v o u r g o v e rn m e n t
in te r v e n tio n in c u ltu r e , b u t o n ly in th e f o r m o f a n a u t h o r i ­
t a r i a n r e s t r i c t i o n o n t h e f r e e f lo w o f i n f o r m a t i o n , t o f u r t h e r
th e in te re s ts o f in n e r s u b u r b a n c u ltu ra l m a n d a r in s . T h e c ri­
tiq u e o f p o p u la r c u ltu r e h a s q u ie tly b e c o m e a c o n te m p t fo r
t h e p e o p l e w h o e x p r e s s t h e i r a s p i r a t i o n s v ia it s i m a g e s a n d
s t o r i e s . T h e le f t , i n s h o r t , h a s b e c o m e z e a l o u s l y s u b u r b a n i n
o u tlo o k .
The c ritic a l d is ta n c e th e le ft m a in ta in s to w a rd p o p u la r
c u ltu r e c o m e s a t a h e a v y p ric e . B o th th e 6 0 s lib e r a tio n is t a n d
th e 80s su b u rb a n m o ra lis t h a d th e ir c ritiq u e s o f ta b lo id
m e d ia . T h e f o r m e r t h o u g h t it to o c o n s e r v a tiv e a n d m o r a l­
is in g , th e la tte r to o r is q u e a n d im m o r a l. I n b o t h c a s e s t h e d if­
f i c u l t y li e s i n i d e n t i f y i n g p o p u l a r m e d i a o n l y b y p a r t i c u l a r
e l e m e n t s i n it, a n d t h e n c h a r a c t e r i s i n g i t b y t h e s e — m u t u ­
a lly e x c l u s i v e — s t e r e o t y p e s . T h e c r i t i q u e o f p o p u l a r m e d i a
ends up d o in g e x a c tly w h a t it a c c u s e s p o p u l a r m e d ia o f
d o i n g — r e d u c i n g t h i n g s t o t h e i r s i m p l e s t le v e l.
T h i s is a p r o b l e m f o r t h e L a b o r P a r ty . L a b o r c a n n o t a ll o w
its e lf to b e to o d o m in a te d b y th e v a lu e s o f th e e d u c a te d
in n e r b a n d o f s u b u rb ia , b e c a u s e p a r t o f th e c u ltu re o f in n e r
s u b u r b i a is its d i s d a i n f o r t h e t a s t e s a n d d e s i r e s o f t h o s e i t
c o n s id e r s b e y o n d th e p a le . T h is s n o b b e r y h a s a c o n s e rv a tiv e
e x p r e s s i o n , b u t a l s o a s u p e r f i c i a l l y l e f t i s t o n e a s w e ll, a s u b ­
u r b a n a b s o r p t i o n o f l e f t i s t c r i t i q u e . I t is a lw a y s d e t r i m e n t a l t o
th e f o r tu n e s o f th e L a b o r P a rty to so o p e n ly d e s p is e th e
k in d s o f m e d ia v e c to r th a t a lo t o f L a b o r v o te rs e m b r a c e as
th e ir o w n . I t w as th r o u g h n o t r e s p e c tin g p o p u la r ta s te th a t
K e a tin g re a lly c a m e u n s tu c k w ith c e r ta i n k in d s o f v o te rs , w h o
sa w h is h o b - n o b b i n g w ith u r b a n e a r ty ty p e s a s t h e s n o b b e r y
o f a s e lf-im p o rta n t in n e r s u b u rb a n .
F o r t u n a t e l y , T a n n e r s e e s t h e p r o b l e m . “I w o u l d n ’t l i k e t o
s e e th e in f lu e n c e o f p e o p le lik e m e b e c o m in g m o r e d o m i­
n a n t ”, h e to ld M c G re g o r, because th e n th e “t r a d i t i o n a l
L a b o r b a s e c o u l d g e t s q u e e z e d e v e n m o r e . ” I n a d d i t i o n to
r e t a i n i n g t h e t r a d e u n i o n lin k s , I t h i n k th is p r o b l e m h a s to
b e a d d r e s s e d m o r e la te ra lly , b y t h i n k i n g a b o u t h o w L a b o r
c a n c o m e to te r m s w ith th e p o p u l a r c u ltu r e a n d m e d ia ta s te s
o f its l o w e r s u b u r b a n b a s e . T h e “c u l t o f c e l e b r i t y ” a n n o y s a
s e r i o u s L a b o r t h i n k e r l i k e T a n n e r , b u t i t is n o t i m p o s s i b l e f o r
L a b o r t o s p e a k i n a p o p u l a r v o i c e , a s i t d i d i n C h i f l e y ’s d a y .
regeneratin g labor

As T r u e B e l ie v e r s r e m i n d s us, m u c h o f th e m e d ia w e re
o v e r t l y h o s t i l e t o C h if le y . I n H a w k e a n d K e a t i n g ’s d a y , t h e s o -
c a l l e d ‘q u a l i t y ’ m e d i a t o o k L a b o r s e r io u s l y . B u t i f a n y t h i n g ,
th e a n im o s ity o f th e e d ito r ia l w rite rs f o r F r a n k P a c k e r o r
K e ith M u r d o c h p r o b a b ly d id C h ifle y m o r e g o o d th a n th e
e m b r a c e b y th e b u s in e s s s c rib e s o f K e r r y P a c k e r a n d R u p e r t
M u r d o c h d i d K e a t i n g . O u t e r s u b u r b i a is q u i t e c a p a b l e o f
r e a d i n g b e tw e e n t h e lin e s .
P e r h a p s s o m e d a y L a b o r f i g u r e s w ill g e t a r u n i n t h e m o r e
p o p u la r e n d o f th e m e d ia c o n tro lle d b y J a m e s P a c k e r a n d
L a c h l a n M u r d o c h . T a n n e r ’s o w n s t o r y , f r o m f r o n t i e r c o u n t r y
to w n to F e d e r a l P a r lia m e n t, w o u ld m a k e a g r e a t c e le b r ity
ta b lo id y a rn . T a n n e r h a s a d e e p c o n c e r n fo r r e f o r m in g th e
a p p a r a t u s o f t h e L a b o r P a r t y a n d o v e r c o m i n g it s l e f t o v e r
c u l t u r e o f “a r r o g a n c e , e x c l u s i v i t y a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l r i g i d i t y i n
a n e r a in w h ic h th e s e c h a ra c te ris tic s a r e a lie n to m o s t o r d i­
n a ry p e o p l e . ”21 P a r t o f t h e a rro g a n c e th a t n e e d s to be
a d d r e s s e d is a r r o g a n c e t o w a r d p o p u l a r t a s t e .

S te e r in g th e T h ird W ay L eftw a rd s

S o m e o n t h e l e f t o f t h e L a b o r P a r ty , s u c h a s T a n n e r , a r e
s t a r t i n g t o s e e t h e l i g h t o n t h e h i l l a l i t t l e d i f f e r e n t l y . I t ’s n o
lo n g e r e n o u g h t o g r o w t h e e c o n o m y , t a x it, a n d t r a n s f e r
s o m e in c o m e to w h o e v e r a g o v e r n m e n t d e c id e s m o s t n e e d s
it. T h a t m i g h t p u t m o n e y i n t h e h a n d s o f p e o p l e i n n e e d , b u t
i t d o e s n ’t a lw a y s h e l p t h o s e p e o p l e p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e i r c u l t u r e ,
t h e e c o n o m y o r i n p u b l i c lif e . “C a p a c i t y t o p a r t i c i p a t e ” is
w h a t T a n n e r id e n tifie s as th e th in g g o v e r n m e n t in te r v e n tio n
c o u ld ta k e a s a b e t t e r o b je c tiv e , a lig h t o n a h i g h e r h ill. W h a t
T a n n e r e x e m p l i f i e s is a l e f t - l e a d i n g v e r s i o n o f a n e m e r g e n t
t h i r d w a y b e t w e e n m a r k e t a n d s t a t e . T o m e T a n n e r s til l h a s
t o o c o l l e c t i v i s t a n d c o m m u n i t a r i a n a v ie w o f t h i s c a p a c i t y t o
p a r t i c i p a t e , b u t i t is p e r h a p s i n e v i t a b l e t h a t a t h i n k e r li k e
T a n n e r , w h o w a n ts to b e in s id e g o v e r n m e n t, se e s it so m o r e
th a n s o m e o n e w h o v a lu e s th e lib e r ty o f th in k in g f r o m th e
c u ltu r e a t la rg e .
E v e r y d a y li f e c o n t a i n s m a n y o r g a n i s e d e x p r e s s i o n s o f t h e
d e s ire fo r c o m m u n ity . T h ese p ro v id e in d iv id u a ls w ith a
c a p a c i t y t o p a r t i c i p a t e — a n d a c a p a c i t y t o c h o o s e h o w to
p a r t i c i p a t e , I w o u l d a d d . I t ’s f r o m t h e s e s m a l l e n t i t l e m e n t s t o
 s tee ring the third w ay le ftw a rd s

b e lo n g , th e s e little w o rld s o f s y m p a th y w e f e e l f o r th e f o r ­
tu n e s o f th o s e a r o u n d u s, t h a t m a k e it p o s s ib le f o r p e o p le to
th in k b e y o n d th e b o r d e r s o f th e ir q u a r te r a c re b lo c k a n d
b e y o n d t h e i r s u b u r b . P a r t i c i p a t i o n is n o t j u s t a g o o d t h i n g i n
its e l f , i t m a y a l s o b e t h e o n l y w a y a s m a l l c o u n t r y c a n m a n a g e
t h e k i n d s o f c h a n g e s r e q u i r e d b y i ts p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a w i d e r
w o r l d o f i n f o r m a t i o n flo w s , t e c h n o l o g i c a l c h a n g e a n d e c o ­
n o m i c f lu x .
T h e A u s t r a l i a n e c o n o m y is n o t a s t a t i c e n t i t y , a n d c h a n g e is
n o t ju s t th e re s u lt o f e c o n o m ic ra tio n a lis t p o lic ie s . In
T a n n e r ’s v iew , e c o n o m ic ra tio n a lis m w as a re sp o n se to
c h a n g e s , r a th e r th a n th e ir c a u s e . B o th ra tio n a lis ts a n d tr a d i­
tio n a lis ts w ith in th e L a b o r g o v e r n m e n t h a d to c o n f r o n t th e
fa c t th a t m o s t o f th e A u s tra lia n s e ttle m e n t “...o n w h ic h tr a ­
d itio n a l A L P fa ith h a s b e e n f o u n d e d — p ro te c tio n is m , c o n ­
c ilia tio n and a rb itra tio n , h ig h liv in g s ta n d a r d s a n d tra d e
u n io n s tre n g th — a r e in th e p r o c e s s o f b e in g d ra s tic a lly
w e a k e n e d o r d e s tro y e d by in te r n a tio n a l fo rc e s b e y o n d o u r
c o n tr o l.” T h e c h a lle n g e f o r th e le ft a t th e e n d o f th e 9 0 s w as
t o c o m e u p w i t h i ts o w n v e r s i o n o f e c o n o m i c li t e r a c y , o n e
th a t d id n o t r e tr e a t to th e m a g ic p u d d in g , b u t a c c e p te d
c h a n g in g e c o n o m ic re a litie s a n d lo o k e d f o r m o r e e q u ita b le
s o lu tio n s w ith in a re a lis tic fra m e w o rk .
F o r a s ta rt, th is m e a n s jo i n i n g th e p u b lic c o n s e n s u s o n
w h a t a c tu a lly h a p p e n e d in th e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s. T h e c o n s tr a in t
w ith in w h ic h th e H aw ke g o v e r n m e n t ’s s t r a t e g y had to
a c c o m m o d a t e i t s e l f w a s t h e d e c l i n e i n t h e v a l u e o f A u s t r a l i a ’s
c o m m o d ity e x p o r ts . B y 1 9 8 3 , w h e n L a b o r to o k o ffic e , it n o
lo n g e r s u ffic e d to d ig u p ro c k s , c h o p d o w n tr e e s a n d g ra s s ,
a n d e x p o r t th e re s u ltin g w o o d , w h e a t, a n d ir o n o re . A s c o m ­
m o d ity e x p o r t s d e c l in e d , th e e x p o r t o f le g a l, a c c o u n tin g ,
e d u c a tio n , e n g in e e r in g , m e d ic a l, m a n a g e r ia l a n d c re a tiv e
s e rv ic e s in c r e a s e d , b u t n o t e n o u g h to c lo s e th e g a p .
By th e la te 9 0 s, o v e r 2 7 % o f A u s tr a lia n a d u lts w e re re ly in g
o n s o c ia l s e c u r ity a s t h e i r m a in s o u r c e o f in c o m e , a p r o p o r ­
tio n th a t d o u b le d s in c e th e d ay s o f th e W h itla m g o v e rn m e n t.
T h a n k s t o t h e i d e a o f ‘t a r g e t e d b e n e f i t s ’, p e o p l e r e c e i v e t h i s
m o n e y u n d e r a p l e t h o r a o f d i f f e r e n t b e n e f i t c a te g o r ie s w ith
d i f f e r e n t e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i a . N o w o n d e r t h e r e is a n u n s p e a k ­
a b l e m a j o r i t y o b s e s s e d w i t h ‘f a i r n e s s ’. A s T a n n e r a n d o t h e r s
s t a r t e d t o p o i n t o u t i n t h e w a k e o f K e a t i n g ’s d e f e a t , p e o p l e
regenerating labor

r e q u ir e a v e ry h ig h d e g r e e o f m o r a l le g itim a c y f r o m w e lfa re
th e y a r e f o r c e d to p a y f o r b u t n o t e n title d to u se .
I n t h e f a b l e s o f t h e le f t, H a w k e a n d K e a t i n g p r e s i d e d o v e r a
T h a t c h e r i t e r e d u c t i o n in w e lfa re , a n d t h e p u b lic s e c to r s h r a n k
d r a m a t i c a l l y . A c tu a lly , w h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t t a k e s o u t o f t h e
e c o n o m y t h r o u g h t a x a t i o n d i d fa ll s l i g h d y i n t h e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s ,
b u t a f te r it h a d r is e n s te a d ily t h r o u g h o u t th e p o s tw a r y e a rs.
T h e r e a l c a u s e o f t h e p e r c e p t i o n t h a t g o v e r n m e n t s p e n t le s s is
th a t th e r e w e re m o r e p e o p le th a t it h a s to s p e n d m o n e y o n .
M o re p e o p le n e e d e d h e a lth , w e lfa re a n d e d u c a tio n , a n d so
e x p e n d i t u r e w a s s t r e t c h e d m o r e a n d m o r e th in ly .
O t h e r c h a n g e s o u ts id e o f g o v e r n m e n t c o n tr o l a ls o h a d
e q u ity e ffe c ts . T h e w o rk fo r c e c h a n g e d s ig n ific a n tly s in c e th e
W h i t l a m y e a r s , p a r t l y a s a r e s u l t o f W h i t l a m ’s t a r i f f c u t s , b u t
a ls o u n d e r th e im p a c t o f in f o r m a tio n te c h n o lo g y , b e c o m in g
m o re f le x ib le and fra g m e n te d . D em and fo r lo w s k ille d
la b o u r d r o p p e d . E v e n w o r k e r s w h o w o rk w ith t h e i r h a n d s
h a d to k n o w s o m e th in g a b o u t th e te c h n o lo g ie s in v o lv e d . N o t
j u s t s k ill b u t k n o w l e d g e b e c a m e a m a j o r d i f f e r e n t i a t o r o f
in c o m e , a n d in c o m e in e q u a litie s m a rk e d ly w id e n e d . E v en
m a n y o f th o s e w ith j o b s d id n o t fe e l t h a t th e j o b g a v e th e m a
s e n s e o f a u t o n o m y a n d s e c u r i ty .
S o m e o f th e m o r e t h r e a te n in g im a g e s o f g lo b a l e c o n o m ic
c h a n g e c a n b e o v e r s t a t e d . I t ’s t r u e t h a t a s v e c t o r s o f t r a d e
a n d in f o r m a tio n th r e a d d is ta n t p a r ts o f th e w o rld to g e th e r,
c o n c e p t s lik e n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t a n d n a t i o n a l c o m p e titiv e n e s s
l o s e t h e i r m e a n i n g . B u t t h e s t a t e is n o t n e c e s s a r i l y i n t e r ­
m i n a l d e c l i n e . A s m a l l , h i g h w a g e e c o n o m y is n o t a u t o m a t i ­
c a lly d o o m e d . C a r m a k e r s , f o r i n s t a n c e , c o n t i n u e t o f a b r i c a t e
i n A u s t r a l i a , d e s p i t e t a r i f f r e d u c t i o n s , b e c a u s e t h e y w a n t to
h a n g o n to m a r k e t s h a re . T h e r e m a y b e p la c e s w h e r e w a g e s
a re lo w e r , b u t t h e r e a re fe w p la c e s w h e r e h ig h ly s k ille d
la b o u r c a n b e b o u g h t o n th e c h e a p .
G lo b a l c a p ita l m a r k e ts m a y tr a n s a c t c o lo s s a l s u m s , b u t 9 4 %
o f t o t a l s a v i n g s a r e i n v e s t e d i n t h e c o u n t r y o f t h e s a v e r ’s
o r ig in . T h e s e g lo b a l c a p ita l m a r k e ts a c tu a lly e n h a n c e a g o v ­
e r n m e n t ’s p o w e r , a s i t t o o c a n b o r r o w a b r o a d . T h e r e is n o t
q u i t e t h e s a m e i m p e r a t i v e f o r C h i f l e y ’s f a t a l p o l i c y o f n a t i o n ­
a lis in g d o m e s tic s a v in g s w h e n th e re a re p riv a te fo re ig n
le n d e r s . W h e n K e a tin g p riv a tis e d th e C o m m o n w e a lth B a n k ,
h e s o ld o f f o n e o f th e la s t r e m n a n ts o f th e p o s tw a r r e c o n ­
 stee ring the third w a y le ftw a rd s

s tr u c tio n p la n , b u t in t h e p r o c e s s h e f a ile d to c o m e u p w ith a

s tra te g y to e n s u r e th a t w h e n th e d e r e g u la te d b a n k s w e n t o f f
in h o t p u r s u it o f b ig b u s in e s s c u s to m e r s , th e r e w o u ld b e a n
a d e q u a te re ta il b a n k in g s e rv ic e in d u s tr y f o r o r d in a r y p e o p le .
O n e r o l e t h a t c o u l d a c t u a l l y b e e n h a n c e d is t h e s t a t e ’s
in v o lv e m e n t in th e r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e lo p m e n t o f n e w te c h ­
n o lo g ie s . P riv a te in v e s tm e n t c o m e s to o little a n d to o la te to
a p p l i e d s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y . T h e r e a r e s t ill g o o d a r g u ­
m e n ts in f a v o u r o f g o v e r n m e n t in te r v e n tio n in th e e c o n o m y ,
b u t o n a s o m e w h a t m o d e s t s c a le . A r a n g e o f s m a lle r m e a ­
su re s m ay g e n e ra te m o re jo b s a n d in c o m e th a n a n o th e r
S n o w y M o u n ta in s s c h e m e . W h ile m a r k e ts m a y b e m o r e e ffi­
c ie n t u se rs o f in f o r m a tio n a n d a llo c a to rs o f re s o u rc e s th a n
c e n tra lis e d b u re a u c ra c ie s , th e re a re m any c irc u m s ta n c e s
w h e r e m a r k e t c o n d itio n s d o n o t p re v a il. T h e r e a r e s itu a tio n s
w h e r e s o m e f i r m s h a v e m o n o p o l y p o w e r , o r w h e r e t h e a s s is ­
ta n c e o f o t h e r g o v e r n m e n t s tilts t h e p la y in g f ie ld . T h e r e a r e
a l s o s i t u a t i o n s , m o r e p o s itiv e ly , w h e r e a n a r g u m e n t c a n b e
m a d e t h a t t h e “c l u s t e r i n g ” o f r e l a t e d i n d u s t r i e s c o u l d g e n ­
e r a te j o b s a n d g ro w th , a n d w h e r e p r o d u c in g s u c h a r e s u lt
r e q u ir e s a g o v e r n m e n t w ith th e in f o r m a tio n a n d p la n n in g
p o w e rs to b r in g p riv a te in te r e s ts to g e th e r.
B u t i n t h e m a i n , t h e r e a l i s t i c o p t i o n f o r t h e l e f t is t o a r g u e
t h a t p o lic y s h o u ld fo c u s o n im p ro v in g th e q u a lity o f th e
in p u ts r a th e r th a n try in g to d ir e c t th e p r o d u c tio n o f o u tp u ts
o r p r o te c t th e m fro m c o m p e titio n . M ic ro -e c o n o m ic r e f o rm
h a s b e e n to o o b s e s s e d w ith lo w e r in g t h e c o s ts o f p o w e r a n d
tr a n s p o r t — c h a n g e s th a t m ig h t b e n e fit h eav y in d u s try a n d
m in in g b u t d o little f o r th e g r o w in g s e rv ic e a n d in f o r m a tio n
in d u s tr ie s . E n v ir o n m e n ta l s ta n d a r d s c a n im p ro v e th e q u a lity
o f r e s o u r c e in p u ts ; e d u c a tio n a n d tr a in in g c a n im p ro v e th e
q u a lity o f la b o u r.
T h e A u s t r a l i a n e c o n o m y s til l c r e a t e s a l o t o f j o b s , o n l y i t
c re a te s d if f e r e n t jo b s th a t b e n e f it d if f e r e n t p e o p le . T h e
k i n d s o f lo w s k i l l e d j o b s t h a t m e n u s e d t o d o i n t h e i n d u s t r i a l
e c o n o m y e v a p o r a t e d ; t h e k in d s o f lo w s k ille d j o b s w o m e n
u s e d to d o h a v e e x p a n d e d , a s s e rv ic e s a n d c y b e r s p a c e g ro w ,
a n d th e e c o n o m y m o v e s fro m a n in d u s tria l to a p o s tin d u s ­
t r i a l b a s is . H e n c e t h e s u p p o r t P a u l i n e H a n s o n ’s O n e N a t i o n
L td re c e iv e d f r o m b lu e c o lla r m a le s , w h o m a k e a la r g e p a r t
of th e c o n s c io u s , re s is ta n t in fo rm a tio n p ro le ta ria t.
regenerating labor

U n e m p l o y m e n t is a l s o v e r y u n e v e n l y d i s t r i b u t e d , c r e a t i n g
w h o le s u b u r b s o f c o n tin u o u s h ig h u n e m p lo y m e n t. T o m a k e
m a t t e r s w o r s e , t h e r e a r e s t ill r a t h e r m a c h o i d e a s a b o u t w h a t
c o u n t s a s a r e a l j o b . W h a t t h i s c a l l s f o r is a m a j o r c h a n g e i n
th e c u ltu r e o f w o rk .
N o b o d y o n th e le f t d o u b ts th a t th e H a w k e a n d K e a tin g e r a
p r o g r a m s w e r e n o t a lw a y s s a t i s f a c t o r y . T h e i d e a o f “m u t u a l
o b lig a tio n ” s o u n d s g o o d in p rin c ip le , b u t if s o m e o n e is
o b lig e d to u n d e r g o r e tr a in in g in o r d e r to g e t b e n e fits , g o v ­
e r n m e n t a g e n c ie s o u g h t to b e u n d e r o b lig a tio n to p r o v id e
t r a i n i n g t h a t is a c t u a l l y u s e f u l . I n p r a c t i c e t h e r e is n o w a y a n
u n e m p lo y e d p e rs o n is i n a n y p o s itio n to ‘p a r t i c i p a t e ’ i n
q u e s t i o n i n g t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s e n d o f s o u n e q u a l a m u t u a l i t y .
T h is b e c a m e a s tr o n g s o u rc e o f p o p u la r re s is ta n c e .
C o m p e titio n p o lic y c o u ld a ls o b e n e f it f r o m an engaged
s c e p tic is m f r o m t h e le f t . C o m p e t i t i o n p o l i c y m a y g e n e r a t e
p ro d u c tiv ity im p ro v e m e n ts th a t can b e n e fit c o m m o d ity
in d u s tr ie s th a t c o m p e te o n p r ic e b y lo w e rin g th e c o s t o f
m a jo r in p u ts lik e p o w e r a n d tr a n s p o r t. T h e p ic tu r e m a y b e
m o r e c o m p le x f o r o th e r in d u s trie s . T h e le ft h a s e v e ry r ig h t
to b e s c e p tic a l a b o u t a r g u m e n ts f o r th e b e n e f its o f c o m p e ti­
tio n th a t c o n ta in little o r n o e m p ir ic a l e v id e n c e . A g r e a te r
e m p h a s is o n t h e a n a ly s is o f o u t c o m e s in p r o p o s a ls f o r d e r e g ­
u l a t i o n , m i g h t s h o w w h e t h e r t h e r e a l i t y is li k e l y t o m a t c h t h e
t h e o r y . I t is o n l y b y a c k n o w l e d g i n g a w i d e r p u b l i c s c e p t i c i s m
a b o u t e c o n o m ic p o lic y m a k in g t h a t a c o n s e n s u s m ig h t b e
r e b u i l t a r o u n d a p o l i c y f o r c h a n g e . I f t h e r e is a b e n e f i t t h a t
c a n b e le v e ra g e d o u t o f th e e x is te n c e o f h a r d H a n s o n is m , it
is n o t a s o f t H a n s o n i s m o f r e t r e a t f r o m r e f o r m , b u t a m o r e
e m p i r i c a l a p p r o a c h t o it.
E d u c a t i o n is a d i f f i c u l t i s s u e f o r t h e l e f t , n o t l e a s t b e c a u s e
t h a t is w h e r e i t d e r i v e s s o m u c h o f its s u p p o r t . I n c r e a s i n g
p u b l i c f u n d i n g f o r e d u c a t i o n is a h a r d c a s e t o a r g u e w i t h o u t
a c c e p tin g g r e a te r a c c o u n ta b ility a n d , o v e r th e in e v ita b le
o b je c tio n s o f th e t e a c h e r ’s u n i o n s , t e s t i n g o f s c h o o ls . I f
p e o p l e a r e t o t r u s t t h e t e a c h e r ’s a s s e s s m e n t s , t h e y a r e e n t i ­
t l e d to a s s e s s m e n ts o f t h e t e a c h e r s . S ile n t M a jo r ity I I I m a d e
a b u n d a n t l y c l e a r t h a t a n i n c r e a s i n g l y w e ll e d u c a t e d p u b l i c is
a ls o a p u b lic in c r e a s in g ly s c e p tic a l a b o u t th e s e lf - in te r e s t o f
p r o f e s s io n a ls w h o w a n t to r u n th e ir s e rv ic e s w ith o u t p u b lic
a c c o u n ta b ility .
 po stin d u strial class strugg le

T h e o l d l e f t h a s b e e n s lo w t o g r a s p t h e p o t e n t i a l o f t h e
u r b a n e w o rld o f th e c u ltu r e in d u s tr ie s , n o t j u s t to c a u s e
tr o u b l e a n d p r o m o t e s tr a n g e id e a s , b u t a ls o to c o n t r i b u t e to
th e econom y. A u s tra lia e x p o rts s ig n ific a n t a m o u n ts of
p o p u l a r m u s ic , te le v is io n p r o g r a m s , e d u c a ti o n a l m a te r ia ls
a n d o th e r in te lle c tu a l p ro p e rty . T h e w ay to g e t A u s tra lia in to
c y b e r s p a c e e c o n o m i c a l l y is n o t t o s p e n d m i l l i o n s t r y i n g t o
e n tic e I n te l to s e t u p a s e m i- c o n d u c to r fa c to ry , b u t to f u r t h e r
d e v e lo p th e su c c e ssfu l m e d ia c o n te n t in d u s trie s .
A s p a rd y p riv a tis e d c o m m u n ic a d o n s u tility , T e l s t r a is a
w e i r d b e a s t . I t ti e s u p a l o t o f c a p i t a l i n s o m e t h i n g t h a t is n o
l o n g e r fu ll y u n d e r p u b l i c c o n t r o l . T h e d e b a t e i n t h e m e d i a
t e n d s to p o la r is e to w a r d t h e e x tr e m e s o f a w h o lly p u b lic o r
w h o lly p r iv a tis e d f u t u r e f o r T e ls tra . T h e le f t u s u a lly s u p p o r ts
p u b l i c o w n e r s h i p o f b a s i c c o m m u n i c a t i o n c a p a c ity , b u t i t is
a n o p e n q u e s tio n in a te c h n o lo g ic a lly flu id e n v ir o n m e n t as to
w h a t t h a t m e a n s . T h e d i f f i c u l t y is t o k e e p s o m e b a s i c v e c t o r s
u n d e r t h e u m b r e l l a o f p u b l i c p o lic y , w h i l e a l l o w i n g a t e l e c o m -
m u n ic a d o n s in d u s try to d e v e lo p , a n d to e n c o u r a g e o th e r
in f o r m a tio n b a s e d in d u s tr ie s to ta k e a d v a n ta g e o f c h e a p c o m ­
m u n i c a d o n s a n d te c h n ic a lly s o p h is tic a te d v e c to rs .
T h e le f t h a s a s e n tim e n ta l a t t a c h m e n t to p u b lic o w n e r s h ip ,
a n d c a n b e as re s is ta n t to in q u ir ie s in to th e re a l b e n e fits o f
p u b lic c o n tr o l as th e e c o n o m ic ra tio n a lis ts c a n b e a b o u t th e
r e a l b e n e f i t s o f c o m p e t i t i o n . T h e l e f t a l s o d r a w s its s u p p o r t
d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y f r o m t h e p u b l i c s e c t o r , a n d h e n c e t h e r e is
a s t r o n g r e s is ta n c e to a d d r e s s in g t h e is s u e . W h a t t h e le f t h a s
l e f t t o o m u c h t o t h e r i g h t is t h e q u e s t i o n o f s e t t i n g c r i t e r i a
fo r d e c id in g o n th e a p p r o p r ia te n e s s o f p u b lic o w n e rs h ip .
S u c h c r ite r ia m ig h t in c lu d e : th e e x t e n t to w h ic h th e p r o d u c t
is u s e d u n i v e r s a l l y , t h e c o n t e s t a b i l i t y o f t h e m a r k e t , a n d t h e
e x te r n a litie s a s s o c ia te d w ith p r o d u c tio n a n d c o n s u m p tio n o f
th e p r o d u c t . U n d e r s u c h c r ite r ia , g a s, w a te r, e le c tr ic ity a n d
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s o u g h t t o b e i n p u b l i c o w n e r s h i p . T h e r e is
p l e n t y o f r o o m f o r d e b a t e t h e r e , b u t t h e c r u c i a l f a c t o r is t o
w o rk o n s o m e re a s o n a b le te rm s fo r s u c h a d e b a te .

P o stin d u stria l C lass S tru g g le

I f t h e r e is a r e a s o n w h y t h e l e f t o f t e n a p p e a r s t o b e s t r u g g l i n g
to k e e p u p w ith th e p a c e o f c h a n g e , it m a y b e t h a t t h e f o r c e s
regen era tin g labor

t r a d i t i o n a l l y i d e n t i f i e d a s ‘l e f t ’ n o l o n g e r r e p r e s e n t t h e f r o n t ­
l i n e i n t h e c la s s c o n f l i c t t h a t , i n M a r x i s t t h i n k i n g , d e t e r m i n e s
th e f o r w a r d m o v e m e n t o f h is to ry . M u c h o f th e a g e n d a o f th e
le ft s e e m s e ith e r to b e a b o u t re s is tin g c h a n g e c o m p le te ly o r
a c c o m m o d a tin g to it in w ays t h a t p r e s e r v e th e in te r e s ts o f
c e r t a i n c o n s t i t u e n c i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y th o s e s k ille d w o r k e r s in
m a n u fa c tu rin g a n d in th e w h ite c o lla r p u b lic s e c to r th a t
b e lo n g to le f t w in g u n io n s .
B a rry J o n e s id e n tifie d a n in fo rm a tio n p ro le ta ria t, b u t h e
d id n o t c la im to h a v e th o u g h t th r o u g h th e p o s tin d u s tria l
s o c i e t y i n t e r m s o f c l a s s c o n f l i c t . H i s p r o p h e c y w a s t h a t “t h e
q u e s tio n o f c o n tr o l o f, a n d a c c e s s to , in f o r m a tio n s h o u ld
b e c o m e o n e o f t h e m a j o r p o l i t i c a l is s u e s o f t h e 1 9 9 0 s ”, b u t
h e d i d n o t p o s e t h i s q u e s t i o n i n c la s s t e r m s . I n f o r m a t i o n m a y
w o rk a s d if f e r e n tly in th e m a r k e t e c o n o m y a s c a p ita l d o e s to
r e n t, a n d m ig h t th e r e f o r e g e n e r a te q u ite d if f e r e n t k in d s o f
c la s s i n t e r e s t . I w a n t t o c o n c l u d e t h i s c h a p t e r w i t h s o m e
h i g h l y s p e c u l a t i v e r e m a r k s t h a t try , i n a v e r y a b s t r a c t w ay , t o
a d v a n c e th e c o n c e p tu a lis a tio n o f th e c o n ju n c tu r e o f th e la te
9 0 s . T h i s l a s t s e c t i o n is a d d r e s s e d t o a c e r t a i n k i n d o f c u l t u r e
o f th e le f t . T hose n o t so in c lin e d m ig h t fin d th e next
c h a p t e r , w h i c h d e a l s w i t h L a b o r ’s c u l t u r e o f t h e r i g h t , m o r e
c o n g e n ia l.
“R e n t is t h a t p o r t i o n o f t h e p r o d u c e o f t h e e a r t h t h a t is
p a id to th e la n d lo r d f o r th e u s e o f th e o rig in a l a n d in d e ­
s t r u c t i b l e p o w e r s o f t h e s o il. I t is o f t e n , h o w e v e r , c o n f o u n d e d
w it h t h e i n t e r e s t a n d p r o f i t o f c a p i t a l . . . ”.22 S o w r o t e D a v id
R i c a r d o , o n e o f t h e o r i g i n a l ‘e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s t s ’, i n w h a t
w a s o n e o f t h e firs t, a l t h o u g h c e r ta in ly n o t t h e la s t a t t e m p t to
d e fin e th e d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n r e n t a n d p ro fit, th e r e tu r n s
re s p e c tiv e ly o n la n d a n d c a p ita l.
L a n d is o f f i x e d q u a n t i t y . T h e r e is o n l y s o m u c h o f it. A n y
e c o n o m i c a c t iv it y b a s e d o n l a n d b e h a v e s i n m u c h t h e s a m e
p e c u l i a r w ay . W h e n d e m a n d r i s e s , p r i c e s r i s e , b u t i f t h e r e is
n o m o r e la n d to m e e t th e d e m a n d f o r w h a t la n d p ro d u c e s ,
th e n th e h ig h p ric e d o e s n o t e n c o u r a g e n e w c o m p e tito r s —
by d e fin itio n th e r e c a n b e n o n e w c o m p e tito rs , as th e q u a n ­
ti ty o f l a n d is f i x e d . I f t h e r e w e r e n e w c o m p e t i t o r s , t h e y
w o u l d a d d t o s u p p ly , s u p p l y w o u l d m a t c h t h e n e w h i g h le v e l
o f d e m a n d , a n d p r i c e s w o u l d t r e n d d o w n a g a i n . B u t t h e r e is
no m o re la n d , n o new c o m p e tito rs , so as d e m a n d r is e s ,
 po stind ustrial class struggle

p ric e s s h o o t u p , a n d o w n e rs o f la n d c o lle c t a r e n t d e riv e d

f r o m p o s s e s s io n o f th is f ix e d a s s e t. I n p r i n c i p l e , a m in e , a n
o ffic e b lo c k a n d a p r im e p ie c e o f f a r m la n d b e h a v e in m u c h
th e s a m e w ay in th e m a r k e tp la c e .
M o s t t h i n g s a r e n o t o f f i x e d q u a n t i t y , a n d d o n ’t o f f e r a n
o p p o r tu n ity to e x tr a c t r e n t. I f a f a c to r y m a k e s w id g e ts , o r a
c o m p a n y o ffe rs a s e rv ic e , a n d d e m a n d f o r th o s e w id g e ts o r
t h a t s e r v ic e ris e s , c o m p e t i t o r s c a n c o m e in to th e m a rk e t
a ttr a c te d b y th e h ig h p r ic e s . T h e s e n e w c o m p e tito r s a d d to
s u p p l y a n d d r i v e d o w n t h e p r i c e . T h i s is w h e r e t h e m o r e
stric tly c a p ita lis t e c o n o m y th riv e s , b y in v e s tin g in b r in g in g to
m a r k e t p r o d u c ts o r s e rv ic e s t h a t c a n b e s o ld f o r m o r e th a n
th e in v e s tm e n t, a n d hence re tu rn a p ro fit. U n lik e re n ts ,
p ro fits a r e n o t p r o te c te d b y th e fix e d q u a n tity o f th e in p u ts .
O f c o u rse , m any c a p ita lis ts w o u ld lik e th e ir b u s in e s s to
a c c r u e r e n ts r a t h e r th a n p ro fits , a n d g o v e r n m e n ts a r e o f te n
d rag g ed in to th e c re a tio n o f a rtific ia l re n t-p ro d u c in g
m o n o p o lie s in a n y th in g f r o m s te e l to te le v is io n .
P e o p le w h o o w n la n d o r c a p ita l h ir e p e o p le w h o h a v e
n e ith e r to w o rk fo r th e m . O w n ers have an in te re s t in
k e e p in g d o w n th e w a g e s th e y pay, w h e re a s w o rk e rs h a v e a n
in te r e s t in d r iv in g th e m u p . T h is c o n f lic t o f i n te r e s t m a y n o t
b e a c o m p le te o n e , h o w e v e r. In th e m o d e r n w o rld , w o rk e rs
r e q u ir e s e c u rity a n d s ta b ility o f e m p lo y m e n t, a n d c o m e to
h a v e a s h a r e d in te r e s t w ith t h e i r e m p lo y e r in th e m a in te ­
n a n c e o f th o s e c o n d i t i o n s . H i g h e r w a g e s m i g h t b e g o o d in
th e s h o r t r u n , b u t n o t if th is s h u ts o f f p ro fits , s e n d s th e
c o m p a n y b r o k e , a n d to s s e s t h e w o r k e r o u t o f a j o b . O w n e r s
a n d w o rk e rs m a y h a v e d if f e r e n t in te re s ts , b u t th e ir in te re s ts
a r e n o t s im p ly o p p o s e d to e a c h o th e r , u n le s s y o u a c c e p t th e
fa b le th a t by o v e rth ro w in g th e o w n e rs, th e w o r k e r s w ill
in h e r it th e e a rth .
T h e r e is o n e s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n w o r k i n g f o r
s o m e o n e w h o o w n s la n d a n d s o m e o n e w h o o w n s c a p ita l.
W h e n d e m a n d f o r l a n d o r w h a t l a n d p r o d u c e s is h i g h , i t ’s
p o s s ib le f o r th e w a g e e a r n e r to m a k e d e m a n d s f o r m u c h
h ig h e r w ag es w ith o u t s e n d in g th e o w n e r o f la n d b ro k e . T h e
o w n e r o f l a n d is m u c h m o r e l i k e l y t o j u s t p a s s t h e i n c r e a s e d
c o s t o n t o t h e p u r c h a s e r . A f t e r a l l, n e w c o m p e t i t o r s c a n ’t
c o m e in to b a n k r u p t th e r e n tie r , a n d h e n c e th e j o b o f th e
w o r k e r is m o r e s e c u r e .
regeneratin g labor

T h is is w h y m in in g and b u ild in g w o rk e rs w e re , u n til

re c e n tly , m o r e a b le to e x tr a c t w a g e in c re a s e s o u t o f o w n e rs
o f la n d t h a n o t h e r w o rk e rs w e re o u t o f o w n e rs o f c a p ita l.
D e m a n d in g h ig h e r w a g e s w as u n lik e ly to s e n d th e c o m p a n y
b ro k e . A c t u a lly , under a h ig h t a r i f f s y s te m , th e w h o le
e c o n o m y c a n w o r k m o r e li k e a r e n t e c o n o m y t h a n a c a p i t a l
e c o n o m y . P ro te c tio n is m c re a te s q u a s i-re n t c o n d itio n s fo r
lo ts o f b u s in e s s e s , a n d lo ts o f w o r k e r s c a n d e m a n d w a g e ris e s
th a t j u s t g e t p a s s e d o n to th e p u r c h a s e r .
T h e r e a r e a l r e a d y tw o k i n d s o f e c o n o m y i n t h i s c l a s s ic a l
c o n c e p t u a l i s a t i o n o f h o w i t a ll w o r k s . B u t w h a t i f w e a d d a
th ird k in d o f econom y — th e in fo rm a tio n econom y?
A c tu a l ly , b e f o r e A d a m S m i t h o r D a v i d R i c h a r d o g o t a r o u n d
to th e o r is in g r e n t a n d c a p ita l, th e n e w in f o r m a tio n e c o n o m y
w a s a l r e a d y b e c o m i n g a r e a li ty . W h e n E n g l i s h la w r e c o g n i s e s
t h e r i g h t s o f a u t h o r s a n d e n g r a v e r s t o ‘o w n ’ t h e c o n t e n t o f
th e ir w o rk s, th e concept of p ro p e rty w as in p rin c ip le
e x te n d e d to in fo r m a tio n .
B e fo re th e n , a n y p r in te r c o u ld c o p y a n y b o o k — o w n e r­
s h i p r e s i d e d i n t h e t h i n g , t h e b o o k its e l f , n o t t h e o r d e r i n g o f
t h e i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h i n it. W i t h c o p y r i g h t a r e a l ity , a n e w
k in d o f p r o p e r ty o w n e r a ris e s — th e o w n e r o f c o p y r ig h t. N o t
c o in c id e n ta lly , a n e w k in d o f c e le b rity , a n d a n e w k in d o f
u r b a n ity a ris e s a t th e s a m e tim e a s th e r e c o g n itio n o f th is
n e w k in d o f p r o p e r ty . S a m u e l J o h n s o n w as o n e o f th e firs t
w r i t e r s t o o p e n l y m a k e h i s li v i n g f r o m h i s t r a d e , a n d b e c a m e
f a m o u s f o r it. J o h n s o n c l a i m e d t h a t “t h e r e s e e m s t o b e i n
a u th o rs a s tro n g e r rig h t o f p ro p e rty th a n th a t by o c c u p a n c y ;
a m e t a p h y s i c a l r i g h t , a r i g h t , a s i t w e r e , o f c r e a t i o n . . . ”.23
J o h n s o n r e a lis e d th a t th is p r o p e r ty r ig h t h a d to b e b a l­
a n c e d a g a in s t th e c o m m o n in te r e s t in th a t th e k n o w le d g e
c o n ta in e d in a book be “u n i v e r s a l l y d iffu s e d am ong
m a n k in d .” H e n c e J o h n s o n a r g u e d f o r a n e x c lu s iv e r i g h t th a t
w o u ld b e lim ite d in d u r a tio n . A s M a rk R o s e o f th e U n iv e rs ity
o f C a l i f o r n i a a r g u e s , “a t o n e l e v e l, t h e l i t e r a r y - p r o p e r t y q u e s ­
tio n w as a le g a l s tr u g g le a b o u t th e n a tu r e o f p r o p e r ty a n d
h o w t h e la w m i g h t a d a p t i t s e l f t o t h e c h a n g e d c i r c u m s t a n c e s
o f a n e c o n o m y b a s e d o n tr a d e . A t a n o th e r , it w a s a c o n te s t
about how fa r th e id e o lo g y of p o s s e s s iv e in d iv id u a lis m
s h o u l d b e e x t e n d e d i n t o t h e r e a l m o f c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n . ”24
A s it tu r n e d o u t, it c o u ld b e e x te n d e d v e ry fa r in d e e d . A s
 postind ustrial class struggle

w ith th e o w n e r s h ip o f la n d o r c a p ita l, th e a r g u m e n ts m a d e
fo r it c o u ld be based on th e d o c trin e s o f n a tu ra l law .
Som eone is e n t i t l e d to ow n w h a t e v e r is t h e o b je c t a n d
p r o d u c t o f th e ir o w n la b o u r. B u t th e c r e a tio n o f in f o r m a tio n
as a fo r m o f p riv a te a n d tra d e a b le p r o p e r t y is n o m o re
n a tu r a l th a n th e c r e a tio n o f la n d a n d c a p ita l as p riv a te p r o p ­
e r ty . A f u l l y m a r k e t - b a s e d e c o n o m y r e s t s o n t h e c o n v e n t i o n
o f p ro p e rty , b a c k e d b y th e a u th o r ity o f th e c o u rts .
I n f o r m a t i o n c a n b e a n o b j e c t o f a la w o f p r o p e r t y , j u s t l i k e
c a p i t a l o r l a n d , b u t d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y b e h a v e t h e s a m e w ay .
W h a t is d i s t i n c t i v e a b o u t i n f o r m a t i o n is f i r s t l y t h a t m y p o s ­
s e s s i o n o f i t n e e d n o t d e p r i v e y o u o f it . I c a n n o t p o s s e s s l a n d
th a t y o u a t th e s a m e tim e p o sse ss, b u t I c a n k n o w s o m e th in g
th a t y o u a t th e s a m e tim e k n o w . T h e p o s s e s s io n o f in f o r m a ­
tio n d o e s n o t r e q u ir e th e d is p o s s e s s io n o f a n o th e r .
S e c o n d l y , c o p y i n g i n f o r m a t i o n is d i s t i n c t f r o m c r e a t i n g it.
I f I g ro w w h e a t o r m a k e a s h o e , th e c o p y in g o f e ith e r o f th e s e
t h i n g s t a k e s a s m u c h e f f o r t a s m a k i n g t h e m , a n d is i n f a c t a n
id e n tic a l a c t to m a k in g th e m . I f I w rite a b o o k o r c o m p o s e a
s o n g , t h e c o p y i n g o f i t r e q u i r e s m u c h le s s e f f o r t . A n e f f o r t
te n d in g , f r o m th e in v e n tio n o f m o v e a b le ty p e to th e in v e n ­
tio n o f t h e f lo p p y d is c , to d im in is h to n o t h i n g . I n s h o r t,
i n f o r m a tio n b e h a v e s v e ry d if f e r e n tly to a p h y s ic a l th in g , a n d
a s a f o r m o f p r o p e r t y i t is q u i t e t h e o p p o s i t e o f l a n d . L a n d
c a n n o t b e c o p i e d a n d is i n f i x e d s u p p l y ; i n f o r m a t i o n c a n b e
e n d l e s s l y c o p i e d , a n d t h e c o p y i n g o f i t is s i m p l e c o m p a r e d t o
m a k in g it in th e firs t p la c e .
T h e p rin c ip le s o f th e in f o r m a tio n e c o n o m y h a v e e x is te d
f o r tw o c e n t u r i e s , a n d w e r e w o r k e d o u t a l o n g s i d e t h e l e g a l
f ic tio n s f o r o t h e r k in d s o f p r o p e r ty a c c o r d in g to w h ic h a
c o m m o d i t y e c o n o m y w o u l d b e r e g u l a t e d . I t is l a t e i n t h e
2 0 th c e n tu r y th a t th e in f o r m a tio n e c o n o m y h a s b e c o m e c o n ­
s p i c u o u s i n s iz e a n d i n f l u e n c e , i n p a r t b e c a u s e t h e e v o l u t i o n
o f th e te c h n ic a l m e a n s o f s to rin g a n d d is trib u tin g in fo rm a ­
tio n h a v e a d v a n c e d v e r y ra p id ly .
M ost in fo rm a tio n w o rk e rs, lik e m ost a g ric u ltu ra l and
i n d u s t r i a l w o r k e r s , h a v e t o s e ll t h e i r c a p a c i t y t o w o r k , a n d d o
n o t, in th e e n d , o w n w h a t th e y m a k e . T h e w o r k e r m ig h t h a v e
th e c a p a c ity in th e ir h e a d o r h a n d s to p r o d u c e s o m e th in g ,
b u t l a c k t h e m e a n s t o r e a l i s e it. W h e r e o t h e r w o r k e r s c o n ­
f r o n t o w n e rs o f la n d o r c a p ita l, in f o r m a tio n w o rk e rs c o n ­
regen era tin g labor

f r o n t o w n e r s o f w h a t I c a l l v e c t o r s . A v e c t o r is t h e p h y s i c a l
a n d te c h n ic a l m e a n s o f m o v in g in f o r m a tio n a c ro s s s p a c e , o r
p r e s e r v in g it a c ro s s tim e . A s w ith a g r ic u ltu r e o r in d u s tr y , th e
te c h n ic a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f in fo rm a tio n re a c h e s a p o in t w h e re
e c o n o m ie s o f s c a le d ic ta te t h e f o r m a tio n o f l a r g e e n te r p r i s e s
w h ic h o w n a n d c o n tr o l v a st v e c to rs f o r th e d is tr ib u tio n o f
in f o r m a tio n , j u s t as o th e r b u s in e s s e s c o n tr o l v ast tra c ts o f
la n d o r p h y s ic a l p l a n t a n d e q u ip m e n t.
W h a t is o f t e n c o n c e i v e d a s g l o b a l i s a t i o n m a y j u s t b e t h e
g ro w th o f th e in f o r m a tio n e c o n o m y d u e to th e te c h n ic a l
advance of th e v e c to r, and th e s u b o rd in a tio n of th e
e c o n o m i e s o f c a p i t a l a n d l a n d t o it. T h e r e a s o n f o r t h i s is n o t
h a rd to f a th o m . M a rk e ts p r e s u p p o s e th e tra n s m is s io n of
in fo rm a tio n about dem and, s u p p ly and th e p ric e s th a t
m e d ia te b e tw e e n th e m , fro m one p la c e to a n o th e r. T h e
in fo rm a tio n econom y g ro w s, in p a rt, on it s c a p a c i t y to
e x p a n d th e o p p o r tu n itie s f o r o w n e rs o f la n d a n d c a p ita l.
W h a t is o f t e n p e r c e i v e d a s a s h i f t i n t h e b a l a n c e o f p o w e r
f r o m l a b o u r to c a p ita l in th e 9 0 s m a y r a t h e r b e a s h if t in th e
c e n t r e o f g r a v i t y o f e c o n o m i c a c tiv ity , f r o m t h e e c o n o m i e s o f
c a p ita l a n d la n d , to th a t o f in f o r m a tio n . T h e m o s t c o n s p ic ­
u o u s b e n e f ic ia r ie s o f s u c h a s h ift a r e th e o w n e r s o f v e c to rs ,
th e M u rd o c h s a n d P a c k e rs. L ess n o tic e d a re th o s e b e n e fic ia ­
rie s w ho are not o w n e rs but m e re ly w o rk e rs in th is
e x p a n d in g e c o n o m y , w h ic h in c lu d e s b o th in f o r m a tio n - s p e ­
c ifi c b u s i n e s s e s , a n d a l s o t h e i n f o r m a t i o n c o m p o n e n t o f t h e
b u s in e s s o f c a p ita l a n d la n d , o f m a k in g th in g s a n d g ro w in g
th in g s .
W h a t a p p e a r s a s a n i n f o r m a t i o n p r o l e t a r i a t is a p o o l o f
u n e m p lo y e d o r m a rg in a lly e m p lo y e d p e o p le w h o h a v e n o t
m a d e th e tra n s itio n fro m a n e c o n o m y d o m in a te d b y m a k in g
th in g s to a n e c o n o m y d o m in a te d b y m a k in g in f o r m a tio n .
J u s t as th e tr a n s itio n f r o m a g r ic u ltu r e to m a n u f a c tu r in g p r o ­
d u c e d a n u n d e r - e m p lo y e d p o p u la tio n , th is s e c o n d tra n s itio n
a l s o p r o d u c e s s u c h a p r o l e t a r i a t , a n d o n c e a g a i n , i n i ts d e s ­
p e ra tio n , it is te m p te d to em b ra c e p o p u lis t s o lu tio n s ,
in v o l v i n g a s t r o n g s t a t e t h a t w ill m a i n t a i n a n e c o n o m y t o its
li k i n g .
T h e l e f t h a s a lw a y s b e e n a n u n s t a b l e a n d u n e a s y a l l i a n c e ,
and h a s a lw a y s i n c l u d e d th e re p re s e n ta tiv e s o f in d u s tria l
la b o u r, th e m o s t o r g a n is e d p a r t o f th e e c o n o m y o f c a p ita l
 p o s tin d u stria l class strugg le 2 83

a n d th e m a k in g a n d th in g s . I t h a s a ls o in c l u d e d m e m b e r s o f
t h e i n f o r m a t i o n - w o r k i n g c la s s . T h e d i f f i c u l t y f o r t h e l e f t is
th a t th e in te re s ts o f th e s e d if f e r e n t k in d s o f w o rk e r a re
f u r t h e r a p a r t t h a n e v e r. T h e f o r m e r a r e te m p te d to s tr u g g le
f o r t h e r e t a r d i n g o f t h e s h if t in t h e c e n t r e o f g ra v ity to w a r d
th e in f o r m a tio n e c o n o m y . T h e la tte r h a v e n o in te r e s t in s u c h
a re tro g re s s iv e s te p , a n d h a v e t h e ir o w n a g e n d a o f c o n flic ts
o v e r th e c o n d iti o n s u n d e r w h ic h th e y se ll th e i n f o r m a ti o n
th e y p r o d u c e to th e o w n e r s o f m e d ia v e c to rs .
T h e i n f o r m a t i o n e c o n o m y is a t t h e s a m e t i m e a n i n f o r m a ­
t i o n c u l t u r e . A s M a r k R o s e a r g u e s , t h e e x t e n s i o n o f “p o s s e s ­
s iv e i n d i v i d u a l i s m ” i n t o c u l t u r e v ia th e le g a l f ic tio n th a t
i n f o r m a t i o n c a n b e p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y is a n o l d p r i n c i p l e . I t
j u s t b e c a m e m o r e o b v io u s , la te in th e 2 0 th c e n tu r y , w h a t th is
c o m m o d ific a tio n o f in fo rm a tio n has a ll a lo n g im p lie d :
c u l t u r e a n d e c o n o m y a r e i n s e p a r a b l e . T h e r e w a s a lw a y s a
m a r k e t fo r in f o r m a tio n u p o n w h ic h th e c u ltu r e o f e v e ry d a y
l i f e d e p e n d e d . W h a t c h a n g e d is t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f n e w
v e c to r s , s u c h a s r a d io , te le v is io n a n d th e in te r n e t, w h ic h
c o u ld b e a c c u m u la te d a n d c o -o rd in a te d , as e le m e n ts o f a
p o w e rfu l k in d o f m a rk e t e c o n o m y .
A s a c o n s e q u e n c e , p o litic s , n o le s s t h a n th e econom y,
b e c a m e s a tu r a te d b y v e c to rs . T h e v e c to r a l b e c o m e s th e s p a c e
o f p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n n o le s s t h a n o f e c o n o m i c g a i n . T h e c r e ­
a tio n o f p o litic a l m a jo r itie s b e c o m e s a m a tte r o f a r tic u la tin g
p o p u l a r d e s i r e s v ia m e d i a i m a g e s . T h i s p r o c e s s h a s b e e n
a d v a n c in g f o r s o m e tim e , o v e r c o m in g th e s o c ia l a n d c o m ­
m u n a l b a s is o f p o litic a l a f f ilia tio n . P o litic s in t h e i n f o r m a t io n
a g e is a b o u t t h e f o r m a t i o n o f m a j o r i t i e s t h a t a r e s y n c h r o ­
n is e d a r o u n d p a r tic u la r im a g e s .
M a jo ritie s m a y b e a rtic u la te d on th e b a s is o f a s h a r e d
d e s i r e f o r s o m e t h i n g , o r a g a i n s t it. B o t h t h e l e f t a n d t h e r i g h t
h a v e a h is to r y o f th e a r tic u la tio n o f d e s ir e a g a in s t th in g s .
T h e r ig h t d e p e n d e d o n th e a r tic u la tio n o f d e s ire in th e fo rm
o f h a t r e d o f c o m m u n is m t h r o u g h o u t th e c o ld w a r — a ta c tic
th a t c o n tr ib u te d to th e w e a k e n in g o f th e r ig h t w h e n th e
B e r l i n w a ll c a m e d o w n . I n t h i s t h e y m e r e l y s u c c e e d e d w h e r e
t h e l e f t f a i l e d , i n its a t t e m p t t o t u r n t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n
th e in te re s ts o f w o rk e rs a n d o w n e rs in to a n o p p o s itio n th a t
w o u l d p i t w o r k e r s a g a i n s t o w n e r s h i p i n g e n e r a l — t h e c la s s
w a r.
regeneratin g labor

