This essay begins to explore the influence of Australian stock characters and archetypes on Western popular culture by examining the mythology and folklore which encompasses the story of Ned Kelly. Ever since Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly emerged from colonial obscurity in 1878, his story has continued to fascinate. Whether historical, imaginative, or a combination of both, […]
Ned Kelly, in life, as in death, was a polarising figure. During his outlawry Ned became an adversary to the establishment but a crusader to the common folk. When he rode the trails of North East Victoria it was the fight for land between squatter and selector that drew the battle lines. Regularly, Ned’s portrayal […]
The lack of acknowledgement of Australian pop culture in traditional and online publications should come as no surprise when you consider the over abundance of American pop culture references which inundate our daily life. While little has been officially recorded concerning an actual history of Australian comics, even less has been documented on it’s seemingly […]
If asked to name a superhero, a person’s likely response would be a character from either the world of Marvel or DC [Detective Comics] — such is the extent of their influence and power. From Spider-Man, The Hulk, and Iron Man to Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, these giants of the comic book industry seemingly […]
American popular culture has made a significant impact on the Australian psyche – from cars, television, cinema, clothing, and food, to reshaping the vernacular and written word. After Australia’s Golden Age it would take another forty years before we had anything resembling a comic book industry. Given the array of talent and resources available why […]
