1945-Present Popular Culture PDF
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This document is a lesson plan or study guide about Australian popular culture, from 1945 to the present day, for a secondary school setting. It covers various aspects of culture such as music, fashion, film, and sports, along with historical context and learning objectives.
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1945 - Present Popular Culture Lesson 1 Learning Intentions Identify the main features of Australian popular culture at the end of World War II. Understand the elements that make up popular culture including music, film, fashion and sport. Identify key events...
1945 - Present Popular Culture Lesson 1 Learning Intentions Identify the main features of Australian popular culture at the end of World War II. Understand the elements that make up popular culture including music, film, fashion and sport. Identify key events in Australian popular culture history. Success Criteria We can create a mindmap with the elements that comprise pop culture in Australia. We can design a timeline of key events in Australian popular culture history. We can complete a quizziz to test our knowledge. Entry Questions 1 Which aspects of popular culture interest you? 2 Which Australian popular culture moments or events interest you? 3 Why do you think it is important that we study popular culture in history? What is Popular Culture? What is popular (pop) culture? What do you think of when you hear the term? We will be creating a mind map that contains all of the concepts, definitions and ideas that we think of when we hear ‘pop culture’. The aim of this activity is to define the term ‘pop culture’. Remember to use a historical lens while completing this task. Definition Sociologists suggest that there are 4 clear characteristics shared by popular culture: 1 Can move from local to international significance 2 Commercial products associated with them 3 Change and evolve over time 4 Widespread access Popular Culture Definition Historians focus on the idea that popular culture is a cultural activity that reaches widespread acceptance. It is culture that is widely practised, watched, heard and read, generally accepted and approved by the majority. Timeline Activity Using the image of the timeline on google classroom, create your own timeline in your book. Your timeline must include at least TWO EVENTS relating to: Sports Television Music Movies Do Now Activity Now that we know what popular culture is: What is your favourite Australian popular culture moment / event? Why is it your favourite? Lesson 2 Learning Intentions Identify the main features of Australian popular culture at the end of World War II. Understand the elements that make up popular culture including music, film, fashion and sport. Success Criteria We can research elements of Australian popular culture at the end of WWII We can complete revision quizzes to broaden our understanding of popular culture. Today we will be addressing the question: Outline the main features of popular culture in Australia in the decade after World War II. Music Australia's popular music was heavily influenced by American and British trends. Radio played a significant role in disseminating music, with live performances often broadcasted from local dance halls. Film American and British films, dominated the Australian film market. Disney studio was the main source of children’s entertainment as US serials and cartoons gained popularity. Sport Sport was characterised by national pride, community involvement and traditional sports. Cricket, Australian Rules Football, Rugby League and Baseball were all popular sports. Fashion Fabric had been rationed in WWII, so hemlines became shorter and clothes became simpler. Australia followed fashion trends from Europe and the US. For ordinary Australians, clothes were mostly sewed at home or by a dressmaker. Research Task Choose one event from one of these categories to research further, in order to address the question: Music Fashion Outline the main features of ONE aspect of Sport Australian popular culture in the 1950's. Film Research Task Examples of events to choose from: Rise of cricket (particularly the Ashes) What is the event you have chosen? Rise of rugby league The Melbourne Olympics A broad overview of what this event Release of ‘The Story of the Kelly Gang’ involved. The rise of Hollywood movies Spread of Disney studios What were the effects of its popularity? Introduction of rock ‘n’ roll to Australia Popularity of Elvis Presley Is this event still popular today? Why or why not? Fashion trends from Europe and the US spreading to Australia The Christian Dior ‘new look’. Pop Culture Quizziz Pop Culture Kahoot Video This video details life in Australia in the 1950's. While watching: Take note of 5 similarities or differences between what you observed and modern Australian culture. Video Lesson 3 Learning Intentions Explain ways in which Australia in the 1950s was influenced by American culture. Assess the way American and British music influenced post-war Australian entertainment, such as rock 'n' roll. Success Criteria We can note similarities and differences between Australia in the 1950’s and modern Australian popular culture. We can explain the ways in which American culture influenced Australian culture in the 1950’s. Do Now Activity Now that we know what popular culture is: What is an Australian popular culture moment from the last 5 years that you think will be remembered in history? American Influences The major influence that rock music and television have on our lives, began in the 1950's. The arrival of Rock ‘n’ Roll in Australia, was shaped by the influence of American artists such as Elvis, Chuck Berry + Buddy Holly. Teenager’s attendance at rock concerts became a symbol of the enthusiastic adoption of American culture and a break from their parent’s more traditional values. Sources Source 2: Elvis’s Gold Cadillac on Source 1: A rock ‘n’ roll dance at the display at the press conference - Manly RSL Sydney, Australia, January 17, 1968 Source Questions 1. Describe what Source 1 tells us about the spread of music in Australia. 