B o th th e le ft a n d th e r ig h t m u s t s h a r e s o m e c u lp a b ility f o r
th e ris e o f a p o p u lis m t h a t h a s n o q u a lm s a b o u t id e n tif y in g
th e m o s t v u ln e ra b le m in o ritie s as th e o b je c t o f a m a jo rita ria n
h a tr e d . P o p u lis m e x p lo its th e p le a s u r e m a c h in e o f d e s ire , as
it w o rk s in th e v e c to ra l w o rld , a n d c a n a c h ie v e s u b s ta n tia l
g a i n s . T h e i r o n y is t h a t p o p u l i s m a c h i e v e s its g a i n s u s i n g t h e
c u l t u r a l m a c h i n e r y o f i n f o r m a t i o n p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e o f d is ­
c o n t e n t w ith th e e ffe c ts o f th e p o w e r o f in fo rm a tio n to
u n d e r m in e th e e c o n o m ic p o s itio n o f w h a t n o w b e c o m e s a n
in fo rm a tio n p ro le ta ria t.
P o litic s a s d e s ir e f o r s o m e th in g , r a t h e r t h a n d e s ir e w h ic h
a tte m p ts to o p p o s e d a m a jo r ity to a m in o rity , fa c e s th e a d d e d
d iff ic u lty t h a t t h e a r tic u la ti o n o f m a s s d e s ir e m u s t o c c u r in
p u b l i c . D e s i r e c o m p o u n d s d e s i r e , b u t a l s o f r a g m e n t s , d is s i­
p a t e s , c o m e s i n c o n f l i c t w i t h i t s e l f . I f t h e r e is a m a j o r i t a r i a n
p o litic s to b e c r e a te d , it m ig h t n o t b e th e p o litic s o f c o n ­
se n su s, w h ic h p r e s u p p o s e s c o m m u n ity o f in te re s t, n o t j u s t
b e tw e e n c a p ita l a n d la b o u r , b u t a ls o b e tw e e n t h e e c o n o m ie s
o f c u ltiv a tin g la n d , m a n u f a c tu r in g th in g s a n d p ro c e s s in g
in f o r m a tio n . I t m ig h t b e a p o litic s o f c o n n e c tio n r a t h e r th a n
c o n se n su s, o f a rtic u la tin g n e tw o rk s r a t h e r th a n a c o rp o ­
ra tis m r o o te d in th e o ld m a n u f a c tu r in g e c o n o m y .
T h e p o litic s o f c o n s e n s u s a s s u m e a m a ss m e d ia th a t w o rk s
r a t h e r l i k e m a s s m a n u f a c t u r i n g . I t c o m p o s e s i ts m a j o r i t y o n
t h e b a s is o f b lo c k s o f s h a r e d i n t e r e s t t h a t c a n b e a r t i c u l a t e d
in a fe w b r o a d s tr o k e s in a m a ss m e d ia v e c to r. T h e p o litic s o f
c o n n e c tio n , o n th e o th e r h a n d , m ig h t b e m o re a p p ro p ria te
f o r a w o r ld in w h ic h d iv e rs e v e c to r s p r o lif e r a te , a n d th e in te r ­
e s ts t h a t h a v e to b e c o m p o s e d to f o r m a m a jo rity a r e n o t
b a s e d f i r m l y i n a m a s s m a n u f a c t u r i n g e c o n o m y , b u t s p a n tw o
d if f e r e n t k in d s o f e c o n o m y , th a t o f th e m a n u fa c tu re of
th in g s a n d th e p r o d u c tio n o f in fo rm a tio n .
I n s h o r t , a ‘p o l i t i c a l e c o n o m y ’ o f t h e a g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n
h a s t o t a k e a c c o u n t o f w h a t is s p e c i f i c t o t h e i n f o r m a t i o n
e c o n o m y . L ik e la n d , in f o r m a tio n d e v ia te s f r o m so m e key
a s s u m p tio n s a b o u t th e c o m m o d ity e c o n o m y o f th in g s . T h e
c o m m o d i f i c a t i o n o f c u l t u r e h a s a lw a y s b e e n a p a r t o f t h e
d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e in fo rm a tio n e c o n o m y , n o m a tte r h o w
m u c h o f a r e c e n t p h e n o m e n a t h i s m a y a p p e a r . I t is i m p l i e d
in th e o r ig in a l f o r m u la tio n o f th e le g a l fic tio n o f in f o r m a ­
tio n a s p r o p e r ty . A c e r ta in k in d o f c e le b rity , a s s o m e o n e w h o
 po s tin d u stria l class struggle

in a s e n s e o w n s a n im a g e a n d s to r y o f w h ic h th e y a r e th e p r o ­
d u c e r , is a b y p r o d u c t o f t h i s c o m m o d i f i c a t i o n . I t t o o is n o t
n e w , a n d i n s o m e o n e l i k e S a m u e l J o h n s o n t h e r e is a p r o t o ­
ty p e f o r c o n t e m p o r a r y c e l e b r i t y .
C e l e b r i t y , i n t u r n , is a c o n c e p t t h a t c a n h o l d t o g e t h e r t h e
e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l a s p e c t s o f t h i s ‘p o l i t i c a l e c o n o m y ’ o f
i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e a p p e a r a n c e o f c e l e b r i t y is n o t j u s t a n a r t e ­
fa c t o f th e c o m m o d ific a tio n o f c u ltu re , b u t a ls o o f th e
im m e rs io n o f p o litic s w ith in th e re la tio n s o f th e v e c to r.
T hese a re not e p h e m e ra l a d d itio n s to th e c o m m o d ity
e c o n o m y , th e y a r e a s p e c ts o f it th a t h a v e b e e n d e v e lo p in g f o r
s o m e tim e . T h e c r e a tio n o f a f o r m o f p r o p e r ty f o r in f o r m a ­
tio n h a s j u s t b e e n w a itin g f o r th e te c h n ic a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f
th e v e c to rs o f in f o r m a tio n r e la tio n s to r e le a s e th e p o te n tia l
l a t e n t i n it.
T h i s is j u s t a r o u g h s k e tc h , s ta r tin g w ith B a rry J o n e s ’
in s ig h t in to th e e x is te n c e o f a n in f o r m a tio n p ro le ta ria t, a n d
s p e c u l a t i n g o n w h a t l a r g e r p i c t u r e i t m a y f i t i n t o . I t is s o m e ­
w hat re m o v e d fro m ra th e r p ra g m a tic a p p ro a c h o f, say,
L i n d s a y T a n n e r . B u t p e r h a p s w h a t T a n n e r ’s i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e
c h a n g i n g o p t i o n s f o r t h e l e f t o f t h e L a b o r P a r t y n e e d s is
s o m e la r g e r fra m e w o rk w ith in w h ic h to p lo t th e c h a n g e s ,
r a t h e r th a n r e a c ti n g o n t h e b a s is o f o u t - d a te d m a p s o f h o w
th e c o m m o d ity e c o n o m y fu n c tio n s . I n a n y c a se , th e le ft n o
lo n g e r have a m o n o p o ly on c o n c e p tu a l th in k in g in th e
L a b o r P a rty a n d th e la b o u r m o v e m e n t, a n d p e r h a p s it n e v e r
d i d . A s I w a n t t o s h o w i n t h e n e x t , a n d la s t , c h a p t e r , t h e l i g h t
o n t h e h ill c a n a ls o b e r e g e n e r a t e d in t e r m s q u ite o u ts id e
t h o s e o f t h e le f t.
>86

Third way, second go

D o not be deceived: this last lamp does not give more
light —the dark has only becom e m ore absorbed in
itself.
Paul Celan

O r maybe the truth is not what lies beneath the sand

but the sand itself, always shifting, never certain, so
that once we cut away that which we cannot be sure
o f we are left with nothing but space. A n d echoes.
James Bradley

On M y R igh t, M ark L a th a m
M a rk L a th a m is a “h e a v y , s t r o n g - l o o k i n g b l o k e w i t h a p a l ­
p a b l e s e n s e o f r e s e r v e ”, w r i t e s C r a i g M c G r e g o r . 1 H e is a “f u l l
o n i n t e l l e c t u a l ”, b u t “d r y , l a c o n i c . ” H i s s t o r y is p u r e S y d n e y
w e s t i e m a d e g o o d . H e g r e w u p i n G r e e n V a lle y f r o m t h e t i m e
h e w a s fo u r, w h e n th e D e p a r tm e n t o f H o u s in g m o v e d h is
fa m ily o u t t h e r e . E n c o u r a g e d by h is p a r e n ts , h e s tu d ie d
h a r d , d i d w e ll a t s c h o o l , a n d g o t i n t o S y d n e y U n i v e r s i t y
w h e r e h e m a jo r e d in p o litic a l e c o n o m y .
H e w a s G o u g h W h i t l a m ’s r e s e a r c h a s s i s t a n t f o r a w h i l e , a n d
w o r k e d f o r B o b C a rr. F ig h tin g h is w ay t h r o u g h th e L a b o r
ra n k s, L a th a m t u r n e d r ig h tw a r d , lo s t a n u g ly p r e s e le c tio n
b a t t l e , t h e n r a n L i v e r p o o l c o u n c i l f o r w h a t M c G r e g o r c a lls
“t h r e e c o n t r o v e r s i a l y e a r s ”. A c c o r d i n g t o M i k e S t e k e t e e , h e
 on my right, m a rk la th a m 287

“i n t r o d u c e d d r y e c o n o m i c n o t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i v i t y t a r g e t s ,
c o r p o r a t i s a t i o n , c o n t e s t a b i l i t y a n d c o n t r a c t i n g o u t ”, b u t h e
a l s o o p e n e d tw o n e w l i b r a r i e s , a c u l t u r a l f a c i l i t y a n d n e w
s p o r t i n g f a c i l i t i e s . ”2 W i n n i n g G o u g h W h i t l a m ’s o l d s e a t o f
W e rriw a in a 1 9 9 4 b y -e le c tio n , L a th a m la n d e d in p a r lia m e n t
w ith a r e p u ta tio n a s a g g re s s iv e , h a r d - h e a d e d , s in g le - m in d e d .
A s L a u r a T i n g l e s a y s, L a t h a m is “t h e i n h e r i t o r o f G o u g h
W h i t l a m ’s l o f t y i n t e l l e c t u a l a r r o g a n c e a s w e ll a s h i s s e a t . ”3
A f t e r L a b o r ’s e l e c t o r a l d e f e a t i n 1 99 6, th e s e a n d o th e r
m e d ia c o m m e n t a t o r s i d e n tif ie d L a th a m a s a r is in g c e le b rity ,
a f r e s h f a c e t o r e p l a c e t h e o v e r ly f a m i l i a r r o s t e r o f L a b o r
h e a v i e s , w i th w h o m b o t h t h e m e d i a a n d t h e e l e c t o r a t e w e r e a
b it b o r e d . H e h e ld th e s h a d o w p o r tf o lio o f e d u c a tio n . A fte r
L a b o r ’s e l e c t o r a l d e f e a t i n 1 9 9 8 , L a t h a m f o u n d h i m s e l f o n
th e b a c k b e n c h , w ith o u t a s h a d o w p o rtfo lio , a n d h ig h ly c rit­
ic a l o f t h e p o l i c y d e v e l o p m e n t p r o c e s s w i t h i n t h e p a r l i a m e n ­
t a r y L a b o r P a r ty . A s s e n i o r N S W L a b o r f i g u r e M i c h a e l E a s s o n
s a i d a t t h e t i m e : “L a b o r n e e d s t o t h i n k t h r o u g h n e w p o l i c i e s
t o e x t e n d its s u p p o r t . .. t h a t ’s w h e r e M a r k L a t h a m h a s a p o i n t
a b o u t p o l i c y d e v e l o p m e n t . L a b o r a p p e a r e d . .. t o p r o f f e r a s o f t
fo rm o f e c o n o m ic H a n s o n is m . L a b o r a p p e a r e d re tr o g r a d e
o n m a n y o f t h e p o lic y r e f o r m s it to o k in t h e 8 0 s ... W h e r e
L a t h a m is w r o n g is i n s e e k i n g t o i n f l u e n c e t h e p a r t y f r o m t h e
b a c k b e n c h e s . . . h e n e e d s t o e n g a g e h i s c o l l e a g u e s m o r e . ”4
W h e th e r M c G re g o r a n d o th e r s w e re r ig h t in p e g g in g h im
a s a f u t u r e L a b o r s t a r is o f le s s i n t e r e s t t o m e t h a n h i s b o o k .
He s ta rte d w ritin g C iv ilis in g G lo b a l C a p ita l w ith P e te r
B a l d w i n , f o r m e r m e m b e r f o r S y d n e y , w h o is f r o m t h e l e f t o f
t h e p a r t y . 5 1 t h i n k i t is t h e m o s t i n t e l l e c t u a l l y s e r i o u s w r i t i n g
I ’v e e v e r r e a d b y a m e m b e r o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n p a r l i a m e n t . I n
i t I f i n d a t h i n k e r w h o is n o f r i e n d t o e i t h e r t h e o l d L a b o r
f a b l e o f t h e s t a t e d r i v e n c o m m a n d e c o n o m y , o r o f L a b o r ’s
i n t e lle c tu a l a n d s p e c ia l i n t e r e s t g r o u p fe llo w tr a v e lle r s . Y et
i t ’s a b o o k t h a t I t h i n k c h a r t s a c o u r s e w i t h w h i c h t h o s e w h o
b e lie v e in ju s tic e , lib e r ty a n d th e f a ir g o c a n u s e fu lly a r g u e .
T h i s l a s t c h a p t e r is a c o m m e n t a r y o n it, a n d it s p o t e n t i a l a s a
so u rc e o f th in k in g fo r th e re n e w a l o f L a b o r c u ltu re , a n d as a
f ra m e w o rk f o r th in k in g a b o u t a th ir d w ay f o r L a b o r, lo s t in
cy b e rsp a c e.
C iv ilis in g G lo b a l C a p ita l e x a m i n e s t h e p o lic ie s a n d s tr u c ­
tu r e s b y w h ic h L a b o r m ig h t r e s p o n d to th e c h a lle n g e s o f th e
t h ird w a y , s e c o n d go

p o s tin d u s tria l e r a and expand w h a t L a th a m c a ll s “s o c i a l

c a p a b i l i t y ”. H i s i d e a o f u p d a t i n g t h e L a b o r f a b l e is n o t t o
r e v i s e ‘a c h i c k e n i n e v e r y p o t ’ t o ‘c h i c k e n n u g g e t s i n e v e r y
m i c r o w a v e ’, b u t t o t r y a n d t h i n k a g a i n a b o u t w h a t t h e l i g h t
o n t h e h i l l m e a n s a n d h o w t o a c h i e v e it. I f L a b o r ’s g o a l h a s
a lw a y s b e e n “c i v i l i s i n g c a p i t a l i s m ”, t h e n t h i s g o a l c h a n g e s a s
c a p ita lis m changes. L ab o r has m ad e th e tra n s itio n fro m
a g r a r i a n L a b o r t o i n d u s t r i a l L a b o r , b u t is s t a l l e d a t b e c o m i n g
c y b e rs p a c e L a b o r.
‘T h e p o s t w a r c e r t a i n t i e s o f t h e n a t i o n a n d w e l f a r e s t a t e s
h a v e g o n e f o r e v e r ”, L a t h a m d e c l a r e s . I n s u c h a t i m e “t h e r e is
a p o w e rfu l te n d e n c y to a p p e a l to th e p e rc e iv e d tr iu m p h s
a n d le g e n d s o f th e p a s t to g u id e th e th in k in g a n d id e n tity o f
t h e p r e s e n t . ” B u t w h a t is d i s t i n c t i v e a b o u t L a t h a m is h i s l a c k
o f n o s ta lg ia , h is a lm o s t c o m p le te ly c o n s is te n t m o d e r n is m .
L a t h a m is s e a r c h i n g f o r a t h i r d w a y o t h e r t h a n f o l l o w i n g t h e
p a th s o f A m e ric a n s ty le m a r k e t f r e e d o m and th e s e rv ile
s ta te s o f E u r o p e . I n th e p ro c e s s , h e d ra w s o n a n e c le c tic m ix
o f i d e a s , a n d m o u l d s t h e m t o g e t h e r i n a p r o s e s ty le a s t h i c k
a s c o n g e a le d v e g e m ite .
Y e t a l m o s t i n s p i t e o f h i m s e l f , C i v i l i s i n g G l o b a l C a p i t a l is a
p e rso n a l book, an essay on L a t h a m ’s o w n e x p e rie n c e .
V a rio u s L a th a m p e r s o n a s g lis te n b e n e a t h th e m a tt s u r f a c e o f
h is p r o s e : t h e w e s tie , th e m a y o r, th e s u b u r b a n it e , t h e fo o ty
p la y e r, a n d m o s t e n d e a r in g ly , th e m a n w h o g o t a n e d u c a t io n
a n d is d e t e r m i n e d to u s e it f o r h is o w n a d v a n c e m e n t by
l i n k i n g h i s a d v a n c e m e n t t o t h a t o f o t h e r s . I t ’s h a r d n o t t o s e e
in h is p a s s io n f o r e d u c a t i o n a n e ssa y o n w h a t it m e a n s to b e
M a rk L a th a m .

The Four C o n flicts

L a th a m k ic k s o f f w ith o n e o f h is s c h e m a tic o v e rv ie w s . H e
id e n tif ie s f o u r k in d s o f c o n f lic t w ith w h ic h L a b o r h a s to
c o p e . F ir s tly , t h e r e is t h e t r a d i t i o n a l a n t a g o n i s m b e tw e e n
c a p ita l a n d la b o u r , th e c o n f lic t th a t s h a p e s th e p e r c e p tio n s
o f w h a t L i n d s a y T a n n e r c a l l s t h e “t r a d i t i o n a l ” w i n g o f t h e
p a r t y . S e c o n d l y , t h e r e is t h e c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n t h e i n f o r m a ­
tio n r ic h a n d in f o r m a tio n p o o r, w h ic h s h a r p e n e d in th e la te
9 0 s w i t h t h e r i s e o f a r e s i s t a n t “i n f o r m a t i o n p r o l e t a r i a t ”, t o
u s e B a r r y J o n e s ’ t e r m . T h i r d l y , t h e r e is t h e c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n
 the four conflicts 289

th e g lo b a l a n d th e lo c a l, w h ic h im p a c ts o n th e f o r m e r c o lo ­
n ia l d e p e n d e n c y v e r y s tr o n g ly n o w t h a t th e A u s tr a lia n s e t­
tle m e n t h a s u n ra v e lle d . The fo u rth c o n f l i c t is b e t w e e n
in d iv id u a lis m and c o m m u n ity , w h ic h s tr ik e s m e a s a d if­
f e r e n t k i n d o f c o n f l i c t t o t h e o t h e r s o n L a t h a m ’s li s t. T h e
o t h e r th r e e d e ta il f o r c e s a t w o rk in th e w o rld , w h e r e th is
f o u r t h c o n f lic t s e e m s to m e a c la s h o f v a lu e s . A s I h o p e to
sh o w , it c a n b e b e tte r e x p re s s e d as a c o n flic t a ris in g o u t o f
n e w v e c to rs o f c o m m u n ic a tio n .
T h e p r e o c c u p a t i o n w ith t h e c o n f lic t b e tw e e n c a p ita l a n d
l a b o u r w ith th e A L P te n d s to d is tr a c t a tte n tio n f r o m th e
second c o n flic t o n L a t h a m ’s lis t, w h i c h m ig h t b e ju s t as
i m p o r t a n t i n t e r m s o f t h e e f f e c t i t h a s o n p e o p l e ’s liv e s , a n d
o n t h e i r “s o c i a l c a p a c i t y . ” A s i t s h i f t e d f r o m a g r a r i a n L a b o r t o
in d u s tr ia l L a b o r, p a r ty m e m b e r s r e c o g n is e d a s h ift in th e
k in d o f p r o p e r ty , th e p o s s e s s io n o f w h ic h c o n f e r r e d p o w e r
o v e r la b o u r. T h a t t h e l a n d its e lf w a s in th e h a n d s o f th e few
w a s w h a t a g r a r i a n L a b o r o r g a n i s e d a g a i n s t ; t h a t c a p i t a l , in
th e f o r m o f f a c to rie s a n d w o rk s h o p s w as in th e h a n d s o f th e
fe w , t h i s w a s w h a t i n d u s t r i a l L a b o r o r g a n i s e d a g a i n s t . T h e
p r o p e r ty in d is p u te s h ifte d fro m n a tu r e to s e c o n d n a tu r e ,
f r o m s o il a n d w a te r to s te e l a n d s te a m .
T h e c o n flic t b e tw e e n th e in f o r m a tio n ric h a n d p o o r, o r
b e tw e e n th e u r b a n e s p e c ia lis e d e lite a n d th e in f o r m a tio n
p r o l e t a r i a t , is a b o u t a d i f f e r e n t k i n d o f p r o p e r t y . I t ’s a b o u t
in te lle c tu a l p ro p e rty , th e o w n e rs h ip o f w h a t b e c o m e s th ir d
n a tu r e . A s L a th a m p e rc e iv e s , th is c o n f lic t d o e s n o t n e a d y
c o rre sp o n d to th e c o n flic t b e tw e e n c a p ita l and la b o u r.
U r b a n e s p e c ia lis ts a r e n o t n e c e s s a rily o w n e r s o f in te lle c tu a l
p ro p e rty . L a c h la n M u rd o c h o r J a m e s P a c k e r a r e o w n e rs o f
in te lle c tu a l p ro p e rty , f o r a s u b s ta n tia l p r o p o r tio n o f th e
a s s e ts o f a b u s in e s s lik e N e w s C o r p o r a t i o n o r t h e P a c k e r
f a m i l y ’s P B L a re in ta n g ib le th in g s lik e th e v a lu e o f th e
b a n n e r o f T h e A u s t r a l i a n n e w s p a p e r , o r t h e P a c k e r e m p i r e ’s
a c c u m u la te d c a p a c ity to d o m in a te th e m a g a z in e b u s in e s s .
I t ’s p o s s i b l e t o h a v e a t r a i n e d c a p a c i t y t o c r e a t e o r a s s e s s
in fo rm a tio n t h a t is v e r y v a l u a b l e w i t h o u t a c t u a l l y o w n i n g
m u c h b y w ay o f in te lle c tu a l p r o p e r ty , n o t to m e n tio n th e
m e a n s o f c a p ita lis in g o n o n e ’s i n t e l l e c t u a l p r o p e r t y . T h e
u rb a n e ta lk in g heads I d e s c rib e d in an e a r lie r c h a p te r,
s w i lli n g c o c k t a i l s i n K i n g s C r o s s , m o s t l y d o p r e t t y w e ll o u t o f
290 th ir d w a y , s e c o n d go

t h e i r s k ills , b u t d o n ’t o w n m u c h o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n th e y
m a k e . B e t h S p e n c e r ’s s o r r y t a l e o f b e g g i n g f o r t h e r i g h t s t o
a L o u R e e d s o n g is a c a s e i n p o i n t .
W h a t d is tin g u is h e s m o s t o f th e in f o r m a tio n ric h , L a th a m
s a y s, is t h e a b i l i t y t o e n g a g e i n “a b s t r a c t t h i n k i n g ”. B u t s o m e
i n f o r m a t i o n r i c h d o n ’t t h i n k a b s t r a c d y , b u t v e r y c o n c r e t e l y .
T h e y d o n ’t t h i n k i n c o n c e p t s , b u t i n p i c t u r e s , s o u n d s , s e n s a ­
tio n s , fe e lin g s . A su c c e s s fu l c re a tiv e d ir e c to r in a d v e rtis in g
o u g h t t o c o u n t a s p a r t o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n r i c h , b u t i t i s n ’t
p o s s ib le to s p e c ify in a n a b s tr a c t w ay h o w h e r p r o c e s s o f
t h i n k i n g w o r k s . T h i n k i n g a b s t r a c d y is o n e o f t h e m o s t v a l u ­
a b l e s k ills , b u t i t i s n ’t t h e o n l y o n e . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n r i c h
in c lu d e s e v e ry o n e w h o c a n m a k e o r d is c o v e r n e w p a tte r n s o r
d i v e r g e n c e s i n a n y f lo w o f i n f o r m a t i o n a t a ll. T h i s is t h e h e a r t
a n d s o u l o f u r b a n ity : th e a b ility to in v o k e th e v ir tu a l s id e o f
a n y f l o w o f i n f o r m a t i o n ; t h e a b i l i t y t o c r e a t e n e w flo w s b y d i s ­
c e r n i n g w h a t is i m m a n e n t i n w h a t e x is t s .
T h e d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e in f o r m a tio n ric h a n d in fo r­
m a tio n p o o r, b e tw e e n th e u r b a n e b u r g h e r s a n d th e in te lle c ­
t u a l p r o l e t a r i a t , i n t e r s e c t s t h e n e x t l e v e l o f L a t h a m ’s l i s t o f
c o n flic ts to o . T h e u rb a n e a re m o re in c lin e d to be “c o s ­
m o p o lita n , p ro g re s s iv e ly t o l e r a n t a n d c o n f id e n t, g e n e r a lly
e m b r a c in g th e r h e t o r i c a n d h o r iz o n s o f th e g lo b a l v illa g e .”
N o t u n iv e rs a lly so , o f c o u r s e . F ew p e o p le a r e c o m p le te ly
u rb a n e , p u re ly c o s m o p o lita n , c o m p le te ly at hom e in
M a r s h a l l M c L u h a n ’s g l o b a l v ill a g e . B u t b y t e n d e n c y , t h e
in f o r m a tio n r ic h v a lu e th e o p p o r tu n ity to e n g a g e w ith g lo b a l
f lo w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n b e c a u s e t h e y s e e n e w k i n d s o f v i r t u a l i t y
i n it, n e w p o s s ib ilitie s f o r c r e a tin g c o n c e p ts , p e r c e p tio n s ,
s e n s a tio n s , s to rie s , o r w h a te v e r. B y c o n tr a s t, th e in f o r m a tio n
p o o r t e n d t o f e a r u n w a n t e d i n f o r m a t i o n flo w s , t o b e m o r e
a tta c h e d to w h a t L a th a m c a lls t h e “p r a c t i c a l c e r t a i n t i e s o f
l i f e ”. I n s h o r t , s u b u r b a n r a t h e r t h a n u r b a n i n o u t l o o k .
T h i s is w h e r e t h e f i r s t t h r e e le v e ls o f c o n f l i c t L a t h a m i d e n ­
t i f i e s c a s c a d e i n t o t h e f o u r t h , a l t h o u g h I t h i n k i t ’s w r o n g t o
th in k o f th is c o n flic t as th e o p p o s itio n b e tw e e n c o m m u n ity
a n d i n d i v i d u a l i s m . R a t h e r , i t is t h e d i f f e r e n c e r a t h e r b e t w e e n
d e f i n i n g o n e ’s i d e n t i t y n e g a t i v e l y o r p o s itiv e ly . T h e r e a r e tw o
w a y s o f r e s p o n d i n g t o a n e w f lo w o f i n f o r m a t i o n : i n c o r p o ­
r a t i n g i t i n t o o n e s e l f a n d m o d i f y i n g o n e ’s i d e n t i t y t o t a k e
a d v a n ta g e of new p o te n tia ls th a t in fo rm a tio n in c ite s ;
 l a b o r ’s r e s p o n s e

r e s i s t i n g t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n b y d e f i n i n g o n e ’s s e l f a s p r e c i s e l y
th is c a p a c ity to re s is t. T h e f o r m e r lo o k s lik e in d iv id u a lis m
b e c a u s e it te n d s to c r e a te c o m m u n itie s o f d iv e rs e p e o p le
p u r s u i n g d i f f e r e n t li f e s ty l e s a n d l i f e c h a n c e s . T h e l a t t e r l o o k s
lik e c o m m u n ity b ecause th e p ro d u c tio n o f th is n e g a tiv e
s e n s e o f s e lf , a s b e i n g t h a t w h i c h r e s i s t s , t e n d s t o h a p p e n o n
a c o l l e c t i v e b a s is . P e o p l e t e n d t o a p p e a l t o w h a t t h e y t a k e t o
b e c o m m o n v a lu e s in th is a c t o f re s is ta n c e . B u t b o th a r e
“c o m m u n a l ” i n th e sen se th a t it ta k e s a c o m m u n ic a tio n
a m o n g i n d i v i d u a l s f o r e i t h e r w a y o f li v i n g i n t h e p a t h o f t h e
v e c to r to o c c u r.

L a b o r ’s R e s p o n s e
“O n e o f t h e r e l i a b l e la w s o f m o d e r n p o l i t i c s is t h a t p o l i c y
v a c u u m s a r e f i l l e d b y p o l l i n g r e s u l t s ”, L a t h a m o b s e r v e s w i t h
th e s a rd o n ic c e rta in ty o f o n e w h o k n o w s firs t h a n d . I th in k
i t ’s a g o o d t h i n g t h a t L a b o r u s e s s u c h r e s e a r c h t o o l s , b u t t h e y
a r e b e t t e r d e p lo y e d te s tin g r h e to r ic s th a n m a k in g p o lic ie s ,
s till l e s s c r e a t i n g t h e a b s t r a c t f r a m e w o r k w i t h i n w h i c h t o c o n ­
c e p tu a lis e p o lic ie s .
L a t h a m ’s s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r o r i e n t i n g h i m s e l f i n h i s f o u r ­
f o l d d i a g r a m o f c o n f l i c t s is t o s t a r t w i t h t h e c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n
l a b o u r a n d c a p i t a l , a n d L a b o r ’s t r a d i t i o n a l r o l e a s d e f e n d e r
o f th e in te r e s ts o f th o s e w h o d o n o t p o s s e s s c a p ita l. O r a s h e
e x p r e s s e d i t m o r e c o l o u r f u l l y t o C r a i g M c G r e g o r , “I t h i n k
o u r s t a r t i n g p o i n t is t o s t i c k t o t h e w o r k i n g c la s s l i k e s h i t t o a
b l a n k e t . ”6 T h e d i f f i c u l t y is t h a t t h i s is h a r d t o p i e c e t o g e t h e r
w i t h t h e o t h e r le v e l s o f c o n f l i c t . I t i s n ’t n e c e s s a r i l y i n t h e
in te r e s ts o f w o rk e rs to o p p o s e th e in f o r m a tio n r ic h (w h o
h a v e t h e i r o w n c o n f lic ts w ith c a p ita l) o r to o p p o s e g lo b a lis a ­
tio n (w h ic h c r e a te s n e w s o u r c e s o f e f f ic ie n t w e a lth c r e a tio n
a s i t d e s t r o y s t h e o l d s l o t h f u l o n e s ) . N o r is i t h e l p f u l t o a l i g n
L a b o r ’s w o r k i n g c la s s b a s e t o o c l o s e l y w i t h a n e g a t i v e a n d
r e a c t i v e s u b j e c t i v i t y i n r e l a t i o n t o n e w f lo w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n ,
a s t h a t n o t o n ly s e ts w o r k e r s a g a in s t o t h e r s L a b o r n e e d s to
p u t to g e t h e r e le c to ra lly , it c u ts th e m o f f f r o m n e w k in d s o f
w o rk a n d n e w e x p r e s s io n s o f s o lid a rity .
“N e w fo rm s of s o c ia l c o n n e c te d n e s s and s o lid a rity ,
h o w e v e r, a r e n o t p o s s ib le u n le s s p e o p le f in d n e w th in g s to d o
a n d e x p re s s in c o m m o n .” W h e th e r L a th a m is c o m f o r t a b l e
2 92 th ird w a y , s e c o n d go

w ith it o r n o t , r e c r e a t i n g s o lid a r ity r e q u i r e s o p e n n e s s to n e w

in f o r m a tio n a n d th e in v e n tio n o f n e w fo rm s . T h a t in tu r n
w ill r e q u i r e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h m e m b e r s o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n
r i c h . A n d w h e t h e r a n y o n e l i k e s i t o r n o t , i t w ill h a v e t o b e
o p e n to th e g lo b a l in f o r m a tio n v e c to r to s o m e d e g r e e , f o r it
is t h r o u g h g l o b a l i s a t i o n t h a t n e w s o u r c e s o f w e a l t h c r e a t i o n
w ill p r o d u c e t h e p u d d i n g t o b e s h a r e d o u t t o L a b o r ’s t r a d i ­
t i o n a l b a s e . T h e p a r a d o x is t h a t t h e o n l y w a y f o r L a b o r t o
h o n o u r its t r a d i t i o n a l c o m m i t m e n t s is a l e a p i n t o a m o d e r n ,
p e rh a p s e v e n p o s tm o d e rn fu tu re .
L a th a m g o e s lo o k in g f o r a n e w c u lt u r a l e x p r e s s io n o f s o li­
d a rity b y lo o k in g a r o u n d in te r n a tio n a lly h im s e lf, a n d h e h its
upon th e “n e w r a d i c a l c e n t r e ”, a c o n c e p t w o r k e d o n in
B r i t a i n b y P r i m e M i n i s t e r T o n y B l a i r ’s N e w L a b o u r a n d i n
t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y t h e D e m o c r a t i c P a r ty , i n c l u d i n g p e o p l e
c l o s e t o P r e s i d e n t B ill C l i n t o n . L a t h a m e x p re sse s th e n ew
r a d i c a l c e n t r e i n s l i g h t l y a l a r m i n g t e r m s a s “n e w e x p r e s s i o n s
o f p e r s o n a l a n d c o l l e c t i v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ”.
A s o n e m ig h t e x p e c t fro m s o m e o n e w h o s e e s th in g s in
te r m s o f th e d e s ire to g o v e rn , L a th a m th in k s in te r m s o f
r e s p o n s ib ilitie s ; f o r th o s e o f u s o u ts id e o f it c o m e s a n e q u a lly
in s is te n t need to ta lk about rig h ts . F o rtu n a te ly , w e re
L a t h a m ’s v i s i o n o f t h e l i g h t o n t h e h i l l t o c o m e t o p a s s , I
th in k th e r e w o u ld b e a v ig o ro u s c o n s titu e n c y o u ts id e o f g o v ­
e r n m e n t t o s a f e g u a r d r i g h t s . S o w h i l e I ’m a lw a y s w a r y o f
“g o v e r n m e n t a l i t y ”, L a t h a m ’s is n o t i n t h e e n d o f t o o a u t h o r ­
ita ria n a k in d .7 L a th a m se e s th e r o le o f g o v e r n m e n t as p r o ­
v id in g r e s o u r c e s s o t h a t p e o p le c a n a v e r t in s e c u r ity b u t a ls o
s o t h e y c a n d e v e l o p s k ills a n d e x t e n d t h e i r l ib e r t y .
L a t h a m c h a r g e s t h a t L a b o r “h a s n o t r e s p o n d e d a d e p t l y t o
t h e q u e s t i o n o f s o c ia l d iv e rs ity .” I t r e s p o n d e d to e a c h n e w
s e lf-d e fin itio n o f d if f e r e n c e b y s e ttin g u p a n e w c a te g o r y o f
a d m in is tr a tio n . T a k in g h is im a g e f r o m a te le v is io n a d v e n tu r e
s e r i e s , L a t h a m c o n c l u d e s t h a t t h e “s i m u l t a n e o u s p u r s u i t o f
a n e q u a lity o f o p p o r tu n ity , m a te r ia l c o n d itio n s , s o c ia l g o o d s ,
g e n d e r , c u l t u r e , s e x u a l ity , r a c e a n d o t h e r r i g h t s is, i n p r a c ­
ti c a l t e r m s , a M i s s i o n I m p o s s ib l e ." 1' I n t h e H a w k e a n d K e a t i n g
y e a rs, it w as a m a tte r o f a d d in g n e w c o n s titu e n c ie s , o n th e
a s s u m p tio n t h a t f r ic tio n s w ith th e o ld o n e s c o u l d s o m e h o w
b e fin e s s e d . P o litic s c o u l d w o r k lik e t h a t b e f o r e c y b e r s p a c e
s a t u r a t e d s o c ia l s p a c e . P o litic ia n s c o u ld s p e a k o n e w ay to
 l a b o r ’s r e s p o n s e 293

th e ir b lu e c o lla r c o n s titu e n c y , a n o th e r w ay w h e n o u t b u s h . In
a w o r l d o f s lo w a n d d is c o n n e c te d v e c to rs , c o n s titu e n c ie s
n e e d n o t n o t i c e th is .
L a b o r ’s p r o b l e m w a s t h a t a t t e m p t i n g t o a d d c o n s t i t u e n c i e s
a c t u a l l y h a d a s u b t r a c t i n g e f f e c t . A c c o r d i n g t o p o l i t i c a l s c i­
e n t i s t A n d r e w S c o t t , t h e r e h a s b e e n a “m a j o r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n
o f L a b o r ’s s o c i a l b a s e o v e r t h e p o s t w a r p e r i o d . ”9 T h e p a r t y ’s
m e m b e r s h i p h a s b e c o m e o v e r w h e l m i n g l y m i d d l e c la s s . T h i s
m i d d l e c la s s p a r t y c o n f r o n t e d a n i n c r e a s i n g l y p o l a r i s e d c la s s
s t r u c tu r e in th e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s, a s w in n e r s a n d lo s e rs in th e e c o ­
n o m ic m o d e r n is a tio n p ro c e s s s ta r te d to a p p e a r. T h o s e w h o
w e r e u n a b l e t o r e s p o n d t o L a b o r ’s p o l i t i c a l c u l t u r e i n t h e 8 0 s
a n d 9 0 s w e re th o s e w h o w e re u n a b le to r e s p o n d to th e e c o ­
n o m ic c u ltu r e o f th a t p e r io d , w h ic h r e w a r d e d w o rk e rs w h o
c o u l d i d e n t i f y n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s , a c q u i r e n e w s k ills , a d a p t t o
n e w in fo rm a tio n .
T h o s e w h o w e re le ft b e h in d e c o n o m ic a lly w e re th o s e p a r ts
o f t h e w o r k in g c la s s w h o had becom e d e e p -su b u rb a n in
o u tlo o k . T h e y w e re r e s is ta n t to n e w in f o r m a tio n , r e s is ta n t to
a m o r e u r b a n e c u l t u r e o f p l u r a l i s m a n d it s p o l i t i c a l e x p r e s ­
s i o n , a s w e ll a s t o a n u r b a n e e c o n o m i c c u l t u r e o f a d a p t a t i o n
and re s k illin g . T h is in c re a s in g ly d is e n f r a n c h is e d in fo rm a ­
tio n p r o le ta r ia t c a m e to d e f in e its e lf n o t in te r m s o f a p o s i­
ti v e s e l f - t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , b u t n e g a t i v e l y a g a i n s t h a t e d o t h e r s .
T h e y d e f in e d th e m s e lv e s n e g a tiv e ly a g a in s t th e b o ss, b u t j u s t
a s li k e l y n e g a t i v e l y a g a i n s t p o o f t e r s , s l o p e s a n d h a i r y l e g f e m ­
i n i s t s . W h i l e t h i s is n o m o r e ‘a u t h e n t i c a p a r t o f w o r k i n g c la s s
c u ltu r e th a n t h a t p a r t o f it t h a t d id b e c o m e m o r e u r b a n e —
a n d m o r e p r o s p e r o u s if n o m o r e s e c u re — it w as th e p a r t o f
w o r k in g c la s s c u l t u r e th a t w o u ld becom e “H o w a r d ’s b a t ­
tle r s ”, p o te n tia l L abor v o te s lo s t to th e c o n s e rv a tiv e
C o a litio n .
I d o n ’t t h i n k L a t h a m is c o r r e c t i n i d e n t i f y i n g L a b o r ’s f a i l e d
a tte m p ts a t a n u r b a n e re c o g n itio n o f d iffe re n c e , a n d th e
s o c ia l p o lic ie s b u ilt o n it, a s t h e c a u s e o f t h i s d e f e c t i o n ,
a l t h o u g h t h e r e s e n t m e n t s u c h p o l i c i e s c a u s e d is a s i g n i f i c a n t
s y m p to m o f t h e c ris is o f a o n c e s ta b le r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n t h e
c u ltu re of fo rtre s s s u b u rb ia and econom y of fo rtre s s
A u s t r a l i a . A s L a t h a m p u t s it, “i n t h i s p o p u l a r c u l t u r e , s o m e o f
th e n e w c a te g o rie s — p e rv e rs e ly e n o u g h — h a v e c u ltiv a te d a
fe e lin g o f e x c lu s io n .” P ro life r a tin g c a te g o rie s o f d if f e r e n c e
2 94 third way, s e c o n d go

b a s e d o n p e r s o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s u c s h a s n ’t w o r k e d . B u t r a t h e r
t h a n s t o p l i s t e n i n g t o t h e c a ll f o r a f a i r g o t h a t r e s p o n d s t o
c u ltu r a l d if f e r e n c e s , I th in k L a th a m w a n ts to h e a r it in a d if­
f e r e n t w ay.
R a th e r t h a n d e f i n e c a te g o r ie s o f n e e d o n a h u m a n i s t b a sis,
i n t e r m s o f p e r s o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f s u b je c t iv ity , L a t h a m
w a n t s a m o r e a b s t r a c t c o n c e p t o f w h a t i t is t h a t L a b o r i n g o v ­
e r n m e n t r e s p o n d s to as a n e e d . L a b o r s ta n d s f o r th e fa ir g o ,
b u t f a i r a b o u t w h a t ? H i s a n s w e r is s o c i a l c a p a b i l i t y . T h i s h e
d e f i n e s a s a c c e s s t o m a t e r i a l r e s o u r c e s , t h e s k ills t o u s e t h o s e
re s o u r c e s , a n d th e lib e r ty to d o so . R a th e r th a n a d d n e w c a t­
e g o r ie s o f p e o p le in n e e d , L a th a m lo o k s f o r a m o r e s o p h is ti­
c a t e d w a y o f a d d r e s s i n g w h a t i t is t h a t is n e e d e d . I n s h o r t , h e
w a n ts to p u t in d u s tr ia l L a b o r a n d p o s tin d u s tr ia l L a b o r o n
th e s a m e c o n c e p tu a l f o o tin g , a n d s o a v o id a r if t b e tw e e n
t h e s e tw o i n c a r n a t i o n s o f t h e p a r t y .

T h e D i s e n c h a n t m e n t o f the M a g i c P u d d i n g

I f L a b o r is t o a c h i e v e p o w e r o n t h e p r o m i s e o f a f a i r g o m e a ­
s u r e d in t e r m s o f e q u ity , it n e e d s to a c h ie v e t h r e e th in g s .
F ir s tly , a new concept o f w hat e q u ity is; s e c o n d ly , an
a p p r o a c h to e c o n o m ic m a n a g e m e n t t h a t p r o d u c e s a n e c o ­
n o m ic g a in to b e s h a r e d ; a n d th ir d ly a ta x a n d tra n s fe r
s y s te m t o m e d i a t e b e t w e e n t h e m . I w o n ’t g o i n t o L a t h a m ’s
t a x r e f o r m i d e a s — i t ’s a t o p i c o n w h i c h I w o u l d r a t h e r s ta y
in deep su b u rb a n ig n o ra n c e . In any case, fo r a ll th e
m i g r a i n e s t a x r e f o r m t a l k c a u s e s , t h e c a u s e i t s e l f is a b a n a l
o n e — a c h ie v in g a n e ff ic ie n t w ay o f tr a n s m ittin g p a r t o f th e
e c o n o m ic s u rp lu s to g o v e rn m e n t fo r re d is trib u tio n . T h e
h e a lth o f th e e c o n o m y to b e ta x e d , a n d th e d e s tin a tio n o f
t h e s u r p l u s t r a n s f e r r e d , s t r i k e m e a s m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g is s u e s .
L a t h a m s u b s c r i b e s t o a v e r s i o n o f P a u l K e lly ’s p i c t u r e o f t h e
A u s tra lia n s e ttle m e n t. A u s tra lia n c a p ita l, la b o u r a n d f a r m in g
i n t e r e s t s b u i l t b e t w e e n t h e m a n “h i s t o r i c c o m p r o m i s e ” o u t o f
w h ic h m a n u fa c tu rin g re c e iv e d ta riff p ro te c tio n , la b o u r
re c e iv e d c e n tr a lis e d w a g e fix in g . T h e L a b o r P a r t y ’s “g a i n
s h a r in g p r a c tic e ” w o rk e d w ith in th is fra m e w o rk . E c o n o m ic
r e n ts in a g ric u ltu re a n d m in in g w e re d is trib u te d th ro u g h
w a g e fix in g a d ju s tm e n ts . W h itla m e x te n d e d la b o u r is m in to a
w i d e r p r o g r a m c o n c e r n e d w i th t h e r i g h t s o f a ll c i t i z e n s . H is
 the d is e n c h a n tm e n t of the m agic p ud ding 295

g o v e r n m e n t b e g a n t h e s h i f t t o p o s t i n d u s t r i a l L a b o r w h e n it
c r e a t e d a n e l e c t o r a l m a j o r i t y b y o f f e r i n g a s li c e o f t h e lu c k y
c o u n tr y p u d d i n g to e v e r y o n e , in th e f o r m n o t j u s t o f tr a n s f e r
p a y m e n ts b u t t h r o u g h a w h o le h o s t o f s e rv ic e s . T h e s e w e re
d e s i g n e d t o a d d a c i v i lis e d s o c i a l lif e t o t h e s e c o n d n a t u r e
b u ilt b y in d u s tr ia l c a p ita lis m . B u t th is la rg e s s c a m e j u s t a t a
tim e w h e n th e p u d d in g o f g o v e r n m e n t re v e n u e s n o lo n g e r
m a g ic a lly g re w in t h e f o r m o f e x p o r t in c o m e f r o m th e ra w
n a tu r a l p r o d u c e o f f a r m in g a n d m in in g .
H aw ke an d K e a tin g p r o m is e d b o th a m o r e c o m p e titiv e
e c o n o m y a n d a f a i r e r s o c ia l d is tr ib u tio n . T h e y w e r e c a u g h t
b e tw e e n a f a llin g s u r p lu s g e n e r a te d b y e c o n o m ic r e n ts a n d
r is in g d e m a n d s g e n e r a t e d in p a r t b y t h e i r o w n o f f e r in g s to
th e e le c to r a te . B u t th e r e w as n o m a g ic w ay to m e e t e x p a n d e d
d e m a n d fro m r e v e n u e s th a t w e re n o t g ro w in g . H e n c e th e
le n g th s to w h ic h b o th H a w k e a n d K e a tin g w e n t in th e d is e n ­
c h a n t m e n t o f p u b lic e x p e c ta tio n s — a p o lic y w h ic h r e a c h e d
its l i m i t w i t h K e a t i n g ’s f a m o u s “b a n a n a r e p u b l i c ” r e m a r k .
L a th a m a c k n o w le d g e s t h a t b a s ic a lly H a w k e a n d K e a tin g
w e r e r i g h t i n e x p l a i n i n g , o v e r a n d o v e r , t h a t “a s m a l l o p e n
e c o n o m y , w ith lo w s a v in g s , c a n n o t g ro w fa s te r th a n its
tr a d in g p a r tn e r s w ith o u t a h ig h p r o p o r tio n o f th e g ro w th
s p i l l i n g o v e r o n t o t h e e x t e r n a l a c c o u n t ”, a s f o r e i g n c a p i t a l
a n d i m p o r t e d g o o d s c o m e f u n n e l l i n g in . W i th o u t g r o w th ,
t h e r e is n o w a y t o m e e t r i s i n g a n d i n c r e a s i n g l y c o m p e t i n g
d e m a n d s o n g o v e rn m e n t re s o u rc e s o th e r th a n ra tio n in g . I f
th e u n p o p u la rity o f p e tro l ra tio n in g h e lp e d d e fe a t B en
C h if le y , th e u n p o p u la rity o f w e lfa re ra tio n in g c e rta in ly
d i d n ’t h e l p P a u l K e a t i n g .
W h e re L a th a m d iffe rs f ro m K e a t i n g is t h a t h e w a n t s t o
ta c k le th e p ro b le m s o f th e A u s tra lia n econom y a t th e ir
s o u r c e r a t h e r t h a n r e l y o n m a c r o e c o n o m i c t o o l s . H e is s c e p ­
ti c a l a b o u t t h e a b i l i t y o f r a t i o n a l m o d e l s o f e c o n o m i c a c tiv it y
to f u n c t io n a s t h e s o le a r b i t e r o f j u d g e m e n t in e c o n o m ic
p o li c y . H e is n o t a n e c o n o m i c i r r a t i o n a l i s t , a n d n o r d o e s h e
w a n t to r e t u r n to o u t d a t e d f a b le s o f th e tr a d itio n a lis ts in th e
p a r ty . H e j u s t w a n t s t o a p p r o a c h e c o n o m i c p o l i c y w i t h r e a ­
s o n i n g r a t h e r t h a n r a t i o n a l i s m . H e is r a t i o n a l a b o u t r e a s o n ,
w h i c h m e a n s h e h a s s o m e a p p r e c i a t i o n o f it s l i m i t s .
W h i l e L a t h a m r e c o g n i s e s t h a t t h e g l o b a l e c o n o m y is h e r e
t o sta y , h e a l s o r e c o g n i s e s t h a t i t c o u l d b e b e t t e r m a n a g e d .
2 96 third way, s e c o n d go

E v e n e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s t s a r e c o m i n g a r o u n d t o t h i s v ie w i n
th e w a k e o f t h e c o lla p s e o f A s ia n e c o n o m i e s in t h e la te 9 0 s.
A u s t r a l i a c a n n o t w a i t o n a c h i e v i n g r e a s o n a b l e a g r e e m e n t in
in te r n a tio n a l fo ru m s . It h a s to d o th e b e s t it c a n . E c o n o m ic
ra tio n a lis ts c o n c e iv e o f d o in g th e b e s t y o u c a n in te r m s o f
c o m p e titiv e a d v a n ta g e . T h is le a d s to th e p o lic y o f d r iv in g
d o w n th e c o s ts o f in p u ts in to p r o d u c tio n . B o th th e L a b o r
P a rty a n d th e L ib e r a l c o a litio n b e lie v e in d r iv in g d o w n th e
c o s ts o f i n p u t s lik e t r a n s p o r t a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n .
T h e d i f f e r e n c e is t h a t w h e r e L a b o r p u r s u e d w a t e r f r o n t
r e f o r m th r o u g h n e g o tia tio n , th e L ib e ra ls b a c k e d c o n f r o n ta ­
tio n . L a th a m w o u ld f u r t h e r d if f e r e n tia te L a b o r b y w o rk in g
f u r t h e r o n im p r o v in g th e q u a lity o f la b o u r as a n i n p u t in to
p r o d u c t i o n , r a t h e r t h a n t r y i n g t o d r i v e d o w n its c o s t . T h i s is
o n e o f th e r e a s o n s f o r h is fo c u s o n e d u c a tio n , a lth o u g h as w e
w ill s e e , L a t h a m s e e s e d u c a t i o n a s t h e c r o s s r o a d s f o r a l l o f
t h e g o a l s o f t h e p o s t i n d u s t r i a l L a b o r p a r ty . I t ’s t h e e l e v a t o r t o
t h e lig h t o n th e h ill.
F ro m th e 6 0 s to th e 90s, th e g o v e r n m e n t s e c to r c a m e
u n d e r i n c r e a s i n g s c r u t i n y a n d p r e s s u r e : “ . . . t h e m e d i a , w it h
t h e i r d a ily a g e n d a s d r iv e n b y a c tio n a n d c o n f lic t, a r e f o r e v e r
k e e n to lift p u b lic e x p e c ta tio n s f o r t h e c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s
th in g s g o v e r n m e n ts c a n a c h ie v e .” T h e g o v e r n m e n t s e c to r
g e ts h e ld a c c o u n ta b le f o r th e s h o r tc o m in g s o f th e p riv a te
s e c t o r . T h e p o o r m a n a g e m e n t s k ills a n d s h o n k y i n v e s t m e n t
d e c is io n s o f th e b u s in e s s s e c to r a re ra re ly c a lle d to a c c o u n t.
I f b u s i n e s s m a n a g e m e n t p u l l e d it s s o c k s u p a s m u c h a s g o v ­
e r n m e n t a n d la b o u r , th in g s w o u ld im p r o v e d ra m a tic a lly .
I t ’s n o t e a s y b e i n g i n g o v e r n m e n t . G o v e r n m e n t s a r e c a u g h t
b e tw e e n th e f o r m a t io n o f c a p ita l o n a g lo b a l s c a le a n d th e
f o r m a t i o n o f e le c to r a l m a jo r itie s o n a n a t i o n a l s c a le . T h e
g l o b a l v e r s u s n a t i o n a l le v e l o f c o n f l i c t is v e r y a p p a r e n t t o g o v ­
e r n m e n ts , w h o a re th e m e m b r a n e s e p a ra tin g th e n a tio n a l
f r o m it s o t h e r , t h e g l o b a l . ‘T h e g l o b a l i n t e g r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l
h a s g i v e n t h e s t a t e m o r e w o r k t o d o , y e t f e w e r r e s o u r c e s w i th
w h ic h to d is c h a r g e th e s e r e s p o n s ib ilitie s .”
L a th a m is p r o b a b l y p u s h i n g it u p h ill in a tte m p tin g to
a p p e a l f o r s y m p a th y f o r th e u n e n v ia b le lo t o f g o v e r n m e n t.
A s t h e S ile n t M a jo r ity I I I r e p o r t s tr e s s e d , in t h e 9 0 s , t h e p u b lic
re fu se d to r e c o g n is e m a n y c la im s to le g itim a te a u th o r ity ,
i n c l u d i n g t h e c l a i m s o f g o v e r n m e n t s . B u t t h e r e is a s i g n i f i ­
 p ostindustrial eco n o m ics 297

c a n t c u l t u r a l is s u e a t w o r k h e r e , i n t h e w a y t h a t i n A u s t r a l i a ,
h o p e s a n d d e s ir e s f o r a b e t t e r life a r e e x p r e s s e d in te r m s o f
e x p e c ta tio n s o n g o v e r n m e n t. T r a d itio n a lis ts o n b o th th e le ft
a n d th e r ig h t o f th e la b o u r m o v e m e n t a n d th e L a b o r P a rty
s til l s e e m t o e x p e c t g o v e r n m e n t t o p u l l o f f a m i r a c l e , i n s p i t e
o f A u s t r a l i a ’s p o o r in te rn a tio n a l tra d in g p o s itio n . ‘T h e
H a w k e a n d K e a tin g g o v e r n m e n ts , r e m a r k a b ly e n o u g h , w e re
a b le to m a n u f a c t u r e a E u r o p e a n - s ty le s o c ia l c o n t r a c t a n d
s a f e t y n e t b a s e d o n U n i t e d S ta te s - s ty le t a x r a t e s . ” A n d s t ill
m a n y w a n t it to p la y jin g le - b e lls to o .

