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Jessica Blain |
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| “Rudd is still searching for his Prime Ministerial voice. His clarion call is that ‘we are all in this together.’ That sentiment is certain to be tested in the months and years ahead.” 1 Dr James Curran Patriotism’s zealous embodiment projects various social ramifications in the future. Dr. James Curran’s expertise on political rhetoric has delved into a similar question of outcome. The continuity of social differentiation and exclusion within Australian culture has manifested itself to forge endless possibilities. Hypothesising ‘that the Australian national psyche makes a distinct relationship between patriotism and exclusivity and is not a culturally inclusive model’ has relied on a detailed attempt as a researcher to decipher fragments of social and cultural history. Over time as a continuum for identifying social change, exclusionary attitudes have encompassed the distinctive areas of research. Political rhetoric has mirrored the adoption and rejection of tolerance. The Australian Flag has emerged as a symbol of jingoism and imperialism, and groups have collectively exhibited prejudice through the pervasive fear of an ‘other.’ As a researcher who has delved into the depths of patriotism in Australia, my hypothesis has been effectively validated, although reliability was limited due to the scope of investigation. Quantitative distribution of a Questionnaire wielded inspiring results, provoking a further desire to specifically identify with macro representations of ‘terrorism’ as a catalyst for insular cultural outlooks. Although bias to the views of particular cultural, age and gender outlooks and bearing questions shaped by a personal outlook as a researcher, statistical findings have allowed the mapping of graphs and ideas to correlate with secondary research. A face to face Interview with Dr. James Curran was a fundamental basis to qualitative representations of patriotism. Answers were detailed, informed and explicit, but combined with three other secondary sources of Curran’s work; his opinions would significantly skew the diversity of social outlooks examined. Hugh Mackay’s online Interview additionally involved the insight of an ‘expert.’ The email medium undoubtedly inhibited Mackay’s responses and his macro position of influence would somewhat skew a personal reception of his views. Similarly conducted online, a Focus Group of 4 participants was undertaken, with a synergistic and fluid atmosphere developed; despite the stilted online medium. Spurring from the qualitative methods primarily reliant on descriptive and interpretive skills as a researcher, two extensive Content Analyses of newspaper articles and images were undertaken to infiltrate more quantitative and statistically significant data (as opposed to purely anecdotal.) Time consuming and limited to representing specific ‘coding’ systems of 44 articles and 34 images, the Content Analysis proved to be the methodological and research challenge of many proportions. Social and cultural literacy has been boundlessly tested and a renewed outlook on social research has shaped an increasingly critical approach to resources. Although an austere and dense topic conducted in a micro investigation, patriotism in Australia has coloured a personal outlook on the psycho-social systems that individuals embody to express their pride. Macro movements of Globalisation and post 9/11 terror have been manipulated by political figures and media institutions to fashion the current fear in Australian society, pivotal to the outlooks of individuals in a changing society and culture. “The fear of terrorism alone is causing rampant xenophobia. Appealing to traditional stories of bravery is a cheap way of trying to encourage blind submission, from a population which allows the Government to rush whatever policy they like through parliament in the name of national security.” Questionnaire response (Q.8) ENDNOTES: 1. Curran, J. By their Australia Days shall ye know them: (The Spectator Australia 31st Jan 2009) | ||
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