2. Explain the ways Source 2 shows the dominance of Elvis and rock ‘n’ roll music in Australian pop culture in the 1950's and 1960's. Introduction of Television Geographic and population factors delayed the introduction of television to mainstream pop culture in Australia, compared to the US. In 1956, the Melbourne Olympics acted as a catalyst for the introduction of TV in Australia. In 1956 a TV cost on average $400, compared to the average weekly wage of around $30. For the first few years, most Australian families only saw TV by watching sets in stores. American TV Influence The introduction of TV to Australian audiences allowed access to US pop culture, causing great cultural change. At the time, there were no local TV quotas, so it was dominated by US shows. In 1963, 97% of television drama shown in Australia was American. Popular US shows included: The Mickey Mouse Club The Wonderful World of Disney Perry Mason I Love Lucy Sources Source 3: A family watches TV in Source 4: The Mickey Mouse Club the television lounge in a Promotional Float on a tour of department store, November 1956. Australia in 1959. Source Questions 3. Outline what Source 3 tells us about the state of television in Australian in the 1950's and 1960's 4. With reference to Source 4, explain the impact of American television on Australian audiences in the 1950's and 1960's. Clips to Watch Starter Question If you could time travel to any decade in Australia's past to experience its pop culture, which would it be and why? Lesson 4 Learning Intentions Understand the global impact of The Beatles and how they influenced popular culture in the 1950s and 1960s. Explore the phenomenon of Beatlemania and its specific impact on Australian society. Success Criteria Explain the origins and global significance of The Beatles during the 1950s and 1960s, particularly their influence on music and culture. Create a newspaper article that includes historical sources to convey the significance of the Beatles in the 1950's. The Beatles In 1964 the Beatles flew into Sydney’s Mascot International Airport, where a crowd of 1,000 greeted them. They then embarked on a tour, performing in Adelaide and Melbourne before returning to Sydney where they performed six sold-out shows in three days. However, not everyone was pleased to see them. One group held up a banner that read 'Go Home Bugs – NSW Anti-Trash Society.' Video Video Creative Task Create a newspaper article from the perspective of a reporter in the 1960s when the Beatles came to Australia. Include in your article: A definition of ‘Beatlemania’ An outline of The Beatles and their impact on Australian popular culture Some mention of the backlash their tour received. Primary sources that demonstrate the influence of the Beatles on popular culture. Lesson 5 Learning Intentions Understand the impact of technology changes on Australian music Describe the new developments to the Australian music industry including Double J, Triple J, Countdown, streaming services and music festivals. Success Criteria Understand the impact of technology developments on music in Australian popular culture. Describe the impact of shows like Countdown on the Australian music industry. Explain the impact of Triple J in the Australian music scene. Music in the 1970's Australian music became more diverse in the 1970's with a number of new genres gaining popularity. Punk music became more popular in Australia, reflecting the trend in Britain and the USA. Australian pub rock music gained national and international popularity with bands like INXS, Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel and the Angels. Technology Changes As music became more popular, technology changed and adapted: Larger amplifiers were needed for concert sound Sound recording studios improved to record more tracks Colour television allowed music to spread internationally Explain the ways technology changes improved the Australian music industry. (4 marks) Countdown Since the 1950's television has played an important role in providing access to music to wider audiences. The ABC (as the national broadcaster) was able to bring popular culture to more remote areas of Australia. Countdown first aired on 8th November 1974. Countdown Countdown was a television show dedicated to music and live performances, quickly becoming essential viewing for Australian audiences, and an essential venue for emerging Australian artists. Performances on Countdown could make or break an artists’ career, with music sales, ticket sales and popularity often exploding after appearing on Countdown. Question Now that we know what performing on Countdown might do for artists’ careers’ consider: Why might artists refuse to perform on Countdown? FM Radio The ABC started the radio station ‘Double J’ in 1975 as Australia’s first non-commercial radio station, as a commitment to challenging the commercial monopoly of other stations. They often chose to plays songs that had been banned on other stations and favoured alternative music. FM Radio: Triple J Double J became Triple J in 1980 when broadcasting on the FM band was opened. In 1989 Triple J became a national youth music radio network, becoming a staple of Australian music. It has played a crucial role in