P o stin d u stria l E con om ics

T a n n e r w o u l d p r o b a b l y a g r e e w i t h L a t h a m t h a t “e v e n t s h a v e
h a d a m u c h g r e a t e r im p a c t o n p o lic y th a n p o litic a l th e o r y .”
T h e r e a l r e a s o n f o r th e r a tio n in g o f g o v e r n m e n t s e rv ic e s in
th e 8 0 s a n d th e 9 0 s w as d e c lin in g e c o n o m ic re n ts c a u s e d by
d e t e r io r a tin g te r m s o f tr a d e , c o u p le d w ith r is in g d e m a n d f o r
s e rv ic e s p a r tly c a u s e d b y th e s a m e d e c lin e in tr a d e . L a th a m
is n o t o u t t o d e f e n d t h e r e p u t a t i o n o f e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s m ,
h o w e v e r . H e is a n e c o n o m i c e m p i r i c i s t , n o t a r a t i o n a l i s t .
‘T h e r e a r e n o n a t u r a l la w s i n e c o n o m i c s , o n l y d o g m a t i s t s
w h o try to in v e n t th e m .”
S e n a to r J o h n B u tto n , w h o h e ld th e in d u s try p o rtfo lio
u n d e r th e H a w k e g o v e r n m e n t, p ro v id e s a fin e e x a m p le o f
th e d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n e c o n o m ic ra tio n a lis m a n d e c o n o m ic
e m p ir ic is m . I n 1 9 8 5 , th e A u s tr a lia n d o lla r f lo a te d e rra tic a lly ,
a n d t h e n it s a n k . W ith th e tr a d e d e f ic it w o r s e n in g , T r e a s u r y
o f f i c i a l s w e r e c e r t a i n t h a t t h e ‘J - c u r v e ” w o u l d c o m e t o t h e
r e s c u e . S e c r e ta r y o f th e T r e a s u r y B e r n ie F r a s e r e x p la in e d to
B u tto n h o w th e w o r s e n in g tr a d e d e fic it le d to a d e v a lu a tio n
o f th e d o lla r, b u t th a t th is w o u ld m a k e im p o r ts d e a r e r a n d
e x p o r ts c h e a p e r, w h ic h w o u ld b o o s t e x p o r ts a n d n a r r o w th e
tr a d e d e fic it. T h e e c o n o m y , F r a s e r s e e m e d to B u tto n to b e
s a y in g , w o u l d b e h a v e r a t i o n a l l y , r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e s e p r i c e
s ig n a ls , a n d t h e c u r v e s w o u ld a r c g r a c e f u lly a c r o s s t h e g r a p h .
F r a s e r ’s t h i n k i n g is b a s e d o n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e r e l a ­
t i o n s h i p o f k n o w l e d g e t o t h e w o r l d t h a t is e c o n o m i c r a t i o ­
n a l i s m : t h e r e a l w o r l d is j u s t a m e s s y , g r i t t y v e r s i o n o f a p u r e l y
r a t i o n a l s e t o f q u a n t i t a t i v e r e l a t i o n s — o r i f i t i s n ’t, i t o u g h t
to b e .
298 t h ird w a y , s e c o n d go

B e r n i e F r a s e r is a c o m p a s s i o n a t e m a n . H e is n o t a n e c o ­
n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s t o u t o f a n y g r e a t lo v e o f b u s i n e s s i n t e r e s t s .
A s C r a i g M c G r e g o r r e p o r t s , t h i s “w o r k i n g c la s s b u s h b o y
f r o m J u n e e ” b e lie v e s in g o v e rn m e n t in te rv e n tio n , s o c ia l
s a f e t y n e t s , a n d s c o r n s b u s i n e s s m e n w h o “g o t f a t f r o m d o i n g
b u g g e r a l l ”. N o w o n d e r J o h n H e w s o n , w h e n h e w a s l e a d e r o f
t h e L i b e r a l P a r ty , w a n t e d h i m s a c k e d . “I ’m w e ll a w a r e t h a t
t h e m a r k e t s d o n ’t w o r k v e r y w e l l ”, F r a s e r a c k n o w l e d g e s , “y o u
j u s t c a n ’t l e t t h e m a r k e t s r u n r a m p a n t a n d l e t a l l t h e h u m a n
d e b r i s t h a t ’s f l u n g o f f t h a t o p e r a t i o n j u s t p i l e u p , s o y o u h a v e
a s c r a p h e a p o f u n e m p l o y e d p e o p l e . T h a t ’s n e v e r b e e n p a r t
o f m y p h i l o s o p h y . ” 10 I n s h o r t , F r a s e r ’s e c o n o m i c t h o u g h t is
n o t j u s t d r iv e n b y id e o lo g y .
B e r n i e F r a s e r is a n i n t e l l i g e n t m a n . I t w o u l d b e c h u r l i s h t o
p r e t e n d , a s B o b E llis d o e s i n h i s r a t h e r e c c e n t r i c a t t a c k o n
e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s m , t h a t t h e r e a s o n i n g o f s o m e o n e li k e
F r a s e r c a n b e e a s ily f a u l t e d . 11 F r a s e r ’s r e a s o n i n g a b o u t t h e
r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e tr a d e d e fic it, th e v a lu e o f th e d o lla r
a n d c h a n g e s in im p o r ts a n d e x p o r t s is s o u n d . E c o n o m i c
r a t i o n a l i s m u s u a l l y is. T h e r e a r e s o u n d w a y s o f d e c i d i n g i f a n
e c o n o m i c t h e o r y is r a t i o n a l o r n o t . I t ’s a s i m p l e m a t t e r o f
te s tin g th e lo g ic , a lth o u g h t h a t lo g ic m ay be f ie n d is h ly
c o m p le x a n d r e q u ir e h ig h ly q u a lif ie d s p e c ia lis ts to d e b u g .
T h e p r o b l e m w i t h e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s m l ie s n o t w i t h its
i n t e r n a l r a t i o n a l c o h e r e n c e , b u t w i t h i ts r e l a t i o n t o t h e w o r l d
it c la im s to d e s c r ib e a n d f o r w h ic h it c la im s to p r o s c r ib e . A s
J o h n B u tto n re c a lls , w h e n lis te n in g to B e r n ie F r a s e r e x p la in
how th e J -c u rv e w o u ld w o rk : “S o m e o f th e s e p e o p le , I
t h o u g h t , h a v e n o i d e a a b o u t t h e c o m p o s i t i o n o f A u s t r a l i a ’s
m a jo r im p o r ts , a n d n o id e a a b o u t th e p a tc h y c a p a c ity o f
A u s tra lia n m a n u f a c tu r in g .” T re a s u r y c o u ld p lo t th e g r a p h s
and fo re c a st n o g ro w th in im p o rts , a n d th e n , w h e n th e
f ig u r e s c o m e in , i m p o r t s h a d g r o w n b y 9 .1 % . E v e n J o h n
E d w a rd s , f o r m e r K e a tin g sta ffe r, a n e c o n o m i s t b y t r a in in g
a n d b r o a d ly s y m p a th e tic to e c o n o m ic r e f o r m , n o te s in h is
b l o w b y b l o w a c c o u n t o f K e a t i n g ’s e c o n o m i c m a n a g e m e n t
t h a t T r e a s u r y ’s l i n e o f r e a s o n i n g c o u l d p r o d u c e “e g r e g i o u s l y
w r o n g f o r e c a s t s . ” 12 T r e a s u r y k e p t e x p e c t i n g t h e J - c u r v e t o
w o r k , b u t t h e J - c u r v e w a s n o t e x p e c t i n g T r e a s u r y ’s f a i t h i n it.
A s B u t t o n o b s e r v e s , r a t i o n a l m o d e l s o f t h e e c o n o m y “w e r e
n o d o u b t g r e a t fu n , b u t k n o w in g s o m e th in g a b o u t te c h ­
 postindustrial eco n o m ics 299

n o lo g y , c o r p o r a t e s t r u c t u r e s , b u s i n e s s r e a c t i o n s a n d w h a t w a s
h a p p e n i n g in th e r e s t o f th e w o r ld w e re n e c e s s a r y to m a k e
s o u n d ju d g e m e n ts as th e b a s i s f o r g o v e r n m e n t p o l i c y . ”13
W h a t P a u l K e a tin g c a lle d “g u i l e ”, I a m c a llin g e c o n o m ic
e m p i r i c i s m , a n a p p r o a c h t h a t w o r k s f r o m t h e a v a i l a b l e e v i­
d e n c e t o r e a s o n i n g t o p o l ic y , n o t f r o m t h e r a t i o n a l t h e o r y t o
p o l i c y b y h e a v ily d i s c o u n t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t d o e s n ’t f i t t h e
m o d e l.
C le a rly th e r e w e re p r o b le m s w ith th e im p le m e n ta tio n o f
e c o n o m ic r e f o r m in th e 8 0 s a n d 90 s. T h e s o lu tio n to th o s e
p r o b l e m s is n o t a r e t r e a t i n t o e c o n o m i c i r r a t i o n a l i s m . T h e
m a g i c p u d d i n g i s n ’t a n o p t i o n . W h a t is i n t e r e s t i n g a b o u t
L a t h a m ’s w r i t i n g is h i s c o m m i t m e n t t o p u r s u i n g e c o n o m i c
i n q u i r y a s a b a s i s f o r f o r m u l a t i n g p o lic y , i n f u l l a n d f r a n k
a w a r e n e s s o f t h e d i s m a l f a c t t h a t A u s t r a l i a ’s e c o n o m i c d i f f i ­
c u l t i e s c a n ’t b e w i s h e d a w a y , b u t t h a t t h e r e is a lw a y s a d e g r e e
o f u n c e r ta in ty in v o lv e d in th e a p p lic a tio n o f r e a s o n to a c tu a l
p ro b le m s .
So f a r I ’v e posed th e e c o n o m ic p ro b le m in te rm s of
d e c l i n i n g t e r m s o f t r a d e — t h e w o r l d j u s t p a y s A u s t r a l i a le s s
a n d le s s f o r its w h e a t , w o o l , i r o n o r e , c o a l a n d b a u x i t e , a n d
c h a rg e s m o r e f o r v id e o r e c o r d e r s , f o u r w h e e l d riv e s a n d p e r ­
so n a l c o m p u te rs . A n a d d itio n a l p ro b le m is t h a t a s v e c t o r s
la c e t h e w o r l d t o g e t h e r , i t g e t s e a s i e r f o r e c o n o m i c a c ti v i ty t o
e s c a p e f r o m n a t i o n a l b o u n d a r i e s . L a t h a m is d e f i n i t e l y n o t i n
f a v o u r o f t h e k i n d o f “i n d u s t r y w e l f a r e ” t h a t t r i e s t o k e e p f a c ­
t o r i e s i n s i d e t h e n a t i o n ’s b o r d e r s b y b r i b i n g c o m p a n i e s t o
sta y . T h i s m i g h t s a v e a f e w j o b s i n t h e s h o r t t e r m b u t i n t h e
lo n g te rm i t ’s a n i n e f f e c t i v e w a y o f n e g o t i a t i n g t h e g l o b a l
v e rs u s lo c a l c o n flic t. A s a n a lte r n a tiv e , L a th a m is a d a m a n t
t h a t g o v e r n m e n t in v e s tm e n t n e e d s to c o n c e n tr a te o n th o s e
fa c to r s t h a t a r e re la tiv e ly im m o b ile , s u c h a s in f r a s tr u c tu r e ,
b u t a ls o p e o p le . O f c o u r s e m a n y A u s tr a lia n s p a c k u p th e i r
s u b s id is e d e d u c a tio n and m ig ra te a b ro a d — a “l e a k a g e ”
L a t h a m d o e s n ’t m e n t i o n , b u t t h e r e is s o m e b e n e f i t i n t h i s
a ls o , i n t h e c r e a t i o n o f c o s m o p o l i t a n n e t w o r k s o f A u s t r a l i a n s .
W h ile m o s t o f th e a r g u m e n t a b o u t g o v e r n m e n t o w n e r s h ip
r e v o l v e s a r o u n d f i g h t s o v e r p r i v a t i s a t i o n , L a t h a m is a d a m a n t
th a t g o v e r n m e n t s h o u ld b e in v e s tin g in th e in v e n tiv e n e s s o f
A u s tra lia n p e o p le th ro u g h e d u c a tio n , s c ie n c e and te c h ­
n o lo g y . T h e o l d p o s t w a r d e v e l o p m e n t m e n t a l i t y is a t w o r k i n
3 00 third way, s e c o n d go

th in k in g o f th e g o v e r n m e n t s e c to r o f th e e c o n o m y in r a th e r
b u tc h te rm s as c o n s is tin g o f b ig in s tr u m e n ta litie s .
E c o n o m ic p o lic y c a n b e c o m e to o o b s e s s e d w ith ta c k in g
a n d tr im m in g th is o r th a t m a c r o e c o n o m ic v a ria b le , a s if y o u
j u s t g o t th e n u m b e r s r ig h t a n d th e e c o n o m y w o u ld ta k e o ff,
j u s t lik e th a t. T h is w a s th e 8 0 s v e rs io n o f th e m a g ic p u d d in g
th e o r y , in w h ic h it w a s m a r k e t d is c ip lin e r a t h e r th a n s ta te
a u th o r ity t h a t m a d e th e m a g ic . G o v e r n m e n t n e e d s to p a y
m o r e a tte n tio n to c r e a tin g a n e n v ir o n m e n t f o r te c h n o lo g ic a l
c h a n g e , f o r t h a t is t h e e n g i n e o f n e w e c o n o m i c g r o w t h , a n d
h e n c e o f th e a b ility to c r e a te a s u r p lu s th a t c a n b e ta x e d a n d
t r a n s f e r r e d t o L a b o r ’s t r a d i t i o n a l c o n s t i t u e n c y .
T e c h n o l o g y is a f u n n y t h i n g . A l m o s t b y d e f i n i t i o n , n e w
te c h n o lo g y c a n n o t b e a c c u ra te ly p ric e d . C r e a tin g a n e w te c h ­
n o lo g y , a s o p p o s e d to r e f i n e m e n ts o f a n e x is tin g te c h n o lo g y ,
i n v o lv e q u a l i t a t i v e c h a n g e . I t ’s t h e k i n d o f s t u f f g o o d e n g i ­
n e e r s t h r i v e o n , b u t i t is a n a t h e m a t o a c c o u n t i n g p r o c e d u r e ,
a n d c o n s e q u e n tly h a r d to m o d e l q u a n tita tiv e ly . T e c h n o lo g y
is a b o u t t h e v i r t u a l i t y o f t h e m a t e r i a l w o r l d , w h e n k n o w l e d g e
is a p p l i e d t o it.
L ik e T a n n e r, L a th a m sees a ro le fo r g o v e rn m e n t in
f u n d i n g t h e s ta r t- u p c o s ts o f n e w t e c h n o lo g ie s , a n d in m a in ­
t a i n i n g t e c h n i c a l s k ills w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y . N e w t e c h n o l o g y is
a p u b lic g o o d . O n e o f th e d is in c e n tiv e s to in v e s t in n e w te c h ­
n o l o g y is t h a t t h e i n v e s t o r r a r e l y g e t s a ll o f t h e a d v a n t a g e o f
th e n e w te c h n iq u e . I t g e ts c o p ie d o r im ita te d . I f te c h n o lo g y
h a s t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f a “p u b l i c g o o d ”, t h e n g o v e r n m e n t
h a s a r i g h t f u l r o l e i n i ts d e v e l o p m e n t . I w o u l d s a y f u r t h e r
th a t th is p o lic y w ill have to be an e m p iric a l one.
G o v e r n m e n ts h a v e to e x p e r i m e n t w ith p o lic ie s t h a t n u r t u r e
t e c h n o l o g i c a l i n n o v a t i o n . T h o s e p o l i c i e s w ill h a v e t o m a n a g e
c o m p le x in f o r m a tio n . T h e e x p e r im e n ts o n th e la b b e n c h
and in th e c o m p u te r th a t a re a t th e h e a r t o f te c h n ic a l
r e s e a r c h a r e d e s i g n e d w ith a h i g h d e g r e e o f v irtu a lity . T h e y
are about p o s s ib ilitie s , not p re d ic ta b le o u tc o m e s .
G o v e r n m e n t h a s t o s e e p a r t o f its o w n f u n c t i o n s a s a n e x p e r ­
im e n t to o .
O n e s trik in g id e a th a t L a th a m h i n t s a t is t h a t e c o n o m i c
s o v e r e i g n t y is b e s t t h o u g h t o f i n t e r m s o f t h e k n o w l e d g e a n d
s k ill t h e p e o p l e o f t h e n a t i o n h o l d b e t w e e n t h e m . W h a t t h i s
i m p l i e s is t h i n k i n g a b o u t s o v e r e i g n t y n o t j u s t i n t e r m s o f
 w ork ers of the w orld d isperse

o w n in g la n d , p la n t a n d c a p ita l, b u t a ls o in te r m s o f in te lle c ­
tu a l c a p a c ity . T h e g r e a t e r t h e c o lle c tiv e in te llig e n c e o f th e
c o u n try , th e g r e a te r th e v irtu a lity o f p o s s ib le w ays to c r e a te
s o m e th in g o u t o f w h a te v e r re s o u rc e s it h a s, a n d w h a te v e r
in te r n a tio n a l tr a d in g e n v ir o n m e n t w ith in w h ic h it m a y fin d
its e l f . I f t h e l u c k y c o u n t r y c o a s t e d a l o n g o n i t s m i n e r a l a n d
a g ric u ltu ra l re so u rc e s, th e n w h a t I w o u l d c a ll t h e v i r t u a l
c o u n t r y is a b o u t a s f a r f r o m t h a t a s p o s s i b l e . I t w o u l d t r u s t its
p e r c e p t i o n , it s i m a g i n a t i o n a n d i ts c a p a c i t y t o r e a s o n .

W orkers o f th e W orld D isp erse

“S e c t o r p l a n n i n g ” is a p o p u l a r i d e a i n s o m e u n i o n a n d m a n ­
u f a c t u r i n g c i r c l e s . T h e i d e a is f o r g o v e r n m e n t t o p l a n w a y s o f
c lu s te rin g r e la te d s e g m e n ts o f a n in d u s tr y to g e th e r. L a th a m
is m o r e s c e p t i c a l t h a n T a n n e r a b o u t t h i s . I t m a y j u s t c r e a t e
m o re dependency b e tw e e n g o v e rn m e n t and d e c lin in g
in d u s trie s . C e rta in ly , s e c to r p la n n in g has u s u a lly been
th o u g h t o f in te rm s o f th e in d u s tr ia l e c o n o m y . I t w o u ld b e
in te r e s tin g to th in k a b o u t w h a t it m ig h t m e a n f o r th e p o s tin ­
d u s t r i a l e c o n o m y . B u t i t is c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f p o s t i n d u s t r i a l
b u s i n e s s t h a t i n d u s t r y is d i s p e r s e d . S m a l l b u s i n e s s a n d f r a n ­
c h is in g a r e g ro w in g a re a s o f e m p lo y m e n t.
F r a n c h i s i n g is t h e b r i d g e b e t w e e n g l o b a l c a p i t a l a n d l o c a l
c o n d i t i o n s . I t is a g l o b a l b u s i n e s s r e s p o n s e t o t h e p r o b l e m o f
c o m b in in g th e v irtu e s of lo c a lis e d m anagem ent w ith
e c o n o m i e s o f s c a l e i n t o a k i n d o f “g l o b a l l o c a l i s a t i o n ”. T h e r e
is c l e a r l y a r o l e f o r g o v e r n m e n t i n e n s u r i n g a f a i r g o b e t w e e n
th e u n e q u a l p a r tie s o f th e lo c a l f r a n c h is e h o ld e r a n d th e
o f te n g lo b a l b u s in e s s b e h in d th e s c h e m e . F r a n c h is e s m a y
s o u n d li k e a s t r a n g e p r e o c c u p a t i o n f o r a L a b o r p o l i t i c i a n ,
b u t L a t h a m c l a i m s t h a t “m o r e A u s t r a l i a n s a r e e m p l o y e d b y
M c D o n a ld s th a n by th e s te e l in d u s tr y .” T h is s ta te m e n t
s h o c k e d m e a t firs t, b u t n o w I s e e it a s a n i n d e x o f j u s t h o w
m u c h th is h a s b e c o m e a p o s tin d u s tria l e c o n o m y , a n d h o w fa r
L a b o r h a s t o g o t o a d a p t t o it.
In th e 8 0 s a n d 9 0 s, th e A u s tra lia n e c o n o m y c r e a te d a lo t o f
n e w jo b s , b u t n o t in th e lo c a tio n s o r o f th e ty p e t h a t w o u ld
b e e le c to ra lly u s e fu l. L a th a m b r e a k s w o rk d o w n in to th r e e
k i n d s o f j o b s . F ir s tly , t h e r e a r e n e w j o b s f o r u r b a n e s p e c i a l i s t s
w i t h s k ills t h a t a r e m o s d y t r a d e a b l e i n t h e g l o b a l i s i n g p a r t o f
t h ir d w a y , s e c o n d go

th e e c o n o m y . S e c o n d ly th e r e a r e n e w j o b s p ro v id in g ta n g ib le
a n d p e r s o n a l s e rv ic e s , p a r tic u la r ly in th e p a r ts o f to w n w h e r e
p e o p l e h o l d i n g d o w n u r b a n e j o b s liv e . C o u n t t h e r e s t a u ­
r a n ts , h a ir s a lo n s , c o n tr a c t g a r d e n e r s a n d d o g w a lk e rs th a t
a d v e r t i s e i n t h e l o c a l p a p e r s f o r t h o s e p a r t s o f a n y c ity w h e r e
t h e u r b a n e c o n g r e g a t e . L a s tly , t h e r e a r e r o u t i n e f a c t o r y j o b s ,
a n d th e s e a re d e c lin in g . T h e s h o e s o r p o p -u p to a s te rs a re
n o w i m p o r t e d f r o m c o u n t r i e s lik e C h i n a o r T h a i l a n d . T o t h e
e x t e n t t h a t in d u s tr i a l j o b s h a v e a f u t u r e , th e y a r e o f a d if­
f e r e n t k i n d . “W h i t e l a b c o a t s a r e r e p l a c i n g b l u e o v e r a l l s o n
th e fa c to ry f lo o r.”
T h e p r o b l e m f o r L a b o r is t o s t r i k e s o m e k i n d o f e q u i t y d e a l
b e tw e e n th e s e th r e e k in d s o f w o rk e r. T h e firs t a n d s e c o n d
k in d s o f w o rk e r ra re ly b e lo n g to u n io n s . U r b a n e w o rk e rs
o f te n h a v e b a r g a in in g p o w e r o n th e ir o w n . S e rv ic e w o r k e r s
a r e j u s t to o h a r d to o r g a n is e , b e in g d is p e r s e d in so m a n y
s m a ll b u s in e s s e s . W h ile th e re w as s u b s ta n tia l e c o n o m ic
g ro w th to w a rd th e e n d o f th e H a w k e K e a tin g y e a rs, it w a s n o t
w e ll d i s t r i b u t e d . T h e l o w e s t p a i d w o r k e r s n e e d t o b e g u a r a n ­
te e d a s h a r e o f a n y e c o n o m ic g ro w th . S e c u rity o f e m p lo y a ­
b ility , r a t h e r t h a n j o b s e c u r i ty , c o u l d b e e n h a n c e d b y a c c e s s
to e d u c a tio n a n d tr a in in g .

The P o verty Code

O n e o f t h e h a l l m a r k s o f t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l p r o l e t a r i a t ’s r e s i s ­
ta n c e is t o ‘t r a i n i n g ’ s c h e m e s , a s c a m e o u t i n th e S ile n t
M a jo r ity III re p o rt. W hat is d is tin c tiv e about L a t h a m ’s
a p p r o a c h t o e m p l o y m e n t is t h a t h e w a n t s t o m o v e b e y o n d
th e p la titu d e s . In o n e s ta rtlin g re m a rk , L a th a m sa y s t h a t :
“F u l l e m p l o y m e n t h a s a c t u a l l y b e e n a c h i e v e d , b u t o n l y i n a
p a r t i c u l a r ty p e o f la b o u r m a r k e t in c e rta in p a rts o f th e
c o u n t r y . ” I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e r e ’s n o m a g i c s o l u t i o n s t o b e
f o u n d by lo o k in g a t th e a g g re g a te n u m b e rs .
T h e p o v e r t y c o d e is n o m y s te r y . O n e o f t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e
w a y s t o m e a s u r e a p e r s o n ’s c h a n c e s o f f i n d i n g a j o b is b y
lo o k in g a t th e ir p o s tc o d e . E m p lo y m e n t a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t
a r e s tr o n g ly c o n c e n t r a t e d in s p a c e . W h e r e t h e r e a r e s k ille d
u r b a n e k n o w le d g e w o rk e rs , th e y c r e a te s e rv ic e jo b s . W h e r e
t h e r e a r e n ’t, t h e n t h e y d o n ’t c r e a t e s e r v i c e j o b s , w h i c h t h e s e
d a y s m e a n t h e r e a r e n o j o b s . “S u b u r b s h a v e b e c o m e t h e m o s t
 social rationalism

a p p r o p r i a t e u n i t o f s p a t i a l a n a l y s i s ”, a n d i t ’s n o t h a r d t o i d e n ­
tify t h e p r o b l e m a r e a s . W h a t ’s g o i n g o n o u t t h e r e i n h i g h
u n e m p l o y m e n t s u b u r b s is a v is c o u s c y c le . L o w le v e ls o f e d u ­
c a t i o n l e a d t o lo w l e v e l s o f e m p l o y m e n t w h i c h l e a d s t o lo w
le v e ls o f i n c o m e w h i c h l e a d s t o lo w le v e l s o f s e r v i c e i n d u s t r y .
T h i s i n t u r n l e a d s t o b r e a k d o w n s i n c iv ility t h a n c a n t u r n t h i s
i n t o a n a b j e c t d o w n w a r d s p i r a l , w h e r e w h a t r e s u l t s is t h e
h o p e le s s w o rld p i c tu r e d in m o v ie s lik e T h e B o ys a n d Id io t B ox.
L a th a m w a n ts to r e s p o n d by d e v e lo p in g in f r a s tr u c tu r e p r o ­
je c ts and v o c a tio n a l tra in in g ta ilo re d fo r s p e c ific a re a s.
In fra s tru c tu re p ro je c ts can p u t in c o m e in th e hands of
u n s k ille d w o rk e rs a n d ju m p s ta rt th e c y c le . V o c a t i o n a l
tra in in g can b ro a d e n th e s k ills w ith in th e lo c a lity .
C o m m u n ity o r g a n is a tio n s c o u ld b e s u b s id is e d to g e n e r a te
f u r t h e r e m p lo y m e n t. L a th a m w a n ts th e w h o le p a c k a g e r u n
b y “p l a c e m a n a g e m e n t ”, w h e r e a ll o f t h e d i f f e r e n t g o v e r n ­
m e n t p r o g r a m s a n d s e rv ic e s c a n b e b r o u g h t t o g e t h e r a n d
th e r e s o u r c e s f o c u s e d o n a n a r e a in n e e d . By tr e a tin g th e
lo c a lity a s t h e u n i t o f n e e d , L a b o r c a n b r e a k o u t o f i d e n ti ­
fy in g n e e d in te r m s o f t h e p e r s o n a l c h a r a c te r is tic s o f in d i­
v id u a ls .
L o o k e d a t t o g e t h e r , L a t h a m ’s a p p r o a c h t o i n d u s t r y p o l i c y
a n d e m p lo y m e n t p o lic y a r e c o m p lim e n ta r y . T h e f o r m e r trie s
t o a s s i s t e c o n o m i c g r o w t h w h e r e v e r i t is a l r e a d y s t r o n g , a n d
t h e l a t t e r is a w a y o f s h a r i n g s o m e o f t h e g a i n w i t h t h e l e a s t
w e ll o f f a r e a s . I n s h o r t , “S c a r c e p u b l i c r e s o u r c e s n e e d t o b e
d ir e c te d p rim a rily a t o v e rc o m in g th e in a d e q u a c ie s o f th e
p r o f i t s y s t e m — i ts f a i l u r e t o i n v e s t a d e q u a t e l y i n t h e s k il ls o f
t h e n a t i o n ’s p e o p l e ; its f a i l u r e t o d e a l w i t h t h e e n t r e n c h e d
p r o b le m s o f e c o n o m ic e x c lu s io n o n a s p a tia l s c a le .”

S ocial R a tio n a lism

On e c o n o m ic and in d u s try p o li c y , L a t h a m ’s t h i n k i n g is
r e f r e s h in g ly e m p ir ic a l. H e lo o k s f o r w ays to b u ild c o n c e p ts
o u t o f th e in f o r m a tio n a v a ila b le , r a t h e r th a n m a k in g th e
in f o r m a tio n f it a p r e d e t e r m i n e d th e o r y . B u t I th in k h e la p s e s
i n t o “s o c i a l r a t i o n a l i s m ” w h e n h e m o v e s o n t o c o n s i d e r t h e
q u e s tio n o f th e s o c ia l ju s t i c e c o m p o n e n t o f th e f a ir g o .
T h e p h ilo s o p h e r J o h n R a w ls ’ f a m o u s t h e o r e t i c a l e x p e r i ­
m e n t o f t h e “v e il o f i g n o r a n c e ” is L a t h a m ’s s t a r t i n g p o i n t . 14
t h ird w a y , s e c o n d go

I m a g in e y o u a r e a s k e d to d e s ig n a j u s t s o c ie ty in w h ic h y o u
w ill h a v e t o liv e , b u t w i t h o u t k n o w i n g w h a t p l a c e y o u w ill
h a v e i n it. F a n s o f R a w ls t h i n k s t h a t w i t h t h i s d e v i c e o f t h e v e il
o f i g n o r a n c e , i t is p o s s i b l e t o c r e a t e a r a t i o n a l m o d e l o f a n
id e a l s o c ia l ju s t ic e . L a th a m b e g in s h is t h i n k in g a b o u t s o c ia l
j u s t i c e w ith th is r a tio n a lis t a p p r o a c h .
A m o re c o n s is te n t a p p ro a c h m ig h t b e to w o rk , as p o s t­
m o d e r n e th ic a l th e o r y h a s tr ie d to d o , fro m th e b o tto m u p ,
f r o m e v e r y d a y e n c o u n t e r s o f a p r a c tic e , r a t h e r t h a n a t h e o r y ,
o f s o c ia l j u s tic e . H a v in g a b a n d o n e d t h e i d e a o f th e id e a l
m a r k e t c o m p o s e d o f u n i v e r s a l r a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c a g e n t s , i t ’s
h a r d to th e n tu r n a r o u n d a n d a rg u e in fa v o u r o f th e id e a o f
t h e id e a l s o c ie ty b a s e d o n u n iv e r s a l r a t i o n a l s o c ia l a g e n ts .
S o c ia l th in k in g , lik e e c o n o m i c t h i n k i n g , h a s to s t a r t e m p i r i ­
c a lly , w i t h t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e c i r c u m s t a n c e s
a n d e v e n ts t h a t m a k e u p t h e s o c ia l a n d t h e e c o n o m ic w o rld ,
a n d c r e a tin g c o n c e p ts o f th o s e d iffe re n c e s , as L a th a m d o e s
w i t h h i s s p a t i a l c o n c e p t f o r e m p l o y m e n t p o lic y .
H a v in g th is id e a l r a ti o n a l m o d e l o f s o c ia l j u s t ic e in h is
h e a d le a d s L a th a m o f f o n a ta n g e n t, lo o k in g f o r r e a s o n s w h y
r e a l i t y d o e s n o t c o n f o r m t o t h e m o d e l . ‘T h e c o h e s i v e n e s s o f
o u r p u b lic m o r a lity h a s b e e n w e a k e n e d in t a n d e m w ith t h e
r i s e o f e l e c t r o n i c m e d i a ”, h e w r i t e s . “P o l i t i c s is p r e s e n t e d a s
in fo ta in m e n t, w h ile p u b lic is s u e s are p o rtra y e d s o le ly
t h r o u g h t h e p r i s m o f c o n f l i c t . ” T h i s is d a n g e r o u s n o n s e n s e .
W h a t I t h i n k is l u r k i n g i n t h e b a c k o f t h e L a t h a m i t e u n c o n ­
s c i o u s is P l a t o ’s r e p u b l i c , w h e r e t h e p e r f e c t r a p p o r t b e t w e e n
p o litic ia n g u a rd ia n and g ra te fu l c itiz e n is a c h ie v e d by
c h u c k in g t h e d iv e rs ity o f c o m m u n i c a t io n o u t o f p a r a d is e . I n
o r d e r to a c c o u n t f o r th e p e r s is te n t g a p b e tw e e n th e id e a l
m o d e l o f s o c i a l r a t i o n a l i t y a n d m e s s y s o c i a l r e a li ty , L a t h a m
b la m e s th e m e d ia .
T h i s is e x a c t l y t h e s a m e a s a n e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s t b l a m i n g
th e p e r s is te n t g a p b e tw e e n th e id e a l m o d e l o f m a r k e t r a tio ­
n a l i t y a n d m e s s y b u s i n e s s r e a l i t y o n t h e ‘d i s t o r t i n g ’ e f f e c t s o f
g o v e r n m e n t. I n b o th c a se s, th e n o is y d if f e r e n c e s t h a t c lu tte r
u p th e a c tu a l w o rld a r e n o t in c id e n ta ls th a t d is to r t th e im p le ­
m e n t a t i o n o f a p u r e m o d e l . C o m m u n i c a t i o n , n o le s s t h a n
t h e e c o n o m y , is n o is y , m e s s y , a n d i r r e d u c i b l e t o a p u r e i d e a l .
I n r e l a t i o n t o c o m m u n i c a t i o n n o le s s t h a n i n r e l a t i o n t o e c o ­
n o m i c s , p o l i t i c s is le s s a m a t t e r o f t r y i n g t o i m p o s e a p u r e
 social rationalism 3 05

m o d e l o n m e s s y r e a l ity , a s o f t r y i n g t o m a k e m e s s y r e a l i t y p r o ­
d u c t i v e , u s e f u l , f u n c t i o n a l . I t ’s n o t a c h o i c e b e t w e e n m e s s y
r e a l i t y a n d p u r e p o l ic y , i t ’s a c h o i c e b e t w e e n g o o d a n d b a d
k i n d s o f m e s s . T h e f a i r g o is n o t a n i d e a l , a t h e o r y , i t ’s a p r a c ­
tic e . I t ’s a n e m p iric a l a rt of m a k in g d iffe re n c e s w o rk
to g e th e r r a th e r th a n a g a in s t e a c h o th e r.
I n t h e P l a t o n i c v ie w o f c o m m u n i c a d o n , t h e r e is a h i e r a r c h y
o f f o r m s , w ith s o m e k in d o f p u r e , r a t io n a l a n d in f o r m a tiv e
d i s c o u r s e a t t h e s u m m i t , a n d e n t e r t a i n m e n t a t t h e b o t t o m , “a
lo n g w ay re m o v e d fro m t r u t h . ”15 A s I h a v e t r i e d t o s h o w ,
w h e t h e r i t is t h e v i r t u a l o p t i m i s m e x p r e s s e d i n K y lie M i n o g u e ,
o r t h e c r i t i q u e o f f o r t r e s s s u b u r b i a i n M u r i e l ’s W e d d in g , e n t e r ­
t a i n m e n t is n o le s s i m p o r t a n t a p a r t o f d e m o c r a t i c c o m m u n i ­
c a tio n . Im a g e s a n d f e e lin g s m a tte r a s m u c h a s fa c ts a n d
f i g u r e s . T h e p o l i t i c s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n w o r k s le s s w e ll w h e n
i t o p p o s e s m e d i a n o i s e w i t h p u r e p o li c y , t h a n w h e n i t t r i e s t o
m a k e a c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n th e m . T h is w as w h a t B o b H a w k e
p u l l e d o f f i n f o u r s u c c e s s iv e e l e c t i o n v i c t o r i e s .
P o l i t i c s h a s a lw a y s b e e n “i n f o t a i n m e n t ”, a l l t h a t is n e w is
t h e p o r t m a n t e a u w o r d f o r it. A s f o r t h e “c o h e s i v e n e s s o f
p u b l i c m o r a l i t y ”, i f e v e r t h e r e w a s s u c h a c o h e s i v e n e s s i n
li v i n g m e m o r y i t w a s d u r i n g t h e w a r , a n d i t w a s v e r y m u c h a
p r o d u c t o f t h e m a s s m e d i a . I f i t h a s d e c l i n e d , i t is b e c a u s e i n
th e a b s e n c e o f a m ilita r y e m e r g e n c y lik e th e w a r a g a in s t
J a p a n , o r th e p h a n to m e m e r g e n c y o f th e c o ld w ar, p e o p le
s a w l e s s a n d le s s r e a s o n t o f a l l i n t o l i n e b e h i n d a u t h o r i t a r i a n
fig u re s . In th e a b s e n c e o f a re n e w a l o f th is c u ltu r e o f e m e r ­
g en cy , L a th a m w ill h a v e t o a d a p t h i s t h i n k i n g t o a m o r e
e m p ir ic a l p r a c tic e , r a t h e r th a n e x p e c t to a d a p t th e c u ltu r e to
h is id e a l.
L a b o r ’s r e a l p r o b l e m w i t h s o c i a l j u s t i c e is n o t t h e m e d i a
b u t t h a t i t h a s n o t u s e d t h e m e d i a w ise ly . I t a d d e d d i f f e r e n t
k in d s o f d if f e r e n c e to g e th e r : d if f e r e n c e s o f r a c e , e th n ic ity ,
la n g u a g e , g e n d e r, se x u a l p r e f e r e n c e a n d so o n , m a k in g e a c h
a s p e c ia l c a te g o r y o f s o c ia l ju s tic e s u p p lic a n t. T h is w a s p a r t
o f t h e s a m e lo g ic a s t h e p r o l i f e r a t i n g c a t e g o r i e s o f b e n e f i t s in
w e lf a r e s e rv ic e s . B u t th e s e a d m i n i s t e r e d c a te g o r ie s o f d if f e r ­
ence c re a te d any num ber o f a n o m a lie s and e x c e p tio n s .
S o c i a l j u s t i c e w a s “r e d u c e d t o a z e r o - s u m c o n te s t b e tw e e n
w in n e r s a n d lo s e rs d e s ig n a te d , n o t b y th e u n c e r ta in tie s o f
lif e , b u t b y p e r s o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . ”
third way, s e c o n d go

W h ile t h e i n t e n t i o n w a s to o f f e r to a n y o n e w ith s u c h c h a r ­
a c te r is tic s s o m e m e a s u r e o f e q u a l j u s t i c e w ith p e o p l e w h o
la c k e d th e m , it c r e a te d th e im p re s s io n a m o n g p e o p le w h o
la c k e d th e m t h a t t h e y w e r e u n j u s t l y i g n o r e d . A n “e n t i t l e ­
m ent p o litic s ” a ro s e in w h ic h w h ite , s tra ig h t, E n g lis h
s p e a k in g s u b u r b ia saw its e lf th r e a te n e d , n o t f r o m a b o v e , b u t
f r o m b e lo w , f r o m m a r g i n a l i s e d p e o p l e l i k e n e w m i g r a n t s o r
A b o r i g i n a l s . T h e r e s u l t w a s “d o w n w a r d e n v y ”. J o h n H o w a r d
e x p lo ite d d o w n w a rd en v y a t th e 1 9 9 6 e le c tio n to s e p a ra te
s u b u rb ia fro m u r b a n e w o rk e rs.
I d o n ’t t h i n k L a t h a m a c t u a l l y w a n t s t o t a k e b e n e f i t s a w a y
f r o m p e o p l e w h o a r e b la c k o r gay, le s b ia n o r n e s b ia n . I f t h e r e
is a g e n u i n e s h o r t f a l l i n t h e s o c i a l c a p a c i t y s u c h a p e r s o n
e x p e r i e n c e s , t h e n t h e y h a v e a n e n t i t l e m e n t . A ll t h e s a m e ,
L a t h a m is n o t c o m i n g f r o m t h e s a m e d i r e c t i o n a s t h o s e w h o
a d d e d t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s o f e n t i t l e m e n t t o L a b o r ’s c o m m i t ­
m e n ts . L a b o r n e e d s to c r e a t e m o r e s e n s itiv ity to d if f e r e n c e
i n its h a n d l i n g o f f a i r g o , r a t h e r t h a n le s s . E s t a b l i s h i n g a fe w
b u re a u c ra tic c a te g o rie s of e n title m e n t is to o c ru d e an
a p p r o a c h to d iff e re n c e . It c re a te s th e im p re s s io n o f s o m e
s m a ll g r o u p s o n th e m a rg in w h o , in th e s o n g w rite r P a u l
K e ll y ’s w o r d s , g e t “s p e c i a l t r e a t m e n t ” a n d a n u n s p e a k a b l e
m a j o r i t y w h o d o n ’t . 16
A c u ltu r e o f r e s e n tm e n t, o f d o w n w a rd envy, th e n g ro w s o u t
o f th is b u r e a u c r a tic id e n tif ic a tio n o f p o te n tia l s u b je c ts f o r
th e r e s e n tm e n t tr e a tm e n t. By m o v in g to a m o r e a b s tra c t
m e a s u r e o f w h a t s o c ia l j u s t i c e p r o g r a m s m u s t a d d r e s s —
s o c ia l c a p a c ity — t h e i d e a w o u ld b e to tr y a n d m a n a g e d if­
f e r e n c e i n a m o r e s u b t l e w ay, o n a c a s e b y c a s e b a s is . W h i c h
is t h e o n l y w a y t h e f a i r g o e v e r w o r k s . N o tw o c l a i m s f o r
ju s tic e a re e v e r th e sam e. T h e re m ay be ‘f a m i l y re se m ­
b l a n c e s ’ a m o n g s u c h c la i m s : c a s e A is l i k e B b u t n o t l i k e C ,
c a s e C is l i k e A b u t n o t l i k e B .
T h e p r o b l e m w ith t h e 6 0 s s o c ia l lib e r a t i o n m o v e m e n ts t h a t
p r o v i d e d t h e i m p e t u s f o r e x p a n d i n g L a b o r ’s s o c i a l j u s t i c e
a g e n d a is t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t r e a l l y s o c i a l l i b e r t a r i a n m o v e ­
m e n ts . T h e y d id n o t ta k e as th e ir p r e m is e th e d if f e r e n c e s
b e tw e e n p e o p le , th e y to o k as th e ir p r e m is e o n e f o u n d in g d if­
f e r e n c e a p ie c e — g e n d e r , r a c e , e th n ic ity , s e x u a l p r e f e r e n c e ,
a n d m a d e th is o n e d if f e r e n c e th e f o u n d a tio n f o r a n e s s e n c e
o f s a m e n e s s . A ll g a y m e n w e r e a s s u m e d t o b e a l i k e i n r e s p e c t
 social rationalism 307

t o t h e i r g a y n e s s , f o r i n s t a n c e . L i b e r a t i o n r h e t o r i c t e n d e d to
c re a te tw o c a t e g o r i e s t h a t a r e d if f e r e n t, b u t w h ic h each
r e c o g n i s e s i n t h e o t h e r t h e p r i n c i p l e o f its s a m e n e s s . T o b e
g a y is t o b e , f i r s t a n d la s t, n o t s t r a i g h t . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , w h i l e
t h e r e is a p o s i t i v e p a y o f f f o r t h e m i n o r i t y t h i s r e c o g n i t i o n
g e n e r a te s , it c o m e s a t th e e x p e n s e o f a llo w in g a n im a g in a r y
m a jo r ity to c o n s titu te its e lf a g a in s t th e m in o rity .
A s I a r g u e d in T h e V ir tu a l R e p u b lic , I t h i n k p o s t m o d e r n
t h i n k i n g h a s g r a p p l e d w ith th is p r o b l e m f o r s o m e t i m e . 17
R a th e r th a n a b a n d o n m in o r itie s to r ig h t w in g b a c k la s h , a n d
t h e c o l l a p s e b a c k i n t o in v is ib ility , t h e s t r a t e g y h a s m o s d y
b e e n t o i n s i s t t h a t t h e r e is m o r e , r a t h e r t h a n le s s d i f f e r e n c e
a t w o rk w ith in c u ltu r e th a n th e lib e r a tio n m o v e m e n ts o f th e
6 0 s w e r e c a p a b l e o f i m a g i n i n g . T h i s is o n e o f t h e t h i n g s
C h r i s t o s T s i o l k a s ’ n o v e l L o a d e d w a s a l l a b o u t , w i t h its d e n s e
a n d n o i s y m i x o f e t h n i c , s e x u a l a n d c la s s d i f f e r e n c e s . 18 T h i s
th in k in g s e e m s to m e to m a tte r , n o w t h a t th e a d d itiv e in c o r ­
p o r a t i o n o f 6 0 s s ty le s u b j e c t i v e d i f f e r e n c e i n t o a n e l e c t o r a l
m a jo rity s e e m s u n lik e ly to w o rk .
L a th a m a t le a s t a c k n o w le d g e s o n e d if f ic u lt is s u e f o r r e p r e ­
s e n t a t i v e p o l i t i c s , g e n e r a t i o n a l e q u i t y . “I t is m a n i f e s t l y u n f a i r
fo r o n e g e n e r a tio n to o v e rlo a d th e c o m m o n s k n o w in g th a t,
i n a ll l i k e l i h o o d , f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s w ill n o t h a v e t h e s a m e
o p p o r t u n i t y t o s a tis f y t h e i r c o l l e c t i v e i n t e r e s t s . ” T h e i n t e r ­
e s tin g p ro b le m w ith i n t e r - g e n e r a t i o n a l e q u i t y is t h a t d i f ­
f e r e n t ‘g e n e r a t i o n s ’ m a y c o m e t o h a v e q u i t e d i f f e r e n t i d e a s
a b o u t w h a t is e q u i t a b l e b e t w e e n t h e m .
L ik e T a n n e r , L a th a m t h i n k s t h e r e n e e d s t o b e a “v i s ib l e
a n d d ir e c t” c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n w h a t p e o p le d o a n d w h a t
th e p u b lic c o n s e q u e n c e s a r e . W e lfa re p a y m e n ts c r e a te a
p a s s iv e r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n t h e r e c i p i e n t a n d g o v e r n m e n t , a n d
s tig m a tis e th e re c e iv e r in th e eyes o f p e o p le w ho d o n ’t
q u a l i f y f o r s u c h a p a y m e n t . B u t L a t h a m is n o t k e e n t o j o i n
t h e r i g h t w i n g c h o r u s c a l l i n g f o r c u t s t o w e l f a r e . R a t h e r , i t ’s
a q u e s tio n o f re b u ild in g p u b lic tr u s t in th e concept of
w e lfa re .
L a t h a m is c r i t i c a l o f t h e “g u i l d s y s t e m ” o f p u b l i c s e c t o r m a n ­
agem ent — h o s p ita ls r u n by d o c to r s , s c h o o ls b y te a c h e rs ,
tr a n s p o r t b y e n g in e e r s , c itie s b y to w n p la n n e r s . G u ild s h a v e
in f lu e n c e w ith g o v e r n m e n t in t e r m s o f g e t t i n g f u n d i n g b u t
a r e n ’t r e a l l y a n s w e r a b l e t o t h e p e o p l e t h e y s e r v e — a n d t h e
t h ird w a y , s e c o n d go

p u b l i c r e s e n t s it, a s e x p r e s s e d i n S i l e n t M a j o r i t y I II . H e f a v o u r s
m o r e f l e x i b l e d e l i v e r y o f s e r v ic e s . H e s e e s n o r e a s o n w h y t h e
g o v e r n m e n t s e c t o r s h o u l d a lw a y s h a v e a m o n o p o l y o n p r o ­
v i d i n g s e r v i c e s . T h e l i g h t o n t h e h i l l , h e in s is ts , is t h e s e r v i c e ,
n o t t h a t a la r g e g o v e r n m e n t b u r e a u c r a c y d e liv e r t h e s e rv ic e .

