The Culture of Australia is essentially a Western culture influenced by the unique geography of the Australian continent, the diverse input Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the British colonisation of Australia which began in 1788, and the various waves of multi-ethnic migration which followed. The predominance of the English language, the existence of a democratic system of government drawing upon British Westminster and American constitutionalist and federalist traditions, Christianity as the dominant religion and the popularity of sports such as cricket and rugby evidence a significant Anglo-Celtic heritage. In two and a quarter centuries since British settlement.
Australian Royal Symbols
A number of royal symbols exist in Australia, reflecting the country's status as a constitutional monarchy. These include symbols of the monarch of Australia, as well as the monarch's Vice-regal representatives.
Despite the removal or replacement of certain monarchical symbols in recent history, as well as the fact the Royal Family is not resident in Australia itself, the Crown remains a visible part of the everyday lives of Australians. A number of symbols of the monarchy are based on British heraldry, such as the Royal Coat of Arms of Australia, though these have been adapted with purely Australian symbols, and what were formerly purely British symbols have become symbols of the monarch, loyalty thereto. Use of the royal Crown is granted by Royal Proclamation, and through royal patronage, certain organizations may also have or use royal symbols. Many organizations in Australia that have been granted a Royal prefix often incorporate royal symbols into their imagery.
Australian English
Australian English is a major variety of the English Language and is used throughout Australia. Although English has no official status in the Constitution, Australian English is Australia's de facto official language and is the first language of the majority of the population.
Australian English started diverging from British English after founding of the colony of New South Wales in 1788 and was recognised as being different from British English by 1820. It arose from the intermingling of children of early settlers from a great variety of mutually intelligible dialectal regions of the British Isles and quickly developed into a distinct variety of variety of English.
Australian Comedy
Australian Comedy refers to the comedy and humour performed in or about Australia or by the people of Australia. Australian humour can be traced to various origins, and today is manifested in a diversity of cultural practices and pursuits. Writers like Henry Lawson helped to establish a tradition of laconic, ironic and irreverent wit in. Australian literature and Australian cultural stereotypes have proved rich sources of comedy for artists from poet C.J Dennis to satirist Barry Humphries and iconic film maker Paul Hogan, each of whom have given wide circulation of Australian slang.
Theatre of Australia
Theatre of Australia refers to the history of the performing arts in Australia, or produced by Australians. There are theatrical and dramatic aspects to a number of Indigenous Australian ceremonies such as the corroboree, and fusions of this ancient theatrical content and style with Western theatrical productions are not uncommon in Australia. However, during its early Western history, Australia was a collection of British colonies in which the theatrical arts were generally linked to the broader traditions of English literature and to British and Irish theatre. Australian literature and theatrical artists have, since 1788, introduced the culture of Australia and the character of a new continent to the world stage.
Australian art is any art made in Australia or about Australia, from prehistoric times to the present. This includes Aboriginal, Colonial, Landscapes, Atelier, early 20th century painters, print makers, photographers and sculptors influenced by European modernism, Contemporary art. The visual arts have a long history in Australia, with evidence of Aboriginal art dating back at least 30,000 years. Australia has produced many notable artists of both Western and Indigenous Australian schools, including the late 19th century Heidelberg School plain air painters, the Central Australian Hermannsburg School water colour, the Western Desert Art Movement and coeval examples of well known High modernism and Post modern art.
Theatre of Australia refers to the history of the performing arts in Australia, or produced by Australians. There are theatrical and dramatic aspects to a number of Indigenous Australian ceremonies such as the corroboree, and fusions of this ancient theatrical content and style with Western theatrical productions are not uncommon in Australia. However, during its early Western history, Australia was a collection of British colonies in which the theatrical arts were generally linked to the broader traditions of English literature and to British and Irish theatre. Australian literature and theatrical artists have, since 1788, introduced the culture of Australia and the character of a new continent to the world stage.
