the suburban australian dream
The prosperity of the post war years in the 1950’s and 1960’s were the most prominent time of influence for American consumerist pop culture ideas to be introduced into Australian society. As people were more affluent than ever before, the American consumerist and materialistic product ideals fit into the new Australian suburban lifestyle (Skwirk, 2014). The ‘Australian Dream’ of the 1950’s consisted of owning a family home in suburbs, decked out with all the latest cutting-edge products. According to journalist, Caroline Zielinski (2013), even politicians were encouraging this home ownership dream as “the ideal way of living” and encouraged people to flock to the suburbs, where the rise of consumerism and suburban living emerged. Australians sought fulfilment in this dream promising a home of your own, stable work and a comfortable retirement; “The holy trinity of the good life,” as it was regarded as for much of the twentieth century (Zielinski, 2013). This dream also closely aligned with the ‘American Dream’ at the time, influenced by materialistic values. Modern electrical appliances such as refrigerators, sewing machines, ovens, vacuums, toasters, irons and clothes lines, are some examples of the highly sought after products (Pearson History, 2013). Today, the consumerist culture of Australia continues, although less recognizable because it is now such a normal concept in the everyday life of Australians. Today the ‘Australian Dream,’ isn’t necessarily the same because of generational changes and the general decline of prosperity, such as rising housing prices and lack of job security, which have occurred since the creation of the original dream (Zielinski, 2013). However the culture, particularly young people, is constantly driven by marketing to the desire the latest smartphone, tablet, or camera. The global westernized culture, which Australia is a part of, is filled with consumerism and material aspirations (Swirk, 2014). As technology advances, the transmission of these American ideas and products is becoming easier to filter into Australian society. Overall Australian identity has been heavily influenced by the American lifestyle and suburban consumerist culture since its introduction in the 1950’s, and has continued to play a vital role in everyday life of Australians today, helping to shape a national identity.
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Below is a source from Channel 7 News Flashback series on Brisbane in the 1950's, using primary and secondary sources...
This source from Australian television news program, Today Tonight, takes a look at Australian suburbia in 2012...
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