D em o c ra tisin g E d u c a tio n
‘T h e m o s t e ffe c tiv e f o r m o f c o lle c tiv e a c tio n in a n o p e n
e c o n o m y a n d s o c ie ty n o w lie s in e n s u r i n g t h a t e a c h o f a
n a t i o n ’s c i t i z e n s c a n r e s p o n d a d e p t l y t o t h e c o n t i n g e n c i e s o f
c h a n g e . ” I n c r e a s i n g p e o p l e ’s s o c i a l c a p a c i t y r e q u i r e s e d u c a ­
tio n . W h e r e o t h e r g o v e r n m e n t s e rv ic e s p r o v id e a p a r tic u la r
g o o d , e d u c a tio n p ro v id e s th e c a p a c ity f o r p e o p le to c r e a te
t h e g o o d f o r t h e m s e l v e s . “E d u c a t i o n h a s b e c o m e t h e c r i t i c a l
ite m o f s o c ia l c a p a b ility in th e p o s t- in d u s tr ia l a g e . I t s e rv e s
n o t o n ly a s a c a ta ly s t f o r n e w f o r m s o f e c o n o m ic a n d t e c h ­
n o l o g i c a l p r o g r e s s , b u t is a l s o t h e m e a n s b y w h i c h e a c h i n d i ­
v i d u a l c a n d e v e l o p t h e s k ill s o f a d a p t a b i l i t y . ”
E d u c a tio n as a p u b lic good — a ll c itiz e n s e v e n tu a lly
b e n e fit, n o t ju s t fro m th e e v e n tu a l s p re a d o f b e tte r te c h ­
n i q u e s , b u t t h r o u g h t h e e n h a n c e m e n t o f p e o p l e ’s c a p a c i t y t o
t h i n k a n d a c t . L a c k o f e d u c a t i o n r e d u c e s p e o p l e ’s c a p a c i t i e s
to d e a l w ith n e w i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d a s t h e ris e o f t h e in f o r ­
m a t i o n p r o l e t a r i a t s h o w s , t h e r e is a s o c i a l c o s t t h a t c o m e s
w ith t h e u n e q u a l d i s t r i b u t i o n o f a c c e s s to e d u c a t i o n . B y n o t
in v e s tin g in e d u c a tio n , A u s tr a lia m a k e s its e lf v u ln e r a b le to
g l o b a l c a p i t a l m o v e m e n t s — a l t h o u g h a s k i l l e d w o r k f o r c e is
o n l y a n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n f o r a t t r a c t i n g i n v e s t m e n t — i t is
n o t a s u ffic ie n t o n e .
F o r L a t h a m , e d u c a t i o n is t h e p e r h a p s t h e m o s t c e n t r a l p a r t
o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n g o v e r n m e n t ’s c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e e c o n o m y .
I n a p o s tin d u s tr ia l e c o n o m y , w h e r e a p p ly in g k n o w le d g e to
in fo rm a tio n b e c o m e s a k e y g e n e r a to r o f w e a lth , g o v e r n ­
m e n t s r o l e c h a n g e s , “s h e d d i n g its o w n e r s h i p o f f i x e d i n d u s ­
tria l a s s e ts and in v e s tin g ever m o re in th e a s s e ts and
c a p a b ilitie s o f th e l e a r n i n g s o c ie ty .”
S o c ia l m o b ility in a p o s tin d u s tr ia l w o r ld r e lie s o n k n o w l­
e d g e s k ills , b u t t h e u r b a n e m a n a g e t o k e e p a t i g h t g r i p o f
a c c e ss to e d u c a tio n fo r th e ir o w n c h ild r e n . L a b o r m u s t n o t
“a l lo w t h e u n e q u a l d i s t r i b u t i o n o f p r i m a r y g o o d s f r o m th e
 dem ocratising education 309

i n d u s t r i a l a g e t o p e r p e t u a t e its e l f , a s s o c i e t y m o v e s t o w a r d s
th e in fo rm a tio n ag e, th ro u g h th e uneven d is trib u tio n of
l e a r n i n g c a p a b ility .” L a th a m w a n ts to e n s u r e a m o r e m e r ito ­
c ra tic a c c e ss. H e fe e ls s tro n g ly a b o u t e d u c a tio n a s a life lo n g
p ro c e s s , a b o u t th e im p o r ta n c e o f th e e a rly y e a rs o f e d u c a ­
tio n , a b o u t th e q u a lity o f th e h o m e e n v ir o n m e n t to s c h o la rly
a tta in m e n t. In a r a r e o u tb r e a k o f m o r a l o u tr a g e , h e c la im s
t h a t p a r e n t s d e p e n d e n t o n w e l f a r e h a v e “n o e x c u s e ” f o r n o t
u p g r a d i n g t h e i r o w n s k ills a s h o m e e d u c a t o r s . L a t h a m w r i t e s
h e r e lik e a t r u e b e lie v e r, s o m e o n e w h o ta k e s th is is s u e p e r ­
s o n a lly .
T h e r e is s o m e t h i n g a l i t t l e o l d f a s h i o n e d a b o u t t h i s . “T h e
g o o d s o c i e t y h a s a lw a y s b e e n a n e n l i g h t e n e d s o c ie ty , p u s h i n g
t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e o f its c i t i z e n s t o w a r d s t h e
s o c i a l h a b i t s o f t o l e r a n c e a n d c o o p e r a t i o n ”. I t ’s n o t n e c e s ­
s a r il y th e case th a t e d u c a tio n p ro d u ces to le ra n c e . The
u n d e rly in g a s s u m p tio n in t h i s v iew , w h i c h w a s t y p i c a l o f
m o d e rn ra tio n a lis m , w as th a t e n lig h te n m e n t d e v e lo p s
a b s tra c t th in k in g , a n d th a t a b s tra c t th in k in g a p p ro a c h e s u n i­
v e rs a l u n d e r s ta n d in g , so th e c lo s e r p e o p le a p p r o x im a te to
u n i v e r s a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t h e m o r e h a r m o n y t h e r e w ill b e . I t
t u r n e d o u t in p r a c tic e t h a t e n l i g h t e n m e n t w o r k e d , a n d c o n ­
tin u e s to w o rk , q u ite d iffe re n tly .
W h a t e v e r it s c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e s c i e n c e s m a y b e , t h e c o n ­
tr ib u tio n o f e n lig h te n m e n t to th e h u m a n itie s a n d c u ltu r e
h a s b e e n r a t h e r to d e v e lo p a n d e x t e n d t h e d i f f e r e n c e s in
p e o p l e ’s c a p a c i t i e s . E n l i g h t e n m e n t d e v e l o p s t h e v i r t u a l i t y o f
t h i n k i n g i n r e l a t i o n t o b e i n g . B u t i t t u r n s o u t t h a t w h a t is a t
t h e c o r e o f o u r b e i n g is n o t s o m e c o m m o n e s s e n c e t h a t c a n
b e re p re s e n te d in a u n iv e rs a l r a tio n a l c a lc u lu s . R a th e r, it
s e e m s t h a t w h a t is a t t h e c o r e o f o u r b e i n g is a c a p a c i t y t o d i f ­
fe re n tia te fro m e a c h o th e r, r a th e r th a n to c o n v e rg e . T h e
a p p lic a tio n o f th e to o ls o f e n l i g h t e n m e n t to o u r b e in g h a s
r e s u l t e d in n e w w a y s o f b e c o m i n g d i f f e r e n t , n o t i n a c o n v e r ­
g e n c e to w a rd s a n id e a l. C e le b r itie s , f o r in s ta n c e , e x p r e s s th is
v e ry p o s s ib ility o f b e c o m in g d if f e r e n t — s o m e tim e s fa n a ti­
c a l ly d i f f e r e n t .
S o w h i l e t h e g o o d s o c i e t y m a y b e a n e n l i g h t e n e d s o c ie ty , i t
h a s to b e a s o c ie ty t h a t d o e s m o r e th a n to le r a te d if f e r e n c e s .
T h e c o n c e p t o f t o l e r a n c e s ti ll c o n t a i n s w i t h i n i n t h e c o r e
id e a o f a n id e a l n o r m , f r o m w h ic h w h a t h a s to b e to le r a te d
310 th ir d w a y , s e c o n d go

d iv e rg e s . S u b u r b ia to le r a te s d if f e r e n c e s , b u t a m o r e u r b a n e
c u ltu r e a c tu a lly e n c o u r a g e s d if f e r e n c e s . O r r a th e r , e n c o u r ­
a g e s th e p r o d u c tiv e , c re a tiv e , in n o v a tiv e s id e o f d if f e r e n c e .
A s w e e m b r a c e le a r n in g , a s w e th in k f o r o u rs e lv e s a n d in c o r ­
p o r a te n e w in fo rm a tio n in to o u r th in k in g , w e b e c o m e o th e r
th a n as w e w e re .
An e n lig h te n in g e d u c a tio n is o n e th a t e n h a n c e s d iffe r­
e n c e s . T h i s e n h a n c e d d i f f e r e n c e is o n e o f t h e r e a s o n s p e o p l e
f e e l t h a t ‘i n d i v i d u a l i s m ’ is o n t h e r i s e , a n d t h a t t h e r e is m o r e
a l i e n a t i o n a n d le s s c o m m u n i t y . L e a r n i n g w e a k e n s o b e d i e n c e
to c u ltu r a l a u t h o r i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g c h u r c h a n d p a rty . I t w e a k e n s
c o m p u ls o ry c o m m u n ity b a se d o n sa m e n e ss a n d e n c o u ra g e s
f re e a s s o c ia tio n b a s e d o n d if f e r e n c e . E n lig h te n m e n t te a c h e s
u s th a t w e a r e c o n d e m n e d to b e fre e . In p la c e o f c o m p u ls o r y
c o m m u n ity , m o r e v o lu n ta r y fo r m s o f a s s o c ia tio n e m e r g e th a t
enhance d iffe re n c e s r a th e r th a n m e re ly to le ra tin g th e m .
L a th a m q u ite rig h tly se e s e d u c a tio n as m o r e th a n ju s t a n e c o ­
n o m i c t o o l , b u t t h e c u l t u r a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n t h a t is t h e v i r t u a l
s id e o f e d u c a tio n m a y p r o m is e d if f e r e n t, a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d ,
c h a n g e s th a n L a th a m im a g in e s .
E v e n t h e t h o r n y s u b j e c t o f m i g r a t i o n t u r n s u p i n L a t h a m ’s
th in k in g under th e e d u c a tio n ag e n d a . W h e re T a n n e r is
b r o a d l y a c c e p t i n g o f L a b o r ’s i m m i g r a t i o n a n d m u l t i c u l t u r -
a lis m fo c u s , L a th a m fa v o u r s m ig r a tio n o f s k ille d p e o p le , b u t
is a g a i n s t u n s k i l l e d m i g r a t i o n . “T h e r e a r e v i r t u a l l y n o j o b s
a v a i l a b l e f o r u n s k i l l e d m i g r a n t s ”, a n d t h i s “i n e v i t a b l y b u i l d s
re s e n tm e n t.” The s e n tim e n t Paul Sheehan th in k s is
u n s a y a b l e i n t h e L a b o r P a r t y b e c a u s e o f “p o l i t i c a l c o r r e c t ­
n e s s ” is h e r e i n p l a i n v iew . W h a t L a t h a m f a il s t o m e n t i o n ,
h o w e v er, is t h a t m a n y m ig ra n ts c a n ’t g e t t h e s k ills a n d
tr a in in g th e y a lr e a d y p o s s e s s r e c o g n is e d in A u s tra lia . T h is
p a rtic u la rly u n ju s t and w a s te fu l p ro b le m s u re ly m e rits
m e n t i o n in L a t h a m ’s n e w t h i n k i n g f o r A u s t r a l i a n L a b o r .

C ivility and P u blic Trust

‘S o c i a l c a p i t a l ’ is a t e r m I i n t e n s e l y d i s l i k e . I t is p a r t o f t h e
p r a c tic e o f s e e in g e v e r y th in g as a n a lo g o u s to th e c a p ita lis t
econom y, even th i n g s t h a t a r e c o m p le te ly u n a lik e . S o c ia l
c a p i t a l s i m p l y m e a n s c iv ility , a n i d e a t h a t h a s b e e n w i t h u s
s in c e t h e e n l i g h t e n m e n t th i n k e r s r e r e a d t h e i r M a c h ia v e lli,
 civility and pub lic trust

w h o in t u r n w a s s t e e p e d in c la s s ic a l G r e e k a n d R o m a n p u b lic
t h o u g h t . 1" A s m u c h a s I a d m i r e L a t h a m ’s m o d e r n i t y , s o m e ­
t i m e s i t ’s p r e f e r a b l e to g o back to th e r o o ts o f w e s te rn
t h i n k i n g t h a n t o g e t t r a p p e d i n its m o r e r e c e n t f a d s .
C iv ility m e a n s t h e “s e l f g o v e r n m e n t o f c o m m u n i t y l i f e ”,
a n d e m b ra c e s th e p ra c tic a l n e g o tia tio n o f — a u to n o m y a n d
m u t u a l a i d . T h e p r o b l e m is w h e t h e r c iv ility c a n e x i s t i n t h e
shadow a s tro n g g o v e rn m e n t, or w h e th e r g o v e rn m e n t
‘c r o w d s o u t ’ c iv ility , a s l i b e r a l th in k e rs such as G re g o ry
M e l l e v i s h s e e m t o i m a g i n e . '"
L a t h a m is a t l e a s t p r e p a r e d t o a d m i t t h e p r o b l e m . “A d e c e n t
s a fe ty n e t o f t r a n s f e r p a y m e n t s a n d s e r v i c e u n i v e r s a l i t y d o e s
n o t a p p e a r to h a v e s u s ta in e d a s tr o n g b a s e o f c o m p a s s io n a n d
m u tu a lity .” B u t th is m a y b e m o r e in th e w ay g o v e r n m e n t, a n d
L a b o r g o v e r n m e n ts in p a rtic u la r, h a v e im p le m e n te d a c e r ta in
k in d o f re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n g o v e r n m e n t a n d th e p e o p le .
T h e p r o b l e m is L a b o r ’s “h a b i t o f a d d r e s s i n g e v e r y n e w is s u e b y
f u r t h e r ra is in g p o p u la r e x p e c ta tio n s a b o u t th e r o le o f th e s ta te
p u b lic s e c to r — u l t i m a t e l y d e v o u r i n g its o w n p r o g r a m s . ” I t
c r e a t e s t h e e x p e c t a t i o n t h a t g o v e r n m e n t is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r
e v e r y o n e ’s d e m a n d s , a n d c re a te s a c lie n t p a tr o n re la tio n
b e t w e e n p e o p l e a n d g o v e r n m e n t , a t t h e e x p e n s e o f a se lf-
o r g a n i s i n g a n d a u t o n o m o u s c iv ility .
L a th a m re s is ts t h e m o r a lis in g t o n e o f t h e b u r b l i n g ta lk in g
h e a d s , a n d th o s e in fa v o u r o f a c o m m u n ita r ia n a p p r o a c h o f
m o r a l a u t h o r i t a r i a n p r e a c h i n g t o p e o p l e a b o u t v a l u e s . H e is
a t s o m e re m o v e f r o m th is s e c u la r is e d w o w se r c u ltu r e . B u t h e
a c k n o w le d g e s th a t c u ltu r a l c o n d itio n s d e te r m in e e c o n o m ic
and s o c i a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s . T h e r e is a v i r t u a l i t y t o c u l t u r e . I t
m a k e s o t h e r k in d s o f c o n n e c tio n s p o s s ib le a n d s u s ta in a b le .
I n p a r t i c u l a r , c u l t u r e c a n g e n e r a t e t r u s t , w h i c h f o r L a t h a m is
t h e k e y t o c iv ility .
T h e r e a r e tw o k i n d s o f t r u s t t h a t e n h a n c e c iv ility . T h e r e a r e
h ie ra rc h ie s o f tru s t, w h e re p e o p le tr u s t th o s e w h o have
a u th o r ity . T h e r e a r e n e tw o r k s o f tr u s t, w h e r e p e o p l e re ly o n
o th e r s w ith o u t b e in g s u b o r d in a te to th e m . L a th a m re c o g ­
n is e s th a t b o th k in d s of tru s t a re im p o rta n t to L a b o r.
W i t h o u t t r u s t, a L a b o r p r o g r a m o f t r a n s f e r p a y m e n ts la c k s
le g itim a c y . P e o p l e w ill s u s p e c t t h e fa irn e s s o f th e s o c ia l
j u s t i c e c a l c u l a t i o n s i n v o l v e d , w ill r e s e n t t h o s e w h o g e t p a y ­
m e n ts , a n d a s s u m e th e y m u s t b e b lu d g e r s . H a d th e r e b e e n a
312 third way, s e c o n d go

s tr o n g e r e n v ir o n m e n t o f tr u s t in th e 9 0 s, th e in f o r m a tio n
p r o le ta r ia t m ig h t n o t h a v e r e a c te d so s tro n g ly a n d in d u lg e d
in H a n s o n i te c o n s p ir a c y t h e o r i e s — a s u r e s ig n o f w e a k e n e d
tru s t.
L a th a m p u t s s o c i a l t r u s t , t h e b a s i s o f c iv ility , a l o n g s i d e
s o c i a l c a p a b i l i t y , t h e m e a s u r e o f s o c i a l j u s t i c e , a s h i s tw o k e y
d e s ir e s , h is lig h t o n th e h ill. In b o th c a s e s , th e y a r e p r a g ­
m a tic , w o rk m a n -lik e c o n c e p tu a l to o ls , b u ilt to ta c k le p a r tic ­
u l a r k in d s o f d iffic u lty . S o c ia l c a p a b ility h e l p s re s o lv e th e
te n s io n b e tw e e n lib e r ty a n d e q u a lity . S o c ia l t r u s t h e lp s r e c ­
o n c ile fre e d o m and c o lle c tiv e n e c e s s ity . T hey a re b o th
d e c o n s tru c ta b le t e r m s , b u t I w o n ’t d e c o n s t r u c t t h e m . I
th in k it m o r e p o litic a lly a n d c u ltu r a lly h e lp f u l to s e e w h a t
c a n b e m a d e o f t h e m . T h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e s e is s u e s h a s to b e
b o th c r itic a l a n d c lin ic a l, a s th e p h i l o s o p h e r G ille s D e le u z e
p u t s i t . 21 B y c l i n i c a l , D e l e u z e m e a n s l o o k i n g a t c o n c e p t s in
t e r m s o f w h e t h e r t h e y a f f i r m li f e , w h e t h e r t h e y r e a l i s e t h e
p o s s ib ility o f th e f a ir g o . L a th a m in v e n ts th e p o s s ib ility o f a
p e o p l e w h o c o u l d c o m e i n t o e x i s t e n c e . I t ’s a b o u t a w a y o f
b e c o m in g A u s tra lia n under so m ew h at c ra m p e d in te rn a ­
tio n a l c ir c u m s ta n c e s .
W hen s o c i a l t r u s t is g o o d , p e o p l e lin k th e ir lib e rty to
m u t u a l a c t i o n , a n d c iv ility c o m e s t o m e a n d o i n g t h i n g s w it h
o t h e r p e o p l e v o l u n t a r i l y i n t h e e x p e c t a t i o n t h a t o n e ’s o w n
l i b e r t y is t h e r e b y e n h a n c e d . C iv ility r e q u i r e s t r u s t i n r e l a t i o n
to h ie r a r c h ie s a n d n e tw o rk s , b u t L a th a m se e s n e tw o r k e d tr u s t
a s m o r e i m p o r t a n t . T h e l i m i t t o h i e r a r c h i c a l t r u s t is t h a t i t
e s ta b lis h e s d e p e n d e n c y , a la c k o f a u to n o m y , a n d I w o u ld a d d
a n e g a t i v e s e n s e o f id e n t i t y . U n d e r h i e r a r c h i c a l s o c i a l t r u s t ,
o n e c o m e s to a s e n s e o f s e lf th r o u g h th e e x p e r ie n c e o f d o m ­
i n a t i o n b y a n o t h e r ’s a r b i t r a r y w ill — w h i c h is c e r t a i n l y h o w a
lo t o f p e o p le fe e l a b o u t w e lfa re b u r e a u c r a c ie s .
G o v e r n m e n t c a n n o t c r e a t e c iv ility , b u t c a n h a v e s o m e i n d i ­
r e c t e ffe c t, b y th in k in g o f w e lfa re a s a s s is tin g th e d e v e lo p ­
m e n t o f s o c ia l c a p a c ity , f o r e x a m p le , w h ic h m ig h t b re a k
d o w n th e c u ltu re o f d e p e n d e n c y . O r by f u n d in g c o m m u n ity
based p ro je c ts a n d e m p lo y m e n t o u ts id e th e g o v e rn m e n t
s e c to r, a s s e e d in g f u n d s f o r th e a u to n o m o u s d e v e lo p m e n t o f
n e tw o r k s o f t r u s t. A s D a v id H u m e s t r e s s e d , t r u s t h a s to
e x te n d b e y o n d fa m ily a n d c la n , f r ie n d s a n d a c q u a i n ta n c e s if
i t is t o e x t e n d a s f a r a s c iv ility .22 I t h a s t o e x t e n d b e y o n d t h e
 m isreco gnitio n of the oth er 313

c u l t u r e o f m a t e s h i p , w h i c h w a s a n d o f t e n s till is p r e m i s e d o n
th e e x c lu s io n o f o th e rs (w o m en , B la c k s , g a y s ... ) fro m
m u t u a l a id .
N o w t h a t c y b e r s p a c e m a k e s a v a ila b le w h o le n e w v e c to r s f o r
c r e a t i n g n e tw o r k s , c o n n e c t i o n s i n d e p e n d e n t o f lo c a lity t h a t
m a y b e f r e e l y c h o s e n , a n d t h a t c a n e v o lv e , d i v i d e , r e g r o u p t o
n e g o t i a t e d i f f e r e n c e s , s u r e l y is t i m e t o e x p e r i m e n t e m p i r i ­
c a l ly w i t h h o w t o m a k e u s e o f s u c h a t e c h n o l o g y , n o t j u s t f o r
c r e a t i n g w e a l t h , b u t a l s o f o r c r e a t i n g t r u s t , c iv ility , t h e f a i r g o .

M isreco g n itio n o f th e O th er
W h ile b u s ily b u ild in g , f r o m t h e g r o u n d u p , a c o n c e p t o f th e
fa ir g o th a t s tr e tc h e s b e y o n d th e s u b u r b , L a th a m is o n c e
a g a in d r a w n to a r a tio n a lis t c o n c e p t i o n o f th e b a s is o f s o c ia l
tr u s t, j u s t a s h e w a s in tr y in g to g r o u n d s o c ia l j u s tic e . L ik e a
g o o d N S W L a b o r r ig h t p o litic ia n , L a th a m h a s r o u n d e d u p
th e in te lle c tu a l n u m b e r s to d e f e a t e c o n o m ic ra tio n a lis m ,
o n l y h e h a s d r a w n t h e m f r o m tw o i n c o m p a t i b l e f a c t i o n s : e c o ­
n o m ic e m p iric is m and s o c ia l r a tio n a lis m . I n th is s e c tio n ,
w h e r e I u n p a c k s o m e o f t h e t h in k i n g in v o lv e d h e r e , g e ts a b it
a b s tra c t. T h o s e n o t so in c lin e d to th in k in g a b s tr a c t m ig h t
lik e to s k ip a h e a d to t h e s lig h tly m o r e f u n s t u f f a b o u t t h e
m e d ia , a b it f u r th e r o n .
L a th a m fin d s h is c o n c e p t o f s o c ia l tr u s t in th e m ost
u n l i k e l y p l a c e , b o r r o w i n g t h e i d e a o f “r e c o g n i t i o n ” f r o m
F r a n c is F u k u y a m a , th e A m e r ic a n lib e r a l, w h o b o r r o w e d it
f r o m h is m o r e c o n s e r v a tiv e t e a c h e r A lla n B lo o m , w h o b o r ­
r o w e d i t f r o m A l e x a n d r e K o je v e , w h o w o r k e d o n f o r m u l a t i n g
t h e e c o n o m i c p o l i c y o f t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t y . K o je v e
a ls o l e c tu r e d o n th e G e r m a n p h ilo s o p h e r H e g e l, f r o m w h o m
he to o k th is now fa m o u s th e m e of re c o g n itio n . I ’v e
re c o u n te d t h e g e n e a l o g y f o r t h i s c o n c e p t b e c a u s e it is a
s t r a n g e a n c e s t r y f o r a n y c o n c e p t . L a t h a m d o e s n ’t l o o k t o o
d e e p l y i n t o it , b u t r a t h e r o p t s f o r w h a t A l l a n B l o o m c a lls t h e
“c h a r m o f p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n s ” , a n d r i g h t l y s o , I t h i n k . 23 B u t
t h e t h i n g a b o u t c o n c e p t s is t h a t t h e y a r e a v i r t u a l w o r l d o u t
o f w h ic h n e w w ays o f th in k in g e n d le s s ly g e n e r a te th e m s e lv e s .
T h e r e is m o r e t o r e c o g n i t i o n t h a n w h a t L a t h a m w o u l d m a k e
o f it.
W h a t K o je v e w a s l o o k i n g f o r in H e g e l w as a w ay to u n d e r ­
s t a n d t h e w o r l d f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v ie w o f a t h i n k i n g , s e l f - c o n ­
3 14 t h ird way, s e c o n d go

s c i o u s b e i n g . W e liv e w i t h i n h is to ric a l tim e . In e a c h era ,

h is to r y s h a p e s th e w ay w e th in k a b o u t o u rs e lv e s a n d th e
w o rld , m a k in g us th in k in d iffe re n t and o n ly p a rtia lly
r a t i o n a l w a y s. H o w th e n is i t p o s s i b l e to b e c o m e a f u lly
r a tio n a l, th in k in g b e in g ?
B r i e f ly p u t, H e g e l ’s a p p r o a c h is t o a rg u e th a t re a so n
b e c o m e s f u ll y p r e s e n t i n t h e u n f o l d i n g o f h i s t o r y i t s e l f . 24
H is to r y lo o k s f o r w a r d to a n e n d to a ll o f t h e p a r t i a l a n d fa ls e
w ays o f th in k in g a n d b e in g in th e w o rld . T h e n w h e n h is to r y
c o m e s to a n e n d , th e p a rtia l ra tio n a lity c o m e s to a n e n d . F o r
H e g e l, th e b e g in n in g o f th e e n d w as th e u n iv e rs a l d e c la r a ­
tio n o f th e rig h ts o f m a n a t th e tim e o f th e F r e n c h re v o lu ­
tio n . T h is w as th e o rig in a l p re s s re le a s e f o r th e c o n c e p t o f
t h e ‘f a i r g o ’, b u t t h e d e c l a r a t i o n w a s j u s t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e
e n d o f h is to ry . W h e n t h e e n d o f h is to r y its e lf c o m e s to a n
e n d , so to o d o th e d if f e r e n c e s in th e w ay p e o p le th in k , a n d
p e o p l e c a n f i n a l l y c o m e t o g e t h e r i n a f u ll y r e a l a n d r a t i o n a l
r e la tio n to e a c h o t h e r a n d to th e w o rld .
T h e m o s t in f lu e n tia l r e s ta te m e n t o f a t le a s t p a r t o f th is
d a r in g s y n th e s is o f r e a s o n a n d h is to r y w a s m a d e b y F ra n c is
F u k u y a m a , w h o saw th e b e g in n in g o f th e e n d o f h is to r y a b it
la te r, in t h e c o lla p s e o f t h e S o v ie t U n i o n a n d t h e e m e r g e n c e
o f th e lib e r a l d e m o c r a tic s ta te a s th e o n ly c o n t e n d e r f o r th e
p r iz e o f th e fin a l f o r m o f ra tio n a l g o v e rn a n c e o f ra tio n a l
m a n . F o r F u k u y a m a , h i s t o r y is o v e r , a n d w e w o n . L a t h a m ’s
b o o k s e e m s to m e to b r e a t h e s o m e o f th e s a m e a tm o s p h e r e .
H is to ry s i m p l y d o e s n ’t e x i s t i n L a t h a m ’s b o o k . H i s is a
P l a t o n i c w o r l d , a s t a t e m e n t o f t h e i d e a l r e p u b l i c , w h e r e a ll
t h a t r e m a i n s is t h e r e a l i s a t i o n o f t h e r a t i o n a l i d e a l o f s o c i a l
ju s tic e and s o c ia l tru s t. L a th a m s ta n d s o u ts id e h is to ry ,
th in k in g t h r o u g h th e c o m p le tio n o f th e A u s tr a lia n s ta te , in
f u l l s e l f - r e c o g n i t i o n o f i t s e l f a n d i ts w o r l d .
N o w o n d e r L a t h a m is s o k e e n o n e d u c a t i o n . H e s e e s i t a s
t h e m e a n s t o w a r d s t h e e n l i g h t e n m e n t t h a t w ill m a k e t h e
ra tio n a lis a tio n of A u s tra lia n g o v e rn m e n t s e lf-e v id e n t.
L a t h a m is v e r y m u c h a n o p t i m i s t a b o u t t h e p o w e r o f r e a s o n ,
a n d h e s e e m s to s e e n o im p e d im e n t in th e u n f o ld in g o f
h i s t o r y t o t h e r e a l i s a t i o n o f a r a t i o n a l , s e l f c o n s c i o u s lif e .
T h i s is t h e s e n s e in w h i c h h i s t h o u g h t is m o d e r n .
T h e r e is n o m e n t i o n o f t h e s o u r c e s o f p o s t m o d e r n d o u b t
about th is fa ith in th e c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n re a so n and
 m isreco gnitio n of the oth er 315

h is to ry . T h e H o lo c a u s t a n d H ir o s h im a c a u s e d m a n y p o s tw a r
th in k e r s to th in k a g a in . E u r o p e a n t h o u g h t lo o k e d b a c k a t
th e c a ta s tro p h e o f w ar an d tu rn e d in to a p i l l a r o f s a lt.
P o s tm o d e rn t h o u g h t d o u b t s t h a t t h e r e is a n y c o n n e c t i o n
b e tw e e n th e u n fo ld in g o f h is to ry and th e r e a lis a tio n of
re a s o n . O r w o rse , se e s a p e rv e rs e re la tio n b e tw e e n th e m .
P o s tm o d e r n th o u g h t h a s t u r n e d in s te a d to th e fa b le s p e o p le
te ll e a c h o t h e r a b o u t th e e v e n ts t h a t tr a n s f o r m t h e i r e x p e r i ­
e n c e o f t h e w o r l d . 25 I t is a m o d e s t , s t e p b y s t e p , r e c o n s t r u c ­
tio n e f f o r t, tr y in g to r e b u ild a n e th ic a l w ay o f th in k in g , a n d
a c tin g , o u t o f th e ru in s .
P o s tm o d e r n t h o u g h t to o k to s e e in g s o m e th in g s in is te r in
t h i s p e r f e c t s t a t e w h e r e a ll o f o u r p a r t i a l a n d h i s t o r i c a l f o r m s
o f r e a s o n c o n v e r g e in to a s in g le p u r e f o r m . F o r p o s tm o d e r n
c u r r e n t s o f t h o u g h t t h e r e ’s v i r t u e i n t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e
w a y p e o p l e t h i n k . A n d a s f o r t h e u n f o l d i n g o f h i s t o r y , “u n i ­
v e r s a l h i s t o r y is t h e h i s t o r y o f c o n t i n g e n c i e s ”, a s tw o o f t h e
m o s t r a d ic a l p o s tw a r E u r o p e a n th in k e r s , G ille s D e le u z e a n d
F e l i x G u a t t a r i , p u t i t . 2B T h e y p r e f e r a n e m p i r i c a l p h i l o s o p h y
o f th riv in g o n th e d iffe r e n c e s h is to ry th ro w s u p r a th e r th a n
a r a tio n a lis t o n e th a t w a n ts to se e h is to r y a s h a v in g m e a n in g ,
p u rp o se — a n d an en d .
In th e m o r e c o n s e rv a tiv e A m e r ic a n t h o u g h t t h a t s te m s
f r o m K o je v e , t h e s p l i t b e t w e e n h i s t o r y a n d r e a s o n r e s u l t s , n o t
in d o u b ts a b o u t b o t h h is to r y a n d r e a s o n , b u t a p r iv ile g in g o f
o n e a g a in s t th e o th e r . F r a n c is F u k u y a m a s e e m s to p r e f e r a
p o litic a lly s a tis fy in g f a b le , a c c o r d i n g to w h ic h h is to r y w o rk s
o u t , i f n o t r a t i o n a l l y , a t l e a s t o n o u r s i d e . 27 A l l a n B l o o m m a d e
th e o p p o s ite c h o ic e , p r e f e r r i n g r e a s o n to h is to ry . H e p r e ­
f e r r e d th e c lo s in g o f th e A m e r ic a n m in d to o p e n i n g it u p to
th e flu x o f c h a n g e a n d n e w in f o r m a tio n th a t h is to r y h u r ls a t
i t . 2s B u t t h e m o s t r a d i c a l s o l u t i o n s , in t h e s e n s e o f g e t t i n g t o
th e r o o t o f th e p r o b le m , a r e th e p o s tm o d e r n c ritic s o f H e g e l
a n d h is in h e r ito r s , w h o a b a n d o n e d b o th th e g r e a t fa b le s o f
h is to ric a l p r o g r e s s a n d th e u n iv e rs a l g o o d n e s s o f r e a s o n , le t
a l o n e t h e g r a n d s y n t h e s i s o f t h e tw o , i n o r d e r t o s t a r t a m o r e
m o d e s t re a p p ra is a l o f w h a t re a s o n in g c a n a c h ie v e in th e
w o rld .
T a c tic a l ly , L a t h a m w a n t s t o o p p o s e e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i s m ,
w h ic h r e d u c e s th e g o a l o f h is to r y to th e p e r f e c tio n o f o n e
k in d o f u n iv e rs a l ra tio n a lity , th a t o f th e m a r k e t. O n e o f th e
t h ird w a y , s e c o n d go

p l a c e s h e g o e s l o o k i n g f o r a w e a p o n i n t h a t c o n f l i c t is s o c ia l
r a tio n a lis m , w h ic h r e d u c e s th e g o a l o f h is to r y to th e p e r f e c ­
tio n o f a n o t h e r k in d o f u n iv e rs a l r a tio n a lity , th a t o f th e s ta te .
W h a t m ig h t b e m o r e c o n s is te n t w o u ld b e to c o m b in e h is e c o ­
n o m ic e m p ir ic is t a p p r o a c h , w h ic h a c k n o w le d g e s lo c a l d if f e r ­
ences and th e lim its o f u n iv e rs a l m o d e ls , w ith a s o c ia l
e m p ir ic is m t h a t d o e s th e s a m e in r e g a r d to c u ltu r a l d if f e r ­
e n c e . O n e s o u r c e f o r s u c h a l i n e o f t h i n k i n g is p r e c i s e l y t h e
p o s tw a r , p o s t m o d e r n t u r n , w h i c h p u t t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l b l o w ­
to r c h to th e r a tio n a lis t f a ith in th e m a r k e t, b u t a ls o to f a ith
in th e s ta te .
O u r r e l a t i o n t o t h e w o r l d a n d t o e a c h o t h e r is n e v e r c o m ­
p le te ly ra tio n a l, and p e rh a p s can never be c o m p le te ly
r a t i o n a l . T h i s is a p r o b l e m t h a t h a s b u g g e d w e s t e r n t h o u g h t
e v e r s in c e th e w a n in g o f th e firs t flu s h o f e n th u s ia s m f o r th e
F r e n c h r e v o lu tio n a n d th e g ift o f e n l i g h t e n m e n t it t h r u s t o n
E u r o p e o n t h e p o i n t o f N a p o l e o n ’s b a y o n e t s . H e g e l , w h o w a s
in J e n a th in k in g a b o u t r e a s o n a n d h is to r y w h e n N a p o le o n
m a rc h e d in to to w n , p r o b a b ly f o u n d th a t th e p re s e n c e o f
ra n d y s o ld ie rs lo o tin g a n d p illa g in g c o n c e n tr a te s th e m in d .
H e c e rta in ly th o u g h t in te n tly a n d in te n s e ly o n th e p r o b le m
o f h o w o u r d e s ir e f o r th in g s in th e w o r ld f o r g e s o u r a w a re ­
n e s s , n o t j u s t o f t h e w o r l d b u t a l s o o f o u r s e lv e s , o u r s e lf-c o n ­
s c io u s n e s s , a n d h o w t h i s i n t u r n o r i e n t s o u r a c t i o n s .
K o je v e e x c a v a t e d f r o m H e g e l t h e c o n c e p t o f r e c o g n i t i o n ,
o n w h ic h L a th a m b u ild s h is id e a o f s o c ia l tr u s t. B u t n o t h i n g
c o u l d b e f u r t h e r f r o m K o j e v e ’s i n t e n t i o n t h a t w h a t L a t h a m
m a k e s o f it. F o r K o je v e , r e c o g n i t i o n is n o t t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f
m u tu a lity a n d tr u s t, b u t r a t h e r o f sla v e ry a n d d o m in a ti o n .
F o r K o je v e , i t a ll s t a r t s w i t h d e s i r e , w i t h a c r a v i n g f o r s o m e ­
th in g , a n e x p e r ie n c e o f la c k in g s o m e th in g . W h e n I g e t th e
t h i n g I d e s i r e , a n d d e v o u r a n d c o n s u m e it, I c o m e t o k n o w
t h i s t h i n g I d e s i r e , b u t I d o n ’t c o m e t o k n o w m y s e lf. W h a t
r e v e a l s m e t o m y s e lf , is n o t t h e t h i n g d e s i r e d , b u t t h e a c t o f
d e s i r i n g . W h a t m a k e s m e a w a r e o f t h e a c t o f d e s i r i n g is t h e
d e s i r e o f o t h e r s . I t m a k e s m e a w a r e o f m y d e s i r i n g s e lf , a n d
t h a t t h i s d e s i r i n g s e l f is a s e l f - a w a r e n e s s o f l a c k i n g s o m e t h i n g .
M y c a p a c i t y t o c h a n g e , m y i m m e r s i o n i n t h e c h a n g e t h a t is
h is to ry , s te m s f r o m th is a w a re n e s s o f la c k in g s o m e th in g . T h is
s e n s e o f la c k m a k e s m e n o t o n ly d e s ir e s o m e th in g , b u t d e s ir e
d e s ir e i t s e l f I w a n t t o c h a n g e .
 m is re c o g n itio n of th e o th e r 317

M y d e s i r e f o r d e s i r e is, i n p r a c t i c e , m y d e s i r e t h a t o t h e r s
d e s i r e m y d e s i r e . “T h e h u m a n b e i n g is f o r m e d o n l y i n t e r m s
o f a d e s i r e d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s a n o t h e r d e s i r e , t h a t is — f i n a l l y
— in te r m s o f a d e s ir e f o r r e c o g n i t i o n . R e c o g n i t i o n m e a n s
i m p o s i n g m y d e s i r e o n a n o t h e r . I h a v e t o b e p r e p a r e d t o “g o
a ll t h e w a y i n t h e p u r s u i t o f its s a t i s f a c t i o n . . . i n o r d e r t o b e
r e c o g n i s e d b y t h e o t h e r ” , s o t h a t m y d e s i r e c a n “i m p o s e i t s e l f
o n t h e o t h e r a s t h e s u p r e m e v a l u e ”, a n d s o t h a t m y d e s i r e is
“r e a l i s e d , a n d r e v e a l e d t o i t s e l f a n d t o o t h e r s . ” W h i c h s o u n d s
r a t h e r li k e P a u l K e a t i n g — t h e “p o l i t i c a l k i l l e r ” — a t w o r k .
A c tu a lly , I d o n ’t t h i n k t h e m a c h o d i a l e c t i c o f r e c o g n i t i o n is
a v e ry c o m p r e h e n s iv e t h e o r y o f h u m a n a c tio n , b u t it d o e s
e x p l a i n a lo t a b o u t t h e L a b o r p a rty . A f a b l e d a n e c d o t e f r o m
G ra h a m R i c h a r d s o n ’s W h a te v e r I t T akes illu s tra te s it p e r ­
f e c tly .30 T h e N S W P r e m i e r N e v i l l e W r a n w e n t t o t h e p a r t y
m a c h i n e b o s s J o h n D u c k e r a n d t o l d h i m t h a t h e “w o u l d n ’t
w e a r” a c e rta in m o tio n th a t D u c k e r w as b e h in d at th e
u p c o m i n g s ta te c o n f e r e n c e o f t h e p a rty . D u c k e r l e t W r a n say
h i s p i e c e , a n d r e p l i e d : “I ’ll t e ll y o u w h a t y o u ’ll f u c k i n g w e a r !
N o t o n l y w ill y o u w e a r it, y o u ’ll f u c k i n g m o w i t ! ” I n t h i s b a t t l e
b e tw e e n c o m p e tin g d e s ire s , D u c k e r fo rc e d W ra n to re c o g ­
n is e th e s u p r e m a c y o f h is d e s ir e , a n d to a c t a c c o r d in g to h is
d e s ire .
T h i s is in t h e e n d r a t h e r u n s a t i s f y i n g , f o r t h e m a s t e r e n d s
u p b e i n g r e c o g n i s e d , b u t b y s o m e o n e w h o in t h a t m o m e n t a t
l e a s t is a n in fe rio r. In th e c la s h o f d e s ire s , th e w in n e r
a c h ie v e s r e c o g n itio n o n ly m o m e n ta rily , a n d c o n s e q u e n tly
o n ly a c h ie v e s s e lf-a w a re n e ss in th e m o m e n t o f a c tio n . W h ic h
is p e r h a p s w h y m o s t o f t h e m e m o ir s w ritte n by fo rm e r
m e m b e rs o f th e H a w k e a n d K e a tin g g o v e rn m e n ts , n o m a tte r
h o w f u n n y t h e a n e c d o te s , la c k a s t r o n g s e n s e o f s e lf-a w a re ­
n e s s a n d s e lf-k n o w le d g e .
W h a t K o je v e w a s l o o k i n g f o r w a s a p h i l o s o p h y o f c o n f l i c t ,
n o t o f t r u s t . C o n f l i c t is t h e m o t o r o f h i s u n f o l d i n g o f r e a s o n
in h i s t o r y . F o r w h i l e t h e m a s t e r d o m i n a t e s t h e s la v e , t h e s la v e
is f o r c e d i n h i s d o m i n a t i o n t o d o m i n a t e t h i n g s . H e m a s t e r s
th in g s a n d o f f e r s th e m u p to h is m a s te r, in t u r n . B u t h a v in g
m a s te re d th in g s , th e s la v e re c o v e rs th e m eans to h is
f r e e d o m , a n d t h e m e a n s t o o v e r t h r o w t h e m a s t e r . I t is o f
c o u r s e a ll r a t h e r m o r e s u b t l e t h a n t h a t , b u t q u i t e r e m o v e d
f r o m w h a t L a t h a m w o u l d m a k e o f it.
t h ird w a y , s e c o n d go

B u t n o w t h a t I ’v e m e n t i o n e d t h e m a c h o w o r l d o f t h e r i g h t
w in g f a c tio n o f t h e N S W L a b o r p a rty , it o c c u r s to m e t h a t it
m i g h t b e a w a y o f e x p l a i n i n g L a t h a m ’s o w n d e s i r e . R a t h e r
th a n b a ttle th e p a rty m a s te rs a t th e ir o w n g a m e , L a th a m
sla v e s aw ay d ilig e n tly , w o r k in g o n new c o n c e p ts . By m a s­
te r in g c o n c e p ts , L a th a m m ig h t f r e e h im s e lf f r o m th e m a s te rs
o f t h e p a r t y ’s c l a s h o f d e s i r e s . W h i l e t h a t c l a s h is i l l u m i n a t i n g
i n its b r i e f f l a s h e s o f t r i u m p h , t h e m o r a l o f t h e s t o r i e s t o l d ,
o v e r a n d o v e r, in th e b o o k s w r itte n a b o u t th e p r e v io u s L a b o r
g o v e r n m e n t , is t h a t in t h e e n d w i n n i n g r e c o g n i t i o n b r i n g s
w i t h i t a t r a n s i t o r y l u c i d i t y a t b e s t . O n e is r e c o g n i s e d b y c o m ­
p e t i t o r s w h o , in t h a t v e r y m o m e n t o f d e f e a t , a r e n o l o n g e r
o n e ’s e q u a l , a n d w h o t h e r e b y n o l o n g e r c h a l l e n g e s o n e ’s
d e s ir e w ith a n o t h e r a c tiv e d e s ir e .
P e r h a p s t h a t ’s w h y K e a t i n g s e e m e d s o m u c h s h a r p e r , s o
m uch m o re s e lf-p o s s e s s e d , w h e n he had o th e r s to b a ttle
w i t h i n h i s o w n p a r ty . P e r h a p s L a t h a m ’s d e s i r e , o r p a r t o f it,
is n o t f a c t i o n a l c o n f l i c t , b u t i n t e l l e c t u a l w o r k , w o r k t h a t
rep resses th e im m e d ia te d e s ire to consum e in fo rm a tio n
u n th in k in g ly , o r to c o m b a t th e d e s ir e s o f o th e r s a n d a c h ie v e
t r a n s i t o r y s e l f - a w a r e n e s s . I n t e l l e c t u a l d e s i r e is f o r a n o n g o i n g
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e l a c k in o n e ’s s e l f o f a q u i t e d i f f e r e n t
k i n d . O r i f t h i s is n o t w h a t L a t h a m d e s i r e s , p e r h a p s i t c o u l d
b e . A t le a s t in p a r t, g iv e n t h a t th e n e g a tiv e e x a m p le o f w h a t
h a p p e n s t o a L a b o r p o l i t i c i a n w i t h a d e s i r e f o r i d e a s t h a t is
n o t m a tc h e d by a d e s ire fo r r e c o g n itio n is B a r r y J o n e s ,
“r e s p e c t e d , b u t n o t f e a r e d . ”

W hat Do P eople W a n t?
The c o n c e p t o f re c o g n itio n L a th a m w a n t s is o f a m o r e
p e a c e f u l, m u tu a l k in d . H is p u r p o s e in to s e t th e c o n c e p t o f
r e c o g n i t i o n t o q u i t e a p r a c t i c a l ta s k : “t h e c o n c e p t o f r e c o g ­
n itio n d ire c tly c h a lle n g e s m o d e s o f lib e ra l th o u g h t r e lia n t o n
th e id e a ls o f s e lf - p r e s e rv a tio n a n d b o u n d le s s a c c u m u la tio n .”
A c tu a lly , t h a t ’s n o t q u i t e tru e . It ju s t e x p a n d s th e c o n s e ­
q u e n c e s o f a s e lfis h , in d iv id u a lis tic concept beyond p re ­
s e rv in g th e s e lf as a s u b je c t a n d a c c u m u la tin g m a te ria l
o b j e c t s . R e c o g n i t i o n c o n c e i v e s o f t h e s e l f a s n o t j u s t s e lf - p r e -
s e r v i n g a n d s e l f - e n r i c h i n g b u t a l s o s e l f- d e fi n i n g . I t is p a r t o f a n
in q u i r y i n to w h e r e t h e s e lf c o m e s f r o m in t h e f ir s t p la c e t h a t
 what do people want? 319

e c o n o m ic ra tio n a lis m s im p ly ta k e s as g iv e n . I t is a l s o a
c o n c e p t th a t se e s th e s e lf as s o m e th in g s e lf-tra n s fo rm in g .
D e s i r e is a l a c k t h a t d r i v e s t h e s e l f i n t o a c t i o n . T h e s e l f
e n c o u n t e r s o b je c ts t h a t it c o n s u m e s , t h a t s a tia te d e s ir e — to
th e p o in t o f b o r e d o m . C o n s u m e ris m is u l t i m a t e l y n e i t h e r
e n l i g h t e n i n g o r v e r y s a t is f y in g . T h e s e l f e n c o u n t e r s s u b j e c t s
t h a t it r e c o g n is e s a s a ls o h a v in g d e s ir e s , a n d th u s c a n r e f le c t
o n its o w n d e s i r e s , a n d u l t i m a t e l y its d e s i r i n g n a t u r e . T h e
o u t c o m e o f t h i s e n c o u n t e r m i g h t b e a c l a s h o f d e s i r e s , a s in
K o je v e ; i t m i g h t b e a n a c c o m m o d a t i o n t o m u t u a l t r u s t , b u t
i n e i t h e r c a s e , a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . R e c o g n i t i o n is t h e r e f o r e n o t
a v e r y u s e f u l c o n c e p t i n t h e e n d f o r L a t h a m ’s s o c i a l r a t i o ­
n a l i s m , f o r it d o e s n o t s p e c i f y a n a l t e r n a t i v e o r a d d i t i o n a l c a l ­
c u lu s th a t e x p la in s h u m a n a c tio n , f o r th e w h o le p o in t o f th e
c o n c e p t is t o a r g u e t h a t h u m a n a c t i o n c h a n g e s w h a t i t is t o
be hum an.
T h e d e s i r e f o r r e c o g n i t i o n is i n a n y c a s e o n l y o n e o f t h e
t h i n g s I m i g h t d e s i r e . W h a t ’s m o r e , t h e t h e o r y o f d e s i r e a s a
l a c k t h a t t h e s e l f e x p e r i e n c e s is o n l y o n e t h e o r y o f d e s i r e . 3' I
t h i n k L a t h a m is o n t h e r i g h t t r a c k i n p r o p o s i n g a c o n c e p t o f
r e c o g n itio n as s o m e th in g th a t p e o p le m ig h t d e s ire th a t c a n ,
i n p a r t , b e o f f e r e d p o l i tic a ll y . B u t its j u s t t h e s t a r t . T h e r e is
th e w h o le w o rld o f w h a t p e o p le w a n t in th e o b je c tiv e s e n s e ,
w h a t m a te r ia l th in g s th e y w a n t to a c q u ir e , to w o rk w ith , to
p l a y w i t h , t o m a k e t h e i r liv e s r i c h e r , f a t t e r , s t r o n g e r , m o r e
f u n , m o r e s e c u r e f r o m th e w in d a n d r a in , w h a te v e r. H is e c o ­
n o m i c t h i n k i n g a d d r e s s e s s u c h w a n t s . B u t t h e r e is a l s o a
w h o le w o r ld o f w h a t p e o p le w a n t in th e s u b je c tiv e s e n s e , a n d
f o r w h i c h t h e r e is n o r a t i o n a l c a l c u l u s .
A n e m p iric a l a p p r o a c h to th in k in g a b o u t d e s ire h a s to s ta rt
b y lo o k in g a t th in g s p e o p le a c tu a lly d o d e s ire , in e v e ry d a y
li f e . J u s t b e c a u s e M a r k L a t h a m d e s ire s th a t p e o p le d e s ire
r e c o g n i t i o n d o e s n o t m a k e i t s o . I t is u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e e l e c ­
t o r a t e w ill f e e l o b l i g e d t o r e c o g n i s e s u c h a d e s i r e a n d a d o p t
i t o n t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e s h e e r f o r c e o f L a t h a m ’s e x p o s i t i o n
o f its r a t i o n a l i t y . S o t h e e m p i r i c a l a p p r o a c h h a s t o l o o k a t t h e
d if f e r e n t th in g s p e o p le d e s ire a n d s ta r t to m a k e c o n c e p ts
th a t, r a t h e r th a n a c tin g a s a u n iv e rs a l th e o r y o f w h a t p e o p le
o u g h t to d e s ire , c a n a c t as a to o l f o r c o n s tr u c tin g p a r tic u la r
th in g s p e o p le m ig h t d e s ire .
L a t h a m is r i g h t l y d i s p a r a g i n g o f m a k i n g p o l i c y a c c o r d i n g
third way, s e c o n d go

t o w h a t L a b o r ’s o p i n i o n p o l l i n g a n d f o c u s g r o u p s say, b u t i t
s e e m s to me th a t su c h in fo rm a tio n w o u ld b e u se fu l fo r
m a k in g c o n c e p ts a b o u t w h a t th in g s p e o p le m ig h t d e s ire . N o t
h a v i n g a c c e s s t o s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n , I w ill h a v e t o l o o k e l s e ­
w h e re f o r e v id e n c e o f w h a t p e o p le d e s ire . W h e re b e tte r th a n
th e w o rld o f c e le b rity ? C e le b r ity p o s e s a f u n d a m e n ta l q u e s ­
tio n to L a b o r c u ltu r e , n a m e ly : w h a t c a n p o litic a l c u ltu r e
le a rn about w hat p e o p le w a n t fro m w hat th e p le a s u re
m a c h in e o f c e le b rity c u ltu r e e x p re sse s?
I t is h a r d l y t r u s t a n d m u t u a l a i d t h a t p e o p l e w h o u s e d t o g o
to c o n c e r ts b y th e B irth d a y P a rty d e s ir e d . T h a t d e s ir e m ig h t
b e c lo s e r to w h a t G e o r g e s B a ta ille th in k s o f as th e r e lig io u s
e x p e r i e n c e . 32 I f o u r s e n s e o f s e l f - a w a r e n e s s a r i s e s o u t o f t h e
d e s ir e f o r a p a r tic u la r th in g , a n d s e lf-c o n s c io u s n e s s f r o m th e
re c o g n itio n th a t w hat is d e s ire d a ls o re c o g n is e s us, or
a p p e a r s to , th e n s o m e th in g g e ts le ft o u t. T h e s e lf f o r m s in
r e l a t i o n t o s o m e t h i n g p a r t i c u l a r , f i n i t e . W h a t is m i s s i n g is t h e
e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e w h o l e , t h e i m m e r s i o n i n li f e t h a t r e c o g n i ­
t i o n h i d e s f r o m u s . B u t a t a B i r t h d a y P a r t y g i g , a ll s e n s e o f
s e lf, a ll b o u n d a r i e s c o u l d d is s o l v e i n t o a c h a o s o f m o v e m e n t
a n d n o i s e . T h i s is t o o s c a r y a n e x p e r i e n c e f o r m o s t p e o p l e ,
a n d s o N i c k C a v e ’s c e l e b r i t y is p a r t l y t h a t h e s t a n d s i n f o r u s
as s o m e o n e w h o h a s b e e n o v e r th a t e d g e a n d b a c k . By re c o g ­
n is in g o u r d e s ire in h im w e re c o g n is e s o m e th in g b e y o n d
r e c o g n itio n — b u t a t a sa fe d is ta n c e .
W h a t h a p p e n s w h e n te e n a g e fa n s p o u r o u t th e ir a d o ra tio n
f o r K y lie M i n o g u e is s o m e t h i n g e l s e a g a i n . T h e u n a t t a i n a b l e
i m a g e o f d e s i r e , K y lie , a c t s a s t h e o b j e c t o u t s i d e o f t h e s e l f
a r o u n d w h ic h t h e f a n ’s s e l f c a n f o r m . T h e s e l f is a lw a y s
d e f i n e d n e g a t i v e l y , b y w h a t i t d o e s n ’t h a v e , b y t h e a b s e n c e ,
r a t h e r t h a n t h e p r e s e n c e o f K y lie . T h e p s y c h o a n a l y s t J a c q u e s
L a c a n s p e n t a life tim e s p in n in g o u t th e k n o tty r e la tio n s o f
s e lf to o t h e r th a t th is k in d o f r e la tio n , n o t o f r e c o g n itio n b u t
o f f a n ta s y , c r e a t e s . 33 T h e u n re a lity , th e u n a tta in a b ility of
K y lie , is n o t a n o b s t a c l e t o d e s i r e , e v e n t h o u g h t h i s m i g h t b e
h e ld u p as a k in d o f r id ic u le o f su c h a s tu p id k in d o f d e s ire .
F o r L a c a n , f a n t a s y is p r e c i s e l y t h i s i m p o s s i b l e r e l a t i o n o u t o f
w h i c h a ll d e s i r e flo w s . D e s i r e s o f a q u i t e i m m e d i a t e a n d v a r i ­
a b le k in d a re a lw a y s w h a t s h o r t - c i r c u i t a n o t h e r k in d of
d e s i r e , t h e d e s i r e f o r a r a t i o n a l a n d u n i f i e d ‘p u b l i c s p h e r e ’.
B u t s u c h a th in g n e v e r e x is te d .
 h a n s o n ’s c e l e b r i t y

H a n s o n ’s C e l e b r i t y

U ltim a te ly it h a r d ly m a tte r s w h ic h c e le b rity p ro v id e s th e

im a g e th a t a p p e a r s to m o tiv a te d e s ir e , o r w h a t m o r e o b je c ­
tiv e o b s e r v e r s t h i n k o f it, f o r i t is d e s i r e t h a t c r e a t e s t h e
c e le b rity as o b je c t o f d e s ire , e v e n th o u g h t it m a y a p p e a r th a t
th e c e l e b r i t y , K y lie f o r i n s t a n c e , is b e i n g d e s i r e d . T h i s is
a n o th e r w ay o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g th e p le a s u re m a c h in e of
c e l e b r i t y . I t is a m a c h i n e m a d e u p o f t h e l a b o u r s o f T V p r o ­
d u c e r s , v id e o c a m e r a o p e r a to r s , m a k e - u p a rtis ts , p u b lic is ts ,
g o s s i p c o l u m n i s t s , a n d t h e v e c t o r s a l o n g w h i c h t h e y p ly t h e i r
v a r i o u s t r a d e s . C e l e b r i t y is a l s o a m a c h i n e m a d e o u t o f t h e
d e s ir e s t h a t th is m a c h in e r y a r tic u la te s to g e th e r . B e tw e e n th e
i m a g e o f c e l e b r i t y a n d t h e p u b l i c li e s t h e p l e a s u r e m a c h i n e
th a t c o n n e c ts o n e to th e o th e r . W h ile th e c o n c e p t o f d e s ir e
u s u a lly c o n c e iv e s o f it a s s o m e th in g p r iv a te a n d h u m a n , it
a ls o h a s p u b lic a n d te c h n ic a l d im e n s io n s .
I w as w a tc h in g a n a n g ry , s e e th in g c ro w d h u r l a b u s e a t
P a u lin e H a n s o n o n a F o u r C o rners d o c u m e n ta r y , in 1 9 9 8 . T h e
c ro w d w e re re a lly m a d , a n d H a n s o n , b e h i n d a s tr a in in g lin e
o f c o p s , s t o o d h e r g r o u n d a n d s h o u t e d b a c k : “I ’m n o t g o i n g
t o g o a w a y ! ”. I ’m r e m i n d e d o f t h e d e s i r e f o r K y lie , b u t a l s o
t h e d e s i r e f o r N i c k C a v e . A n a n g r y m o b is o n e i n w h i c h o n e
c a n lo s e o n e s e lf , b e c o m e p a r t o f s o m e th in g la rg e r, p r e tty
m uch lik e a B ir th d a y P a r t y g ig . S o m e o f th e d e s ire fo r
H a n s o n as a c e le b rity w as n o t th a t d if f e r e n t fro m th e d e s ire
f o r K y lie , e v e n t h o u g h i t w a s a d e s i r e t h a t m i g h t b e t u r n e d
t o w a r d s a c c u m u l a t i n g p o w e r r a t h e r t h a n m o n e y . H a n s o n is
a n o b j e c t p r o d u c e d b y a c e r t a i n k i n d o f fa n ta s y , b u t in w h ic h
i t is n o t s o m u c h H a n s o n t h a t is d e s i r e d b u t t h e d e s i r e its e lf .
J o u r n a l i s t s c a n b e e v e n le s s a w a r e o f h o w d e s i r e w o r k s t h a n
p o l i t i c i a n s , a n d F o u r C o r n e r s is o b v i o u s l y p r o d u c e d b y j o u r ­
n a lis ts w h o h a v e n o t t h o u g h t m u c h a b o u t d e s ir e , f o r th is
H a n s o n d o c u m e n ta r y w as a b r illia n t v id e o c lip p r o m o tin g
H a n s o n ’s c e l e b r i t y a s a n o b je c t o f d e s ire . T h e p ro d u c e rs
p r o b a b l y p a t t e d t h e m s e l v e s o n t h e b a c k f o r f i n d i n g a fe w
in c o n s is te n c ie s o n s ta te m e n ts a n d p o lic ie s by H a n s o n a n d
h e r e n t o u r a g e , b u t t h e l o g i c o f H a n s o n ’s p o l i c i e s is n o m o r e
th e o b je c t o f d e s ire h e r e th a n K y l ie ’s a b i l i t y t o s i n g . T h i s
l e s s o n o f t h i s s t o r y is n o t r e a s o n , i t is d e s i r e . W h a t F o u r
C o r n e r s r e a l l y s h o w e d w a s H a n s o n a t h e r b e s t , w h i c h is t o say,
t h ird w a y , s e c o n d go

b e i n g a n o b j e c t o f d e s ir e . T h a t o th e r p eo p le d e s i r e h e r w a s
w h a t th e sh o w c o n firm e d fo r a n y b u d d in g H a n s o n ite . H e r
fa ilin g s a c tu a lly a d d to h e r a llu r e , m a k in g h e r j u s t th a t little
b i t m o r e a c c e s s i b l e , w h i l e t h e s w e e p i n g s h o t s o f h e r m a s s iv e
e n t o u r a g e , th e g la r e o f th e lig h ts , th e a d o r i n g a n d e v e n th e
h a tin g c ro w d s, m a k e h e r u n a tta in a b le , a n d th a t c o m b in a tio n
is t h e e s s e n c e o f c e l e b r i t y .
W h a t m a k e s c e l e b r i t y s u c h a u n i q u e k i n d o f d e s i r e is t h a t
s o m e o n e w h o d e s i r e s a c e l e b r i t y is i n t h e c o m p a n y o f a g r e a t
m a s s o f o th e r s w h o a ls o d e s ir e th a t c e le b rity . T h e r e m a y b e
m a n y d if f e r e n t r e a s o n s p e o p le h a v e th e ir p a r tic u la r d e s ire s ,
b u t w h a t t h e m e d i a v e c t o r m a k e s p o s s i b l e is a s i m u l t a n e o u s
a w a r e n e s s o f a m a s s c o l l e c t i v e a c t o f d e s i r i n g . W h a t w ill e n d
t h i s c o l l e c t i v e a c t o f d e s i r i n g is t h e c o l l a p s e o f t h i s c o l l e c t i v e
fa n ta s y s p a c e .
W h ile it w a s a c o m m o n p la c e o f th e la te 9 0 s to b la m e th e
m e d i a f o r c r e a t i n g H a n s o n , i t is i n t h e e n d o n l y t h e m e d i a
th a t c o u ld d e s tr o y h e r. E d ito r s a n d p r o d u c e r s la c k a n y s e lf
c o n t r o l o v e r t h e i r d e s i r e s , s o i t is n o t li k e l y t h a t a e n f o r c e d
s ile n c e a b o u t H a n s o n , a re fu s a l to p u t h e r im a g e o u t o v e r th e
v e c t o r , c o u l d s u c c e e d . T h e d e s i r e o f e d i t o r s a n d p r o d u c e r s in
th e m e d ia w as re a lly no d iffe re n t to th a t of H a n s o n ’s
m i n d e r s , D a v id O l d f i e l d a n d D a v i d E t t r i d g e , w h i c h w a s t o
r e a l i s e t h e i r d e s i r e s t h r o u g h t h e p u b l i c ’s d e s i r e f o r H a n s o n .
T h e d i f f e r e n c e is t h a t t h e l a t t e r h a d s o m e p a t i e n c e , a n d w e r e
a b le to d e f e r a n d h u s b a n d th e ir o w n d e s ire s , w h e r e a s th e ir
m e d i a c o l l e a g u e s c a n ’t w a i t t o s h o o t t h e i r w a d . S o t h e o t h e r
s t r a t e g y w a s m o r e li k e l y t o s u c c e e d : t h a t i f t h e o b j e c t o f
d e s ir e c a n n o t b e r e m o v e d f r o m th e fa n ta s y s p a c e so t h a t it
m i g h t c o l l a p s e , it c o u l d b e s o o v e r e x p o s e d t h a t t h e f a n t a s y
s p a c e im p lo d e s .
W h ile th e fa n s m ay th in k th e y cannot get enough of
P a u l i n e H a n s o n , i n r e a l i t y w h a t t h e y c a n n o t g e t e n o u g h o f is
t h e i r o w n d e s i r e . T h a t d e s i r e a p p e a r s t o o r i g i n a t e f r o m its
i m a g e o n l y a s l o n g a s t h e i m a g e is a t t h e r i g h t d i s t a n c e w i t h i n
th e fa n ta s y s p a c e . S a t u r a t i n g th e m e d ia v e c to r w ith a n im a g e
w ill i n t h e s h o r t r u n r a m p u p d e s i r e , b e c a u s e w h a t a c c u m u ­
l a t e s is n o t d e s i r e f o r t h e i m a g e b u t d e s i r e t o b e l o n g t o t h e
c o l l e c t i v e f a n t a s y o f d e s i r e . B u t in t h e l o n g r u n i t d i s s i p a t e s ,
a n d f o r th is r e a s o n : P e o p le w h o a lre a d y d e s ir e th e im a g e o f
a c e l e b r i t y b e c o m e , i n t h e s p a c e o f t h e f a n ta s y , p a r t o f w h a t
 hating the m ed ia 32C

is d e s i r e d . T h e i m a g e o f H a n s o n , l i k e t h e i m a g e o f K y lie a t
h e r p e a k , is n o t j u s t a n i m a g e o f a n i n d i v i d u a l , i t is a n i m a g e
a l s o o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l ’s c e l e b r i t y . S o w h i l e t h e c e l e b r i t y ’s p o p ­
u la r ity c o n tin u e s to ris e , o r a p p e a r s to ris e , th e fa n c a n p u t
h im s e lf o r h e r s e lf in to th e fa n ta s y a s p a r t o f w h a t b e c o m e s
d e s i r e d a s m o r e a n d m o r e p e o p l e j o i n t h e f a n ta s y .
T h i s is w h y p e r c e p t i o n s o f t h e r i s e o f a c e l e b r i t y a r e a c a u s e ,
n o t a consequence o f t h a t ris e , a n d p e rc e p tio n s o f th e
d e c l i n e in p o p u l a r i t y a r e l ik e w is e a c a u s e o f d e c l i n e . W h e n
s a t u r a t i o n p o i n t is p e r c e i v e d a s b e i n g r e a c h e d , i t is r e a c h e d .
T h e i m a g e h a s e x h a u s t e d i t s e l f , a n d m a n y o f t h e f a n s w ill d i s ­
p e rs e a n d p e r h a p s a tta c h to o th e r c e le b ritie s , o r m o r e in te r ­
e s t in g ly , t o o t h e r k i n d s o f d e s i r e . T h e e x p o n e n t i a l r i s e o f
c e le b r itie s r a m p s u p v e ry q u ic k ly w h e n m e d ia v e c to r s a r e
d e n s e a n d ra p id ly c ir c u la te im a g e s to b e d e s ir e d , a n d o f w h a t
o t h e r s d e s i r e . B u t i t a l s o s u b s i d e s v e r y q u ic k l y , w h i c h is w h y
t h e r e a r e a l l t h o s e o l d K y lie r e c o r d s i n t h e s e c o n d h a n d
s to re s .

