Australian Popular Culture

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Australia and the world experienced many social and cultural changes due to the emergence of television and rock and roll music. From 1945 Australia has been influenced by both England and America in its values. This study will discuss and analyse Australia’s popular culture via music and explain patterns of continuity and change in values that have influenced the Australian way of life. This essay will, by comparing the two songs “I got rhythm”,1930 composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin (SecondHandSongs, 2016) and “Land Down Under”, 1982 by Men At Work (Metrolyrics, 2016) , demonstrate the relationship between the values of different time periods by comparing and contrasting the type of language used, who the audience is, what the themes of the songs are, the values of the song and historical change and continuity.

The Language of I got rhythm and Land Down Under have a number of similarities and key differences that provide an insight into their respective time periods. The Language in I got rhythm is hopeful for the future and this suggests that in 1930 people thought that because they don’t have things materially they would make up for this with music, romance and the beauty of the day. For example the song constantly repeats the thought of having …show more content…

The songs created in the 1930s are softer and smoother compared to the 1980s Rock. There is also a large difference in the language, values and themes of the songs which shows how culture has changed and developed. In 1930s people valued love, music, song, daisies, starlight and sweet dreams were as in the 1980s people wanted the thrills of drugs, touring and Australian identity. This change would be confronting to someone who grow up with the jazz and folk songs and they would take time to

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