Architecture in Australia
Australian architecture has generally been consistent with architectural trends in the wider Western world, with some special adaptations to compensate for distinctive Australian climatic and cultural factors. Indigenous Australians produced only semi-permanent structures and during Australia's early Western history, it was a collection of British colonies in which architectural styles were strongly influenced by British designs. However, the unique climate of Australia necessitated adaptations, and 20th century trends reflected the increasing influence of American urban designs and a diversification of the cultural tastes and requirements of an increasingly multicultural Australian society.
Visual Art of Australia
Australian art is any art made in Australia or about Australia, from prehistoric times to the present. This includes Aboriginal, Colonial, Landscapes, Atelier, early 20th century painters, print makers, photographers and sculptors influenced by European modernism, Contemporary art. The visual arts have a long history in Australia, with evidence of Aboriginal art dating back at least 30,000 years. Australia has produced many notable artists of both Western and Indigenous Australian schools, including the late 19th century Heidelberg School plain air painters, the Central Australian Hermannsburg School water colour, the Western Desert Art Movement and coeval examples of well known High modernism and Post modern art.
Cinema of Australia
Cinema of Australia, more commonly referred to as the Australian film history, refers to the system of production, distribution, and exhibition of films in Australia. The first public screenings films in Australia took place in October 1896, within a year of the first public screening of a film in Paris on 28 December 1895 by the French Lumiere brothers. The first Australian exhibition took place at the Athanaeum Hall in Collins Street, Melbourne, to provide alternative entertainment for the dance hall patrons. The venue would continue screenings, but these were all short films.
Music of Australia
The Music of Australia is the music produced in the area of, on the subject of, or by the people of modern of Australia, including its preceding Indigenous and colonial societies. Indigenous Australian music is a part of the unique heritage of a 40,000-60,000 year history which produced the iconic didgeridoo. Contemporary fusions of Indigenous and Western styles mark distinctly Australian contributions to world music. During its early western history, Australia was a collection of British colonies, and Australian folk music and bush ballads such as Waltzing Matilda were heavily influenced by Anglo-Celtic traditions, while classical form were derived from those of Europe. Contemporary Australian music ranges across a broad spectrum with trends often concurrent with those of the US, the UK, and similar nations - notably in the Australian rock and Australia country genres. Tastes have diversified along with post-World War II multicultural immigration to Australia.
Television in Australia
Television in Australia began there experimentally as early as 1929 in Melbourne with using the stations 3DB and 3UZ using the Radiovision system by Gilbert Miles and Donald McDonald, and later from other locations, such as Brisbane in 1934.
Mainstream professional television was launched on 16 September 1956 in Sydney. The new medium was introduced by Bruce Gyngell with the words 'Good evening, and welcome to television', and has since seen the introduction of colour, and digital television, and the planned shut down of analogue broadcasts set to take place between 2010 to 2013 (depending on the area).
Religion in Australia
In the first 21st century, religion in Australia is predominantly Christian. The Constitution of Australia of 1901 prohibits the commonwealth government from establishing a church or interfering with the freedom of religion.
Australia's Aboriginal people developed the animist spirituality of the dreaming and some of the earliest evidence on the earth of religion practices among human has been found in the archaeological of their ancestors.
While the church of England originally held a position of privilege in early of colonial Australia, a legal framework guaranteeing religious equality began to evolve within a few short decades. From the earliest days of the colony there were Jews and other religious minorities. Even like the 19th century Australian gold rushes brought adherents of the various Chinese religion and the requirements of the pre-mechanised era of transport brought specialized workers from British India, such as mainly Muslim 'Afghan Cameleers'.
Australian Cuisine
Refers to the cuisine of the Australia and its indigenous and colonial societies. Indigenous Australian have occupied the lands of Australia for some 40,000-60,000 years, during which time they developed a unique hunter gatherer diet, known as "bush tucker", drawn from regional Australian flora and fauna such as kangaroo. Australia from 1788 to 1900, a collection of British colonies in which culinary tastes were strongly influenced by British and Irish traditions.