H a tin g th e M e d ia
P o l i t i c i a n s r a r e l y lo v e t h e m e d i a . I t m a k e s t h e m w o r k m u c h
h a r d e r f o r t h e ir c e le b rity th a n s in g e rs , c r ic k e te rs , g a m e sh o w
h o s ts , e v e n c rim in a ls . W h e n o u t c a n v a s s in g v o te s o r w o rk in g
th e ir w ay u p th r o u g h th e p a r ty m a c h in e , p o litic ia n s a t le a s t
h a v e s o m e c o n tr o l o v e r h o w th e y a p p e a r to o th e rs . O n c e
th e y r e a c h th e p o in t w h e r e th e m e d ia v e c to r m a k e s th e ir
c o n n e c tio n to th e p u b lic , th e y f in d a w h o le h o s t o f r e p o r te r s
a n d p r o d u c e r s c r a m p i n g t h e i r s ty le . E n t e r t a i n e r s o f t e n h a v e
th e o p p o s ite e x p e rie n c e — h a v in g s u rv iv e d h e c k le r s a n d
d o d g y p r o m o te r s , it g e ts e a s ie r o n c e th e y c a n a f f o r d a firs t
r a te p le a s u r e m a c h in e o f m in d e r s a n d h a n d le r s . P o litic ia n s
h a v e s u r v iv e d th e e v o lu tio n o f c y b e r s p a c e s o fa r, b u t th e y a r e
fa llin g b e h in d o th e r k in d s of c e le b rity as c y b e rsp a c e
b e c o m e s m o r e e x te n s iv e , a n d a s p e o p le p a ss a m o r e e d u ­
c a t e d g i m l e t e y e o v e r w h a t its v e c t o r s o f f e r u p t o t h e m .
L a t h a m is n o t e x e m p t f r o m t h i s u n e a s e a b o u t t h e m e d i a ,
a n d lik e m a n y h e w o u ld lik e to b l a m e t h e m e d i a m e s s e n g e r
f o r m u c k i n g u p s u b u r b i a . “T h e n e i g h b o u r s m o s t c o m m o n l y
in v ite d in to A u s tra lia n h o m e s a r e f r o m th e f ic titio u s R a m se y
S t r e e t ”. T r u e , b u t o n e o f t h e t h i n g s p e o p l e t a l k t o e a c h o t h e r
th ird w a y , s e c o n d go

a b o u t is s h o w s l i k e N e i g h b o u r s . W h e n K y lie ‘m a r r i e d ’ J a s o n , i t
w as th e s u b je c t o f m a n y a n a tte r over th e back fe n c e .
T e e n a g e g irls w a tc h e d it a t h o m e a lo n e , b u t ta lk in g a t th e
sam e tim e to a frie n d on th e te le p h o n e w ho w a s a ls o
w a tc h in g th e sh o w . M e d ia v e c to r s d o n o t r e p l a c e s o c ia l r e la ­
tio n s , b u t th e y d o p r o v id e s o c ia l r e la tio n s w ith a c c e s s to
im a g e s a n d s to rie s b e y o n d th e lo c a l c o m p a s s o f e x p e r ie n c e .
T h e m e d i a v e c t o r is t h e t r a n s m i t t e r o f i m a g e s , a r o u n d w h i c h
d e s ire s o f m a n y k in d s fo rm .
L a th a m p e rs is ts in m is u n d e r s ta n d in g h o w th e m e d ia w o rk
a n d th e re a l n a tu r e o f th e c h a n g e s th e m e d ia c re a te d , a n d
c o n t i n u e t o c r e a t e . “M a n y p e o p l e s e e s o m e t h i n g i n h e r e n t l y
w o r r y i n g a b o u t a s o c i e t y w h i c h h a s l o s t s o m u c h o f it s p e r ­
s o n a l in te r a c tio n . A s ig n ific a n t p r o p o r tio n o f th e th in g s w e
now re sp o n d to a s c itiz e n s a r e im p e r s o n a l: c o n c e p ts a n d
im a g e s w e s h a ll n e v e r a c tu a lly s e e , to u c h o r e x p e r ie n c e a t
firs t h a n d . ” B u t th is re s ts o n a s illy c o n s e r v a t i v e b e d t i m e
s to ry . C o n c e p t s a n d im a g e s h a v e b e e n i m p e r s o n a l f o r m a n y
c e n tu r ie s . J o h n H a r tle y p u n c tu r e s th is c o n s e r v a tiv e fa n ta s y
q u i t e n ic e ly : “T h e m e d i e v a l C a t h o l i c c h u r c h w a s a n e f f e c t i v e
m a s s m e d i u m ”, i t c o m m u n i c a t e d j u s t a s i m p e r s o n a l l y , “in
a u d io -v is u a l a n d p e r f o r m a tiv e f o r m : s o n g s , s ig h ts , s to rie s ,
s p e e c h . ’’J u s t l i k e a T V v a r i e t y s h o w , “i t e m p l o y e d t h e h i g h e s t ,
l e a d i n g e d g e t e c h n o l o g i e s a n d m a s s iv e c a p i t a l i n v e s t m e n t t o
p ro d u c e i ts h a r d w a r e ( c a th e d ra ls , c a rv in g s , m a n u s c rip ts )
a n d its s o f t w a r e ( l i t u r g i e s , la w s , r i t e s , r i t u a l s ) . It s o u t p u t w a s
o r g a n is e d in to g e n re s , s c h e d u le s a n d se a s o n s , a n d it w as d e d ­
i c a t e d t o a u d i e n c e m a x i m i s a t i o n . . . ”.34 T h e m a s s w a s m a s s
m e d ia . T h e fa n ta s y o f a s o c ia l w o r ld f r e e f r o m m a s s m e d ia o f
a n y k i n d , a n c i e n t o r m o d e r n , is r e a l l y a f a n t a s y a b o u t b e i n g
f r e e f r o m d e s ir e , b y b e in g f r e e f r o m th e fa n ta s y s p a c e m a ss
m e d i a c r e a t e f o r c o l l e c t i v e d e s i r e . W h i l e t h i s is s u p e r f i c i a l l y
a t t r a c t i v e t o p e o p l e i n p o l i t i c s , i n r e a l ity , p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s
h a v e a lw a y s b e e n i m p e r s o n a l g e n e r a t o r s a n d u s e r s o f v e c t o r s
a l o n g w h i c h f lo w c o n c e p t s a n d i m a g e s .
T h e m a ss p o litic a l p a rty w as s o m e th in g p r o d u c e d a lo n g s id e
m o d e r n m a ss m e d ia . It h a s to re -in v e n t its e lf f o r th e p o s t­
m o d e r n c u ltu r a l w o rld o f c y b e rs p a c e . T h e c o m b in a tio n o f
m e d i a a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n v e c t o r s w ith w i d e s p r e a d e d u c a t i o n
h a s r e s u lte d in a d e c lin e in r e s p e c t f o r h ie r a r c h ic a l o r g a n is a ­
tio n s . P e o p le n o l o n g e r s u b o r d in a te th e m s e lv e s to c o m m u n ity
 hating the m ed ia 32!

l e a d e r s w h o o n c e h e l d a m o n o p o l y o n t h e a b ili ty t o i n t e r p r e t
in f o r m a tio n , a n d so th e y n o lo n g e r g o to c h u r c h o r p a rty
m e e t i n g s t o b e t o l d h o w t o i n t e r p r e t e v e n ts . N o r d o s u c h
o r g a n is a tio n s n e c e s s a rily h a v e b e t t e r a c c e s s to in f o r m a tio n
th a n w h a t p e o p le c a n g le a n b y th e m s e lv e s f r o m th e m e d ia .
T h e te n d e n c y o f p a rty m a c h in e s to h o a r d in f o r m a tio n o n c e
g a v e t h e m a m o n o p o l y o v e r its i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t a r a n k a n d
f il e m i g h t v a l u e , b u t n o w i t j u s t m a k e s t h e m o b s o l e t e .
The p ro life ra tio n o f m e d ia v e c to rs a n d o f th e g e n re s,
c e le b r itie s a n d s to rie s th e y p r o p o s e h a s w e a k e n e d th e m o b il­
is a tio n e th o s t h a t w a s a la s tin g le g a c y o f w a r tim e m a s s c o m ­
m u n ic a tio n p ra c tic e s . The d e c lin e in p o p u la rity of
a u th o rita ria n o rg a n is a tio n s , fro m p o litic a l p a rtie s to o ld
f a s h i o n e d s u r f c lu b s , t o o k q u i t e a lo n g tim e — so e ffe c tiv e
w e re w a rtim e m e d ia p ra c tic e s . I n d e e d th e w h o le id e a o f a
‘c o l d w a r ’ w o u l d h a v e b e e n u n i n t e l l i g i b l e h a d a g e n e r a t i o n
n o t e x p e r ie n c e d w a rtim e m e d ia m o b ilis a tio n , a n d in d e e d
t h e c o l d w a r is u n i n t e l l i g i b l e t o m a n y G e n e r a t i o n X p e o p l e
w h o s e m e d ia e d u c a tio n d id n o t o c c u r in s u c h a n h y s te ric a l
a n d p a r a n o i d c u l t u r e . T h i s is c l e a r l y a p r o b l e m f o r t h e L a b o r
P a r ty , w h i c h h a s n o t e n t i r e l y r e c o v e r e d f r o m e i t h e r it s f a n t a s y
o f p o s tw a r r e c o n s tr u c tio n o r th e w o u n d s it in f lic te d o n its e lf
i n t h e c o l d w a r.
L a t h a m r i g h t l y o b s e r v e s t h a t : “I t is a s if, a s o u r c o m m u n i ­
c a tio n n e tw o r k s h a v e g lo b a lis e d ... s o c ie ty h a s f o u n d o t h e r
w ays in w h ic h to c o m p e n s a t e t h r o u g h n e w , le s s h i e r a r c h i c a l
f o r m s o f p a r tic ip a tio n .” O r r a th e r , c u ltu r e h a s f o u n d w ays to
w e a v e p e o p l e to g e t h e r , f r o m t h e b o t t o m u p , d r a w in g in p a r t
o n t h e im a g e s a n d s to r ie s t h e m e d i a m a k e a v a ila b le , b u t a ls o
o n r i s i n g le v e ls o f e d u c a t i o n , w h i c h m a k e t h e a u t h o r i t a r i a n
w ays o f p a r ty or c h u rc h , if n o t o b s o le te , th e n c e rta in ly
o p tio n a l. “I n th e g lo b a l v illa g e , h ie ra rc h y is h a v i n g le s s
s u c c e s s in te llin g p e o p le w h a t to d o .”
J u s t w h e n L a t h a m s t a r t s t o g e t it, h e s l i p s b a c k i n t o a n o s ­
t a l g i a t h a t e a r l y o n i n h i s b o o k h e d e c l a r e d o f f l i m i t s . “W h e n
c iv il s o c i e t y w a s s t r o n g t h e r e w a s n o s u c h t h i n g a s a c e l e b r i t y ”.
T h i s is n o t s t r i c t l y t r u e . W h i l e t h e r e a r e d i s t i n c t i v e f o r m s o f
m o d e rn and p o s tm o d e rn c e le b rity , th e ir p re d e c e sso rs
in c lu d e th e s a in ts w h o s e re lic s b e c a m e o b je c ts o f p ilg r im a g e .
T hen th e r e w e re th e h e r o e s w h o se le g e n d s s u s ta in e d th e
h o p e s o f e n s la v e d p e o p le . W illia m W a lla c e w a s a c e le b rity .
celebrity, culture and c y b e rsp ac e

I t ’s q u i t e a p p r o p r i a t e t h a t t h e p e o p l e o f t h e S c o t t i s h t o w n o f
S t i r l i n g w o u l d w a n t t o e r e c t a s t a t u e t o h i m i n t h e v is a g e o f
M e l G ib s o n , w h o r e t o l d th e fa b le o f W illia m W a lla c e in h is
m o v ie B r a v e h e a r t, to c o m m e m o r a t e t h e 7 0 0 th a n n i v e r s a r y o f
W a l l a c e ’s s h o r t - l i v e d v i c t o r y o v e r t h e E n g l i s h o p p r e s s o r s .
C iv il s o c i e t y is o n l y s t r o n g w h e n t h e r e a r e a l o t o f c e l e b r i ­
ti e s . I t is w e a k w h e n c e l e b r i t y is r e d u c e d t o o n e . T h e w e a k ­
n e s s o f a u t h o r i t a r i a n r e g i m e s is t h e i r e l e v a t i o n o f a s i n g l e
c e l e b r i t y , s u c h a s “t h e m a n - g o d J o s e p h S t a l i n , f l o a t i n g i n f i r e ­
w o r k s o v e r M o s c o w w i t h h i s m o u s t a c h e e n d s d r i p p i n g s t a r s ”,
a s D o r o t h y H e w e t t m e m o r a b l y p u t i t . 3’ I t w a s t h e f o u n d i n g
w e a k n e ss o f P a u lin e H a n s o n ’s O n e N a tio n P a rty L td , in
w h i c h r i v a l r i e s a n d j e a l o u s i e s , p a r a n o i a s a n d r e s e n t m e n t s , a ll
p ass th ro u g h a fa n ta s y s p a c e c o n ta in in g o n ly o n e c e n tr a l
im a g e o f d e s ire .
L a th a m m e n tio n s in p a s s in g a m o r e c o n v in c in g s o u r c e o f
t h e lo s s o f c iv ility t h a n t e l e v i s i o n a n d t h e m e d i a : “o v e r - g e a r e d
m o r tg a g e s , h a n d - to - m o u th liv in g s ta n d a r d s a n d a d is e n g a g e ­
m ent fro m fo rm a lly o rg a n is e d in s titu tio n s ... a ‘d o not
d i s t u r b ’ g e n e r a t i o n . ” S u b u r b i a c a n w o rk , it c a n b e a v a lid a n d
v ia b le fa n ta s y o f th e f a ir g o , b u t w h e n s e c u r in g th e b u n k e r
f o r a c o m p l e t e l y p r i v a t i s e d f a m i l y lif e a t t h e e x p e n s e o f a
b a r e ly s e r v ic e a b le m o u n t a i n o f d e b t b e c o m e s t h e s o le a im ,
t h e n c iv ility is d o o m e d . N o t s u r p r i s i n g l y , f o r m a n y p e o p l e
w h o h a v e c o m m i t t e d t h e m s e l v e s t o s u c h a lif e , a n d f o u n d
th a t re a lity d id n o t p r o m is e a c o n tin u a tio n o f s ta b le c o n d i­
t i o n s i n w h i c h t o s u s t a i n it, b u t c h a n g e a n d u n c e r t a i n t y , a
n e w d e s ire a ro se . T h e d e s ire fo r a le a d e r w h o c o u ld d e fe n d
f o r tr e s s s u b u r b i a w ith a r e t u r n to t h e s t r o n g s ta te o f f o r tr e s s
A u s tra lia .

The F u tu re o f th e F u tu r e
“T h e f e w e r a n s w e r s p o l i t i c i a n s h a v e a b o u t t h e f u t u r e t h e
m o r e i n c l i n e d t h e y a r e t o t a l k a b o u t t h e p a s t ”, a n d t o a s s o ­
c ia te th e m s e lv e s w ith ta lk in g heads w ho s p e c ia lis e in
p r o p h e c y o f t h e p a s t . L a t h a m is a r e l u c t a n t n o s t a l g i c . “I t is
d if f ic u lt to id e n tif y a g o ld e n a g e o f c o m m u n ity v a lu e s ... in
A u s t r a l i a ”, h e d e c l a r e s . T h e p a s t w e i g h s l i k e a m i g r a i n e o n
t h e m i n d s o f t h e L a b o r P a rt y . P e r h a p s w h a t is n e e d e d is n o t
a n h is to r ic a l f a b le a b o u t a le g a c y o r a t r a d i t i o n , b u t a c o n ­
 th e fu tu re of th e fu tu re 32i

c e p tu a l fa b le a b o u t L a b o r ’s o p t i o n s in th e p re s e n t. Put
s im p ly , t h e r e a r e t h r e e w a y s t o g o : T h e f i r s t w a y is h e l p t h e
p e o p l e . T h e s e c o n d w a y is h e l p y o u r s e l f . T h e t h i r d w a y is
h e lp th e p e o p le to h e lp th e m s e lv e s . W h ile m a n y p e o p l e
th o u g h t th e H a w k e a n d K e a tin g y e a rs w e re a b o u t th e s e c o n d
w ay , I t h i n k i t w a s a n i n c o m p l e t e g o a t t h e t h i r d . L a t h a m ’s
p r o j e c t is a s e c o n d g o a t t h e t h i r d w ay , f r a m e d n o t i n t e r m s
o f n o s ta lg ia a n d p r i n c i p l e , b u t in t e r m s o f a p r a g m a t i c d e s i r e
to le a r n fro m e x p e rie n c e .
L a t h a m is c r i t i c a l o f L a b o r ’s d e s i r e t o h e l p p e o p l e r a t h e r
th a n h e lp p e o p le to h e lp th e m s e lv e s . T h e u n s p o k e n s id e o f
a l t r u i s m is t h e d e p e n d e n c y i t c r e a t e s . L a b o r c u l t u r e “n e e d s
t o b r o a d e n i ts p o l i t i c a l g o a l s b e y o n d t h e s t a t e t o c i t i z e n r e l a ­
tio n s h ip .” It n e e d s , I th in k , to in q u ir e m o re a b o u t e v e ry d a y
lif e . T h r e e k e y s t o e v e r y d a y l if e a r e c e l e b r i t i e s , c u l t u r e a n d
c y b e rsp a c e: th e im a g e s th ro u g h w h ic h p e o p le fo rm u la te
w h a t th e y w a n t, th e r e s o u r c e s a n d p r a c tic e s th e y h a v e f o r
a c tin g o n th o s e w a n ts , a n d th e v e c to r s a lo n g w h ic h th e in f o r ­
m a t i o n c o n n e c t i n g t h e f o r m e r t o t h e l a t t e r tr a v e l s .
P o l i t i c s is u l t i m a t e l y a b o u t v i r t u a l i t y , a b o u t t h e c r e a t i o n o f
a s p a c e w ith in w h ic h p e o p le c a n b e c o m e w h a t th e y w a n t.
T h is r e q u i r e s s o m e d e g r e e o f s e c u rity , o th e r w is e p e o p l e d o
n o t b e c o m e a n y t h i n g e x c e p t f e a r f u l t h a t s o m e b o d y e l s e w ill
ta k e aw ay w h a t th e y d e s ir e . A s e c u r e p e o p le e x te n d and
e x p a n d t h e i r c a p a c itie s , s o c ia l o r o th e r w is e . T h e r e m a y b e
c o n flic t — L a th a m s e e m s t o o v e r e s t i m a t e h o w c i v i l c iv ility
a c t u a l l y is i n p r a c t i c e . B u t w i t h s o m e s e c u r i t y , c o n f l i c t c a n b e
u s e f u l , a f f i r m a t i v e , c r e a t i v e . K o je v e w a s r i g h t i n t h i n k i n g t h a t
c o n f lic t c o n f r o n ts d e s ir e w ith d e s ir e , r e v e a lin g s o m e th in g o f
t h e p r o c e s s o f c h a n g e , t h e h i d d e n w o r ld o f v irtu a lity .
W i th o u t s e c u rity , c o n f lic t t u r n s n e g a tiv e , it b e c o m e s a
s t r u g g l e t o p r e s e r v e w h a t is, r a t h e r t h a n t o c r e a t e w h a t c a n
b e . O r w o rse , it b e c o m e s a d e s ir e to p u n is h o r e x c lu d e w h a t­
e v e r is d i f f e r e n t , t o s u p p r e s s v i r t u a l i t y , t o r e f u s e t o c h a n g e .
“I n a n a t i o n c u l t u r a l l y w e a n e d o n t h e e t h o s o f s a m e n e s s , t h e
v ir tu e s o f d iv e rs ity a n d o p e n n e s s n e e d to b e s u p p l e m e n t e d
b y n e w ty p e s o f s o c ia l a s s u r a n c e .”
“I s o m e t i m e s w o n d e r i f t h e L a b o r P a r t y r e a l l y e x i s t s , o r i f
i t ’s j u s t a d r e a m a t t h e t o p o f t h e h i l l ”, B e n C h i f l e y a s k s , o r
r a t h e r E d D e v e r e a u x t h e a c t o r w h o p la y s B e n C h i f l e y a s k s , in
t h e T V s e r i e s T r u e B e lie v e r s . O f c o u r s e t h e L a b o r P a r t y is j u s t
celebrity, culture and c y b e rsp ac e

a d r e a m , a f a n t a s y t h a t c r e a t e s d e s i r e s — b u t n o le s s r e a l f o r
t h a t . T r u e B e lie v e r s is a f a b l e t h a t i n v o k e s t h e f a n t a s y o f L a b o r ,
its a c t o r s a c t i n g t h e p a r t s o f t h e m a c h i n e t h a t p r o d u c e d its
c e le b r ity . B u t t h e B e n C h ifle y t h a t E d D e v e r a u x p la y s w a s a ls o
a n a c t o r , i n v o k i n g a f a n ta s y . W h e n M a r k L a t h a m sa y s: “i t
m a k e s b e s t s e n s e f o r th e A L P to d ra w s tr e n g th fro m th e c o n ­
t i n u i t y o f its p o l i t i c a l g o a l s ”, w h a t I h e a r h i m s a y is t h a t i t
m a k e s b e s t s e n s e f o r L a b o r to c o n tin u e to d e s ir e , a n d to c o n ­
t i n u e t o d e s i r e i ts d e s i r e , r a t h e r t h a n t o m a k e a f e t i s h o f t h i s
o r t h a t o b j e c t o f f a n t a s y i t h a s c r e a t e d f o r it s e lf . O r a s L i n d s a y
T a n n e r s a y s , “O u r t a s k is t o w r i t e t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t , n o t
d e s tro y th e O ld .” A m e n to th a t.
 32<

c h a p t e r ^

Epilogue and acknowledgements

The aim is not to rediscover the eternal or the univer­
sal, but to find the conditions under which something
new is produced.
Gilles Deleuze

Appropriation is the hallmark o f contem porary culture.

The reinvention o f old forms, the repositioning o f said
things.
John Kinsella

The L igh t from the S creen

A y o u n g m a n w ith p e r o x i d e h a i r b u r s ts i n t o f r a m e . H e p u ts
a c o in in th e s lo t o f a d o -it-y o u rs e lf b u s in e s s c a r d m a c h in e ,
t h e k i n d y o u f i n d i n r a ilw a y s t a t i o n s a n d a i r p o r t s . H e p r i n t s
h im s e lf u p a c a r d a n d h o ld s it to th e c a m e r a : J o h n S a fra n :
M e d ia T y c o o n .
S a f r a n f i r s t l u n g e d i n t o v ie w a s a c o n t e s t a n t o n A B C T V ’s
R a c e A r o u n d t h e W o r ld . I n o n e o f t h e A B C ’s fe w s u c c e s s f u l
a t t e m p t s t o b r e a k o u t o f i ts b u r b l e r w o r l d v iew , R a c e o f f e r e d
y o u n g w a n n a b e f il m m a k e r s t h e c h a n c e t o w i n a c o u r s e a t
t h e p r e s tig io u s A F T R S F ilm S c h o o l i n S y d n e y . I n it s f i r s t
s e r i e s , R a c e i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e g r a c e o f it s h o s t , R i c h a r d
F i d l e r , a n d w ith t h e a n t i c s o f c o n t e s t a n t J o h n S a f r a n . W h e r e
m o s t o f t h e o t h e r y o u n g film m a k e r s s e t o f f to m a k e w o r th y
d o c u m e n t a r i e s f r o m v a r i o u s f o r e i g n p a r t s , S a f r a n c h o s e to
epilogue and a ck n o w le d g e m e n ts

m ake te le v is io n about h im s e lf — and about te le v is io n .

P a r t i c u l a r l y i n s p i r e d w a s h i s l a s t p i e c e , in w h i c h h e s h o w e d
h o w to g e t in to D is n e y w o rld w ith o u t p a y in g . H e p u t u p a
p l a q u e i n t h e D i s n e y m u s e u m i n r e c o g n i t i o n o f W a l t D i s n e y ’s
f l i r t a t i o n w i t h t h e N a z is i n t h e l a t e 3 0 s .
T h a t S a f r a n ’s p i l o t f o r J o h n S a f r a n : M e d i a T y c o o n w ill p r o b a ­
b l y n o t b e p i c k e d u p b y t h e A B C is p r o b a b l y m o r e t e l l i n g
a b o u t th e s u b u r b a n is in g o f th e n a tio n a l b r o a d c a s te r in th e
90s th a n a n y th in g th a t h a s a c tu a lly a ir e d . S a f r a n ’s s h o w
w o u ld h a v e b e e n a c r itiq u e o f th e m e d ia , b u t it w o u ld n o t
p r e t e n d t o b e a n y le s s c y n i c a l t h a n t h e p r o g r a m s a n d p r o ­
g ram g e n r e s i t a t t a c k e d . “I ’m q u ite a m b iv a le n t a b o u t th e
t h i n g s I ’m c r i t i c i s i n g ”, S a f r a n o n c e r e m a r k e d . ' T h e s h o w ’s
d e p a rtu re fro m th e s u b u r b a n a s s u m p tio n o f a m o ra l h ig h
g r o u n d f r o m w h ic h to c ritic is e th e m e d ia w a s a r a d ic a l b r e a k
w ith t h e s u b u r b a n c o n v e n tio n s o f m e d i a p r o p r ie ty .
R a t h e r l i k e M a l c o l m M c L a r e n ’s a n t i c s i n t h e e a r l y d a y s o f
t h e S e x P is to ls , S a f r a n b e c a m e f a m o u s f o r w o rk t h a t d i d n o t
g o t o a ir . T a p e s o f J o h n S a f r a n : M e d i a T y c o o n c i r c u l a t e d i n f o r ­
m a lly . I n o n e s e g m e n t , S a f r a n p r o p o s e s a n e w m a r k e t i n g
i d e a f o r a b r a n d o f c h e e s e — a p a c k t h a t h a s t h e c h e e s e s lic e s
p o p u l a r w ith c h i l d r e n a g e d 6 - 1 2 , b u t w ith a c ig a r e tte i n c lu d ­
e d in th e p a c k f o r th o s e g r o w in g o u t o f th e c h e e s e s e g m e n t
o f t h e m a r k e t . H i s p o i n t is t h a t t h e c o n g l o m e r a t e t h a t m a r ­
k e ts c h e e s e to 6 - 1 2 y e a r o ld s , a ls o m a r k e ts c ig a r e tte s th a t
a ttr a c t a fo llo w in g a m o n g th e 1 2 -1 6 y e a r o ld g e n e r a tio n .
I n a n o t h e r s e g m e n t o f th e p ilo t, S a fra n a p p e a r s in th e k in d
o f te le v is io n k itc h e n f a m ilia r f r o m c o u n tle s s c o o k in g sh o w s.
S a f r a n o b s e r v e s a ll o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n s o f t h e g e n r e , p o p p i n g
i n g r e d i e n t s i n t o t h e p a n a n d e x p l a i n i n g h is a c t i o n s a s h e g o e s
a lo n g . A f te r th e o n io n s g o o v e r th e fla m e , S a fra n c o m e s to
t h e m e a t . W h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g t h e c h a t ty , i n s t r u c t i o n a l v o ic e o f
th e c o o k in g s h o w h o s t, th e p ic tu r e s s u d d e n ly c u t to a n a b a t­
to ir , a n d S a f r a n c a l m l y n a r r a t e s a s w e w a t c h a c o w b e i n g k i l l e d
a n d b u t c h e r e d . “N e x t , c u t y o u r c o w d o w n t h e m i d d l e ”, S a f r a n
i n t o n e s , a s a m e a t w o r k e r w i e l d s a g i a n t saw , a n d w e w a t c h a s
c o w i n n a r d s s p l a t t e r o n t h e f lo o r . I t ’s a b r i l l i a n t s a t i r e o n t h e
c o n v e n tio n s o f s u b u r b a n te le v is io n , in w h ic h w h o le a s p e c ts o f
life a r e s i m p l y a b s e n t f r o m t h e s c r e e n .
I n a t t a c k i n g t h e g e n r e o f c u r r e n t a f f a i r s , S a f r a n a d o p t s its
to n e a n d te c h n i q u e s . H e s e ts o u t to e x p o s e b lu d g e r s — w o rk ­
 the light from th e screen

e r s w h o s l a c k o f f o n t h e j o b , “c o s t i n g t h e e c o n o m y m i l l i o n s ”.
O n ly h is ta r g e t a r e n o t c o u n c il w o rk e rs , b u t th e s ta f f o f th e
m o s t p o p u l a r T V c u r r e n t a ffa irs sh o w , A C u rr e n t A ffa ir. U s in g
t h e ‘h i d d e n c a m e r a ’ t e c h n i q u e , S a f r a n f i l m s t h e s t a f f o f A
C u r re n t A ffa ir in th e ir o w n o ffic e a n d c a n te e n , a n d d is c o v e rs
t h e m d o i n g — b u g g e r a ll . T h e R o m a n s a t i r i s t J u v e n a l a s k e d :
W h o g u a rd s th e g u a rd s? In th e 9 0 s a m o re re le v a n t q u e s tio n
m ig h t b e: W h o e x p o se s th e e x p o se rs?
S a f r a n ’s p i l o t p r o v e d to o h o t fo r th e A B C to h a n d le .
S o m e p a r ts o f th e p ilo t w o u ld c le a rly b e in b r e a c h o f th e
B r o a d c a s tin g A c t, b u t e v e n w ith t h o s e e x c e s s e s tr i m m e d ,
S a fra n w as b e y o n d th e lim it o f w h a t th e s u b u r b a n s p a c e o f
th e b ro a d c a s t m e d ia c o u ld a c c e p t as in fo rm a tio n . The
e x p o s u r e , in th e s a n c tity o f th e s u b u r b a n liv in g r o o m , o f
i m a g e s o f a c o w b e i n g b u t c h e r e d w o u l d b e g o i n g ‘t o o f a r ’.
P e r h a p s m o r e to th e p o in t, S a fra n w as p r e p a r e d to a tta c k
c o r p o r a t e l i f e a s w e ll a s p o l i t i c a l l i f e . “Y o u c a n s a y w h a t y o u
l i k e a b o u t p o l i t i c i a n s ”, S a f r a n o b s e r v e s , “b u t i f y o u p r e s e n t ­
e d a s k e tc h a b o u t M c D o n a ld s , it w o u ld g o s tr a ig h t to th e
le g a l d e p a r t m e n t .”
I t ’s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t S a f r a n ’s h o m e p a g e p r o v e d p o p u ­
la r .2 F o r a g e n e r a t i o n r a i s e d o n t e l e v i s i o n , S a f r a n n o t o n l y
e x p o s e d its c o n c e s s i o n s t o s u b u r b a n r e s t r i c t i o n s o n t h e f r e e
f lo w o f i n f o r m a t i o n , h e p r o v i d e d a s a l i e n t i n s t a n c e o f t h e
e m e r g e n t q u a litie s o f c y b e r s p a c e c e le b rity . C y b e r s p a c e c a n
p o t e n t i a l l y b e t h e r e t u r n o f t h e u r b a n e t o i n f o r m a t i o n flo w s .
A t th e e n d o f th e 2 0 th c e n tu r y it c a n p o te n tia lly b e a s c h a l­
le n g in g a n d d iv e rs e a s th e m a s s p o p u l a r p r i n t c u ltu r e o f e n d
o f th e 1 9 th c e n tu r y .
A s S a f r a n sa y s: “E v e r y t h i n g is c h a o s t h e o r y w i t h s o m a n y
fa c e ts . P e o p le a re a lw a y s t r y i n g to re fle c t th e m ood of
A u s t r a l i a , b u t w i t h 2 0 m i l l i o n p e o p l e , i t ’s i m p o s s i b l e . I t ’s l ik e
t h e r e ’s t o o m a n y v a r i a b l e s t o n a i l . ” B r o a d c a s t m e d i a , t r a p p e d
i n s u b u r b a n c o n v e n t i o n s , d o e s n ’t e v e n tr y . T h e p r o l i f e r a t i o n
o f v e c to rs , fro m c a b le TV to th e in te rn e t and beyond,
p r o m is e s to d e s ta b ilis e f o r tr e s s s u b u r b ia , b y e x p o s in g it to a
m u c h w i d e r v a r i e t y o f i n f o r m a t i o n flo w s , a n d flo w s n o t t a i ­
lo re d to s u b u r b i a ’s s e l f - j u s t i f y i n g a s s u m p tio n s about th e
w o rld .
T h i s is w h y a t t e m p t s t o c e n s o r a n d r e s t r i c t p o s t b r o a d c a s t
v e c t o r s h a v e t o b e r e s i s t e d . T h e i n t e r n e t is n o t l i k e t e l e v i s i o n .
epilogue and ackn o w le d g e m e n ts

I t d o e s n o t p r e s e n t th e w o r ld to s u b u r b ia a s if th e w o rld e x is t­
e d a s a s e rie s o f tig h tly f ilte r e d im a g e s , c o m p o s e d f o r s u b u r ­
b i a ’s b e n e f i t . J u s t a s t h e fl o w o f p r i n t e d m a t t e r i n a p r e v i o u s
e r a m a d e it p o s s ib le to k n o w t h a t t h e s u n d o e s n o t re v o lv e
a r o u n d t h e e a r t h , s o in o u r tim e t h e i n t e r n e t m a k e s it p o s s i­
b le to l e a r n t h a t t h e e a r t h d o e s n o t re v o lv e a r o u n d f o r tr e s s
s u b u rb ia .
S o f t H a n s o n i s m is i n t h e e n d n o t m u c h d i f f e r e n t t o h a r d
H a n s o n is m , in th a t it w a n ts to s to p th e w o rld so t h a t s u b u r b ia
c a n g e t o ff . B u t i f t h e r e is a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r lif e i n t h e p o s t i n ­
d u s tria l p a r t o f th e w o rld a t th e b e g in n in g o f a n e w m ille n n i­
u m , i t is n o t i n c o n t i n u e d r e l i a n c e u p o n t h e e c o n o m i e s o f
a g r i c u l t u r e a n d m a n u f a c t u r i n g . N o r is i t i n t h e g r o w t h o f t h e
‘s e r v i c e ’ s e c t o r . M a n y s e r v ic e s , s u c h a s t h e f a s t f o o d e m p i r e s o f
M c D o n a l d s a n d its c o m p e t i t o r s , a r e r e a l l y j u s t p a r t o f a m a n u ­
f a c t u r i n g e c o n o m y . A M c D o n a l d s is a f a c t o r y t h a t m a k e s b u r g ­
e r s r a t h e r t h a n s h o e s o r c a r p a r t s . I t is w e a l t h c r e a t i o n b a s e d
o n i n f o r m a t i o n r a t h e r t h a n t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y o f t h e s o il o r o f
p h y s ic a l c a p i t a l t h a t p r o v i d e s t h e b a s is f o r a v i r t u a l re v iv a l o f
f o r tu n e s , w h e th e r in th e o u te r s u b u rb s o f S y d n ey o r th e
p r o v in c ia l c itie s o f B r ita in a n d t h e U n i t e d S ta te s .
T h e p o s tin d u s tr ia l e c o n o m y c o m e s w ith a p o s t m o d e r n c u l­
tu r e . S u b u r b ia h a s to a d a p t a n d in c o r p o r a te n e w k in d s o f
u r b a n i t y . S u r b u r b i a h a s a lw a y s b e e n a f i l t e r e r a n d a b s o r b e r o f
u r b a n i t y . I t a p p l i e s t h e c o m m o n s e n s e t e s t o f e v e r y d a y lif e t o
th e s o m e tim e s im p ra c tic a l n e w p e r c e p tio n s , a ffe c tio n s a n d
c o n c e p t i o n s g e n e r a t e d b y t h e u r b a n e . T h i s p r o c e s s s lo w e d
d o w n s ig n ific a n tly b e tw e e n th e 6 0 s a n d th e 90 s. A s A u s tra lia n
m o v i e s o f t h e 9 0 s s u c h a s S t r i c t ly B a l lr o o m o r M u r i e l ’s W e d d i n g
a t t e s t , t h e r e is t r o u b l e i n f o r t r e s s s u b u r b i a . I n f o r m a t i o n is n o t
p a s s i n g t h r o u g h its m e m b r a n e s i n t o e v e r y d a y c o n s c i o u s n e s s .
T h e re is a n a w a re n e s s o f th is a s a p r o b le m , p a r tic u la r ly
a m o n g y o u n g e r film m a k e r s a n d w rite rs .
It r e m a in s to b e s e e n w h e th e r b r o a d c a s t m e d ia c a n a d a p t
to th e d e m a n d s o f a p o s tin d u s tr ia l w o rld , in w h ic h u r b a n e
in f o r m a tio n g e n e r a tin g p r a c tic e s m o r e re a d ily f e e d in to s u b ­
u r b a n lif e . T h e p o s t i n d u s t r i a l e c o n o m y h a s e s t a b l i s h e d i t s e l f
in A u s tr a lia a s a b r a n c h p l a n t f o r g lo b a l i n f o r m a tio n in d u s ­
trie s . G lo b a l i n f o r m a tio n b u s in e s s e s s p e c ia lis in g in a c c o u n t ­
i n g , l e g a l s e r v i c e s , b a n k i n g a n d a d v e r t i s i n g a ll o p e r a t e o f f i c e s
in S y d n e y o r M e lb o u r n e , o r s o m e tim e s B r is b a n e . T h e e s ta b ­
 the new em piricism 33C

lis h m e n t o f th e F o x s tu d io c o m p le x in S y d n e y p ro v id e s a
h ig h p ro f ile e m b le m f o r th is m o r e d iffu s e tr a n s f o r m a tio n o f
th e A u s tra lia n e c o n o m y . B u t th e su c c e ss o f th e s e in d u s trie s
d e p e n d s n o t j u s t o n f a c to r s lik e t h e i n t e lle c tu a l p r o p e r t y a n d
ta x a tio n e n v ir o n m e n t, o r e v e n o n t h e p r o v i s i o n o f a w e ll
tr a in e d in f o r m a tio n w o rk fo r c e . I t d e p e n d s a ls o o n a c u ltu r e
t h a t c a n t h r i v e o n t h e f lo w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m w h i c h s u c h
b u s i n e s s e s m a k e t h e i r li v i n g . I t m e a n s t h e r e f o r m o f a s s u m p ­
t i o n s a b o u t t h e s u b u r b a n w a y o f lif e .

The N ew E m p iricism
In p r o p o s in g th e n e e d f o r a n e w r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n s u b ­
u r b i a a n d i n f o r m a t i o n flo w s , I d o n ’t w a n t t o a p p e a r t o b e s a y ­
i n g t h i s is j u s t a q u e s t i o n o f t h e q u a n t i t y o f i n f o r m a t i o n . M o s t
p e o p l e w ith a n y s ta k e a t a ll in t h e i n f o r m a t i o n e c o n o m y , t h a t
is p r e t t y m u c h e v e r y o n e e x c e p t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o l e t a r i a t i t
e x c l u d e s , f i n d s t h e r e is a lw a y s t o o m u c h i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t
a lr e a d y . I t ’s n o t a q u e s t i o n o f m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , its a q u e s ­
tio n o f th e r u le s o f th u m b o f a th e o r y o f k n o w le d g e f o r h a n ­
d lin g in fo rm a tio n .
I f t h e r e is a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e s u b u r b a n a p p r o a c h t o
f o r m i n g k n o w l e d g e o u t o f i n f o r m a t i o n , i t is, b r o a d l y s p e a k ­
in g , a n e m p h a s is o n ra tio n a lis m . By th is I m ean a b ia s
t o w a r d s p r e - f o r m e d c a t e g o r i e s i n t o w h i c h n e w i n f o r m a t i o n is
to b e s lo tte d , r a t h e r th a n a b ia s to w a rd s c r e a tin g c a te g o r ie s
o u t o f th e n e w a n d u n e x p e c t e d p a t t e r n s im m in e n t in n e w
in fo rm a tio n i ts e lf . R a t i o n a l i s m , u n d e r s t o o d in th is b r o a d
s e n s e , is a c o m m o n f e a t u r e o f s u b u r b a n t h i n k i n g . I t is w h a t
c re a te s th e su b u rb a n te n d e n c y to re s is t n e w in fo rm a tio n
w h e n i t d o e s n ’t f it t h e a s s u m e d o r d e r o f t h e w o r l d .
I t is p r e c i s e l y t h i s u n t h o u g h o r d e r i n w h i c h t h i n k i n g is to
t a k e p l a c e t h a t J o h n S a f r a n ’s c u t t o t h e a b a t t o i r c h a l l e n g e s .
W h y s h o u ld o n ly th e s e q u e n c e o f s te p s in p r e p a r i n g f o o d
t h a t a c t u a l l y t a k e p l a c e in t h e k i t c h e n b e i n c l u d e d i n a p r o ­
g r a m t h a t g iv e s i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t h o w t o c o o k s o m e t h i n g ?
W h a t i f w e e x a m in e a ll o f t h e s te p s in t h e p r o c e s s o f f o o d
p re p a ra tio n a n d fin d a n o th e r o r d e r in th e m ? T h is m o r e
o p e n ap p ro a c h I w a n t t o c a l l e m p i r i c i s m . B y t h a t I d o n ’t
m e a n t h e v ie w t h a t f a c t s a r e s i m p l e t h i n g s a n d t h a t k n o w l ­
e d g e is j u s t a m a t t e r o f g a t h e r i n g f a c ts . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , I
epilogue and a ck n o w le d g e m e n ts

th in k o f e m p ir ic is m a s a h ig h ly c o n c e p tu a l w ay o f h a n d lin g
i n f o r m a t i o n — b u t o n e t h a t l o o k s f o r p a t t e r n s i n flo w s o f
in fo rm a tio n r a th e r th a n f i t t i n g f lo w s o f i n f o r m a t i o n in to
fix e d p a tte r n s .
E m p i r i c i s m s t a r t s , a s t h e p h i l o s o p h e r G i l l e s D e l e u z e sa y s,
f r o m “t h e c o n c r e t e r i c h n e s s o f t h e s e n s i b l e ”, b u t i t n e e d n o t
fla tte n th a t ric h n e s s out in to an a b s tra c t p rin c ip le .
E m p ir ic is m a p p r e h e n d s th e w o r ld a s flu x , a s d if f e r e n c e , a s
in fo rm a tio n : “E m p i r i c i s t s are not th e o re tic ia n s , th e y are
e x p e r im e n te r s : th e y n e v e r in te r p r e t, th e y h a v e n o p r in c i­
p l e s . ” 3 I t ’s n o t a b o u t m e a s u r i n g t h e w o r l d a c c o r d i n g t o a n
a b s t r a c t , o t h e r - w o r l d l y p r i n c i p l e a n d f i n d i n g w h a t is l a c k i n g
in it. R a t h e r , i t is a m a t t e r o f a p p r e h e n d i n g t h e w o r l d i n its
v a r ia b il ity , a n d l o o k i n g f o r u s e f u l , p r o d u c t i v e , a n d c r e a t i v e
w a y s t o m a k e a li f e o u t o f t h e e v e n t s o f t h i s w o r l d .
D e l e u z e e l a b o r a t e s : “I n s o - c a l l e d r a t i o n a l i s t p h i l o s o p h i e s ,
t h e a b s t r a c t is g i v e n t h e ta s k o f e x p l a i n i n g , a n d i t is t h e
a b s t r a c t t h a t is r e a l i s e d in th e c o n c re te . O n e s ta r ts w ith
a b s t r a c t i o n s ... a n d o n e lo o k s f o r t h e p r o c e s s b y w h ic h th e y
a r e e m b o d ie d in th e w o rld w h ic h th e y m a k e c o n f o r m to
th e ir re q u ire m e n ts .” T h e a b s tra c t c a lc u lu s o f e c o n o m ic
r a tio n a lis m m ig h t b e a n e x a m p le h e r e , b u t so to o w o u ld b e
th e a b s tra c t d ia g ra m s o f d e s ire th a t M a rk L a th a m tr ie s to
t u r n i n t o a b a s i s f o r h i s t h e o r y o f t h e s o c i a l . W h a t is d i s t i n c ­
tiv e a b o u t r a t i o n a l i s m , a s m o r e t h a n a t h e o r y o f k n o w l e d g e ,
a s a p r a c t i c e a l s o o f a c t i o n i n t h e w o r l d , is t h i s a t t e m p t t o
m a k e th e w o rld c o n f o r m to th e a b s tr a c tio n .
“E m p i r i c i s m s t a r t s w i th a c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t e v a l u a t i o n ”,
D e l e u z e d e c l a r e s . I t is a m a t t e r o f “a n a l y s i n g t h e s t a t e s o f
th in g s , in s u c h a w ay t h a t n o n - p r e - e x is te n t c o n c e p ts c a n b e
e x tr a c te d f r o m th e m . S ta te s o f th in g s a r e n e i t h e r u n itie s n o r
t o t a l i t i e s , b u t m u l t i p l i c i t i e s . ” 4 V i e w e d i n t h i s w ay , e m p i r i c i s m ,
o r p lu ra lis m a s D e l e u z e a l s o t e r m s it , is q u i t e d i s t i n c t n o t
o n ly f r o m e c o n o m ic r a tio n a lis m , b u t a ls o f r o m a lo t o f a lte r ­
n a t i v e s t o it, w h e t h e r i t is t h e s o c i a l r a t i o n a l i s m o f s o m e n e w
k in d s o f s o c ia l d e m o c r a c y — o r f o r t h a t m a tte r , t h e m o r a l
ra tio n a lis m o f s o m e k in d s o f c u ltu r a l a n d m e d ia s tu d ie s .
T h e s u b u rb a n p re d ile c tio n fo r ra tio n a lis m se e m s to r u n
p r e tty d e e p , a n d a c ro s s se v e ra l d if f e r e n t k in d s o f k n o w le d g e .
S o to o d o e s th e p r a c tic e o f d iv id in g th e w o rld u p b e tw e e n
d if f e r e n t k in d s o f ra tio n a lis m . S u b u rb ia a c c o m m o d a te s th e
 the new em p iricism

n e e d f o r k n o w le d g e th r o u g h s p e c ia lis a tio n , e v e n if th e lin e s

d e f in in g th e b o u n d a r ie s b e tw e e n o n e s p e c ia lity a n d a n o t h e r
a re a rb itra ry . R a tio n a lis m com poses an in te rn a lly u n ifie d
sp a c e fo r th in k in g a b o u t a p a r tic u la r th in g , th e e c o n o m y fo r
e x a m p le , by d iv id in g it c o n c e p tu a lly fro m a n y th in g th a t
m ig h t m a k e it a p p e a r m o r e h e te r o g e n e o u s .
R a t i o n a l i s m is t h e d o m i n a n t m o d e o f m a n a g i n g i n f o r m a ­
tio n in th e s u b u r b a n w o rld . T h e h is to r ic a l o r ig in s o f th is
k in d o f in te lle c tu a l d iv is io n o f la b o u r a re in d u s tria l a n d
b u re a u c ra tic . T h e y a re th e im p r in t o f th e in d u s tria l e c o n o m y
o n t h e c u l t u r e t h a t s u s t a i n e d it. B u t t h e r e is a l s o a m i n o r
m ode w ith in su b u rb a n c u ltu re th a t h a n d le s in fo rm a tio n
q u ite d iffe re n tly . A s B a r r y j o n e s d is c o v e r e d , p o litic a l c u ltu r e
h a s h a r b o u r e d a q u ite p e c u lia r k in d o f s p e c ia lis e d w ay o f
w o r k i n g w ith i n f o r m a t i o n — o n e b a s e d o n n o t s p e c i a l i s i n g .
T h e e x p e r i m e n t in e c o n o m i c r e f o r m o f t h e f i r s t H a w k e c a b ­
in e t w as a n in te r e s tin g in s ta n c e o f p o litic a l e m p iric is m in
p ra c tic e . It w as in f o r m e d p a rtly by e c o n o m ic r a tio n a lis m , b u t
o n ly p a rtly . I t w as in f o r m e d b y th e m o r a l r a tio n a lis m o f p a r ty
d o g m a , b u t v e ry p a rtly . I n th e m a in , it w a s a n e m p iric a l
ap p ro a c h to m a n a g in g th e e v e n tfu l c h a r a c te r o f p o litic s
c a u g h t i n t h e f l u x o f g l o b a l e c o n o m i c a n d i n f o r m a t i o n flo w s .
C l e a r ly , t h a t r e f o r m p r o c e s s f a ile d to id e n tify , l e t a lo n e
s o lv e , m a n y p r o b l e m s , i n c l u d i n g m a n y t h r o w n u p by th e
p r o c e s s o f r e f o r m it s e l f . T h e r e w e r e a l s o m i s t a k e s o f j u d g e ­
m e n t t h a t a p p e a r w ith h in d s ig h t, lik e t h e f a ith in t h e J - c u r v e
o r P a u l K e a t i n g ’s “r e c e s s i o n w e h a d t o h a v e ”. B u t o v e r a l l , it
w as th e e m p iric is m o f e x p e r im e n ta tio n o f th e 8 0 s th a t p r o ­
d u c e d th e m o r e d y n a m ic a n d o u tw a r d lo o k in g A u s tra lia n
e c o n o m y o f t h e 9 0 s — a n e c o n o m y r o b u s t e n o u g h to s u rv iv e
th e e c o n o m ic c ris is t h a t o v e r to o k m a n y A s ia n e c o n o m ie s .
T h e H a w k e le g a c y is a l a b o r a t o r y o f e m p i r i c a l e x p e r i m e n t
t h a t is, a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , a ‘t h i r d w a y ’ b e t w e e n d o g m a t i c
in s is te n c e o n a p o litic s o f ra tio n a lis m a n d a d o - n o th in g p o li­
ti c s o f p r a g m a t i s m .
E m p i r i c i s m o f t h i s k i n d is n o t f o r t h e f a i n t h e a r t e d . I t o f f e r s
no g u a ra n te e s of th e rig h t c h o ic e . It o ffe rs no m o ra l
a b s o l u t e s . I t ’s j u s t a b o u t m a k i n g d e c i s i o n s , b a s e d o n i m p e r ­
fe c t in f o r m a tio n , by p r o d u c in g c o n c e p ts o u t o f th a t in fo r­
m a tio n , c o n c e p ts th a t a c k n o w le d g e th e w ay th in g s can
c h a n g e . T h i s is n o t r e a l l y a f o r e i g n i d e a . I t m a y b e c o n t r a r y
epilogue and ackn o w le d g e m e n ts

to s o m e o f th e in te lle c tu a l u n d e r p in n in g s o f le a n e d c u ltu r e ,
b u t i t is h o w m o s t p e o p l e n e g o t i a t e e v e r y d a y lif e .
A c tu a lly , e v e n d e e p i n s u b u r b i a t h e r e is a f r a n k a c k n o w l ­
e d g m e n t o f t h e e m p i r i c i s m o f e v e r y d a y lif e . T h i s e x p r e s s e s
its e lf in c e le b rity . C e le b r itie s a r e m o n s tr o u s e x c e p tio n s . E a c h
c e l e b r i t y is h is , h e r — o r i t ’s — o w n p e c u l i a r a n d s i n g u l a r
m i x o f o r d i n a r y a n d e x t r a o r d i n a r y a t t r i b u t e s . W h a t is c e l e ­
b r a t e d i n c e l e b r i t y is m a k i n g t h e b e s t o f t h i n g s , p u t t i n g p e c u ­
l i a r c i r c u m s t a n c e s t o a p r o d u c t i v e e n d . T h e r e is n o g e n e r a l
p r in c ip le to w h ic h c e le b ritie s c a n b e r e d u c e d . T h e y c a n n o t
b e r a tio n a lis e d , a lth o u g h th e y c a n b e r e a s o n e d a b o u t, o n a
c a s e b y c a s e b a s is . H e r e I t h i n k D a v id M a r s h a l l is a l m o s t b u t
n o t q u ite r ig h t w h e n h e th in k s o f c e le b rity as ra tio n a lis a tio n
f r o m b e lo w .
S u b u r b i a is o f t e n h o s t t o a q u i t e h e a l t h y s c e p t i c i s m a b o u t
r a tio n a lis m s th a t a p p e a r to c o m e f r o m w ith o u t. N e ith e r th e
e c o n o m ic r a tio n a lis m o f t h e f r e e m a r k e t o r t h e s o c ia l r a tio ­
n a l i s m o f p o l i t i c a l c o r r e c t n e s s w a s e v e r a ll t h a t p o p u l a r . T h e
p r o b l e m is m o r e t h a t s u b u r b i a d o e s n ’t e n c o u r a g e t o o m u c h
th in k in g a b o u t th e r a tio n a lis m im p lie d in th e c u ltu r e o f s u b ­
u r b i a its e lf . T h e c o r o l l a r y is t h a t i n t h e 9 0 s b o t h p o l i t i c a l a n d
c u l t u r a l t a l k i n g h e a d s w e r e o f t e n d is m is s iv e o f t h e e m p i r i ­
c is m o f th e e v e ry d a y , a s e x p r e s s e d , f o r i n s ta n c e in th e s u b u r ­
b a n t a s t e f o r c e l e b r i t y . I n c h a s t i s i n g s u b u r b i a f o r i ts t r a s h y
ta s te s , p o litic a l and c u ltu ra l ta lk in g heads o fte n p in e d
in s te a d f o r a n a b s u rd ly r a tio n a lis t id e a o f th e p u b lic s p h e r e ,
o n e s h o r n o f a ll its v ita l ity a n d p l u r a l i t y . I n s h o r t , s u b u r b i a ’s
d is d a in f o r ra tio n a lis m fro m w ith o u t ra re ly b e c a m e a c ritiq u e
o f r a tio n a lis m w ith in ; w h ile th e c r itiq u e o f th e e m p ir ic is m o f
e v e r y d a y lif e c o n d u c t e d b y t a l k i n g h e a d s a c t u a l l y a t t a c k e d
th e o n e th in g o f m o s t v a lu e in s u b u r b a n c u ltu r e .
T h e r e is a p o s i t i v e s i d e t o t h e lu c k y c o u n t r y , i n its e m p i r i ­
c is m : i n t h e c a p a c i t y t o r e s p o n d t o e v e n t s , t o m a k e u s e o f c i r ­
c u m s ta n c e s , to e n jo y th e m o m e n t, to c u ltiv a te o p tio n s . A d d in g
a m o r e c o n c e p t u a l w a y o f t h i n k i n g , a n d w a y o f lif e , t o t h i s
in s tin c tiv e e m p ir ic is m s e e m s to m e a n a p p r o p r i a t e g o a l f o r
ta lk in g h e a d s , w h e th e r c o m in g a t it f r o m a n e c o n o m ic , p o liti­
c a l o r c u l t u r a l c o m p e t e n c e . I t ’s a m a t t e r o f f i n d i n g w a y s t o
c o m b in e d if f e r e n t k in d s o f r e a s o n in g , a b o u t e c o n o m ic , p o liti­
cal a n d c u ltu ra l m a tte rs , r a th e r th a n o f a s s e rtin g th e d o m i­
n a n c e o f o n e k i n d o f r a t i o n a l i s m o v e r t h e w h o l e o f lif e .
 culture and pluralicism 337