championing Australian music, often playing programming that commercial radio considered unsuitable. Triple J Hottest 100 The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music listener poll hosted by Triple J. Members of the public are invited to vote for their favourite music of the year in an online poll conducted two weeks prior to the new year. For over 30 years, the Hottest 100 has united people around the country in ways that few events can. Triple J Hottest 100 For the Hot 100, before Triple J had become a national broadcaster, Sydney listeners were required to write their 10 favourite tracks on the back of an envelope. The results of the first poll were counted down on Sunday 5 March 1989 between 10am and 6pm. After its beginnings as a write-in poll, the Hottest 100 progressed to phone-in voting, which then progressed to SMS and online voting. In 2003, only web votes through the Triple J website were accepted. Triple J Hottest 100 The competition has not been without scandal though. In the 2014 countdown, the "#Tay4Hottest100" campaign began during the voting period to promote Taylor Swift's hit single "Shake It Off". "Shake It Off" was eventually disqualified by the radio station in an announcement on 26 January 2015. The song would have placed in 12th position if it had been allowed to compete. Streaming & Digitalisation The 21st century has seen an explosion of technological change that has transformed music and popular culture. Digitalisation has led to the creation of non-physical formats to buy and listen to music. Platforms like Apple Music and Spotify allow access to songs without ever having to purchase a physical copy. Social media allows more connection between artists and fans, and platforms like TikTok have transformed the music industry. Triple J Hottest 100 Kahoot Research On your own: Research ONE ARTIST/GROUP who performed on Countdown and write into your books: when they performed what song/s they performed what their performance did for their careers EXAMPLES:John Farnham, AC/DC, Olivia Newton-John, INXS, Kylie Minogue, John Paul Young, The Angels, Mondo Rock, Men at Work, Australian Crawl and Mental As Anything Lesson 6 Learning Intentions Describe the developments to the Australian film and television industries since the 1950's. Understand the significance of the Great Film Revival, entertainment in the 70's and 80's, reality television and entertainment in the 21st century. Success Criteria Understand the impact of television on Australian popular culture. Complete a cloze passage exercise on the development of technology related to film and TV Research one Australian TV show or movie and explain its contribution to Australian popular culture. The Great Film Revival The Great Film Revival of the 1970s in Australia, often referred to as the "Australian New Wave," marked a resurgence of the country's film industry. After years of decline, government support through funding bodies like the Australian Film Development Corporation and later the Australian Film Commission revitalised the sector. This era saw the emergence of distinctive Australian stories and filmmaking styles, exploring themes of identity, history, and social issues. Film in the 21st Century Digital film technologies are allowing film-making to become less labour and resource intensive, and leading to higher levels of production. There are still challenges for Australian film makers in getting their films into cinemas. Media platforms like youtube are used by aspiring film makers to release their films to the public. Film in the 21st Century As we know, Australian television was dominated by US and British shows until into the 1970s and 1980s. The only show that was able to breakthrough to international audiences in the 1960's was the show Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. TV in The 1970s The 1970s was a time of social and political change in Australia. There were a number of TV shows that used this social momentum to increase their popularity. These include Number 96 & The Sullivans. These shows depicted topics that were once taboo on screens and reflected the changing values and issues within Australian society. The 1980s: The Miniseries Political stability given by the Hawke Government in the 1980s increased confidence in Australian popular culture. Television launched a new trend of ‘miniseries’ that depicted aspects of Australian life including sports, politics, history and culture. Neighbours and Home & Away Australia’s interest in gathering around the TV to share in the lives of fictional characters peaked with the shows Neighbours and Home & Away. Neighbours was first shown in 1985. Home & Away premiered in 1988. Many Australian stars began their careers on either of these shows including Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, The Hemsworths, Delta Goodrem and Isla Fisher. Australian TV in the 21st Century In the 21st century, digital and satellite television means that access to programming has improved. Australian shows are able to make impacts overseas to an extent which we have not seen before. Sports television has driven people to sign up for paid TV. The development of the NBN in Australia brought increased access to internet and a demand for streaming services that brought viewing into the home. TV Research Task Your task is to research an Australian movie or TV show and explain the contribution it has made to Australian popular culture. In your research include: What the show/ movie is about When was it created and when was it released? Who was it popular with? Why you think it was popular What impact it had on Australian popular culture Represent your research in a poster or slide show.