A posting on Expectations, and the movie “Australia”

Never build up your expectations, as it always leads to disappointment.  After plying ourselves with a yummy Japanese meal and ample sake, we decided to go and see “Australia” at the Dendy last night. 

So much expectation.  So much disappointment.  And so bloody long.  The movie is a cross between “The Blair Witch Project” and an infomercial on late night television.

I made the mistake of only buying one glass of wine, and I was wedged into the middle of the aisle, so I was unable to get refills.  The movie was so boring that we actually made out.  After being together for two years, I reckon that is a major achievement in a movie.  “Australia” is an excellent film for lubricating your love life, especially if you want to go on a first date with someone hot.  Guaranteed make out, as the movie starts at a snails pace, and eventually you think you are in a time warp that will never end.  Countless scenes of people droving cattle back and forth across the countryside, round and round in circles, while a lonely Aboriginal elder mysteriously sits on the top of the mountain with a spear and one foot on his knee.   The only relief is when some of the characters appear to get killed off, but unlike Blair Which Project, they re-appear later down the track, so the time warp can continue…. until the point where you can hear the Dendy audience breath a sigh of relief as Darwin is totally detroyed in a bombing raid by the Japanese… surely this will be the end of the movie…. but no… horror…. it goes on for another hour or so… please just let us get out of this movie!!!

Finally the audience let’s out a “cheergroan”.  This is a mix of a cheer and a groan as Hugh says to Nic: “Now it’s time for us to head back home to the farm to live happily ever after….”.  Thank goodness the movie is over…. but wait… there’s more…. ahhhhh!!!!!   15 more minutes of sloppy sentimental music and large vistas of endless red desert.  I think we got the point over the first 2 hours and 45 minutes.  It’s worse than a late night informercial for pimple cream.

A Serious Posting on Homophobia

I used to be fairly a fairly chilled sort of person, especially in relation to issues related to homophobia and racism.  I didn’t realise that particular people have big issues with gays, lesbians and aboriginals, as I have always lived under an assumption that each person can do as they choose.  This has changed over the last year, as I have personally known three people who have been directly impacted in voilent attacks,  just because they are gay or lesbian. 

I just can’t imagine how people can justify hitting someone or breaking their jaw, or glassing them in the face, because they do not like gay people or lesbians.  And this has happened in Sydney, not Mecca or Beirut….

I really think that there is a major problem in Australian culture when compared to Europe or more develped nations.  A recent interview on ABC’s “Enough Rope” really made me realise that Australia has some huge issues, as the culture is largely homophobic, and quite willing to accept that violence against gays and lesbians is quite acceptable…  and Australian people have systematically destroyed Aboriginal culture over the last 220 years, so I hardly think it is a source of jokes or course amusement…

Kevin Bloody Wilson is thankfully a historical relic of Australian culture, but I was quite amazed to see how Andrew Denton encouraged this guy to openly make fun of lesbians, by suggesting that they just need a good fuck from a bloke.   Kevin also still thinks it is quite acceptable to make fun of Aboriginal people by calling them names. 

We are in the year 2008, not 1972.  I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing on the TV that night, so I wrote a complaint to the ABC, especially when I pay thousands of dollars in tax every month.  Here is their reply:

“Thank you for your email regarding Andrew Denton’s interview with Kevin
Bloody Wilson on Enough Rope on 13 October. Please accept my apologies
for the delay in responding to you.

The ABC regrets that you were concerned by Mr Wilson’s references to
lesbians and Indigenous Australians during this interview and considered
them to be in breach of section 2.7 of the ABC’s Code of Practice.

Kevin Bloody Wilson is a comedy singer renowned for his bawdy style of
humour and willingness to deal with taboo subjects in his songs. During
the interview, Mr Wilson demonstrated his lewd comic style on numerous
occasions, such as his account of an experience he had in Belconnen
involving a woman he described as a “thunderous diesel dyke”. I note
your concern regarding Mr Wilson’s use of the phrase, “Fuck ‘em!” in
relation to lesbians. Mr Wilson used this phrase in the following
context:

KEVIN BLOODY WILSON: I also got knocked out by a lesbian in Alice
Springs as well. They don’t sort of get it. They don’t get it.
ANDREW DENTON: But what it is they’re meant to get? You’re not exactly
showing them a great deal of respect are you?
KEVIN BLOODY WILSON: Fuck ‘em.
ANDREW DENTON: I think I rest my case.

In the ABC’s view, Mr Wilson’s use of this phrase was not a reflection
of homophobia or an encouragement of violence towards lesbians in
particular or gay people in general, as you suggest. Rather, it was a
reflection of his established comic persona and aversion towards
political correctness. On review, the ABC considers that Mr Wilson’s
remarks about lesbians, and Mr Denton’s responses to these, were
presented in a legitimate humorous context and were in line with the
provisions of the Code of Practice.

The ABC considers that the discussion later in the interview about
racism and Mr Wilson’s use of words with racist connotations was also
consistent with the provisions of the Code. Mr Wilson did not make fun
of Aboriginal people, as you suggest. Mr Denton asked him about his
definition of racism, and challenged him about his use of words such as
‘Sambo’ and ‘Coon’ in some of his songs. This prompted Mr Wilson to
express his view that he is not racist and that his use of humour
disarms the hatred and racism underpinning such words. He also expressed
his view that his audience is intelligent enough to comprehend the
humour and does not interpret his use of such words as permission for
them to use them in racist contexts.

While the ABC is satisfied that the content of this interview was in
keeping with the provisions of the Code, please be assured that your
comments have been noted and conveyed to the producers of Enough Rope
and to ABC Television management so that they are aware of your
concerns. Thank you for bringing these concerns to the ABC’s attention.

Yours sincerely

ABC Audience & Consumer Affairs

I guess that I am just a little testy when I hear stories about lesbians being raped by straight guys, or a gay guy having to spend 8 weeks in hospital because they get their face gets pulverised by a person who probably owns a Kevin Bloody Wilson CD.  I don’t think it is acceptable for a government funded program to broadcast a program that encourages a view that a lesbian getting “fucked” is a bit of bawdy fun.   It’s not acceptable, even if it means that nasty people don’t get to have a bit of a laugh.

I guess I am kind of thankful that Andrew Denton is leaving ABC, as he is obviously a bit past his used by date if he is interviewing people like Kevin Bloody Wilson.  It’s such a shame that Andrew Denton had to lower himself to such a level, after having so many good interviews over the past few years….