C u ltu re and P lu ra lism

C u l t u r e p la y s it s r o l e a l o n g s i d e , i n d e e d i n e x t r i c a b l y i n t e r w o ­
v e n w ith , e c o n o m ic s a n d p o litic s . T h e y f o r m a m u ltip lic ity .
T h e m e d iu m th r o u g h w h ic h e c o n o m ic o r p o litic a l c h a n g e o r
n e g o t i a t i o n t a k e s p l a c e is a lw a y s p a r t l y c u l t u r a l . T h e e x c l u ­
s i o n o f t h e c u l t u r a l f r o m p o l i t i c a l o r e c o n o m i c r a t i o n a l i t y is
in v a ria b ly th e e x c lu s io n o f d if f e r e n c e , p lu ra lity , t h e m e s s i­
n e s s o f e v e r y d a y lif e .
T h e w ay b a c k to a n e m p ir ic a l c o n c e p t o f p o litic s as a p r a c ­
t i c e is t h r o u g h c u ltu re , th r o u g h th e ta n g ib le and a c tu a l
m o m e n t s o f li v e d e x p e r i e n c e . S u b u r b a n r a t i o n a l i t y is t o o
c o n c e r n e d w i t h i m p o s i n g its v ie w s o f w h a t o u g h t t o b e t h e
m e a n s a n d e n d s o f c u l t u r e t o s e e w h a t a c t u a l l y t a k e s p l a c e in
th e in te rc h a n g e b e tw e e n c u ltu ra l p ra c tic e s and p o p u la r
m e d i a f a b l e s a n d i m a g e s . B y n o t s t a r t i n g f r o m w h a t is, i t m is s ­
e s th e v irtu a lity o f c u ltu r e , th e n e w w ays o f b e in g t h a t p e o p le
c o m p o s e f o r t h e m s e l v e s o u t o f it.
W h e n S c o t t w a n t s t o b r e a k w i t h d a n c i n g t h a t is ‘s t r i c t l y b a l l ­
r o o m ’, o r w h e n M u r i e l w a n t s t o r e i n v e n t h e r s e l f o u t o f A B B A
s o n g s , w h a t t a k e s p l a c e is a t o n c e b o t h c u l t u r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l .
B o th a s s e r t a d e s ir e to b r e a k w ith c o m m u n i t i e s o f c o e r c io n
a n d t o f i n d c o m m u n i t i e s o f c h o i c e . T h e r e is a l s o a n e c o ­
n o m ic d im e n s io n to th e ir a c tio n s — w h o o w n s th e s te p s th a t
S c o tt in c o r p o r a te s in to h is r o u tin e ? W h a t c o n tra c t d o e s
M u r i e l e n t e r i n t o in e x c h a n g e f o r h e r w e d d i n g ? A s i n f o r m a ­
tio n b e c o m e s m o re a n d m o re c o m m o d ifie d , th e c u ltu ra l
u s e s o f t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n c o m e u n d e r s c r u t i n y f r o m its o w n ­
e rs a n d tra d e rs . T h e o w n e rs h ip a n d c o n tro l o f in fo rm a tio n
c r e a te s n e w k in d s o f cla ss c o n f lic t, a lo n g s id e th o s e t h a t ta k e
p la c e o v e r th e o w n e r s h ip a n d c o n tr o l o f la n d a n d c a p ita l.
C u l t u r e is t h e m e d i u m f o r a n e m p i r i c a l e t h i c s . I t is t h r o u g h
th e fa b le s o f th e fa m o u s th a t p e o p le d is c o v e r te m p la te s f o r
a s s e s s in g th e r ig h tn e s s o r w r o n g n e s s o f a c tio n s . C e le b r ity
a p p e a r s w i t h i n m e d i a t e d c u l t u r e a s t h e f a c e o f p o s s i b i lit y .
C e l e b r i t y c a n b e a s p i r a t i o n a l , l i k e K y lie o r E lle . O r c r i t i c a l ,
li k e P e t e r G a r r e t t , a o n e - m a n i m a g e o f t h e e n g a g e d c i t i z e n .
O r c e le b r ity c a n b e a b o u t a r a d ic a l o th e r n e s s , a s in a N ic k
C a v e s o n g th a t g e s tu r e s to th e r a d ic a l a b s e n c e o f o r d e r in th e
w o rld . T h e s e a r e o f te n m o r e e ffe c tiv e im a g e s th a n th e m o r e
r e s p e c ta b le ta lk in g h e a d s o f h ig h c u ltu r e , m a in s tr e a m p o li­
epilogue and a ck n o w le d g e m e n ts

tic s o r o r g a n i s e d r e l i g i o n h a v e t o o f f e r . R a t h e r t h a n b e w a i l ­
in g th e la c k o f in te r e s t s u b u r b ia e v in c e s to w a rd s tr a d itio n a l
ta lk in g h e a d s , p e r h a p s it w o u ld b e m o r e u s e fu l to th in k
a b o u t w h a t s o rts o f th in g s th e s e o r g a n ic c e le b r itie s e x p re s s .
In a n y c a se , th e f o r m s c e le b r ity ta k e s a r e a n in d e x o f th e
c h a n g in g g e o m e try o f th e v e c to rs th a t connect c u ltu re
to g e th e r th a t s c h o la r s s u c h as S c o tt M c Q u ire a n d D a r r e n
T o fts e x p lo re . W hat I fin d in J o h n S a fra n or P a u lin e
P a n t s d o w n is a n i n t e r e s t i n g d e v e l o p m e n t : m e d i a c e l e b r i t i e s
w h o q u ite in te n tio n a lly e x p lo its th e lim its o f b r o a d c a s t c u l­
t u r e . T h e y b e c o m e f a m o u s v ia t h e m a s s m e d i a , b u t e v e n
m o re fa m o u s by th e a b s e n c e o f th e ir w o rk fro m th e m ass
m e d i a , w h e t h e r v ia l e g a ll y i m p o s e d c e n s o r s h i p o r t h e t i m i d i ­
ty o f b r o a d c a s t e r s . T h e p o s s i b i l i t y e x p r e s s e d i n t h e s e i m a g e s
is o f a m o r e p l u r a l c y b e r s p a c e .
M e a n w h ile , B e th S p e n c e r e x p lo re s th e c o m p o s itio n of
c o m m u n i c a t i o n i n s u c h a n e m e r g e n t w o r l d , w h e r e a ll k i n d s
o f e x p e r ie n c e c a n b e a p p r o p r ia te d , c u t a n d m ix e d in a n
e m p ir ic a l f a s h io n . C a th a r in e L u m b y e x p e r im e n ts w ith th e
c o m p o s itio n o f a k n o w le d g e a n d s c h o la rs h ip o f th e m e d ia
t h a t is a t t h e s a m e t i m e i m m e r s e d i n it s flo w s . I n t h e i r d i f f e r ­
e n t w a y s, a ll o f t h e s e d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e i n v e n t p r a c t i c e s t h a t
w o rk o n th e j u n c t u r e b e tw e e n m e d ia a n d c u ltu r e .
E ls e w h e re , in p o l i t i c a l lif e , a d e v e l o p m e n t t o w h i c h a ll
t h e s e o t h e r s h a v e t o b e r e l a t e d is t h e e m e r g e n c e o f t h e p o l i t ­
ic a l i n t e l l e c t u a l o r i n t e l l i g e n t p o l i t i c i a n a s a k i n d o f c e l e b r i t y .
T h e s e a r e p h e n o m e n a b lo c k e d , in p a r t by r e s id u a l s u b u r b a n
id e a s a b o u t th e id e a l r a tio n a l p u b lic s p h e r e , b u t b lo c k e d o n
a m o r e p r a c t i c a l le v e l b y t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s i n u s i n g t h e e m e r g ­
in g v e c to rs o f c y b e rs p a c e to d e v e lo p a p o litic s o f k n o w le d g e .
T h e p o litic a l f u t u r e o f le a d e r s lik e L in d s a y T a n n e r a n d M a rk
L a th a m m a y h in g e o n th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f a p o litic s o f in f o r ­
m a t i o n w i t h i n t h e L a b o r P a r ty , a n d b e t w e e n t h e L a b o r P a r t y
a n d s o m e p o te n tia l c o n s titu e n c ie s f o r it in th e e m e rg in g
in fo rm a tio n e c o n o m y .
T h e e x p r e s s i o n ‘t h e l i g h t o n t h e h i l l ’ s u g g e s t s tw o e l e m e n t s
t h a t h a v e t o c o m e t o g e t h e r . T h e l i g h t i t s e l f is t h e v i r t u a l s i d e
o f p o l i t i c s , t h e w ill t o m i n i m i s e h u m a n s u f f e r i n g t h r o u g h c o l ­
le c t i v e a c t i o n . T h e h i l l t h a t p r o v i d e s t h e v a n t a g e p o i n t f o r
c o m m u n i c a t i n g t h i s c o n c e p t is t h e t a c t i c a l c o m b i n a t i o n o f
e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s . I f t h e r e is a
 acknow ledgem ents 339

‘t h i r d w a y ’ f o r s o c i a l d e m o c r a c y i t is I t h i n k a p r a c t i c a l b u t
n o t p ra g m a tic , r e a s o n e d b u t n o t ra tio n a lis t, ra d ic a l b u t n o t
u t o p ia n p r a c tic e o f e x p e r i m e n t i n g w ith t h e g iv e n e le m e n ts
a n d e v e n t s o f e v e r y d a y lif e .

ackn ow ledgem en t
C e le b ritie s, C u l t u r e a n d C y b e r s p a c e is a b o o k t h a t w a s w r i t t e n in
it s o w n p e c u l i a r w ay , a s a s e r i e s o f e x p e r i m e n t s w i t h f i t t i n g
e v e n ts a n d id e a s to g e th e r , c o n d u c te d in p u b lic , t h r o u g h a
w id e v a rie ty o f p r i n t a n d e le c tro n ic m e d ia . T h e r e f o r e I
w o u ld lik e to t h a n k a ll o f t h e e d i t o r s a n d r e f e r e e s o f t h e p u b ­
lic a tio n s w h e r e th e essa y s, c o lu m n s a n d s q u ib s o u t o f w h ic h
t h e i d e a s f o r t h i s b o o k g r e w f i r s t a p p e a r e d , o r i f t h e y d i d n ’t
a p p e a r , w h o s t u m p e d u p a g e n e r o u s k ill f e e : A g e , A n g e l a k i ,
A u s tr a lia n , A u s tr a lia n L e ft R e v ie w , A u s tr a lia n Q u a rte rly ,
A u s t r a l i a n S ty le , C o n t i n u u m , E d d i e M a g a z i n e , G e e k g ir l, M e a n j i n ,
M e d ia In te r n a tio n a l A u s tr a lia , M u te , N e ttim e , N ew
I n te r n a tio n a lis t, N ew S ta te s m a n , O v e r la n d , Sun H e r a ld , 21C ,
W e e k e n d A u s t r a l i a n , W i r e d U K , W o r ld A r t . A n e a r l i e r v e r s i o n o f
‘H o m a g e to C a ta to n ia ’ a p p e a re d in A u s tr a lia n C u ltu r a l
S tu d ie s : A R e a d e r, e d i t e d b y J o h n F r o w a n d M e a g h a n M o r r is .
I w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k t h e p r o d u c e r s a n d r e s e a r c h e r s o f a ll
o f th e r a d io a n d te le v is io n sh o w s o n w h ic h I h a v e a p p e a r e d ,
in c lu d in g A B C R a d io N a tio n a l, th e A B C M e tro a n d R e g io n a l
s ta tio n s , L a te lin e o n A B C T V a n d In s ig h t o n S B S T V . I w o u ld
lik e to th a n k m y fe llo w p a r t ic i p a n t s o n lis ts e r v e r d is c u s s io n
lis ts s u c h a s N e t t i m e a n d R e c o d e . I w o u l d a l s o l i k e t o t h a n k t h e
re v ie w e rs a n d in te rv ie w e rs — to o n u m e r o u s to li s t, w h o
e n g a g e d w ith m y p r e v io u s b o o k , T h e V ir tu a l R e p u b lic . M a y I
j u s t say, f o l l o w i n g S t e n d h a l , t h a t e v e r y t i m e I f i n d s e r i o u s ,
c r i t i c a l re v ie w s , I r e - r e a d t h e m c a r e f u l l y “a n d d e c i d e a f r e s h
w h i c h o n e o f u s is r i g h t . ” ’
T h a n k s to th e o r g a n is e r s a n d p a r tic ip a n ts a t v a rio u s c o n ­
f e r e n c e s w h e r e I a ls o tr ie d o u t s o m e o f th e s e id e a s , in c lu d ­
in g : B eyond th e C u ltu r e W ars at A rts p a c e , th e N exus
C o n f e r e n c e a t th e M u s e u m o f S y d n ey , th e C u ltu ra l S tu d ie s
A s s o c ia tio n A nnual C o n fe re n c e at th e U n iv e rs ity of
M e lb o u rn e , th e R oyal A u s tra lia n In s titu te of P la n n e rs
B ia n n u a l C o n f e r e n c e , th e P e rth I n s titu te o f C o n te m p o r a r y
A r t , T h e Z a d o k I n s t i t u t e f o r C h r i s t i a n i t y a n d S o c ie ty , t h e
epilogue and a ck n o w le d g e m e n ts

N e w c a s t l e Y o u n g W r i t e r ’s F e s ti v a l, a n d t h e S y d n e y W r i t e r ’s
F e s tiv a l. T h a n k s a l s o t o m y c o m r a d e s i n t h e H e r e t i c s g r o u p .
L a s tly , s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o T o n y M o o r e , F i o n a G il e s , M ilis s a
D e i tz , C h r i s t e n C l i f f o r d a n d C a t h a r i n e L u m b y f o r e s s e n t i a l
c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f m a n y a n d v a r i o u s k i n d s . C e le b ritie s, C u l t u r e
a n d C y b e r s p a c e is d e d i c a t e d t o ‘B u s h W a r k T N G ’: K a te , S c o t t ,
a n d T im . B o ld ly g o .
 341

endnotes

C h a p te r 1 30 years, 15 minutes
1 J i l l R o e , ‘T h e A u s t r a l i a n W a y ’ , i n P a u l S m y t h a n d B e t t i n a C a s s
(e d s), C o n te s t in g th e A u s t r a l i a n W a y : S ta te s , M a r k e ts a n d C iv il
S o c ie ty , C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 9 8 , p p . 6 9 - 8 0
2 M c K e n z i e W a r k , ‘E u r o p e ’s M a s k e d B a l l : E a s t M e e t s W e s t a t t h e
W a l l , N e w F o r m a tio n s , N o , 1 2 , W i n t e r 1 9 9 0 , p p . 3 3 - 4 3 , a t p . 3 9
3 See, fo r e x a m p le , A le x H a ll, S c a n d a l, S e n s a tio n and S o c ia l
D e m o c ra c y : T h e S D P P r es s a n d W il h e lm in e G e r m a n y , 1 8 9 0 -1 9 1 4 ,
C a m b r id g e , L o n d o n , 1 9 7 7
4 h t tp ://w w w .n e tn e x u s .o r g /
5 S e e M a r k G i b s o n , ‘ R i c h a r d H o g g a r t ’s G r a n d m o t h e r ’s I r o n i n g :
S o m e Q u e s t i o n s A b o u t ‘ P o w e r ’ i n I n t e r n a t i o n a l C u l t u r a l S tu d ie s ,
J o u r n a l o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l C u l t u r a l S t u d i e s , V o l. 1 , N o . 1 , A p r il
1998, pp. 2 5 -4 4
6 C r a i g M c G r e g o r , P e o p le , P o lit ic s a n d P o p : A u s t r a l i a n s i n th e S ix tie s ,
U r e S m ith , S y d n e y , 1 9 6 8
7 C r a i g M c G r e g o r , ‘D r a w i n g B l o o d ’, S y d n e y M o r n in g H e r a ld , 2 1 s t
M arch , 1 9 9 8 , S p e ctr u m , p p . 6 -7 s
8 C handran K u k a th a s and W illia m M a le y , ‘M a i n s t r e a m T akes
R e fu g e in S o ft H a n s o n i s m ’, O p in io n , A u s tr a lia n , 23rd
S e p te m b e r , 1 9 9 8
9 T e r r y M c C r a n n , W eek en d A u s tr a lia n , 9 t h M a r c h , 1 9 9 6
10 G e r a r d H e n d e r s o n , S y d n e y M o r n i n g H e r a ld , 6 t h O c t o b e r , 1 9 9 8
11 A n d y W a r h o l a n d P a t H a c k e t t , P a p is m : T h e W a r h o l '6 0 s , H a r p e r
& R ow , N e w Y ork, 1 9 8 0 , p . 13 0
12 S te p h e n M uecke, ‘B o b H a w k e ’s C o u n tr y P r a c tic e : A
D e c o n s t r u c t i o n ’ , i n I n t e r v e n ti o n , N o . 2 2 , 1 9 8 8
13 M eaghan M o r r i s , ‘P o l i t i c s N o w ’ , i n T h e P i r a t e ’s F ia n c e e , V e r s o ,
L o n d o n , 1 9 8 8 , p . 1 7 7 . I ’v e m o d i f i e d t h e p e r i o d i s a t i o n a b i t , b u t
I t h i n k t h e p o i n t s t ill s t a n d s .
14 D o n a ld H orne, T h e L u c k y C o u n tr y , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V ic .,
1 9 9 8 , r e v is e d e d it io n , p . 2 0
endnotes

15 D o n a ld H orne, T h e A v e n u e o f th e F a i r G o : A G rou p Tour o f

A u s t r a l i a n P o li t ic a l T h o u g h , H a r p e r C o l l i n s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7 , p . 8
16 T w o k e y w o r k s w e r e r e p r in t e d in t h e 9 0 s : M a r s h a ll M c L u h a n ,
U n d e r s ta n d in g M e d ia : The E x te n s io n of M an, M IT P ress,
C a m b r i d g e M a s s . , 1 9 9 4 ; M a r s h a l l M c L u h a n , T h e M e d i u m is th e
M e ssa ge, H a r d w ir e d , S a n F r a n c is c o , 1 9 9 6
17 M a r k D e r y , E s c a p e V e lo city: C y b e r c u ltu r e a t th e E n d o f th e C e n tu r y ,
G ro v e P ress, N e w Y ork, 1 9 9 6 , p. 8
18 D a l e S p e n d e r , N a t t e r i n g o n th e N e t: W o m e n , P o w e r a n d C y b e rs p a c e ,
S p in ife x P ress, N o r th M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 5 ; J o n C a s i m i r , P o s tc a r d s
f r o m th e N e t, A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7 ; D a n i e l P e t r i e a n d
D a v i d H a r r i n g t o n , T h e C le v e r C o u n t r y ? : A u s t r a l i a ’s D i g i t a l F u tu r e ,
L a n s d o w n e P u b lis h in g , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 6
19 John N ie u w e n h u iz e n , A s le e p at th e W h e e l: A u s tr a lia on th e
S u p e r h ig h w a y , A B C B o o k s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7 , p . 1 8 0
20 K . T . L i v i n g s t o n , T h e W ir e d N a t i o n C o n tin e n t, O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y
P ress, M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 6 , p . 9
21 T h e c l a s s i c s o u r c e f o r t h i s a r g u m e n t is H a r o l d I n n is , T h e B ia s o f
C o m m u n ic a tio n , U n i v e r s i t y o f T o r o n t o , 1 9 9 1
22 R ic h a r d M c G r e g o r , ‘U n m a s k e d : T h e M o s t S e c r e t i v e F o r c e in
P o l i t i c s ’, W ee k en d A u s tr a lia n , 1 7 t h O c t o b e r , 1 9 9 8 , p . 4
23 G r a e m e O s b o r n e a n d G l e n L e w i s , C o m m u n ic a tio n T r a d i t io n s in
2 0 th C e n tu r y A u s tr a lia , O x f o r d U n iv e r s ity P ress, M e lb o u r n e ,
1995, p p . 1 6 9 -1 7 0
24 S c o t t M c Q u i r e , V is io n s o f M o d e r n ity , S a g e , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 8 , p . 7 ,
a n d b e lo w , p . 2 a n d p . 8 5
25 D a r r e n T o f t s , M e m o r y T r a d e : A P r e h is to r y o f C y b e r c u ltu r e , G o r d o n
+ B r e a c h A r ts I n te r n a tio n a l, S y d n ey , 1 9 9 8 , p . 15
26 M c K e n z ie W ark, V ir tu a l G eo gra ph y: L iv in g W ith G lo b a l M e d ia
E v e n ts, I n d ia n a U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , B l o o m i n g t o n , 1 9 9 4
27 A n a r g u m e n t f i r s t p r o p o s e d b y J a m e s C a r e y , C o m m u n i c a t io n a s
C u ltu r e : E s s a y s o n M e d ia and S o c ie ty , U n w i n H ym an, B o sto n ,
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28 A n t h o l o g i s e d i n A s h l e y C r a w f o r d a n d R a y E d g a r ( e d s ) , T r a n s it
L o u n g e , C r a f t s m a n ’s H o u s e , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7
29 R o b e r t M a n n e , ‘S t r o n g W o m e n , S t r o n g e r M o r a l i t y ’ , A u s t r a l i a n ,
8 t h A p r il 1 9 9 6
30 B r i a n T o o h e y , ‘N a k e d T r u th on R e d h e a d s ’ , S u n -H e r a ld , 2 8 t h
Ju n e, 1998
31 R o b e r t D e s s a i x , S p e a k i n g T h e i r M i n d s : I n t e l le c t u a l a n d th e P u b lic
C u l tu r e i n A u s t r a l i a , A B C ! B o o k s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 , p . 6
32 P e t e r B l a z e y , S c r e w L o o s e : U n c a lle d -F o r M e m o ir s , P i c a d o r , S y d n e y ,
1997, p. 139
33 M ic h a e l P usey, E c o n o m ic R a t i o n a li s m in C an berra: A N a ti o n -
B u i l d i n g S ta te C h a n g e s i ts M i n d , C a m b r i d g e U n iv e r s ity P ress,
N ew Y ork, 1991
 endnotes 3 43

34 P a u l S h e e h a n , A m o n g th e B a r b a r i a n s , R a n d o m H o u se , Sydney,
1998
35 L i z J o h n s o n , ‘T h e H a n s o n C u l t ’ , B u lle ti n , 1 6 t h J u n e 1 9 9 8 , p . 2 7
36 M c K e n z i e W a r k , T h e V i r t u a l R e p u b lic : A u s t r a l i a ’s C u l tu r e W a r s o f
th e 9 0 s , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8
37 E ls p e th P rob yn , q u o te d in M a r y Z o u r n a z i , F o r e ig n D ia lo g u e s ,
P lu to P r e ss, S y d n e y , 1 9 8 8 , p p . 3 2 - 3 3
38 Two e n d u r in g w orks fr o m th e 60s lib e r a t io n is t p e r s p e c tiv e ,
o r ig in a lly p u b lis h e d in th e e a r ly 70s are: A nne S u m m ers,
D am ned W h o res and G o d ’s P o lic e , r e v is e d e d itio n , P e n g u in ,
R in g w o o d V ic ., 1994; D e n n is A ltm a n , H o m o s e x u a l: O p p r e s s io n
a n d L ib e r a tio n , S e r p e n t ’s T a i l , 1 9 9 6 .
39 D o n a ld H orne, The L ucky C o u n tr y , 5 th e d itio n , P e n g u in ,
R i n g w o o d V ic ., 1 9 9 8
40 See P h illip A dam s (e d ), R e tre a t F rom T o le r a n c e , A B C B o ok s,
Sydney, 1997
41 J u lia n n e S c h u ltz , R e v iv in g th e F o u th E s ta te , C a m b r id g e
U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 8
42 John L anger, T a b lo id T e le v is io n : P o p u l a r J o u r n a l i s m and 'O th e r
N e w s ’, R o u t l e d g e , L o n d o n , 1 9 8 8
43 S t u a r t L i t t l e m o r e , T h e M e d ia a n d M e , A B C B o o k s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 6
44 T h r e e c la s s ic w o r k s fr o m a le ft w in g p e r s p e c t iv e o n m e d ia a n d
h e g e m o n y : H u m p h r e y M c Q u e e n , A u s t r a l i a ’s M e d ia M o n o p o lie s ,
W id e s c o p e I n t e r n a t i o n a l , C a m b e r w e ll V ic ., 1 9 9 7 ; B o b C o n n e l l,
R u lin g C la ss, R u lin g C u ltu r e , C a m b r id g e U n iv e r s ity P ress,
M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 7 ; B ill B o n n e y and H e le n W i l s o n , A u s t r a l i a ’s
C o m m e r ic a l M e d ia , M a c m i l l a n , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 8 3
45 I e n A n g , L iv i n g R o o m W ars, R o u t l e d g e , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 7 ; V i r g in ia
N i g h t g a l e , S t u d y i n g A u d ie n c e s : T h e S h o c k o f the. R e a l, R o u t l e d g e ,
L o n d o n ,19 96
46 C r a ig M cG regor, S o u n d tr a c k fo r th e E ig h tie s , H odder &
S ta u g h to n , S yd n ey, 1 9 8 3 , p p . 7 -1 1

C h a p te r 2 t h e m u r m u r o f t h e w a v e s

1 T h e p h o t o g r a p h e r w a s J e z S m it h , illu s t r a t in g A n d r e w S ta ffo r d ,
‘W a r k ’s W o r l d ’ , S t u d i o F o r M e n , N o . 2 0 , A u tu m n , 1998, pp.
1 0 0 -1 0 2
2 H e le n R a z e r , E v e r y t h i n g ’s F in e : A B e g i n n e r ’s G u i d e to T h w a r t i n g
P r im a r y N ih ili s m , R a n d o m H o u s e , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 , p . 4 1
3 R o b e r t H u g h e s , N o t h i n g I f N o t C r i tic a l : S e le c te d E s s a y s o n A r t a n d
A r tis ts , C o l l i n s H a r v ill, L o n d o n , p . 2 4 7
4 An i d e a I ’v e b o r r o w e d f r o m C a t h a r i n e L u m b y ’s f o r t h c o m i n g
b o o k , G o tc h a ! : L if e in a T a b lo id W o r ld , t o b e p u b l i s h e d b y A l l e n
& U n w in .
endnotes

5 C le o , A u g u s t , 1 9 9 8 ; R a lp h , S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 9 8
6 M arcu s C asey, E v ie G e la s to p o u lo s and M organ O gg,
‘ H u t c h e n c e ’s L a s t H o u r s ’, D a il y T e le g r a p h , 2 4 t h N o v e m b e r , 1 9 9 7
7 L a r r y W r i t e r , ‘A L ife in E x c e s s ’, W h o W e e k ly , 8 t h D ecem ber,
1997, p. 32
8 T o b y C r e s w e l l , ‘A L i f e L i v e d I N X S ’, J u i c e , N o . 6 0 , J a n u a r y 1 9 9 8
9 E d S t J o h n , B u r n : T h e L if e a n d T im e s o f M ic h a e l H u t c h e n c e a n d
IN X S , T r a n s w o r ld , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 , p . 2 4 6
10 T h i s m a y b e C a m i l l e P a g l i a ’s o n l y g o o d i d e a , b u t i t i s , I t h i n k , a
p o w e r fu l o n e . S e e her S e x u a l P erso n a e, R a n d o m H o u se, N ew
Y o rk , 1 9 9 1
11 B o b E l l i s , G o o d b y e J e r u s a le m : N i g h t T h o u g h t s o f a L a b o r O u ts id e r ,
R andom H o u se, Sydney, 1997, p. 4 72
12 N a t a l i e I m b r u g l i a , L e f t o f th e M id d le , R C A , 1 9 9 7
13 S e e C a m i l l a G r i g g e r s , B e c o m in g W o m a n , M i n n e s o t a U n iv e r s ity
P r e ss, M in n e a p o lis , 1 9 9 7 , c h a p te r 1
14 C a r o lin e O v e r in g to n , ‘B e a u t y A nd T r u th B o th M i s s i n g ’,
A g e n d a , S u n d a y A ge, 2 0 t h S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 8 , p . 1 6
15 D ave G raney and th e C oral S n ak es, The S o f t ' n ’S e x y Sound,
id /M e r c u r y , 1 9 9 5
16 q u o ted in M a r ia n W ilk in s o n , T h e F ix e r : The U n t o l d S to r y o f
G r a h a m R ic h a r d s o n , W i l l i a m H e in e m a n A u s tr a lia , M e lb o u r n e ,
1996, p. 297
17 J a c k M a r x , ‘T h a t V i d e o ’ , A u s t r a l i a n S ty le , N o . 2 3 , 1 9 9 7
18 W e n d y T u o h y , ‘W h y S o M a n y L o v e i t W h e n S a m ’s I n A J a m ’ ,
T h e A g e O n li n e , 2 7 t h M a y , 1 9 9 7
19 C h r is C obb, ‘T h e A ge o f C e l e b r i t y ’, M o n tr e a l G a z e tte , 6 th
S e p te m b e r , 1 9 97
20 S a m u e l J o h n s o n , S e le c te d E s s a y s f r o m th e R a m b le r , A d v e n t u r e r a n d
I d le r , Y a l e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , N e w H a v e n , 1 9 6 8 , p p . 1 0 6 - 1 0 7
21 W illia m H a z litt, S e le c te d W r itin g s , P e n g u i n , H a r m o n d sw o r th ,
1985, p. 162, p. 279
22 D a v id M a r s h a ll, C e le b r ity and P o w er: F am e in C o n te m p o r a r y
C u ltu r e , U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a P r e s s , M i n n e a p o l i s , 1 9 9 7
23 S e e J o s h u a M e y r o w i t z , N o S e n s e o f P la c e : T h e I m p a c t o f E le c tr o n ic
M e d ia o n S o c i a l B e h a v io u r , O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , N e w Y o r k ,
1985
24 G u s t a v e L e B o n , T h e C r o w d : A S t u d y o f th e P o p u l a r M i n d , T . F.
U n w in , L o n d o n , 1 9 2 1
25 T . S . E l i o t , S e le c te d P r o se , F a b e r & F a b e r , L o n d o n , 1 9 7 5 ; F. R .
L e a v is , M a s s C iv ilis a tio n a n d M in o r i t y C u ltu r e , M i n o r i t y P r e s s ,
C a m b r id g e , 1 9 3 0
26 T h eod or A dorno. T h e C u l tu r e I n d u s t r y : S e le c te d E s s a y s o n M a s s
C u ltu r e , R o u t l e d g e , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 0
27 D w a i n e M a r v i c k , H a r o l d L a s s w e l l o n P o li t ic a l S o c io lo g y , U n i v e r s i t y
o f C h ic a g o P ress, 1 9 7 7
 endnotes 345

28 P a u l L a z a r s f e l d , T h e P e o p le ’s C h o ic e : H o w th e V o te r M a k e s U p H i s
M in d , C o l u m b i a U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , N e w Y o r k , 1 9 6 5
29 See M a r tin B arker and J u lia n P e tle y , III E f f e c ts : The
M e d ia /V io le n c e D e b a te , R o u tle d g e , L ondon, 1997; D a v id
B u c k i n g h a m , M o v i n g I m a g e s : U n d e r s t a n d i n g C h i l d r e n ’s E m o ti o n a l
R e s p o n s e s to T e le v is io n , M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 9 6 ;
30 D a v id M o r le y and K u a n -H s in g C hen, S tu a r t H a ll: C r i t ic a l
D ia lo g u e s in C u l t u r a l S tu d ie s , R o u t l e d g e , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 6
31 C a t h a r i n e L u m b y , B a d G ir ls : T h e M e d i a , S e x a n d F e m in i s m i n th e
9 0s, A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7
32 S e e E ls p e th P r o b y n , O u t s id e B e lo n g in g s , R o u t l e d g e , N e w Y o rk ,
1996, p. 135
33 See fo r e x a m p le , L u k e S la tte r y , ‘B l u r r i n g th e B o u n d a r ie s ’,
W eeken d A u s tr a lia n , M a r c h 29, 1997; K a th K e n n y , F e m in is ts
o n t h e F r o n t L i n e ’, S y d n e y M o r n in g H e r a ld , 2 2 n d M a r c h 1 9 9 7 ;
John M c D o n a l d , ‘A r t o f t h e S t a t e s ’, S y d n e y M o r n i n g H e r a ld ,
J u n e 7 t h , 1 9 9 7 . F o r a m o r e c o n s t r u c t i v e r e a d i n g , s e e M a r ily n
L a k e , ‘G o o d W om en, Bad G ir ls ’, M e a n jin , N o . 2 , 1997, pp.
3 3 8 -3 4 5
34 John H a r t l e y , P o p u l a r R e a li ty : J o u r n a l i s m , M o d e r n it y a n d P o p u l a r
C u ltu r e , E d w a r d A r n o l d , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 6
35 I e n A n g , L iv i n g R o o m W ars, R o u t l e d g e , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 6
36 M c K e n z ie W ark, V ir tu a l G eo gra ph y: L iv in g W ith G lo b a l M e d ia
E v e n ts, I n d ia n a U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , B l o o m i n g t o n , 1 9 9 4
37 See M u l v e y ’s c la s s is essa y ‘V i s u a l P le a s u r e and N a r r a tiv e
C i n e m a ’, i n L a u r a M u lv e y , V i s u a l a n d o th e r P le a s u r e s , I n d i a n a
U n v e r s ity P r e ss, B lo o m in g t o n , 1 9 8 9
38 O n t h e v i r t u a l , s e e B r i a n M a s s u m i , A U s e r ’s G u i d e to C a p i ta l i s m
a n d S c h iz o p h r e n ia , M I T P r e s s , C a m b r i d g e , 1 9 9 2 , p p . 3 - 4 f f
39 L u m b y h e r e f o l l o w s t h e a r g u m e n t s o f M o i r a G a t e n s , F e m in is m
a n d P h ilo s o p h y : P e r s p e c tiv e s o n D if fe r e n c e a n d E q u a lit y , P o l i t y P r e s s ,
C a m b r id g e , 1 9 9 3
40 N a o m i W o o l f , T h e B e a u ty M y th , V i n t a g e , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 1

C h ap te r 3 t h e a s s a n d t h e a n g e l

1 C o lin C a v e , e t a l , N e d K e lly : M a n a n d M y th , C a s s e l l A u s t r a l i a ,
M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 6 8 , p p . 8 - 9
2 R o b e r t D r e w e , O u r S u n s h in e , P i c a d o r , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 1 , p . 3 5
3 P a u l K e l ly , ‘ B r a d m a n ’ , o n S o n g s o f th e S o u th : P a u l K e lly 's G r e a te s t
H its , M u s h r o o m R e c o r d s I n t e r n a t i o n a l , 1 9 9 7
4 N o t w i t h o u t s o m e m i s g i v i n g s . S e e M i c h a e l M c G i r r , ‘A t H o m e i n
M e m o r y ’, in C a ssa n d ra Pybus (e d ), C o lu m b u s ’ B lin d n e ss a n d
O th e r E ssays, U n iv e r s it y o f Q u e e n s l a n d P r e s s , S t L u c ia Q l d , 1 9 9 4
. 5 D in o S ca ten a , K y lie : F r o m G i r l N e x t D o o r to I n t e r n a t i o n a l I c o n ,
endnotes

P e n g u in , R in g w o o d V ic ., 1 9 9 7 , p . 1 2
6 P e t e r W i l m o t h , G l a d A l l O v e r : T h e C o u n t d o w n Y e a rs 1 9 7 4 - 1 9 8 7 ,
M c P h e e G r ib b le , R in g w o o d V ic ., 1 9 9 3
7 K y lie M i n o g u e ’s , ‘L o c o m o t i o n ’ and ‘B e t t e r th e D e v il Y ou
K n ow ’ are o n G r e a te s t H i t s , M u s h r o o m V i d e o , 1 9 9 2
8 See S tu a rt C u n n in g h a m and T oby M ille r , C o n te m p o r a r y
A u s t r a l i a n T e le v is io n , U N S W P r e s s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 4 , p p . 1 2 7 - 1 3 5
9 C r a ig M cG regor, C la s s I n A u s t r a l i a , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V i c ,
1997
10 T o m O ’ R e g a n , A u s t r a l i a n N a t i o n a l C in e m a , R o u t l e d g e , L o n d o n ,
1996, p. 5 0 ff
11 Jean B a u d r illa r d , S e d u c tio n , M a c m illa n E d u c a t io n , L ondon,
1979
12 K y lie M in o g u e , ‘C o n f i d e In M e ’ , K y lie M in o g u e , M u sh room ,
1994; see a ls o T h e K y lie T a p e s 9 4 - 9 8 , R o a d s h o w / M u s h r o o m ,
1998
13 S u san S o n ta g , ‘N o t e s on C a m p ’, in A g a in s t I n t e r p r e ta tio n ,
A n c h o r B o o k s, N e w Y ork , 1 9 9 0 , p p . 2 7 5 - 2 9 2
14 ‘W h e r e t h e W i l d R o s e s G r o w ’, o n N i c k C a v e , M u r d e r B a ll a d s ,
M u t e /M u s h r o o m , 1 9 9 6
15 G r e i l M a r c u s , L ip s tic k T r a c e s : A S e c re t H i s t o r y o f th e 2 0 t h C e n tu r y ,
H a r v a r d U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , C a m b r id g e M a s s ., 1 9 8 9
16 F r ie d r ic h N ie tz s c h e , T h e B irth o f T ra g ed y, P e n g u i n , L o n d o n ,
1 9 9 3 , p . 2 6 ; s e e a l s o F r i e d r i c h N i e t z s c h e , T w il ig h t o f th e I d o l s / T h e
A n ti- C h r is t, P e n g u i n , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 0 , p p . 1 1 6 - 1 2 1
17 T h e B ir t h d a y P a rty , H its , S h o c k R e c o r d s , 1 9 9 6
18 N i c k C a v e a n d t h e B a d S e e d s , T h e F ir s tb o r n is D e a d , L i b e r a t i o n
R ecord, 1990
19 D ic k H e b d ig e , S u b c u l tu r e : The M e a n in g o f S ty le , M e th u e n ,
L o n d o n ,19 79
20 B e r n a r d C o h e n , S n ow dom e, A lle n & U n w in , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 , p . 3
21 A n t o n in A r ta u d , ‘T h e T h e a tre and Its D o u b l e ’, i n C o lle c te d
W o rk s, C a l d e r a n d B o y a r s , L o n d o n , 1 9 7 4 , p . 6 5 , p . 4
22 N i c k C a v e , A n d th e A s s S a w th e A n g e l, P e n g u i n B o o k s , L o n d o n ,
1990, p. 9
23 A r t h u r R i m b a u d , ‘ L e t t e r t o G e o r g e I z e m b a r d ’ , C o lle c te d P o e m s ,
P e n g u in , L o n d o n , 1 9 8 6 , p . 6
24 N i c k C a v e a n d t h e B a d S e e d s , T en d e r P rey, L i b e r a t i o n R e c o r d s ,
1990
25 A r t h u r S c h o p e n h a u e r , E s s a y s a n d A p h o r is m s , P e n g u i n , L o n d o n ,
1990, p. 43
26 F r e d r ic h N i e t z s c h e , B e y o n d G o o d a n d E v il , P e n g u i n , L o n d o n ,
1990, p. 68
27 N ic k C a v e a n d th e B a d S e e d s , The G ood Son, L ib e r a tio n R e c o r d ,
1990
28 J o h n n y Suede, d ir e c t e d b y T o m D e C illo , 1 9 9 1
 endnotes 347

C h a p te r 4 h o m a g e t o c a t a t o n i a

1 C o n s titu tio n a l C o m m is s io n , I n d i v i d u a l a n d D e m o c r a tic R ig h ts ,

R eport o f th e A d v is o r y C o m m itt e e to th e C o n s titu tio n a l
C o m m is s io n , C a n b e r r a , 1 9 8 7 , P r e fa c e
2 L e s l e y S ly , T h e P o w e r a n d th e P a s s io n : A G u i d e to th e A u s t r a l i a n
M u s ic I n d u s tr y , W a r n e r /C h a p p e ll M u s ic , Sydney, 1993, pp.
1 6 -1 7
3 P e t e r W i l m o t h , G l a d A l l O v e r : T h e C o u n t d o w n Y e a rs 1 9 7 4 - 1 9 8 7 ,
M c P h e e G r ib b le , M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 3
4 H ir s t, q u o t e d in S ly , o p c it, p . 3 2 1 ; G a r r e tt q u o t e d in W e n d y
M i l s o n & H e l e n T h o m a s , P a y to P la y , P e n g u i n A u s t r a l i a , 1 9 8 6 .
S e e a l s o T o b y C r e s w e l l ’s c h a p t e r i n C l i n t o n W a l k e r , ( e d ) , T h e
N e x t T h in g , K a n g a r o o P r e s s , S y d n e y , 1 9 8 4
5 P e te r G a r r e tt, P o l i t i c a l B lu e s , H odder & S ta u g h to n , Syd ney
1 9 8 7 , p . 7 6 . U n a c k n o w le d g e d q u o te s fr o m G a r r e tt a r e fr o m
P o l i t i c a l B lu e s .
6 R o b H ir s t , q u o t e d in S ly , o p c i t , p . 3 3 2
7 See M c K e n z ie W ark, ‘F r o m F o r d is m to S o n y is m : P erverse
R e a d in g s o f th e N ew W o r ld O r d e r ’ , N e w F o r m a tio n s , N o . 15,
W in te r 1 9 9 1 , p p . 4 3 - 5 4
8 M ils o m & T h o m a s , p . 3 5
9 M ils o m & T h o m a s, p. 7
10 N o t a ll p u b l i c i t y is g o o d p u b lic ity . S e e T h e C e n t r a l i a n A d v o c a te ,
1 6 t h J u l y , 1 9 8 6 ; T h e A g e , 1 5 t h J u l y , 1 9 8 6 ; M e lb o u r n e S u n , 1 9 t h
F e b 1 9 8 7 ; M e lb o u r n e H e r a l d , 1 6 t h J u l y , 1 9 8 6
11 G a r r e tt w r o te a num ber o f ‘C o m m e n t ’ c o lu m n s fo r th e
M e lb o u r n e H e r a l d , f o r e x a m p l e , ‘G o o s e - s t e p p i n g w i t h t h e N e w
R i g h t ’ , 1 1 t h S e p t 1 9 8 6 a n d ‘I s O u r C o n s t i t u t i o n i n C r i s i s ? ’ , 9 t h
O c to b e r 1 9 8 6 . A ls o ‘T h e B e a t G o e s O n ’ in R o l l i n g S to n e , N o .
4 0 9 , A u g 1 9 8 7 . S o m e o f t h e s e w e r e c o l l e c t e d i n P o l i t i c a l B lu e s ,
H o d d e r & S ta u g h to n , S y d n ey, 19 87
12 M a r c u s B r e e n in A ren a , N o . 7 4 , 1 9 8 6
13 M i c h a e l B ir c h i n M e a n jin V o l. 4 3 N o . 4 , a n d i n M a r c u s B r e e n ,
( e d ) , M i s s i n g i n A c tio n , V e r b a l G r a p h i c s , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 8 7 . A l l
q u o te s a r e fr o m t h e la tte r , r e v is e d v e r s io n .
14 C r a i g M c G r e g o r , ‘O n M a s s A r t ’, i n S o u n d tr a c k f o r th e E ig h tie s ,
H o d d e r & S t a u g h t o n , S y d n e y , 1 9 8 3 , p . 3 7 ; J o h n A n d e r s o n , ‘A r t
a n d M o r a l i t y ’ , i n A r t i s f R e a li ty : J o h n A n d e r s o n o n L ite r a tu r e a n d
A e s th e tic s , H a l e & I r e m o n g e r , S y d n e y , 1 9 8 2
15 A n t o n io G r a m s c i, P r is o n N o te b o o k s , I n te r n a tio n a l P u b lis h e r s ,
N e w Y o r k , p p . 3 —2 4
16 D a v i d R o w e i n A u s t r a l i a n J o u r n a l o f C u l t u r a l S tu d ie s , V o l . 3 , N o .
2, 1985
17 T o ly S a w e n k o , ‘A C F ’s E n e r g e t i c C r u s a d e r ’ , H a b i t a t A u s tr a l ia ,
O c to b er 1 9 89 , p. 13
348 endnotes

18 O n ‘T h e R i s e a n d F a l l ( ? ) o f t h e N D P ’ c f M a r i a n Q u i g l e y , i n
C u r r e n t A f f a ir s B u lle ti n , V o l . 6 2 , N o . 1 1
19 ‘I n t h e V a l l e y ’ , E a r th , S u n a n d M o o n , C o l u m b i a 1 9 9 3
20 ‘T h e P o w e r a n d t h e P a s s i o n ’ , 1 0 , 9 , 8 , 7 , 6 , 5 , 4 , 3 , 2 , 1 , C B S , 1 9 8 2
21 q u o t e d i n J o h n P i l g e r , A S e c r e t C o u n tr y , V i n t a g e , L o n d o n , 1 9 8 9 ,
p. 219
22 P e te r G a r r e tt, ‘M y t h s , M a g ic P o tio n s and th e R e a lity o f
S u r v i v a l ’, H a b i ta t A u s tr a lia , A p r il 1 9 9 0 , p . 1 0
23 P a u l K e l l y , T h e E n d o f C e r ta in t y , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y 1 9 9 2 ,
pp. 5 3 6 -8
24 cf M egan C r o n l y ’s e x c e lle n t a n a ly s is in N ew M u s i c A r tic le s ,
M e lb o u r n e , N o . 3 , 1 9 8 4
25 C o n s t i t u t i o n a l C o m m is s io n B u lle ti n , N o . 2 , S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 6
26 R u s s e ll W a r d , T h e A u s tr a lia n L eg en d , n e w illu s tr a t e d e d itio n ,
O x fo r d U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 7 8
27 C r a i g M a t h i e s o n , ‘B a c k I n R e d ’ , R o l l i n g S to n e A u s t r a l i a , I s s u e
5 5 2 , S e p te m b e r 1 9 98 , p p . 5 2 -5 5
28 M i d n i g h t O i l , ‘R e d n e c k W o n d e r l a n d ’, o n R e d n e c k W o n d e r la n d ,
C o lu m b ia , 1 9 9 8

C h a p te r 5 s u b d i v i s i o n c u l t u r e s

1 P a u l K e l l y , ‘L i t t l e K i n g s ’ , W o r d s a n d M u s ic , W h i t e / M u s h r o o m ,
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2 P a u l K e l l y , ‘C a r e l e s s ’ a n d ‘D u m b T h i n g s ’ , S o n g s o f th e S o u th :
P a u l K e l l y ’s G r e a te s t H i t s , M u s h r o o m , 1 9 9 7 . T h e o t h e r s o n g m e n ­
t i o n e d h e r e , ‘F r o m L it t le T h in g s B ig T h in g s G r o w ’ is a ls o o n
th is c o m p ila t io n .
3 P a u l K e l ly , T h e E n d o f C e r t a i n t y , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 2 . p .
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4 K e lly , p . 6 7 4
5 D o n a ld H orne, T he L ucky C o u n try , (5 th e d itio n ), P e n g u in ,
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6 D a v id W illia m s o n , B u l le t i n , 2 A p r il 1996; B e a t r ic e F a u s t,
A u s t r a l i a n R a t i o n a li s t , N o . 3 8 , 1 9 9 5
7 D o n a l d H o r n e , T h e P u b l ic C u ltu r e : T h e T r iu m p h o f I n d u s t r ia l i s m ,
P lu to P r e ss, L o n d o n , 1 9 8 6
8 S a l l y W h i t e a n d S u e C u m m i n g s , S i le n t M a jo r ity I I I : T h e E v e r y d a y
P r o b le m s o f th e A verage A u s tr a lia n , C le m e n g e r A d v e r tis in g ,
M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 7
9 R obert M anne, The C u ltu r e of F o r g e t tin g , T ext M e d ia ,
M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 6
10 S e e f o r e x a m p l e J o c k C o l l i n s a n d A n t o n i o C a s t i l l o , C o s m o p o lita n
Sydney, P lu t o P r e s s A u s tr a lia , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8
11 P a m e l a W i l l i a m s , T h e V ic to r y , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7
 endnotes 34S

12 E la in e T h om p son , F a ir E n o u g h : E g a lita r ia n is m in A u s tr a lia ,

U N S W P ress, S y d n ey , 1 9 9 4
13 P a u l K e ll y , ‘S p e c i a l T r e a t m e n t ’ , H i d d e n T h in g s , M u s h r o o m , 1 9 9 2
14 G e o f f r e y D u t t o n , S n o w O n th e S a l tb u s h , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V i c . ,
1985, p. 16
15 S e e I a n T u r n e r , R oom F or M an o eu vre , D r u m m o n d , M e lb o u r n e ,
1982, pp. 2 1 6 -2 2 8 ; A lla n A s h b o lt, An A u s tr a lia n E x p e r ie n c e ,
A u s tr a la s ia n B o o k S o c ie ty , S y d n e y , 1 9 7 4 , p p . 2 9 - 4 3 ; H u m p h r e y
M cQ ueen, S o cia l S k e tc h e s o f A u s tr a lia 1 7 8 8 -1 9 7 5 , P e n g u in ,
H a r m o n d sw o r th , 1 9 7 8 , p p . 2 0 8 -2 1 1
16 C h r i s M c A u l i f f e , A r t a n d S u b u r b ia , C r a f t s m a n ’s H o u s e , R o s e v i l l e
E a s t, N S W , 1 9 9 6 , p p . 1 1 - 1 3 . T h e f o l l o w i n g q u o t e is f r o m p. 58
17 T im R o w s e , A u s t r a l i a n L ib e r a lis m a n d N a t i o n a l C h a r a c te r , K i b b l e
B o o k s, M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 7 8 , p . 2 1 2
18 John H a r tle y , P o p u l a r R e a li ty : J o u r n a l i s m , M o d e r n ity , P o p u la r
C u ltu r e , E d w a r d A r n o l d , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 8 , p . 5 4
19 C r a ig M cG regor, P e o p le , P o litic s a n d P o p , U r e S m ith , S y d n ey ,
1968, p. 163
20 D a v id M a r s h a ll, C e le b r ity and P ow er: F am e in C o n te m p o r a r y
C u ltu r e , M i n n e s o t a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , M i n n e a p o l i s , 1 9 9 7 , p . x i i
21 M ic h a e l P u s e y , E c o n o m ic R a t i o n a l i s m in C an berra, C a m b r id g e
U n iv e r s ity P ress, 1992; E va C ox, A T ru ly C i v i l S o c ie ty , A B C
B o o k s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 5 ; J a m e s W a l t e r , T u n n e l V is io n : T h e F a il u r e o f
P o li t ic a l I m a g i n a t io n , A lle n & U n w in , Sydney, 1996; M o ir a
R a y n e r , R o o t i n g D e m o c r a c y : G r o w i n g th e S o c ie ty W e W a n t, A l l e n &
U n w in , S y d n e y , 1997; F red A r g y , A u s tr a lia A t T h e C ro ssro a d s:
R a d i c a l F re e M a r k e t o r a P r o g r e s s iv e L ib e r a lis m '? , A l l e n & U n w in ,
Sydney, 1988; G regory M e lle u is h , T h e P a c k a g in g o f A u s tr a lia :
P o lit ic s a n d C u l tu r e W a r s , U n i v e r s i t y o f N S W P r e s s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 ;
H um phrey M cQ ueen, T e m p e r D e m o c r a tic : H ow E x c e p ti o n a l is
A u s tr a lia ? , W a k e fie ld P ress, K ent Tow n SA , 1998; F rank
B rennan, L e g is la tin g L ib e r ty : A B i l l o f R ig h t s F o r A u s tr a l ia ? ,
U n i v e r s i t y o f Q u e e n s l a n d P r e s s , S t L u c i a Q l d , 1 9 9 8 ; B o b E llis ,
F irst A b o lis h th e C u s to m e r : 202 A r g u m e n ts A g a in s t E c o n o m ic
R a t i o n a li s m , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V i c . , 1 9 9 6
22 K e n n e t h S l e s s o r , ‘A P o r t r a i t o f S y d n e y ’, i n D e n n i s H a s k e l l ( e d )
K e n n e th S le s s o r : P o e tr y , E ssa ys, W ar D e s p a tc h e s , J o u r n a l i s m ,
A u to b i o g r a p h i c a l M a t e r i a l a n d L e tte r s , U n i v e r s i t y o f Q u e e n s l a n d
P r e s s , B r is b a n e , 1 9 9 1 , p . 7 2
23 D u lc ie D eam er, Q u een o f B o h e m ia , U n i v e r s i t y o f Q u e e n s la n d
P r e ss, S t L u c ia Q ld , 1 9 9 8
24 C r a ig M cG regor, C l a s s in A u s t r a l i a , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V i c . ,
1997, p. 126, p. 69, p. 158
25 S tr e w th l, N o . 1 , S p r i n g 1 9 9 8 , p . 3
26 S y l v i a L a w s o n , T h e A r c h ib a ld P a r a d o x , A l l e n L a n e , M e lb o u r n e ,
1983
endnotes

27 J o h n D o c k e r , T h e N e r v o u s N i n e tie s : A u s t r a l i a n C u l t u r a l L if e in th e
1 8 9 0 s, O x fo r d U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 1 , p . 2 3 3
28 P e te r K ir k p a tr ic k , T h e Sea C o a s t o f B o h e m ia : L it e r a r y L if e in
S y d n e y ’s R o a r in g T w e n tie s , U n iv e r s ity o f Q u e e n s la n d P ress,
B r is b a n e , 1 9 9 2 , p . 3
29 R ic h a r d N e v ille , H ip p ie H ip p ie Sh ake, W illia m H e in e m a n n
A u s tr a lia , 1 9 9 5 , p . 1 0
30 A nne S u m m ers, D am n ed W h o res and G o d ’s P o lic e , P e n g u in ,
R in g w o o d V ic , 1 9 9 5 , r e v is e d e d it io n , p . 1 0 9
31 J u s t i n e E t t le r , ‘H a p p y H o u r s ’, H Q M a g a z in e , J a n u a r y 1 9 9 8
32 B o h e m ia n R h a p s o d y , w r i t t e n a n d d i r e c t e d b y T o n y M o o r e , A B C ,
1997
33 M andy S ayer, D r e a m tim e A lic e : A M e m o ir , R andom H o u se,
Sydney, 1 998, p. 4
34 J o h n C l a r e , B o d g ie D a d a a n d th e C u l t o f C o o l: A u s t r a l i a n J a z z S in c e
'1945, U N S W P ress, S yd n ey, 1 9 9 5
35 A n n e C o o m b s , S e x a n d A n a r c h y : T h e L if e a n d D e a th o f th e S y d n e y
P u sh , V ik in g P e n g u in , R in g w o o d V ic ., 1 9 9 6
36 S e e G ary W o th ersp o o n , T h e C ity o f th e P l a i n : H i s t o r y o f a G a y
S u b c u ltu r e , H a l e & I r e m o n g e r , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 1 ; G r a h a m C a r b e r y ,
A H i s t o r y o f th e S y d n e y G a y a n d l e s b i a n M a r d i G r a s , A u s t r a l i a n
G a y a n d L e s b i a n A r c h iv e s , P a r k v ille V i c ., 1 9 9 5
37 A ndrew C onw ay, ‘N o t As E asy as A B C ’, The G u id e , S ydn ey
M o r n i n g H e r a ld , 1 0 t h J u n e , 1 9 9 6 , p . 2
38 A m r u t a S l e e , ‘S y m p a t h y f o r t h e D e v i l ’ , H Q M a g a z i n e , N o . 6 0 ,
S e p te m b e r , 1 9 8 8 , p p . 3 6 -4 3 , at p . 4 0

C h ap te r 6 s c r e e n i n g s u b u r b i a

1 C h r i s M c A u l i f f e , A r t a n d S u b u r b ia , C r a f t s m e n ’s H o u s e , S y d n e y ,
1 996, p. 91
2 See G o o d N e w s W eek : U n s e e n a n d O b scen e, d i r e c t e d b y M a r tin
C o o m b s a n d D a v id R e c to r , A B C V id e o , 1 9 9 8
3 A m r u t a S l e e , ‘S y m p a t h y f o r t h e D e v i l ’ , H Q M a g a z i n e , N o . 6 0 ,
S e p te m b e r , 1 9 8 8 , p p . 3 6 -4 3 , at p . 4 0
4 A l l a n A s h b o l t , A n A u s t r a l i a n E x p e r ie n c e : W o r d s f r o m th e V ie tn a m
Y ears, A u s t r a l a s i a n B o o k S o c i e t y , S y d n e y , 1 9 7 4 , p p . 9 - 1 0
5 J o h n P a s q u a r e l l i , T h e P a u l i n e H a n s o n S to r y , N e w H o l l a n d P r e s s ,
F r e n c h ’s F o r e s t N S W , 1 9 9 8 , p p . 7 0 - 7 2
6 W ild s id e s c r e e n e d o n A B C T V i n 1 9 9 8
7 M e t a l S k in , d i r e c t e d b y G e o f f r e y W r i g h t , V i l l a g e R o a d s h o w , 1 9 9 4
8 Sea C h an ge, w r it te n b y D e b C o x , p r o d u c e d f o r A B C T V b y A r tis t
S e r v ic e s
9 S a m u e l J o h n s o n , S e le c te d E s s a y s f r o m th e R a m b le r , A d v e n t u r e r a n d
I d le r , Y a l e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , N e w H a v e n , 1 9 6 8 , p . 1 8 4
 endnotes

10 F o r i n f o r m a t i o n o n H e a rtb r e a k H ig h , s e e
h t t p : //w v w .a b c .n e t .a u /h e a r t b r e a k /e p is o d e /d e f a u lt .h t m
11 T h e C a s tle , d i r e c t e d b y R o b S i t c h , W o r k i n g D o g , 1 9 9 5
12 R o b in B o y d , A u s tr a lia n U g lin e s s , F. W . C h e s h i r e , M e l b o u r n e ,
1960, pp . 9 ff
13 M u r ie l's W e d d in g , d i r e c t e d b y P . J. H o g a n , V i l l a g e R o a d s h o w , 1 9 9 4
14 I d io t B o x , d i r e c t e d b y D a v i d C e a s a r , G l o b e F i l m s , 1 9 9 6
15 M a r k L a t h a m , C i v i l i s i n g G lo b a l C a p i ta l , A l l e n & U n w in , 1 9 9 8 ,
p p . 1 1 3 -1 1 5
16 John H a r t le y , P o p u l a r R e a lity : J o u r n a l i s m , M o d e r n ity , P o p u la r
C u ltu r e , E d w a r d A r n o ld , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 6 , p . 1 5 7
17 T h e B o y s, d i r e c t e d b y R o w e n W o o d s , w r i t t e n b y S t e p h e n S e w e l l
f r o m a p la y b y G o r d o n G r a h a m , 1 9 9 8
18 D ia n e P o w e ll, O u t W e s t: P e r c e p tio n s o f S y d n e y ’s W e s te r n S u b u r b s ,
A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 3 , p . x v iii
19 G r a e m e T u r n e r , M a k in g It N a tio n a l: N a tio n a lis m a n d A u s tr a lia n
P o p u l a r C u ltu r e , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 4 , p . 8 , p . 1 2 9
20 P a r k la n d , w r it t e n a n d d i r e c t e d b y K a t h r y n M illa r d , A u s t r a lia n
F ilm I n s t it u t e , 1 9 9 6
21 D e a d l e t t e r O ffic e , w r i t t e n by D eb C ox and d ir e c te d by lo h n
R uane, 1998
22 T h e I n te r v i e w , d i r e c t e d b y C r a i g M o n a h a n , P o i n t b l a n k P i c t u r e s ,
1998
23 C h r i s M c A u l i f f e , A r t a n d S u b u r b ia , C r a f t s m a n ’s H o u s e , R o s e v i l l e
E a st, N S W , 1 9 9 6 , p . 6 0 , p . 71
24 The A d v e n tu r e s o f P r is c il la , Q u een o f th e D e s e r t, d ir e c te d by
S t e p h a n E llio tt, V illa g e R o a d s h o w , 1 9 9 4
25 M a x H a r r i s , O c k e r s : E s s a y s o n th e B a d O l d N e w A u s t r a l i a , M a x i m u s
B o o k s , A d e l a i d e S A , 1 9 7 4 , p . v iii, a n d p . 2 2
26 John D ocker, P o s t m o d e r n is m and P o p u la r C u ltu r e : A C u ltu r a l
H isto ry , C a m b r i d g e U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 9 4 , p . 1 6 8 f f
27 P a u l K e l l y , ‘S w e e t G u y ’ , o n Songs fro m th e S o u th : P a u l K e l l y ’s
G r e a te s t H it s , M u s h r o o m , 1 9 9 7
28 D o i n g T im e f o r P a ts y C lin e , d i r e c t e d b y C h r is K e n n e d y , D e n d y
V i d e o , 1 9 9 7 ; K i s s o r K il l, d i r e c t e d b y B i l l B e n n e t t , N e w V i s i o n ,
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B e c k e r H o m e V id e o , 1 9 9 8
29 M c K e n z i e W a r k , T h e V i r t u a l R e p u b lic : A u s t r a l i a ' s C u l tu r e W a r s o f
th e 1 9 9 0 s , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7 , p p . 2 3 9 - 2 7 1
30 L e s A . M u r r a y , S e le c te d P o e m s : T h e V e r n a c u la r R e p u b lic , A n g u s &
R o b e r tso n , S y d n ey , 1 9 7 6
31 G r a e m e T u r n e r , M a k in g I t N a tio n a l: N a tio n a lis m a n d A u s tr a lia n
P o p u l a r C u ltu r e , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 4 , p . 9
32 q u o ted in G ay A lc o r n , ‘H a n s o n L oses C o n t r o l ’, A ge, 1 2 th
S e p te m b e r , 1 9 9 8
endnotes

33 S y l v a n i a W a te r s , d i r e c t e d b y B r i a n H i l l a n d K a t e W o o d s , B B C T V
in a s s o c ia t io n w ith A B C T V , 1 9 9 2
34 John H a r tle y , P o p u l a r R e a li ty : J o u r n a l i s m , M o d e r n ity , P o p u la r
C u ltu r e , E d w a r d A r n o ld , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 6 , p . 1 7 4
35 G r a e m e T u r n e r , M a k in g I t N a tio n a l: N a tio n a lis m a n d A u s tr a lia n
P o p u l a r C u ltu r e , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 4 , p . 1 5 5 . S e e a l s o
G raem e T u rner, ‘S u b u r b i a V e r it e ’, A u s tr a lia n L e ft R e v ie w ,
O c to b e r , 1 9 9 2 , p p . 3 7 -3 9
36 T o m O ’ R e g a n , A u s t r a l i a n N a t i o n a l C in e m a , R o u t l e d g e , L o n d o n ,
1996, p. 256
37 q u o t e d in T o m O ’R e g a n , A u s t r a l i a n T e le v is io n C u ltu r e , A l l e n &
U n w in , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 3 , p . 1 1 6
38 S e e a l s o D a v i d R o w e , ‘T h e F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c o f S y l v a n i a W a t e r s ’,
M e tr o , N o . 9 8 , 1994, pp. 1 4 -2 3 ; J o n S tr a tto n and Ien A ng,
'S y l v a n i a W a te r s a n d t h e S p e c t a c u l a r E x p l o d i n g F a m i l y ’, S c re e n ,
V o l. 3 4 , N o . 1 , p p . 1 - 2 1
39 C r a ig M cG regor, C la ss I n A u s tr a lia , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V ic .,
1997, p. 144
40 B o b G r e g o r y a n d B o y d H u n t e r , ‘T h e M a c r o E c o n o m y a n d t h e
G r o w t h o f G h e t t o s a n d U r b a n P o v e r t y in A u s t r a lia ’, A u s tr a lia n
N a t i o n a l U n i v e r s ity C e n tr e f o r E c o n o m i c P o lic y R e s e a r c h D is c u s s io n
P a per, N o . 3 2 5 , A p r il 1 9 9 5
41 See C r a ig M cG regor, C la s s i n A u s t r a l i a , P e n g u i n , R in g w o o d
V ic ., 1997, pp. 1 5 8 ff; M ark L a th a m , C i v i l i s i n g G lo b a l C a p i ta l :
N e w T h in k in g F or A u s tr a lia n L a bo r, A l le n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 ;
p p . lO O ff
42 P a o l a T o t a r o , ‘W e ’v e G i v e n U p t h e Q u a r t e r - A c r e B l o c k ’ , S y d n e y
M o r n i n g H e r a ld , 6 t h M a r c h , 1 9 9 8 , p . 2
43 P e te r O ’S h e a , ‘T e l e c a s t T h r e a t’, C a p ita l Q_ W e e k ly , 8 th
N ovem b er 1996

C h ap ter 7 t r u e b e l i e v e r s

1 C r a ig M cG regor, C la s s i n A u s t r a l i a , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V i c . ,
1997, p. 86
2 L i n d a J a i v i n , ‘U G o t t h e L o o k ’ , C o n f e s s io n s o f a n S & M V ir g in ,
T e x t P u b lis h in g , M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 7 , p . 1 0 4
3 C r a ig M cG regor, T im e o f T e s tin g : The B ob H aw ke V ic to r y ,
P e n g u in , R in g w o o d V ic ., 1 9 8 3 , p . 1 3
4 L a b o r in P o w er, p r o d u c e d a n d d i r e c t e d by Su e Spencer, ABC
V id e o , 1 9 9 3
5 N orm an L in d s a y , T h e M a g ic P u d d in g : T h e A d v e n t u r e s o f B u n y ip
B lu e g u m , A n g u s & R o b e r t s o n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 6 , f i r s t p u b l i s h e d i n 1 9 1 8
6 T hom as K eenan, F a b le s o f R e s p o n s ib lity , S ta n fo r d U n iv e r s ity
P ress, S ta n fo rd C A , 1 9 9 7 , p. 4 5
 endnotes

7 R a t s in th e R a n k s , p r o d u c e d a n d d i r e c t e d b y B o b C o n n o l l y a n d
R o b in A n d e r s o n , F ilm A u s tr a lia a n d A r u n d e l F ilm s , 1 9 9 6
8 B o b E l l i s , G o o d b y e J e r u s a le m : N i g h t T h o u g h ts o f a L a b o r O u ts id e r ;
R andom H o u s e , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7 , p . 2 6 0 , q u o t in g D e n n is H e a ly .
9 T h e D is m is s a l: T h e P o w e r S tr u g g le th a t S p lit O u r N a tio n , e x e c u t i v e p r o ­
d u c e r s B y r o n K e n n e d y a n d D r G e o r g e M ille r , d ir e c t o r s G e o r g e
M ille r , P h illip N oyce, G eorge O g ilv ie , C a rl S c h u lt z and John
P o w e r , K e n n e d y - M i l l e r , 1 9 8 2 ; iM b o r in P o w e r , d e v i s e d , w r i t t e n a n d
r e p o r te d b y P h ilip C h u b b , e x e c u tiv e p r o d u c e r , P a u l W illia m s ,
A B C V i d e o , 1 9 9 3 ; T r u e B e lie v e rs, w r i t t e n b y B o b E l l i s a n d S t e p h e n
R a m s e y , d i r e c t e d b y P e t e r F is k , e x e c u t i v e p r o d u c e r s , S a n d r a L e v y
a n d M a tt C a r r o ll, R o a d s h o w , C o o t e a n d C a r r o ll, 1 9 8 8
10 O n John C u r tin , s e e G e o ffr e y S e r le , F o r A u s tr a lia a n d L a bo r:
P r im e M in is te r J o h n C u r tin , J o h n C u r tin P r im e M in is te r ia l
L ib r a r y , P e r th , 1998; L lo y d R o ss, John C u r ti n : A B io g r a p h y ,
M a c m i ll a n , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 7 7 ; K im B e a z le y ( s n r ) ,J o h n C u r ti n :
A n A ty p ic a l L a b o r le a d e r , A N U P r e s s , C a n b e r r a , 1 9 7 2
11 John C u r tin , ‘T h e T a sk A h e a d ’, o r i g i n a l l y p u b lis h e d in th e
M e lb o u r n e H e r a ld , 2 7 t h D ecem ber 1 9 4 1 , r e p r in te d in D a v id
B l a c k ( e d ) , I n H i s O w n W o r d s : J o h n C u r t i n ’s S p e e c h e s a n d W r itin g s ,
P a r a d ig m B o o k s , C u r tin U n iv e r s ity W A , p p . 1 9 3 - 1 9 6
12 F r o m a r a d io b r o a d c a s t o f 1 9 4 3 , in B la c k , p . 2 2 6
13 John P a s q u a r e lli, The P a u lin e H an son S to r y , N ew H o lla n d
P u b lis h e r s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 , p p . 5 4 - 5 5
14 O n B en C h ifle y , see S c o tt B e n n e tt, J. B. C h ifle y , O x fo r d
U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 7 3 ; L . F. C r i s p , B e n C h ifle y : A
B io g r a p h y , L o n g m a n s , L o n d o n , 1 9 6 1
15 A .W . S t a r g a r d t ( e d ) T h i n g s W o r th F i g h t i n g F o r : S p e e c h e s by J o s e p h
B e n e d ic t C h ifle y , M e l b o u r n e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 5 2 , p . 9
16 John A n d erson , S tu d ie s in E m p ir ic a l P h i lo s o p h y , A ngus &
R o b e r tso n , S y d n ey , 1 9 6 2 , p . 3 9 9
17 B o b E l l i s , G o o d b y e J e r u s a l e m : N i g h t T h o u g h t s o f a L a b o r O u ts id e r ,
R andom H o u se, Sydney, 1997, p. 173. H e a ttr ib u te s it to
N u g g et C oom b s.
18 O n H .V . E v a tt, see K en B u c k le y , B arbara D a le and W ayne
R e y n o l d s , D o c E v a t t : P a tr i o t, I n t e r n a t io n a li s t, F ig h te r a n d S c h o la r ,
L o n g m a n C h e s h ir e , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 9 4 ; P e t e r C r o c k e t t , E v a tt: A
L if e , O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 9 3 ; K y l i e T e n n a n t ,
E v a t t : P o litic s a n d J u s tic e , A n g u s & R o b e r tso n , Sydney, 1972;
A l l a n D a l z i e l , E v a t t th e E n i g m a , L a n s d o w n e , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 6 7
19 J u d i t h B r e t t , R o b e r t M e n z i e s 'F o r g o tte n P e o p k , M a c m i l l a n , S y d n e y ,
1992, p p . 5 1 ff
20 H .V . E v a tt, P o st-W a r R e c o n s tr u c tio n : A C a se fo r G r e a te r
C o m m o m v e a lt h P ow ers, P repared fo r th e C o n s titu tio n a l
C o n v e n tio n at C anberra, N ovem ber, 1942, C o m m o n w e a lth
G o v e r n m e n t P r in te r , C a n b e r r a , 1 9 4 2 , p p . 6 - 8
endnotes

21 See Paul K e lly , N ovem ber 1 9 7 5 : T h e I n s i d e S t o r y o f A u s t r a l i a ’s

G r e a te s t P o l i t i c a l C r is is , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 5
22 J o h n B u t t o n , A s It H a p p en ed , T e x t P u b lis h e r s , M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 8 ,
p.160
23 See P e te r L ove, Labour and th e M on ey P ow er, M e lb o u r n e
U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 8 4
24 M a x H a r r i s , O c k e r s : E s s a y s o n th e B a d O l d N e w A u s t r a l i a , M a x i m u s
B o o k s, A d e la id e S A , 1 9 7 4 , p . 1 8
25 B o b H a w k e , T h e H a w k e M e m o ir s , W i l l i a m H e in e m a n A u s tr a lia ,
P o r t M e l b o u r n e V i c . , 1 9 9 4 ; p . 5 4 9 ; P e t e r W a l s h , C o n fe s s io n s o f a
F a il e d F in a n c e M in is te r , R a n d o m H o u s e , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 6 , p . 1 2 5
26 N ic c o lo M a c h ia v e lli, T he D is c o u r s e s , P e n g u in B o o k s,
H a r m o n d s w o r t h , 1 9 8 3 , b o o k 1 .6 , p . 1 2 3
27 G raham R i c h a r d s o n , W h a t e v e r I t T a k e s, B a n t a m B o o k s, Syd ney,
1 9 9 4 ; M a r i a n W i l k i n s o n , T h e F ix e r : T h e U n t o ld S to r y o f G r a h a m
R ic h a rd so n , W illia m H e i n e m a n n , P o r t M e l b o u r n e V ic ., 1 9 9 6
28 q u o ted in M ic h a e l G ordon, A Q u e s tio n o f L e a d e r s h ip : Paul
K e a t in g , P o l i t i c a l F ig h te r , U n iv e r s ity o f Q u e e n s la n d P ress, St
L u c ia Q ld , 1 9 9 3 , p . 1 0
29 M e a g h a n M o r r i s , E c s ta s y a n d E c o n o m ic s : A m e r ic a n E s s a y s f o r J o h n
F o rb es, E m P r e s s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 2 , p . 2 0
30 A n d r e G lu c k s m a n n , T h e M a s t e r T h in k e r s , H a r p e r & R o w , N e w
Y ork, 1 9 8 0
31 B o b H a w k e , T h e H a w k e M e m o ir s , W i l l i a m H e i n e m a n n A u s t r a l i a ,
P o r t M e l b o u r n e V ic ., 1 9 9 4 , p . 2 5 1
32 B o b E l l i s , G o o d b y e J e r u s a le m , p . 1 8 5
33 D ean Jaen sch , The H a w k e -K e a tin g H ij a c k , A lle n & U n w in ,
Sydney, 1989; P e te r B e ilh a r z , T r a n s fo r m in g L abo r: Labour
T r a d itio n and th e Labor D ecade in A u s tr a lia , C a m b r id g e
U n iv e r s ity P ress, M e lb o u r n e , 1994; G raham M addox, The
H aw ke G overn m en t a n d L abor T r a d i t io n , P e n g u in , R in g w o o d
V ic ., 1 9 8 9
34 C a r o l J o h n s o n , T h e L a b o r L e g a c y : C u r ti n , C h ifle y , W h itla m , H a w k e ,
A lle n & U n w in , S y d n e y , 1 9 8 9

C h ap te r 8 g e n e r a t i o n a l g a n g l a n d s

1 C a m i l l a N e l s o n , ‘W e ’r e Y o u n g , A n g r y , C y n i c a l — a n d W e V o t e ’,
A u s tr a lia n , 1 4 t h F e b r u a r y , 1 9 9 6
2 M ark L a th a m , C iv ilis in g G lo b a l C a p ita l: N ew T h in k in g f o r
A u s tr a lia n L a bo r, A l le n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 8 8 , p . 2 3 9
3 H u g h M a c k a y , G e n e r a tio n s : B a b y B o o m e r s , T h e ir P a r e n t s a n d T h e ir
C h ild r e n , M a c m i l l a n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7
4 H e le n T o w n s e n d , B a b y B o o m e r s : G r o w i n g U p I n A u s t r a l i a in th e
1 9 4 0 s, 5 0 s a n d 6 0 s, S im o n & S c h u s te r , B r o o k v a le N S W , 1 9 8 8
 endnotes

5 D o u g l a s C o u p l a n d , G e n e r a ti o n X : T a le s f o r a n A c c e le r a te d C u ltu r e ,
A b acu s, L o n d o n , 1992
6 B e th Sp encer, ‘X - e d A g a in or: W h a tev er H appened to th e
S e v e n t i e s ? ’ , A u s t r a l i a n B o o k R e v ie w , D e c e m b e r , 1 9 9 5 , a l s o a t :
h t t p : //h o m e .v ic n e t .n e t .a u /~ o z lit /c r it 0 0 0 2 .h t m l
7 C a t h a r i n e L u m b y , ‘T h e S q u e e z e G e n e r a t i o n ’, S y d n e y M o r n in g
H e r a ld , 2 8 t h D e c e m b e r , 1 9 9 6
8 G e o r g e L u k a c s , T h e H i s t o r i c a l N o v e l, M e r l i n , L o n d o n , 1 9 8 9 , p . 2 3
9 L it e r a t i, b y H e a r t b e a t , a d i v i s i o n o f K a l a i d e s c o p e , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 .
D is c la im e r : I a m a m e m b e r o f t h e e d it o r ia l a d v is o r y b o a r d fo r
t h is r e s e a r c h . T h e v ie w s e x p r e s s e d h ere are m y ow n and not
th o se o f H e a r tb e a t.
10 D a v i d M a r s h a l l , C e le b r ity a n d P o w e r , M i n n e s o t a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s ,
M in n e a p o lis , 1 9 9 7
11 S a m a n t h a T r e n o w e t h , ‘T h e B i g G u y ’, J u ic e , N o . 6 9 , O c t o b e r ,
1998
12 S e e R ic h a r d N e v i ll e . O u t o f M y M in d , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V ic .,
1996
13 ‘N e w P o l l u t i o n g e t s D o w n W it h R i c h a r d N e v i l l e ’, in S e a n H e a l y
e t al (e d s), T h e N e w P o ll u t i o n : N a t i o n a l Z in e A n th o lo g y , L o u d ,
Sydney, 1998, p. 2
14 L es A. M urray, A W o r k in g F o r e s t: S e le c te d P rose, D u ffy &
S n e llg r o v e , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7
15 F r o n tlin e , w r i t t e n , produced and d ir e c te d by S a n to C ila u r o ,
T o m G le is n e r , J a n e K e n n e d y a n d R o b S itc h
16 M ark D a v is , G a n g la n d : C u ltu r a l E l i te s and th e N ew
G e n e r a t io n a lis m , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7
17 R ic h a r d N e v ille , H ip p ie H ip p ie Sh ake, W illia m H e in e m a n n
A u s tr a lia , 1 9 9 5
18 A p a r t ia lly s a t is f y in g r e t h i n k o f t h e 6 0 s is J u l i e S t e p h e n s , A n ti-
D is c ip lin a r y P r o te s t: S i x t ie s R a d ic a lis m and P o s t m o d e r n is m ,
C a m b r id g e U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, 1 9 8 8
19 D arren G o o d s ir et a l, ‘D e a t h o f a C a r in g C op ’ and o th e r
s t o r i e s , S u n - H e r a ld , 1 s t M a r c h , 1 9 9 8
20 R i c h a r d H i l l , T o n y M c M a h o n a n d j u d i t h B e s s a n t , ‘ D o n ’t D a m n
Y o u n g L a w A b i d i n g M a jo r ity ’, A u s tr a lia n , 4 t h S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 9 6
21 P a u l S h e e h a n , A m o n g th e B a r b a r i a n s , R a n d o m H o u se , Sydney,
1988
22 As C lin to n W a lk e r sh ow s in S tr a n d e d : The S e c re t H is to r y of
A u s tr a lia n I n d ep en d en t M u s ic 1 9 7 7 -1 9 9 1 , M a c m illa n , Sydney,
1996
23 M i c h e l l e G r i f f i n , ‘G e n e r a t e ’ , O verland, N o . 1 4 3 , W i n t e r 1 9 9 6 , p . 1 5
24 S e e J u s tin e E ttle r , T h e R i v e r O p h e lia , P i c a d o r , Sydney, 1995;
A ndrew M cG ahan, P ra ise , A lle n & U n w in , Sydney, 1992;
E dw ard B e r r id g e , The L iv e s of th e S a in ts , U n iv e r s ity o f
Q u e e n s la n d P r e s s , B r is b a n e , 1 9 9 3 .
endnotes

25 C h r is t o s T s io lk a s , L o a d e d , R a n d o m H o u se , Sydney, 1995
26 H e a d O n , d i r e c t e d b y A n a K o k k i n o s , r e l e a s e d b y P a l a c e F ilm s ,
1998
27 S ash a S o ld a to w and C h r is to s T s io lk a s , Jum p C u ts : An
A u to b io g ra p h y , R a n d o m H o u se, Sydney, 1996; B e th Sp encer,
H o w T o C o n c e iv e o f a G ir l, R a n d o m H o u s e , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 6 ; C h r i s
G r e g o r y , T w in s , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V i c . , 1 9 9 7
28 B e th Spencer, ‘X - e d A g a in or: W h a te v e r H appened to th e
S e v e n t i e s ? ’, A u s tr a lia n B o o k R e v ie w , D e c e m b e r , 1 9 9 5 , a ls o a t:
h t t p : / / h o m e .v i c n e t .n e t .a u / - o z l i t / c r it 0 0 0 2 .h t m l
29 C a t e R a y s o n , G l u e d to th e T elly, E l g u a M e d i a , R e d h i l l S A , 1 9 9 6 ,
p. 88
30 See P e te r W ilm o th , G la d A ll O ver: The C o u n td o w n Y ears
1 9 7 4 - 1 9 8 7 , M c P h e e G r ib b le , M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 3
31 S h e r r y n G e o r g e , ‘T h e W a r p M a n i f e s t o ’ , i n K a t h y B a i l ( e d ) , D T Y
F e m in is m , A l l e n & U n w i n , 1 9 9 6 , p . 3 6
32 a t t im e o f w r it in g , t h e r e c o r d in g a n d a tr a n s c r ip t o f t h e ly r ic s
w e r e a v a i l a b l e a t:
h t t p : //w w w .g e o c id e s .c o m /C a p it o lH ill/L o b b y /5 1 9 2 /in d e x .h t m l
33 q u o te d in R ic h a r d A c k la n d , ‘D e c i s io n fo r H an son H as
D i s t u r b i n g E f f e c t ’, S y d n e y M o r n in g H e r a ld , 2 n d O c t o b e r , 1 9 9 8
34 H o w lin g W o lf, ‘B a c k D oor M a n ’, o n M o a n in ’ a n d H o w l i n ’,
C h e s s /C h a r ly , 1 9 8 8
35 P a u l i n e P a n t s d o w n , ‘ I D o n ’t L i k e I t ! ’ , T W A R e c o r d s , 1 9 9 8
36 C a r o l i n e O v e r i n g t o n , ‘P a n t s d o w n P u lls S o c k s U p F or S e n a te
B i d ’, A g e, 1 8 t h S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 9 8
37 B e n e d i c t W a t t s , ‘ P l e a s e E x p l a i n ’ , J u ic e , N o v e m b e r 1 9 9 8 , p . 3 0
38 B e t h S p e n c e r , ‘ I ’d L i k e t o H a v e P e r m i s s i o n t o b e P o s t - M o d e r n ,
B u t I ’m N o t S u r e W h o t o A s k ’ , J a c k e t, N o . 1 , 1 9 9 7 ,
h t tp ://w w w .j a c k e t .z ip .c o m .a u /j a c k e t 0 1 /s p e n c e r .h t m l

C h a p te r 9 r e g e n e r a t i n g l a b o r

1 G e o ffr e y B ark er, ‘R e s p e c t e d By A ll, F eared By N o n e ’,

A u s t r a l i a n F i n a n c i a l R e v ie w M a g a z i n e , A u g u s t 1 9 9 8 , p p . 1 2 - 1 7 , a t
p. 14
2 B arry J o n e s, S le e p e r s W a k e !: T e c h n o lo g y a n d th e F u tu r e o f W ork ,
s e c o n d e d it io n , O x f o r d U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 9 5 , p p .
1 7 5 ff
3 John P a s q u a r e lli, The P a u lin e H an son S to r y , N ew H o lla n d
P u b lis h e r s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 , p . 1 1 2
4 A d a m s , P h i l l i p , a n d L e e B u r t o n , T a lk b a c k : E m p e r o r s o f A ir , A l l e n
& U n w in , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7
5 John B u tto n , As It H a p p e n e d , T ext P u b lis h in g , M e lb o u r n e ,
1998, p. 367
 endnotes

6 H e r e I d r a w o n C r a i g M c G r e g o r , ‘A f t e r t h e F a l l , L a b o r S e e k s a
N e w M e s s i a h ’, S y d n e y M o r n i n g H e r a ld , 1 2 t h O c t o b e r , 1 9 9 6 ; C r a i g
M cG regor, T h e A n o in te d O n e ’, G o o d W eekend M a g a zin e , 1 3 th
S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 9 7 ; M i k e S t e k e t e , ‘ L a b o r ’s Y o u n g T u r k s ’ , W e e k e n d
A u s tr a l ia n , S e p t e m b e r 2 0 t h , 1 9 9 7 ; L a u r a T i n g l e , ‘C a p i t a l I d e a s ’ ,
S y d n e y M o r n i n g H e r a ld , 4 t h A p r i l , 1 9 9 8 ; M a r k L a t h a m , ‘T r i c k y
E x a m i n a t i o n A h e a d f o r N e w L a b o r ’ , A u s tr a l ia n , 3 0 t h A p r i l , 1 9 9 8
7 J o h n B u tto n , p . 2 8 0 ; p. 2 4 6
8 M ark L a th a m , C iv ilis in g G lo b a l C a p ita l: N ew T h in k in g f o r
A u s tr a lia n L a b o r, A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 ; L in d s a y T a n n e r ,
O p e n A u s tr a lia , d r a f t m a n u s c r ip t c o u r t e s y o f L in d s a y T a n n e r
a n d P lu to P r e ss, 1 9 9 8
9 C r a ig M c G r e g o r , T h e A u s t r a l i a n P e o p le , H o d d e r & S t a u g h t o n ,
Sydney, 1980
1 0 D a v i d O ’R e i l l y , C h e r y l K e r n o t: T h e W o m a n M o s t L ik e ly , R a n d o m
H o u se, Sydney, 1998; P e te r F it z S im o n s , B e a z le y : A B io g r a p h y ,
H a r p e r C o llin s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8
11 T o n y W r ig h t , ‘K im a n d J o h n S la y t h e G h o s t o f P a u l’, A ge, 9 t h
O c t o b e r , 1 9 9 8 . I ’v e a l t e r e d t h e q u o t e s lig h t ly t o b r in g o u t th e
te le v is io n p r o g r a m t i t l e q u o t e d i n it .
12 L i n d s a y T a n n e r , ‘ L a b o u r i s m ’s L a s t D a y s ’ , A u s t r a l i a n L e f t R e v ie x v ,
J u n e 1991, p p . 1 0 -1 4 , at p. 10
13 A n n e S u m m e r s , G a m b le f o r P o w e r : H o w B o b H a iv k e B e a t M a lc o l m
F ra se r, th e 1 9 8 3 F e d e r a l E le c tio n , T h o m a s N e l s o n , M e lb o u r n e ,
1983, pp . 1 0 6 -1 0 7
14 J o h n B u t t o n , O n T h e L oose, T e x t P u b l i s h i n g , M e l b o u r n e , 1 9 9 6 ,
p. 134
15 For a u sefu l s a m p le , see J o h n F row and M eaghan M o r r is ,
A u s tr a lia n C u l t u r a l S t u d ie s : A R e a d e r, A l le n & U w in , Sydney,
1 9 9 5 , in w h ic h m y c h a p t e r ‘H o m a g e t o C a t a t o n i a ’ p r e v i o u s l y
app eared .
16 Q u o t e s f r o m D a r r e n T o f t s a n d M a r k D a v is f r o m p e r s o n a l e m a i l
c o m m u n ic a tio n s .
17 P e t e r B e s t , ‘A L i k e l y L a d ’ , A u s t r a l i a n Q u a r te r ly , N o v e m b e r 1 9 9 7 ,
pp . 2 2 -2 7 , at p. 25
18 P e te r R u ss a n d L in d s a y T a n n e r , T h e P o li tic s o f P o ll u t i o n , V i s a
B o o k s, M e lb o u r n e , 1 9 7 8
19 L i n d s a y T a n n e r , ‘R e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d C o m m u n ity , L a b o r E ssa ys
1 9 9 8 , P lu t o P r e s s A u s tr a lia , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8
20 John B u tto n , As It H appen ed , T ext P u b lis h in g , M e lb o u r n e ,
1998, p. 12
21 L i n d s a y T a n n e r , ‘L a b o u r i s m ’s L a s t D a y s ’ , A u s tr a l ia n L e ft R e v ie w ,
June 1991, pp. 1 0 -1 4 , at p. 12. O th er p u b lis h e d essa ys of
T a n n e r ’s c o n s u l t e d a r e : ‘T i m e f o r a n I n d i c a t o r o f R e a l P r o g r e s s ’,
F i n a n c i a l R e v ie w , 4 t h J u n e , 1 9 9 4 ; ‘B u i l d i n g a n I n c l u s i v e S o c i e t y ’,
in G ary J u n g w ir th (e d ), L a b o r E ssays 1997: R e n e iu in g and
endnotes

R e v it a l is i n g L a b o r ; P l u t o P r e s s i n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e A u s t r a l i a n
F a b i a n S o c i e t y , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7 ; ‘R e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d C o m m u n i t y ’ , i n
G ary J u n g w ir th (e d ), L abor E ssays 1998: N ew V isio n s f o r
G o v e r n m e n t, P l u t o P r e s s i n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e A u s t r a l i a n F a b i a n
S o c i e t y , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8 ; a n d a d r a f t m a n u s c r i p t f o r O p e n A u s tr a l ia
P lu to P res s, f o r t h c o m in g
22 D a v i d R i c a r d o , O n th e P r in c i p le s o f P o l i t i c a l E c o n o m y a n d T a x a tio n ,
C a m b r id g e U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, 1 9 5 2 , p . 6 7
23 J a m e s B o s w e l l , L if e o f J o h n s o n , O x f o r d U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, 1 9 6 4 ,
v o l. 2 , p . 2 5 9
24 M ark R ose, A u th o r s and O w n ers: T h e I n v e n tio n o f C o p y r ig h t,
H a r v a r d U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , C a m b r id g e M a s s ., 1 9 9 3 , p . 9 2

C h ap te r 10 t h i r d w a y , s e c o n d g o

1 C r a ig M cG regor, ‘T h e A n o in te d O n e ’, G ood W eekend, 1 3 th

S e p te m b e r 1 9 97 , p p . 1 6 -2 5
2 M i k e S t e k e t e , ‘ L a b o r ’s Y o u n g T u r k s ’ , W e e k e n d A u s t r a l i a n , 2 0 t h
S e p te m b e r , 1 9 9 7
3 L a u r a T i n g l e , ‘C a p i t a l I d e a s ’ , S y d n e y M o r n i n g H e r a l d , 4 t h A p r i l ,
1998
4 M ic h a e l E asson , ‘N o E asy W ay fo r L a b o r ’, Sydney M o r n in g
H e ra ld , 2 6 t h O c t o b e r , 1 9 9 8 , p . 1 7
5 M ark L a th a m , C iv ilis in g G lo b a l C a p ita l: N ew T h in k in g f o r
A u s tr a lia n L a bo r, A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8
6 C r a i g M c G r e g o r , ‘A f t e r t h e F a l l , L a b o r S e e k s a N e w M e s s i a h ’,
S y d n e y M o r n in g H e ra ld , 1 2 t h O c t o b e r , 1 9 9 6
7 A t e r m c o i n e d b y f o llo w e r s o f M ic h e l F o u c a u lt. S e e G . B u r c h e ll
et al (e d s), T h e F o u c a u l t E f f e c t: S tu d ie s in G o v e r n m e n ta lit y ,
H a r v e ste r , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 1 , p p . 8 7 - 1 0 4
8 C i v i l i s i n g G lo b a l C a p i ta l , p . x x x v i i . I h a v e p u t t h e l a s t t w o w o r d s
in title fo r m to h ig h lig h t th is a p p a r e n tly u n c o n s c io u s bor­
r o w in g fr o m te le v is io n c u ltu r e .
9 A n d r e w S c o t t , F a d i n g L o y a ltie s : T h e A u s t r a l i a n L a b o r P a r t y a n d th e
W o r k in g C la s s , P l u t o P r e s s A u s t r a l i a , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 1 , p . 2
10 q u o te d in C r a ig M cG regor, C la s s in A u s tr a lia , P e n g u in ,
R in g w o o d V ic ., 1 9 9 7 , p p . 4 9 - 5 0
11 B ob E llis , F ir s t A b o lis h th e C u s to m e r : 202 A r g u m e n ts A g a in s t
E c o n o m ic R a t i o n a li s m , P e n g u i n , R i n g w o o d V i c . , 1 9 9 8
12 John E d w ard s, K e a t in g : T h e I n s i d e S to r y , P e n g u i n , R in g w o o d
V ic ., 1 9 9 6 , p . 3 6 7
13 J o h n B u tto n , A s It H a p p en ed , T e x t P u b lis h in g , M e b o u r n e , 1 9 9 8 ,
pp. 3 2 2 -3 2 4
14 John R a w ls , A T h eo ry o f J u s tic e , H arvard U n iv e r s ity P ress,
C a m b r id g e M a s s ., 1 9 7 1
 endnotes 359

15 P l a t o , T h e R e p u b lic , P e n g u i n , H a r m o n d s w o r t h , 1 9 8 3 , p . 4 2 6 .
16 P a u l K e ll y , ‘S p e c i a l T r e a t m e n t ’ , H i d d e n T h in g s , M u s h r o o m , 1 9 9 2
17 M c K e n z i e W a r k , T h e V i r t u a l R e p u b lic : A u s t r a l i a ’s C u l tu r e W a r s o f
th e 1 9 9 0 s , A l l e n & U n w i n , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 7
18 C h r is t o s T s io lk a s , L o a d ed , R a n d o m H o u se, Sydney, 1995
19 See J. G. A. P ocock, The M a c h ia v e llia n M o m e n t, P r in c e to n
U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, N e w J e r s e y , 1 9 7 5
20 G regory M e lle u is h , The P a c k a g in g o f A u s tr a lia : P o li tic s and
C u l tu r e W a r s , U n i v e r s i t y o f N S W P r e s s , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 8
21 G i l l e s D e l e u z e , E s s a y s C r i t ic a l a n d C li n i c a l, M i n n e s o t a U n i v e r s i t y
P r e ss, M in n e a p o lis , 1 9 9 7
22 D a v id H um e, A T r e a tis e o f H u m a n N a tu r e , P e n g u i n , L o n d o n ,
1985, p p . 5 2 9 ff
23 A lla n B lo o m , ‘E d i t o r ’s I n tr o d u c tio n ’ to A le x a n d r e K o je v e ,
I n tr o d u c t io n to th e R e a d i n g o f H e g e l, C o r n e l l U n iv e s ity P ress,
I t h a c a , 1 9 8 6 , p . v iii
24 See C h a r le s T a y lo r , H e g e l, C a m b r i d g e U n iv e r s ity P ress, N e w
Y o rk , 1 9 7 5
25 I ’m t h i n k i n g , f o r e x a m p l e , o f J e a n - F r a n f o i s L y o t a r d , P o s tm o d e r n
F a b le s , U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a P r e s s , M i n n e a p o l i s , 1 9 9 7
26 G i l l e s D e l e u z e a n d F e l i x G u a t t a r i , A n t i- O e d i p u s : C a p i ta l i s m a n d
S c h iz o p h r e n ia , A t h l o n e P r e s s , L o n d o n , 1 9 8 3 , p . 1 4 0
27 F r a n c is Fukuyam a, The E n d o f H is to r y a n d th e L a s t M a n , H .
H a m ilto n , L o n d o n , 1 9 9 2
28 A lla n B lo o m , The C l o s in g o f th e A m e r ic a n M in d , S im o n &
S c h u ste r , N e w Y ork , 1 9 8 7
29 A l e x a n d r e K o j e v e , I n t r o d u c t io n to th e R e a d i n g o f H e g e l, C o r n e l l
U n iv e s it y P r e s s , I th a c a , 1 9 8 6 , p . 7
30 G raham R ic h a r d s o n , W h a t e v e r I t T a k e s, B a n t a m , S y d n e y , 1 9 9 4 ,
p. 55
31 For sta r te r s, s e e P a tr ic k F uery, T h e o r ie s o f D e s ire , M e l b o u r n e
U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, 1 9 9 5
32 G e o r g e s B a t a i l l e , T h e o r y o f R e lig io n , Z o n e B o o k s , N e w Y o r k , 1 9 8 9
33 O n L acan , see S la v o j Z iz e k , L o o k in g A w r y : A n I n t r o d u c t io n to
fa cq u e s L a ca n T h r o u g h P o p u l a r C u ltu r e , M I T P r e s s , C a m b r i d g e
M a s s ., 1 9 9 1
34 John H a r tle y , T e le - o lo g y : S tu d ie s in T e le v isio n , R o u tle d g e ,
L on d on , 1992, p. 49
35 D o r o th y H e w e tt, W ild C a rd : An A u to b io g r a p h y 1 9 2 3 -1 9 5 8 ,
M c P h e e G r i b b l e , R i n g w o o d V iv ., 1 9 9 0 , p . 2 3 3

e p i l o g u e a n d a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t

1 John S a fr a n , q u o te d in C a th e r in e C a in e s , ‘G a m e B o y ’,
A u s t r a l i a n S ty le , N o . 2 9 , 1 9 9 8 , p p . 6 3 - 6 5
360 endnotes

2 h t t p : / / w w w .g e o c it ie s .c o m /H o lly w o o d /S t u d io /8 4 4 2 /in d e x .h t m l
3 G ille s D e le u z e and C la ir e P a rn et, D ia lo g u e s , C o lu m b ia
U n iv e r s ity P r e ss, N e w Y o rk , 1 9 8 7 , p p . 5 4 - 5 5
4 G ille s D e le u z e , ‘P r e f a c e to th e E n g lis h L anguage E d i t i o n ’,
D i a lo g u e s , p . v ii
5 S te n d h a l, M e m o ir s o f a n E g o tis t, C h a t t o & W in d u s , L ondon,
1975, p. 89
 36

index

ABC 1 5 2 -5 , 182, 3 3 0, 338 fa c t io n s 1 8 0 -1

A b o r ig in a l p e o p le 114, 117, fu tu r e o f 3 2 6 - 8
1 6 9 -7 0 , 204 g r e e n v o te a n d 2 0 2 -6
A ccord 195 in fo r m a tio n e c o n o m y a n d 176,
a c c o u n ta b ility 276, 296 256, 302, 338
A d a m s , P h illip 69 iM b o r in P o w e r 1 7 9 , 1 8 2 , 1 9 0 - 2 0 0
A dorno, T h eod ore 65 m e d ia a n d 1 8 1 -2 , 2 6 0 -4 , 2 7 1 -2
a d v e r t is in g 105, 2 1 9 -2 1 N SW bran ch 5 9, 107, 1 8 0 -1 , 191,
a e s th e tic s 2 4 7 -8 3 1 7 -1 8
A ld r in , B u zz 235 1 9 9 3 e le c tio n 177
A ls to n , R ic h a r d 2 7 , 175 1 9 9 6 e le c tio n s a n d 18, 6 8 , 129,

A ltm a n , D e n n is 34 256

A n d erson , J o h n 109, 146, 186 1 9 9 8 e le c tio n s a n d 1 9 - 2 0 ,2 5 6

A ndren, P e te r 2 0 p o lic y fo r m a tio n 2 6 1 -3 , 3 1 9 -2 0

A n g , Ien 39, 72 p o p u la r c u lt u r e and 2 7 1 -2

tr a d itio n a lis t s v r a tio n a lis ts 261,
A rgy, F r e d 137
273
A r m s tr o n g , N e il 234
t r a d it io n s a n d p o w e r 194, 196,
A r ta u d , A n t o n in 9 3 -4 , 95
A s It H a p p e n e d ( B u t t o n ) 269
210-11
T r u e B e lie v e rs 1 8 2 -8
A s h b o lt , A la n 1 3 2 ,1 5 1 ,1 5 3
see a ls o H a w k e , B o b ;
A u n ty J a c k Sh oiu 2 4 2
K e a t in g , P a u l; L a th a m , M a rk ;
A u s tr a lia n ( n e w s p a p e r ) 1 2 4 -5 , 2 5 6
T a n n e r , L in d s a y ;
A u s tr a lia n C o n s e r v a t io n F o u n d a t io n
W h itla m , G o u g h
1 11, 114
‘A u s t r a l i a n L e g e n d ’ 1 1 7 , 1 4 4
A u s tr a lia n C r a w l 104
A u s tr a l ia n W o m e n ’s W eek ly 4 6
A u s tr a lia n l a b o r P a r ty (A L P )
a u th o r ity , d is tr u s t o f 129, 142, 276,
1 1 -1 3 , 1 7 ,3 1 , 177
3 0 7 -8 , 3 1 0 -1 3
c o n s titu e n c ie s 2 9 2 -3
a u th o r ity fig u r e s 162
c u ltu r e o f 4 1 ,4 2 , 2 7 8 -8 5
A v e n u e o f th e F a i r G o ( H o r n e ) 21
cy b ersp a ce 33, 2 6 0 -4
a v o id a b le s u ffe r in g 1 8 1 ,2 1 1
D is m is s a l 1 8 2 , 1 8 8 - 9 0
e c o n o m ic r e fo r m a n d 124
B aby B o o m ers 4 2 ,2 1 6
e c o n o m ic r e fo r m a n d c u ltu r a l
B a d G ir l 55
c h a n g e 127, 2 5 8 , 2 7 3 -7 , 2 8 5 , 3 3 5
B a d G ir ls ( L u m b y ) 6 8 -7 7
e n d o f h is to r y a n d 3 1 4 -1 5
B a ld w in , J a m es 242
e n v ir o n m e n t a l is s u e s a n d 115
B a ld w in , P e te r 287
fa b le s 1 7 9 -8 0 , 190, 1 9 8 -2 0 9 , 2 5 8, B a lm a in , R e v e lle 5 4 -5 , 64, 75
264, 3 2 6 -7
B a n a , E r ic 158
index

b a n a n a re p u b lic 200 C a irn s ,J im 1 8 9 -9 0

b a n k n a tio n a lis a tio n 189 C a m ero n , R o d 190, 197, 201, 206
B a rry M c K en zie 1 6 6 -7 cam p 8 7 -8
B a ta ille , G e o r g e s 320 C a m p io n , E d m u n d 177
B a u d rilla rd , J e a n 86 c a p ita l 2 7 9
B e a z l e y , K im 1 9 ,2 0 9 ,2 2 1 ,2 5 9 - 6 0 C a re y , P e te r 79
B e c k e tt, S a m u e l 9 5 c a rn iv a le s q u e 166
B e ilh a r z , P e te r 210 C a rp e n te r, K aren 89
B e llb ir d 1 4 9 -5 0 C a rr, B o b 286
B e re sfo rd , B ru c e 166 C a rr, C h ris 91
B e rg e r, J o h n 73 C a s im ir, J o n 22
B e rrid g e , E d w a rd 230 C a s tl e , T h e 4 1 , 1 5 5 -8
B irc h , M ic h a e l 1 0 7 -8 C a v e , C o lin 78
B ir th d a y P a rty , T h e 9 1 -7 , 320 C a v e , N ic k 41, 85, 8 9 -9 8 , 111,
B la ir , T o n y 292 3 2 0 -1 , 337
B la n c h e tt, C a te 164 C e a s a r , D a v id 159
B la z e y , P e t e r 2 9 -3 0 C e la n , P a u l 2 8 6
B lo o m , A la n 313, 315 c e le b rity 40, 4 6 -5 3 , 3 3 6 -8
B o h e m ia n R h a p s o d y ( T V p r o g r a m m e ) B ob H aw ke 1 7 9 ,1 9 7
1 4 5 -6 c u ltu re 6 4 -9
b o h e m ia n s 1 4 4 -8 c y b e rsp a c e a n d 33
B o lk u s , N ic k 201 D a v i d M a r s h a l l ’s v ie w o f 6 1 - 9
B o n n e y .J o h n 185 g a rd e n e rs 1 5 1 -2
B o rb id g e , R o b 30 g o s s ip a n d 5 9 -6 1
B o u rd ie u , P ie r re 121 K y lie M i n o g u e 8 0 -9 0 , 97
B o w ie , D a v id 8 0 Lum by and 6 9 -7 7
B o y d , R o b in 155 m asks 5 4 -7
B ays, T h e 153, 1 6 0 -1 , 1 6 5 -6 , 175, N e d K e ll y a n d 7 8 -8 0
303 N ic k C a v e 9 1 - 8
B oys N e x t D o o r 9 0 -1 P a u l K e a tin g 1 7 8 -9
B ra d le y , J a m e s 286 P a u lin e H a n s o n 3 2 1 -3
B rad m a n , D o n 79 P e te r G a r re tt a n d 9 9 -1 1 8
B rad y B u n c h , T h e 2 3 7 -8 , 2 4 0 , 241 p o litic a l s ig n if ic a n c e o f 1 9 ,2 1 ,
B ra veh ea rl 3 2 6 197, 2 8 4 -5 , 3 2 0 -3
B re e n , M arcu s 1 0 7 -8 ,1 1 2 r a tio n a lis a tio n 2 2 0 -1
B re n n a n , C h ris to p h e r 1 41 r o c k s ta rs 4 9 - 5 4 , 5 7 - 9
B re n n a n , F ran k 137 C e le b r ity a n d P o w e r ( M a r s h a l l ) 6 1 -9 ,
B re tt, J u d i t h 187 220
b ro a d c a s t m e d ia 13 , 14 , 15 c e n s o rs h ip 72, 7 5 -6
ABC 1 5 2 -5 , 330 C e r ta in W o m e n 1 4 9 -5 0
c e le b rity a n d 6 3 -4 , 8 2 -3 C h a n , J a c k ie 2 4 6 -7
g e n e ra tio n X a n d 2 3 4 -5 1 C h ifle y , B e n 12, 6 8, 182, 1 8 3 -7 ,
1970s a n d 1 4 9 -5 0 191, 20 3 , 26 8 , 272, 3 2 7 -8
1990s c o n c e p ts a n d 35, 150 C h ilv e rs , S im o n 185, 187
see a ls o m e d i a C IA 113
B ro w n , B o b 19, 3 1 , 115, 2 0 2 , 20 4 c in e m a 41, 229
B u ll e tin 1 4 3 -4 A u s tra lia n s u b u rb ia a n d 1 5 5 -6 8 ,
b u rb le rs 2 2 2 -3 , 22 5 , 2 2 7 -9 175, 245
B u r k e 's B a c k y a r d 1 5 1 -2 c itiz e n s h ip 2 4 -5 , 253
b u s h v a lu e s 1 8 , 3 2 , 1 4 3 , 1 6 8 - 7 0 ,2 6 8 C iv ilis i n g G lo b a l C a p ita lis m
B u tc h e r , B le d d y n 91 see L a t h a m , M a r k
B u tto n , J o h n 189, 203, 20 5 , 208, c iv ility 3 1 0 - 1 3 , 3 2 6 , 3 2 7
257, 258, 263, 269, 2 9 7 -8 C la re , J o h n 146
 index 3 63

C la rk , M a n n in g 5 2 -3 cro w d s 6 4 -5
c la s s d i f f e r e n c e 4 1 , 1 2 9 , 1 3 1 - 2 , 1 7 2 - 6 C r o w e , R u s s e ll 16 1
p o s t in d u s tria l a g e a n d 2 7 7 -8 5 , c u ltu ra l c h a n g e , a n d e c o n o m ic
289, 3 0 1 -2 , 306 re fo rm 1 2 4 -3 8 , 142, 2 6 0 -4 , 2 7 3 -7
in fo rm a tio n a n d 2 5 3 -5 c u ltu ra l d iffe re n c e 131, 1 6 7 -8 , 2 9 2 -4
C le m e n g e r A d ve 1 2 8 -3 0 ,1 3 5 - 8 e d u c a tio n a n d 3 0 9 -1 0
C ko 47, 48 e q u ity a n d 3 0 6 -8
C l i n t o n , B ill 2 9 2 c u ltu r a l e lite s 36
C o b b , C h ris 62 see a lso u r b a n v a lu e s ; u r b a n i t y
C o h e n , B e rn a rd 93 c u ltu r a l le g itim a c y 1 0 7 -1 1 8
C o h e n , L eo n ard 89 c u ltu ra l s tu d ie s 66, 7 1 -2 , 107, 264
C o h en , T ony 90, 94 c u ltu re 14, 2 0
C o lle tte , T o n i 158 c o m m u n ic a tio n s te c h n o lo g y a n d
C o llin s , B o b 205, 208, 209 2 2 -5 , 27, 253
c o m m o d ity e x p o r ts 273, 299 c y b e rsp a c e a n d 3 2 -3
C o m m o n w e a lth B a n k 274 econom y and 277
c o m m u n ic a tio n s 2 2 -6 , 3 0 4 -5 le ft w in g a n d 2 7 1 -2 , 2 7 8 -8 5
se e a l s o c y b e r s p a c e ; m ass m e d ia a n d 6 4 -9 , 171, 228
m e d ia ; in f o rm a tio n p o litic s o f 4 2 ,6 8 , 1 0 7 -1 8 , 121,
C o m m u n is t P a rty , a t te m p t s to b a n 123, 2 8 3 -5 , 2 9 1 -4 , 33 5 , 337
1 8 7 -8 p lu ra lis m a n d 3 3 7 -8
c o m m u n ity 2 6 9 -7 0 ,2 7 2 ,2 8 9 - 9 1 , te le v is io n a n d g e n e r a tio n a lis m
310, 337 2 3 4 -4 3
le a d e rs 128 C u r r e n t A ff a ir , A 2 2 8 , 331
m e d ia a n d 2 4 ,2 7 -8 ,3 2 3 -6 c u r r e n t a f fa irs te le v is io n 38, 3 3 0 -3
c o m p e titio n p o lic y 276 se e a l s o t e l e v i s i o n
c o n c e p ts 34, 242, 290, 312 C u rry , S te p h e n 155
c o n flic t 3 1 3 -1 7 C u rtin , J o h n 6 8 , 1 8 2 -4 , 207
c o n fo rm ity 17 1 c y b e rc u ltu re 27
se e a l s o c u l t u r a l d i f f e r e n c e ; c y b e rsp a c e 2 1 -5 , 255
r e s e n tm e n t; s u b u rb ia c e le b rity a n d 33
C o n n o r, R ex 1 8 9 - 9 0 , 1 91 c o n c e p tu a lis in g 2 5 -8
c o n s e rv a tis m c u ltu re a n d 3 2 -3
c o u n te ra tta c k 29 e m p lo y m e n t a n d 2 7 5 -6 , 3 0 1 -2
c ris is 12 g e n e ra tio n a lis m a n d 4 1 -2
C o n s titu tio n a l C o n v e n tio n 100 hum ans and 5 1 -4
c o n s u m p tio n ta x 1 9 8 -2 0 0 m e d ia 25 6 , 2 6 0 -4 , 324
C o o k , P e te r 196 p o litic s a n d 31, 263
C oom bs, A n n e 146 p lu ra lis m a n d 338
C o o m b s, N u gg et 185 see a ls o i n f o r m a t i o n
c o p y rig h t 251, 280
C o r o n a tio n H ill 115, 209 D a il y M i r r o r 8 2
c o s m o p o lita n is m 71, 124, 290 D a il y T e leg ra p h 50
C o u n td o w n 8 1 -2 , 1 0 1 -2 , 106, 117, D a v ie s , L u k e 230
2 3 8 -4 0 D a v ie s , P a u l 52
C o u p la n d , D o u g la s 2 1 7 , 2 2 5 , 2 3 0 D a v is , M a r k 2 2 4 -9 , 230, 231, 236,
C ox, Eva 137 240, 2 6 5 -7
C ra v e n , P e te r 65 D a w k in s , J o h n 2 0 9
C re a n , S im o n 259 D aw n 143
c r e d ib ility , M id n ig h t O il a n d 1 0 7 -1 2 D e a d l e t t e r O ffic e 164, 165
C re s w e ll, T o b y 5 0 D e a m e r, D u lc ie 141
c rim e , c o n c e r n s a b o u t 1 2 9 ,1 5 3 D e le u z e , G ille s 3 1 2 , 3 1 5 , 3 2 9 , 3 3 4
c ritic is m 1 0 7 -9 , 134 D e liq u e n ts , T h e 8 5 - 6 , 8 8
index

D e p p le r , R u s s e ll 104 ALP and 2 9 3 -7

d e p re s s io n 14 e d u c a tio n a n d 3 0 8 -1 0
D e r u m ,J o h n 188 in te r-g e n e ra tio n a l 2 1 5 -1 6 , 308
D ery , M a rk 22, 27 s p a tia l 159, 1 6 8 -7 0 , 174, 2 7 6 ,
d e s ire 2 4 2 ,2 8 4 - 5 ,3 1 6 - 2 3 ,3 2 8 ,3 3 7 3 0 2 -3
D e s s a ix , R o b e r t 2 8 - 9 E ttle r.J u s U n e 145, 230
D ev erau x , E d 1 8 4 -5 , 3 2 7 -8 E ttr id g e , D a v id 322
D ia n a 62 E u r o p e a n p o litic s 1 1 ,1 5
D im itr ia d is , A le x 230 E v an s, G a re th 209
D in g o , E r n ie 56 E v a t t , H .V . 1 8 2 -8 , 196, 2 08
D is m is s a l, T h e 4 1 , 1 6 2 , 1 8 2
d iv e rs ity 72, 171, 21 5 , 292 fa b le s 1 4 2 -5 , 3 1 5
D o ck er, J o h n 144, 166 ALP and 1 7 9 - 8 0 ,1 9 0 ,1 9 8 - 2 0 9 ,
D o in g T im e f o r P a ts y C li n e 167 258, 3 2 6 -7
D o n 's P a r ty 167 fa c ia lity 5 4 -7
D o n a h e r fa m ily 1 7 2 -4 fa ir g o 2 0 , 3 2 , 3 6 , 109, 135, 142,
D o n n o v a n ,J a s o n 8 2 -3 168, 30 3
D o w n e r, A le x a n d e r 20 id e n tity a n d 1 3 0 -1
D r e a m tim e A lic e ( S a y e r ) 146 n e w c o n c e p ts o f 1 3 8 ,2 9 4
D re w e , R o b e r t 7 8 -9 tru s t a n d 3 1 2 -1 3 ,3 1 4 -1 7 ,3 2 6
D r o p th e D e a d D o n k e y 39 F arrago 2 6 8
D u ck er, J o h n 317 F a u lk n e r, J o h n 180
D u ff y , M i c h a e l 206 f e a tu ris m 155
D u tto n , G e o ffre y 131 fe d e ra l e le c tio n s 263
1972 1 1 ,1 3 ,2 4 5
E a s s o n , M ic h a e l 287 1983 1 1 ,1 9 2 -3
e c o n o m ic e m p iric is m 2 9 7 -3 0 1 1993 177
e c o n o m ic m o d e llin g 2 9 8 -9 1996 1 4 ,1 8 ,6 8 ,1 2 9 ,2 5 6
e c o n o m ic ra tio n a lis m 3 0 , 3 1 -2 , 137, 1998 1 9 ,2 5 6
197, 2 0 1 -2 , 2 9 5 , 2 9 7 -3 0 1 , 31 5 fe m in is m 7 0 -7 , 125, 245
e c o n o m ic r e fo rm 14, 1 2 3 -6 F e rr ie r , L o u is e 144
ALP and 1 9 3 -2 1 1 , 2 6 0 -4 , 2 7 3 -7 , F id le r, R ic h a r d 329
2 9 4 -3 0 1 F ig h tb a c k ! 2 0 9
s u b u r b a n v a lu e s a n d 1 2 6 -3 8 , f ilm i n d u s t r y 86
1 6 8 -9 , 2 6 0 s e e a ls o c i n e m a
E c o n o m ic S u m m it 195 f in a n c ia l d e r e g u la tio n 1 9 5 -6 , 200,
e d u c a tio n 2 5 4 , 2 7 6 , 2 9 6 , 3 0 8 -1 0 , 3 1 4 2 7 4 -5
p o s tin d u s tr ia l e m p lo y a b ility a n d F ix e r , T h e ( W i l k i n s o n ) 204
302 fo c u s g ro u p s 129, 2 62, 320
E d w a rd s, Jo h n 298 F o le y , D o c 1 8 0 , 1 81
e le c tro n ic m e d ia 13 fo re ig n b a n k s 196
s e e a ls o c y b e r s p a c e ; m e d i a F o rs y th , P e te r 226
E l i o t , T .S . 6 5 F o u r C o m ers 321
E llio t, S t e p h a n 166 F ra se r, B e rn ie 297
E llis , B o b 1 3 7 , 1 8 1 , 1 8 2 , 1 8 6 , 2 1 0 , 2 9 8 F ra s e r, M a lc o lm 190, 192, 193, 2 6 6
e m p iric is m 3 3 3 -6 F r e e m a n , C a th y 52, 56
e m p lo y m e n t p o lic y 3 0 2 -4 F r o n tl in e 3 8 , 3 9 , 2 2 2 - 3
E n d o f C e r t a i n t y , T h e ( K e ll y ) 123 F u k u y a m a , F ra n c is 3 1 3 -1 6
e n d o f h is to ry 3 1 4 -1 5
e n title m e n ts 130 G a n g la n d (D a v is) 2 2 4 -9
e n v ir o n m e n t 8 6 , 111, 117 G a rn e r, N a d in e 81
ALP and 1 1 5 ,2 0 2 - 6 G a r re tt, P e te r 19, 4 1 , 9 8 , 9 9 -1 1 8 ,
e q u ity 27 4 , 3 0 3 -8 202, 337
 index

G a te n s , M o ira 69, 73 H a r r a d i n e , B ria n 72, 75

G e ld o f, B o b 50 H a r r i n g t o n , D a v id 22
G e n e ra tio n X 25, 42, 210, 217, 219, H a rris , M ax 1 6 6 , 1 6 7 , 1 91
221, 223, 230 H a rtle y , J o h n 7 1 , 72, 1 3 3 -5 , 160,
m e d ia a n d 2 3 3 - 5 1 ,3 2 5 173, 324
g e n e ra tio n a lis m 4 1 -2 , 2 1 5 -1 7 H a s h a m .J o e 150, 2 3 8
B rad y B u n c h a n d 2 3 7 -8 H a u m o n o , S o lo m o n 4 7 -9
C h r is to s T s io lk a s 2 2 9 - 3 3 , 2 3 4 H a w k e G o ve rn m en t a n d L a b o r
C o u n td o w n 2 3 8 -4 0 T r a d itio n , T h e ( M a d d o x ) 210
J u m p C u ts 2 3 3 - 4 H aw ke, B ob 1 1 -1 2 , 19, 117, 124,
M a r k D a v is a n d 2 2 4 -9 ,2 3 1 ,2 3 3 126, 165, 1 6 8 -9 , 189, 2 5 4
m e d ia c o n s tr u c t 2 1 7 -2 1 a g r e e m e n t w ith K e a tin g 192
m ig ra n ts a n d 2 3 0 -3 c e le b rity 19, 179
m o o n w a lk a n d 2 3 4 -7 c h ild p o v e rty r e m a r k 203
te le v is io n a n d 2 3 4 -4 6 e c o n o m ic r e fo rm a n d 201, 335
u rb a n ity a n d s u b u rb a n ity 2 2 1 -4 1 9 8 3 w in 1 1 -1 2 ,1 9 2 - 3
G e n e r a ti o n s ( M a c k a y ) 2 1 6 -1 8 1987 e le c tio n 202
G ib s o n , M el 3 2 6 1990 e le c tio n 206
G i l l i g a n ’s I s l a n d 2 4 0 , 241 p u b lic im a g e o f 1 9 0 -2 0 0
G le b e 180 re fo rm in g L a b o r 124, 196
g lo b a lis a tio n 1 3 -1 5 , 1 2 5 -6 , 137, s p lit w ith K e a tin g 1 9 8 -2 0 0 , 2 0 4 -9
274, 282, 289 H aw ke, H azel 196
G l u e d t o t h e T e lly ( R a y s o n ) 234 H a w k e - K e a li n g H ij a c k , T h e ( J a e n s c h )
G o m b ro w itz , W ito ld 121 210
G o o d N e w s W eek 6 9 , 1 5 0 H a y d e n , B il l 108, 192
G ood Son, T h e 9 6 H a y e s, A n th o n y 165
G oss, W ayne 30 H a z litt, W illia m 63
g o v e rn m e n t s p e n d in g 200, 2 9 4 -7 H ead O n 230
G ra m s c i, A n to n io 110 H e a rtb e a t m a rk e t re s e a rc h 220
G ra n e y , D av e 5 7 -9 , 61, 249 H e a r tb r e a k H ig h 1 5 4 -5
G re e n s 30, 31, 118, 2 0 2 -6 H e a v e n 's B u r n i n g 1 6 7
G re e r, G e rm a in e 8 2 , 149 H egel 7 3 ,3 1 3 - 1 7
G re g o ry , B o b 174 H e n d e rso n , G e ra rd 19
G re g o ry , C h ris 233, 235, 240, 241, H enshaw , R od 20
242, 243 H e r a ld ( M e l b o u r n e ) 183
d e s ig n a e s th e tic s 243, 247 H e w e tt, D o r o th y 326
s u b u rb ia a n d 244, 245 H e w s o n .J o h n 1 7 7 ,2 0 9 - 1 0 ,2 9 8
g rie v a n c e s 130 H id d e n s , L es 1 5 0 -2
se e a l s o r e s e n t m e n t H ip p ie H ip p ie S h a k e ( N e v ille ) 225
G riffith s , R a c h e l 159 H irs t, R o b 1 0 2 ,1 0 3 ,1 1 6
G ru n g e lite ra tu re 230 H o g an , P J. 158
G u a tta r i, F e lix 315 H o lt, H a r o ld 16
G u d in s k i, M ic h a e l 84 H o rk h e im e r, M ax 65
G u illia tt, R ic h a r d 95 H o r n e , D o n a ld 2 1 , 3 4 -6 , 5 6 , 126, 128
H o w a rd ,J o h n 18, 125, 129, 131,
H a n s o n , P a u lin e 1 7 -1 9 ,3 0 ,5 6 ,9 4 , 170, 202, 257
121, 140, 170, 3 32 H o w a rd , R o la n d S. 9 0
B u rk es ’ B a ck ya rd 1 5 1 —2 , 7 /Q m a g a z in e 145, 146, 150
c e le b rity o f 3 1 , 6 7 , 3 2 1 -3 H u g h e s , R o b e rt 4 6 , 144
c u ltu ra l c h a n g e a n d 125, 174 H u m e , D a v id 312
P a u lin e P a n ts d o w n a n d 2 4 8 -5 1 H u n t, S im o n 2 4 8 -5 1
p o p u lis m 21, 254 H u n t e r , B il l 159, 162, 1 6 5 -6 , 1 6 7 -8 ,
H arg rea v es, J o h n 189 189
 index

H u n te r, B o y d 174 jo u rn a lis m 38
H ush 239 see a lso m e d i a
H u tc h e n c e , M ic h a e l 4 9 - 5 3 , 5 4 , 6 4 , J u ic e 5 0 , 6 9 , 2 2 1 , 2 5 0
86 , 100 J u m p C u ts ( S o ld a to w & T s io lk a s )
2 3 3 -4
id e n tity 219, 268 J u n k y a r d (B irth d a y P a rty ) 94
fa irn e s s a n d 131
m e d ia a n d 2 7 -8 K a k a d u N a tio n a l P a rk 115
m o v ie s a n d 163 K a la n tz is , M a r y 173
Id io t B o x 4 1 , 1 5 3 , 1 5 9 -6 1 , 1 7 5 , 3 0 3 K e a tin g , A n n ita 178
im a g e s 73, 163 K e a tin g , P a u l 1 9 ,1 2 9 ,1 3 1 ,1 8 8 ,
I m b r u g lia , N a ta lie 5 3 -7 1 9 1 ,2 5 9
in d iv id u a lis m 2 6 9 -7 0 , 2 8 0 -5 , as PM 1 7 8 -9 ,2 0 8 - 1 1
2 8 9 -9 1 , 310 as T re a s u re r 1 9 3 -2 0 8 , 2 6 1 -2
in d u s tr y c lu s te rs 2 7 5 , 301 b a n a n a re p u b lic r e m a r k 2 0 0 -2 ,
in f o rm a tio n 2 2 , 138, 1 47, 1 5 0 -1 , 158 295
b lo c k a g e s 1 6 4 -8 , 2 5 6 -7 , 3 3 2 -6 c e le b rity 9 8 , 178
c o m m u n ity a n d 325 c o n s u m p ti o n ta x p u s h 1 9 8 -2 0 0
d e m o c ra c y a n d 2 5 3 -4 c ra s h -la n d in g 2 0 4 -7 , 335
e c o n o m ic re fo r m a n d 126 d e a l w ith H a w k e 192
fro m s u b u rb ia 173 e c o n o m ic re fo rm 1 2 3 -6 , 1 6 8 -9
lite ra ti a n d 220 P la c id o D o m in g o s p e e c h 2 0 7 -8
p o lic y a n d 320 p u s h a g a in s t H a w k e 2 0 4 -9
p o s tin d u s tr ia l s o c ie ty a n d tr u e b e lie v e rs s p e e c h 1 7 8 -9
2 7 7 - 8 5 ,2 9 9 - 3 0 2 , 3 3 2 u rb a n ity 68
p ro le ta ria t 2 5 4 -6 , 2 78 , 2 8 8 -9 0 , K eenan, T om 180
310 K e lly , N e d 5 0 ,5 2 ,7 8 - 8 0
ric h a n d p o o r 1 7 5 -6 , 2 8 8 -9 0 K e lly , P a u l ( j o u r n a l i s t ) 1 1 5 , 1 2 3 -5 ,
see a ls o c y b e r s p a c e ; k n o w l e d g e ; 142, 294
m e d ia K e lly , P a u l ( s o n g w r i t e r ) 7 9 , 1 2 1 -3 ,
in fo rm a tio n e c o n o m y 1 7 5 -6 , 124, 136, 142, 167, 306
2 7 7 -8 5 , 3 0 0 -1 , 3 3 2, 338 K e lty , B il l 1 9 5 ,2 0 6 ,2 0 8
in te lle c tu a l p ro p e rty 2 5 1 , 2 8 0 -5 , 2 8 9 K en n ed y , D e b o ra h 161
in te lle c tu a l w o rk , in te r n a tio n a lis a tio n K e n n e rly , K e r ri- A n n e 56
o f 15 K e n n e tt.J e f f 2 4 6
in te lle c tu a ls 2 8 -9 , 35, 110 K e r in ,J o h n 209
p u b lic c u ltu re a n d 1 3 7 -8 K e rn o t, C h e ry l 1 9 -2 0 , 4 6, 4 8 , 259
in te re s t ra te s 2 0 5 -6 K e rr, S ir J o h n 188, 189
I n te r v ie w , T h e 164 K id m a n , N ic o le 56, 85
IN X S 4 9 , 51 K in g s C r o s s 1 3 8 -4 1 ,1 5 3
Ip s w ic h 256 K in s e lla , J o h n 329
K irk p a tric k , P e te r 144, 145
Jaen sch , D ean 210 K is s o r K il l 165, 167
J a g g e r , M ic k 79 k n o w le d g e 2 5 2 , 2 5 4 , 2 7 5 , 3 0 8 -1 0 ,
J a iv in , L in d a 1 7 7 -8 3 3 3 -6
ja z z 40 se e a l s o i n f o r m a t i o n
III 249 K o h l, H e lm u t 11
s e e a l s o 2 JJ K o je v e , A l e x a n d r e 3 1 3 -1 7 , 327
Jo h n n y Suede 96 K u k a th a s , C h a n d r a n 18
J o h n s o n , C a ro l 2 10
Jo h n so n , Sam uel 63, 154, 280, 285 L a b o r c u ltu re 12, 4 1 , 181, 3 2 6 -7
Jo n e s , B a rry 42, 2 5 2 -7 , 264, 285, o f th e le ft 2 7 8 -8 5
318, 335 L a b o r I n P o w er 4 1 , 179, 1 8 9 , 1 9 0 -2 0 0
 index 367

L a b o r L egacy, T h e ( J o h n s o n ) 2 1 0 307
l a b o u r c u l t u r e 12 L o o s e ly , S t e p h e n 59
la b o u r m a rk e t r e s tr u c tu r in g 2 7 4 -6 L o s t G e n e r a tio n 219
see a lso i n f o r m a t i o n e c o n o m y ; see a ls o g e n e r a t i o n a l i s m
s e rv ic e s e c to r e x p a n s io n L o v e, C o u rtn e y 55
L a c a n ,J a c q u e s 320 L u c k y C o u n tr y , T h e ( H o r n e ) 35, 126
la c k 3 1 6 ,3 1 9 L u k acs, G e o rg e 218
la n d 2 7 8 -9 L u m b y , C a th a rin e 4 5 ,4 6 ,6 9 - 7 7 ,9 1 ,
L ang, Jack 1 9 1 ,2 0 8 149, 21 7 , 338
L an g er, J o h n 3 7 -9 te le v is io n 236, 238, 240
L a n g m o re , J o h n 194
L a s s w e ll , H a r o l d 65, 66 M c A u liffe , C h r is 1 3 2 -3 , 149, 165
L a t e l i n e 6 9 , 71 M c C ra n n , T e rry 18
L a th a m , M a rk 42, 159, 174, 203 , M c D e rm o tt, P a u l 147, 150, 152
2 1 6 , 2 5 8 -6 0 , 2 8 6 -3 2 8 , 338 M c F a d d e n , P a u la 48
A L P p o lic y a n d 2 6 2 -3 , 287, M cG ah an , A n d rew 230
2 9 1 —4 , 3 0 2 - 3 M c G re g o r, C ra ig 109, 141, 146, 258
C i v ilis i n g G lo b a l C a p it a lis m 2 5 8 -9 , B e rn ie F ra se r 2 9 8
2 8 6 -3 2 8 c u ltu re 2 0 -4 , 1 3 2 -3 , 1 3 5 -6
c i v i li ty 3 1 0 -1 3 in e q u a lity a n d 1 7 3 -4
c o n f lic ts f o r L a b o r 2 8 8 -9 1 L ib e r a l w o m e n 1 7 7 -8
e d u c a tio n 3 0 8 -1 0 L a th a m a n d T a n n e r 2 5 9 ,2 7 1 ,
fu tu re o f A L P 3 2 6 -8 2 8 6 , 291
L iv e rp o o l C o u n c il 2 8 6 -7 pop 2 0 - 4 , 4 0 , 8 4 , 141
m e d ia 3 2 3 -8 1960s a n d 1 6 -1 8
p e o p le s ’ w a n ts a n d d e s ire s M ackay, H u g h 2 1 6 -2 0 , 2 36
3 1 3 -2 1 , 328 M a c K illo p , M a r y 79, 90
p o s tin d u s tria l a g e a n d 2 9 7 -3 0 3 M a c p h e r s o n , E lle 48, 52, 337
so c ia l c a p a b ility 29 4 , 3 12, 3 1 3 -1 8 , M a c p h e r s o n , M im i 5 9 - 6 0
334 see a ls o N o t M im i
so c ia l ra tio n a lis m 3 0 3 -8 M c L u h a n , M a rs h a ll 22, 27, 290
L aw so n , H e n ry 143 M cQ u een , H u m p h re y 132, 137
L a w s o n , L o u is a 143 M c Q u ire , S c o tt 2 5 , 2 6 , 6 4 , 6 5 , 1 49,
L a w s o n , S y l v ia 144 235, 238, 338
L a z a rfie ld , P a u l 65 M ad d o x , G ra h a m 210
L e B o n , G u s ta v e 64 M adonna 55, 80, 242
L e a v i s , F .R . 6 5 m a g ic p u d d in g m y th 193, 2 9 4 -7
L ee, S ophy 158 M a l le y , W i l l i a m 18
le ft w in g id e a s 2 7 0 - 7 M an n e , R o b ert 27, 1 2 5 , 1 2 8 , 171
p o s tin d u s tria l e c o n o m y a n d M a rc u s , G re il 91
2 7 8 -8 5 m a r k e t a n d s ta te 2 7 1 -7
L e w is , G l e n 2 4 ,2 5 ,2 7 see a ls o s t a t e , r o l e o f
L ib e r a l P a rty 1 7 7 - 8 ,2 0 9 m a r k e tin g , to g e n e r a tio n X 2 1 9 -2 1
lib e ra tio n m o v e m e n ts 34, 233, 306 M a r s h a ll, D a v id 107, 149, 23 6 , 237,
lib e rta ria n is m 2 9 , 7 2 , 146, 2 3 4 , 335
2 6 8 -7 0 c e le b rity a n d 6 1 -9 , 7 0 , 7 5 , 7 7 , 2 2 0
“l i g h t o n t h e h i l l " 12, 13, 1 5 -1 6 , 31, m e d ia a n d 72, 135
186, 203, 30 8 , 3 27, 338 M a rtin , R ay 228
lite r a r y c r itic is m 65 M a rtin , T o n y 164
lite ra ti 220 M a rx , K arl 255
L ittle m o re , S tu a rt 38 m a s c u lin ity 1 6 6 -8
L i v i n g s t o n e , K .T . 2 2 -3 , 25 M a th ie s o n , C ra ig 118
L o a d e d (T s io lk a s ) 21 9 , 22 3 , 2 2 9 -3 3 , M a t l o c k P o li c e 150
index

M e g e n e r a ti o n 219 m u ltic u ltu r a lis m 125

m e d ia M u lv e y , L a u r a 73
A LP and 1 8 1 - 2 ,2 6 0 - 4 ,2 7 1 - 2 M u n r o e , M ik e 229
a n d so c ia l d e m o c ra c y 13 M u r ie l's W e d d in g 4 1 , 1 5 8 -6 0 , 162,
a n d s u b u rb ia 1 3 3 -8 , 25 6, 3 2 3 -6 332, 337
c e le b ritie s a n d 6 2 ,3 2 1 - 3 M u rra y, L e s 1 6 8 -9 , 174, 2 2 2
c ritic is in g , w ays o f 3 7 -4 0 M u sh room R ecord s 8 3 -4 , 85, 90
fe m in is ts a n d 7 2 -3 m u s ic in d u s tr y 4 9 -5 4 , 8 3 -9 8 ,
g e n e ra tio n a lis m a n d 2 1 7 -2 1 , 1 0 3 -4 , 116
2 2 7 -8 , 2 3 4 -5 1
g lo b a lis a tio n a n d 2 2 9 -3 0 N a i d o o , I n d ir a 56
H anson an d 3 2 1 -3 n a tio n a l c u ltu r e 1 5 ,1 1 4 -1 5
L a th a m on 3 0 4 -5 , 3 2 3 -6 N a tio n a l F ro n t 256
lite ra ti g e n e r a tio n a n d 2 1 9 -2 1 n a tio n a l r e c o n s tr u c tio n 184
L u m b y ’s u s e o f 6 9 -7 7 n a tio n a l s o v e r e ig n ty 1 1 3 ,1 3 7 ,3 0 0
o w n e rs h ip 135, 272, 289 n a tio n a lis m 1 1 3 -1 4
p o litic s a n d 2 6 2 -4 , 3 0 4 -5 N a y lo r , B r ia n 266
p o s tin d u s tria l a g e a n d 2 8 4 -5 N e ig h b o u r s 8 1 - 4
s u b u rb ia 2 4 5 -5 1 N e l s o n , C a m illa 215
th e o ry 2 5 -7 , 42, 69 N e v ille , R ic h a r d 1 4 4 , 1 7 1 , 2 2 1 - 2 , 2 2 5
u rb a n ity 1 7 0 - 6 ,2 7 1 ,2 9 0 N ezu A u s tr a l ia n 256
see a ls o c e le b r i t y ; c y b e r s p a c e ; N e w L a b o u r P a r ty 292
in f o rm a tio n N ew m an, Sam 61
M e d iu m C oo l 2 4 6 N e w s fr o n t 1 6 2
M e lb a , N e llie 5 2 -3 , 79 N e w to n jo h n , O liv ia 8 3
M e lb o u rn e 2 4 6 -7 N ex u s w e b s it e 1 3 ,1 4
M e l d r u m , I a n ‘M o l l y ’ 8 1 , 1 1 7 , 2 4 0 N ie t z s c h e , F r ie d r ic h 92, 94
M e lle u is h , G re g o r y 137, 311 N ie u w e n h u iz e n ,J o h n 22
M e llio n .J o h n 189 N ig h t in g a le , V ir g in ia 39
m e n a n d c u ltu ra l c h a n g e 73 1960s 1 5 -1 6 , 17, 2 9 , 3 5 -6 , 2 2 5 , 3 0 6
M e n a t W o rk 104 1 9 7 0 s, te le v is io n a n d 1 4 9 - 5 0
M e n d e ls o h n , B e n 81, 8 5 -6 , 159 1990s 1 7 ,2 9 ,3 5 ,1 5 0 ,1 7 1
M e n z ie s , R o b e r t 1 8 3 ,1 8 5 - 7 N o la n , S id n e y 79
M e rc u rio , P a u l 162 n o s ta lg ia 27, 225, 325
M e ta l S k in 153 N o t M im i 5 9 -6 1 , 75
M id n ig h t O il 9 9 -1 1 8 N u c le a r D is a r m a m e n t P a rty 19,
M illa rd , K a th r y n 164 106, 112
M in o g u e , D a n n ii 81 N um ber 96 1 4 9 -5 0 ,2 3 8
M i n o g u e , K y li e 4 1, 52, 75, 8 0 -9 0 ,
92, 9 4 , 9 7 -8 , 111, 3 2 0 -1 , 3 37 O ’D o w d , B e r n a r d 183
m in o rity g ro u p s 1 3 0 ,1 6 9 ,1 7 1 - 2 , O 'R e g a n , T o m 8 6 , 173
2 5 4 , 265, 2 9 2 -3 o c k e rs 1 6 6 -8
M itc h e ll, T o n y 238 O ld f ie ld , D a v id 322
m o d e rn is m 17 O ls e n , O llie 91
M o g i n i e , J im 116 O n e N a tio n P a rty L td 17, 3 0 , 136,
m o o n w a lk , g e n e r a t i o n a l i s m a n d 170, 184, 256, 3 2 6
2 3 4 -7 O n e N a tio n s ta te m e n t 210
M o o re , T o n y 145 o p in io n p o lls 1 2 9 ,2 6 2 ,3 2 0
M o ra , T irie l 156 O rb o st 268
m o r a l is m 2 3 3 , 271 O rw e ll, G e o rg e 99, 268
M o r g a n , D a v id 194, 199 O sb o rn e , G ra e m e 24, 25, 27
M o ric e , T a ra 162 o th e r , m is re c o g n itio n 3 1 3 -1 8
M o rris , M e a g h a n 20, 69, 208 O tto , B a rry 165
 index 369

O tto , M ira n d a 164, 165 pow er

O v e rin g to n , C a ro lin e 55, 250 a n d c e le b rity 6 1 -9 , 197
O y ste r 5 5 in f o r m a tio n te c h n o lo g y a n d 2 5 3 - 4
Oz m a g a z in e 1 4 4 ,1 4 6 ,1 7 1 ,2 2 2 m e d ia o w n e rsh ip a n d 135, 2 7 2 , 28 9
p rin t m e d ia 1 3 ,1 7 1
P a c k e r, K e rry 56 P r i s c i l la , Q u e e n o f t h e D e s e r t 1 6 2 , 1 6 6 - 8
P a n ts d o w n , P a u lin e 2 4 8 -5 1 , 338 p riv a te s p h e r e 7 0 -1
P a ris rio ts 16 P ro b y n , E ls p e th 34
P a rk e r, G e o rg ie 56 p ro fe s s io n s , m is tru s t o f 1 2 8 ,2 7 6
P a r k la n d 164 p ro p a g a n d a 24, 65
P a s q u a re lli, J o h n 152, 184, 254 p ro te c tio n 124, 126, 2 7 4 , 2 94
P a x to n s 228 p u b lic c u ltu re 1 2 8 ,1 3 4 - 8 ,1 7 1
P e arce , G uy 167 p u b lic s e c to r, r o le o f 2 7 4
P e a rso n , N o el 130 see a ls o s t a t e , r o l e o f
P e e l, J o h n 8 4 ,8 5 p u b lic s p h e r e 7 0 -1 , 73, 134, 3 36
P e o file , P o l i t i c s a n d P o p ( M c G r e g o r ) P u l p F ic tio n 2 2 9 , 2 3 0
1 6 -1 8 , 2 0 -4 , 1 3 2 -3 , 135 punk 9 0 -1
P e ra n o , G re g 86 P u se y , M ic h a e l 3 0 , 137
P e tr ie , D a n ie l 2 2 p u s h p o llin g 24
p h o to g ra p h y 26
P i e r r e e t G ille s 8 9 - 9 0 Q u adrant 125, 2 5 6
P ilg e r, J o h n 113 Q u e e n s la n d e le c tio n s 1 7 ,3 0 ,2 5 7
P le a s u r e M a c h in e 4 7
P lib e rs e k , T a n y a 180 R a c e A r o u n d t h e W o r ld 3 2 9 - 3 0
p lu ra lis m 334, 3 3 7 -9 r a d io 68
p o litic a l c o r r e c tn e s s 3 5 -6 , 125, 226, R a lp h 4 7 ,7 3
256, 268, 310 R a ts in th e R a n k s 180
p o litic a l le a d e r s 6 8 , 1 8 2 -8 , 2 0 7 R a w ls , J o h n 3 0 3 -4
p o litic s a n d c u ltu r e 42, 6 8 , 2 8 3 -5 , R ay, R o b e r t 2 0 9
335, 337 R a y n e r, M o ira 137
A L P a n d 2 6 2 -7 , 2 9 1 -4 R a y s o n , K a te 234
L in d s a y T a n n e r 2 6 7 -8 R azer, H e le n 46, 78
P a u l K e ll y a n d 1 2 1 ,1 2 3 r e a d in g 128, 1 3 4 -5
P e te r G a rre tt a n d 1 0 7 -1 1 8 R e a g a n , R o n a ld 64
p o llin g 24 re c o g n itio n 3 1 3 -1 8 ,3 1 8 -2 1
P o is o n ,J o h n 162, 165 R eaw ery 118
pop 2 1 -2 , 2 6 , 4 0 , 4 9 -5 4 , 107, 109 R ed d y , H e le n 245
c e le b rity a n d 7 1 - 2 ,8 2 - 3 ,9 7 - 8 R eed, L ou 2 5 1 ,2 9 0
p o p m u s i c ' 8 3 - 4 , 1 0 1 - 2 , 1 0 4 - 5 , 1 1 0 -1 1 R e im e r , A n d r e w 65
p o p u l a r c u l t u r e see c u l t u r e ; p o p ; ren t 278
s u b u r b a n v a lu e s r e p ro d u c tiv e te c h n o lo g y 114
P o p u la r R e a lity ( H a r t l e y ) 1 3 3 -5 r e s e n tm e n t 18, 122, 129, 142, 143,
p o p u lis m 21, 30, 65, 169, 2 54, 2 84 1 6 8 -9 , 1 7 2 -6 , 2 7 4 , 3 2 6
G a rre tt a n d 1 1 1 - 1 6 ,1 1 8 g e n e ra tio n a l 2 1 5 -1 6
p o rn o g ra p h y 5 9 -6 1 , 7 5 -6 o f m in o rity g r o u p s 130, 2 5 4 , 2 6 8 ,
P o st B o o m e rs 217 2 9 2 -3 , 310
p o s tb ro a d c a s t m e d ia 13, 14, 331 w e lf a r e r ig h ts a n d 306
p o litic s a n d 3 1 .2 6 2 -4 R e serv e B an k 1 9 5 -6
se e a l s o c y b e r s p a c e ; m e d i a re s is ta n c e 231, 256, 260
p o s tin d u s tr ia l s o c ie tv 332 le ft w in g a n d 2 7 0 -1
c la ss a n d 2 7 8 -8 5 ,' 2 9 1 - 4 , 3 0 1 - 2 R e y n o ld s , M a rg a re t 72
p o s tm o d e rn is m 127, 307, 3 1 4 -1 5 R i c a r d o , D a v id 278, 280
P o w e ll, D ia n e 161 R ic h a rd s o n , G ra h a m 115, 196,
 index

2 0 2 -7 , 252, 317 so c ia l c a p ita l 310

R ic h a rd s o n , T o n y 79 so c ia l c h a n g e 16, 26 9
R ic h e n s , G a b r ie lle 4 7 -9 , 55 so c ia l c h a n g e a n d e c o n o m ic r e f o r m
R id g e w a y , A d e n 250 1 2 3 -6
R im b a u d , A r th u r 94 ALP and 1 9 4 -2 1 1 , 2 6 0 -4 , 2 7 3 -7 ,
R iv e r O p h e lia , T h e 145 2 9 4 -7
r o a d m o v ie s 167 s u b u r b a n v a lu e s a n d 1 2 6 -3 8 ,
R o b e rts , la n 52, 56 142, 1 6 8 -9 , 260
R o b in s , M ik e y 69 te c h n o lo g ic a l c h a n g e a n d 2 9 7 -3 0 1
r o c k c ritic s 107 so c ia l d e m o c ra c y 1 1 ,1 2 -1 6
R ock G od 55, 57, 84 in f o r m a tio n s o c ie ty a n d 2 5 3 -4
r o c k m u s ic 1 0 1 -2 , 1 0 4 -6 , 1 1 0 -1 1 , 11 3 so c ia l ju s tic e 157, 3 0 3 -6
ro c k s ta rs 4 9 -5 4 , 5 7 - 9 , 8 4 so c ia l r a tio n a lis m 30, 3 0 3 -8 ,
R o e , J ill 12 3 1 3 -2 1 ,3 3 4 -5
R o h a n , C rie n a 85 so c ia l r e s p o n s ib ilitie s 292
R ose, M a rk 280, 283 s o c ia l th e o r y 15
R o w e , D a v id 11 1 s o c ia l w e lf a r e 2 03, 272, 2 7 3 -6 ,
R o w se, T im 132 2 9 4 -7 , 3 0 6 -8
R u a n e .J o h n 164 tru s t a n d 3 1 0 -1 3
R u s s e ll, D o n 2 0 5 -6 S o ld a to w , S a s h a 2 3 3 -4
s o lid a rity , p o s tin d u s tr ia l a g e a n d
S a fr a n ,J o h n 3 2 9 ,3 3 8 2 9 1 -4 , 3 0 1 -2
St J o h n , E d 51 S o ilin g , M a x 180
S a n ta m a ria , B .A . 1 8 8 S o u th P a r k 1 8 ,2 4 0
S a y er, M a n d y 146 s p a tia l in e q u a lity 159, 1 6 8 -7 0 , 174,
S c a te n a , D in o 8 1 ,8 2 2 7 6 , 3 0 2 -3
S c h la tte r, C h a r lie 8 5 -6 , 88 see a ls o e q u i t y
s c h o o ls 276 S p e n c e r , B e th 2 1 7 ,2 3 3 ,2 9 0 ,3 3 8
see a lso e d u c a t i o n s u b u rb ia a n d 2 4 5 -6
S c h o p e n h a u e r , .A rth u r 9 6 te le v is io n a n d 234, 235, 239, 240,
S c h u ltz , J u lia n n e 3 7 -8 , 39 2 4 1 -2 , 251
S c h u m a n n ,J o h n 20 S p e n c e r, D ia n a 62
S c o tt, A n d r e w 293 S p e n d e r , D a le 22
Sea C h a n ge 154, 269 S q u e e z e g e n e ra tio n 2 1 7 ,2 2 3 ,2 3 2
s e d u c tio n 86 see a ls o g e n e r a t i o n a l i s m
se lf 3 1 9 , 3 2 0 S ta m p , T e r e n c e 167
s e r v ic e s e c to r e x p a n s io n 275, s ta te , r o le o f 1 8 4 -8
3 0 1 -3 , 332 ALP and 2 7 1 -7 ,2 9 4 -7
S e x /L ife 2 7 d e v e lo p m e n ta lis m 1 8 9 -9 0
S h a rp , M a rtin 144 p o s n n d u s tria l e c o n o m y a n d
S h e eh an , P aul 30, 226, 310 2 8 2 -5 , 2 9 9 -3 0 2
S h e rb e t 238 S ta tu s Q u o 239
S id e w a lk 145 S t e k e te e , M ik e 286
S il e n t M a jo r it y r e p o r t 1 2 8 -3 0 , 1 3 5 -8 , S to c k , A itk e n a n d W a te r m a n 84
152, 168, 25 4 , 27 6 , 296, 308 S t o c k m a n ’s H a l l o f F a m e 1 6 8 -7 0
S i m p s o n , L is a 215 S to tt D e s p o ja , N a ta s h a 19
S im p so n s , T h e 6 9 , 2 1 5 , 2 4 0 S t r e e t j i g h te r 8 7
S im s, J e r e m y 159 S tre tto n , H u g h 149
S le e , A m r u th a 150 S tr e w th ! 143, 145
S le e p e r s W a k e ! ( J o n e s ) 253, 257 S tric tly B a llr o o m 1 6 1 -4 , 165, 3 3 2 , 3 3 7
S le sso r, K e n n e t h 1 3 8 -9 , 141, 143 S tu d io f o r M e n 46
S m i t h 's W e e k ly 143 s u b u r b a n v a lu e s 18, 21 , 3 2 , 3 6 , 71,
S m ith , A d a m 280 116, 117
 index 371

c in e m a a n d 1 5 5 - 6 8 ,1 7 5 ,2 4 5 su b u rb a n 1 4 9 -5 2
so c ia l a n d e c o n o m ic c h a n g e a n d te rm s o f tr a d e 299
1 2 6 -3 8 , 142, 1 6 8 -7 0 , 26 9 T h a tc h e r, M a rg a re t 11
S y lv a n ia W a ters 1 7 2 -4 T h e a tr e o f C ru e lty 9 3 -4
te le v is io n 243 th ird n a tu re 133, 149, 160, 163
u rb a n ity a n d 14 1 , 147, 1 6 3 -4 , th ir d w ay 12, 2 7 2 -7 , 2 9 2 , 3 2 7 , 33 9
1 7 0 -6 , 2 5 3 , 2 90 , 3 32 T h o m p s o n , E la in e 130
s u b u rb ia 1 2 6 -3 8 , 141, 2 5 7 , 332 T h o m p so n, Jack 133, 161, 162
c in e m a a n d 1 5 5 -6 8 , 175, 245 T h o r n t o n , S ig rid 154
d iffe re n c e a n d 310 T in g le , L a u ra 287
g e n e ra tio n a lis m a n d 244 T i n g w e l l , C h a r l e s ‘B u d ’ 1 5 6
m e d ia a n d 3 2 3 -6 T o fts , D a r r e n 1 4 9 , 2 6 5 , 2 6 7 , 3 3 8
te le v is io n a n d 1 4 9 -5 3 , 173, 2 4 3 c y b e rsp a c e a n d 2 5 -7 , 64
S u m o f U s, T h e 133, 161, 162, 164 m e d ia 65
S u m m e rs, A n n e 34, 144, 26 2 , 263 te le v is io n a n d 2 3 5 , 2 3 7 , 2 3 8 - 9
S u n H e r a ld 226 T o o h e y , B ria n 27
Sunday A ge 55 T o w n s e n d , H e le n 216
Sydney 1 4 3 -6 , 1 7 4 -5 T o y n e , P h ilip 115, 202
S y d n e y G ay a n d L e s b ia n M a rd i G ra s tra d itio n a lis ts 125
8 8 , 146, 162, 175 tr a in in g 302
S y d n e y M o r n in g H e r a ld 144 T r a n s fo r m in g L a b o r ( B e ilh a rz ) 210
S y lv a n ia W a ters 1 7 2 -4 T r u e B e l ie v e r s 4 1 , 1 8 2 -8 , 2 7 2 , 3 2 7 -8
s y m b o lis m 62 T r u e IM v e a n d C h a o s 1 6 5 ,1 6 7
tr u s t 128, 142, 276, 3 0 7 -8 , 3 1 0 -1 3
ta b lo id jo u r n a lis m 7 0 -1 , 271 T s io lk a s , C h r is to s 2 1 9 , 2 2 3 , 2 2 9 -3 3 ,
se e a l s o j o u r n a l i s m ; m e d i a 234, 307
ta lk b a c k r a d io 256 c in e m a 2 4 5 -6
ta lk in g h e a d s 2 8 -9 , 3 5 , 3 8 , 76, 110, s u b u rb ia a n d 244
111 te le v is io n v ie w in g 235, 238, 239,
th e p u b lic a n d 134, 137, 3 3 6 2 4 1 -2
T a n n e r , L in d s a y 4 2, 2 5 8 -6 0 , T uohy, W endy 6 1 -2
2 6 7 -7 3 , 28 5 , 30 1 , 338 T u rn e r, G ra e m e 1 6 2 ,1 6 9 ,1 7 3
A L P d iv is io n s a n d 261, 288 T u rn e r, Ian 132
W h itla m e r a a n d 2 6 6 -7 2 I C (m a g a z in e ) 27
T a ra n tin o , Q u e n tin 222, 229 2JJ 102
te c h n o lo g ic a l c h a n g e 2 2 -5 se e a l s o j l ]
m e d ia a n d 1 71
p a rlia m e n t a n d 253 u r b a n v a lu e s 1 8 ,3 2 ,1 4 4 - 8
re s e a rc h a n d d e v e lo p m e n t 2 7 5 , u rb a n ity 18, 28, 8 4 , 141, 143, 2 2 7 ,
3 0 0 -1 232, 2 3 3 -4 , 2 4 6 -8
te le g ra p h y 23, 26 A u s tra lia n c u ltu re a n d 9 8 , 1 4 4 -8 ,
te le p h o n e s 2 3 -4 , 26 163, 26 8 , 289
te le s th e s ia 26 d iffe re n c e a n d 310
te le v is io n 2 3 -6 , 33, 4 1 , 147 ru ra l a n d s u b u rb a n re s e n tm e n t
B ra d y B u n c h T h e 2 3 7 -8 1 6 8 -7 6
C o u n td o w n g e n e r a t i o n 2 3 8 -4 0
c u ltu re g e n e ra to r 2 4 1 -3 v a lu e s 2 4 7 - 8
c u r r e n t a f fa irs 3 8 - 9 v e c to rs , d e f in itio n o f 2 8 2 , 2 8 3
g e n e ra tio n s a n d 25, 4 1 -2 , 2 3 4 -4 6 see a ls o c y b e r s p a c e ; i n f o r m a t i o n ;
J o h n S a fra n a n d 3 2 9 -3 3 m e d ia
m o o n w a lk a n d 2 3 4 -7 v id e o p la y e rs 147
new s 11 V ie tn a m 16
p o p u la r c u ltu re a n d 68 v io le n c e 1 2 9 -3 0
372 index

v irtu a l c u ltu r e 224 9 3 -4 , 9 6 -7

V ir tu a l G eo gra ph y (W a rk ) 26 W h ite G irl 5 5 - 6 ,7 5
V i r t u a l R e p u b lic ( W a r k ) 32, 307 W h itla m , G o u g h 1 6 8 -9 , 2 8 6
d is m is s a l o f 113, 1 8 8 -9 0
w ages 2 7 9 -8 0 , 294 1 9 7 2 w in 1 1 ,1 3 ,1 7 ,2 4 5 ,2 6 5 -7
W a lla c e , W illia m 3 2 5 -6 W h itla m s , T h e 2 2 1 ,2 6 7
W a ls h , P e te r 193, 20 0 , 203, 2 06 W h o W e e k ly 5 0 , 1 4 5
W a ls h , R i c h a r d 1 4 4 -5 W ild e , O s c a r 2 1 5
W a lte r, J a m e s 137 W ild s id e 1 5 3 -4
W a rd , B a rb a ra 196 W ilk in s o n , M a r io n 204
W a rd , R u s s e ll 117 W illia m s , P a m e la 129
W a rh o l, A n d y 46 W illia m s o n , D a v id 5 6 , 167
W a rk , M c K e n z ie 2 6 , 3 2 , 7 5 , 1 3 8 -4 1 , W illis , B r u c e 229
307 W ir e d ( m a g a z i n e ) 2 2
W a s h in g to n , G e o rg e 64 w o m e n a n d w o rk 7 0 -1
W a ts o n , R e g 82 W o o lf, N a o m i 73
W a tts -R u s s e ll, Iv o 91 W r a n , N e v ille 1 9 0 ,1 9 6 ,3 1 7
W e a v in g , H u g o 167 W r ig h t, J u d i t h 5 2 ,5 6
W e n d t, J a n a 38 W r ig h t, T o n y 260
W e n h a m , D a v id 165
‘w e s t i e s ’ 1 61 Y ate s, P a u la 5 0 -1
W e x le r, H a s k e ll 2 4 6 Y oung Fogeys 223, 227
W h a te v e r i t T a k es ( R i c h a r d s o n ) 204, y o u th c u ltu re 2 2 1 ,2 2 6
317
W h e n th e A « S a w th e A n g e l (C a v e )