The main social and cultural features of the 1970s in Australia?

Answer 1

Chapter 1 : 1970s - Decade in context

· The political and social unrest of the 1960s carried through to the 1970s. This mirrored social movements in other Western countries.

· Widespread protest against Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War contributed to the withdrawal of Australian troops in 1972.

· Prime Minister Gough Whitlam installed a range of radical reforms during his three-year tenure. In 1975, he was controversially dismissed.

· The women's rights, Indigenous rights and environmental movements all made progress during the 1970s.

· The White Australia Policy was abolished in 1974, and thousands migrated to Australia from Asia and the Middle East.

Chapter 2 : Music and entertainment

· Colour television was introduced to Australia in 1975, and was quickly adopted.

· The government encouraged the production of Australian television programmes in the 1970s by increasing funding and raising local content quotas.

· Australian cinema enjoyed a renaissance in the 1970s, providing a forum for people to explore issues of national identity.

· In 1974, the introduction of the FM frequency created space for more radio stations on the airwaves

· Australian music developed a unique 'rock' sound, and pop acts like Olivia Newton-John achieved international success.

Chapter 3 : Fashion in the 1970s

· Fashion in the 1970s was daring, varied, and changed frequently - mirroring the social drama of the decade.

· Ethnic-inspired hippie fashion carried through to the early 1970s, incorporating long hair, natural, flowing fabrics and bell-bottomed jeans.

· During the feminist movement, bras and corsets were considered symbols of oppression and were discarded by many women.

· Many men wore flares, wide ties and fitted shirts, and grew beards and sideburns.

· Popular music, films and television programs influenced hairstyles and fashion throughout the decade.

Chapter 4 : Sport in the 1970s

· Sport in Australia allows an expression of traditional national values. It also reflects the extent of British and American influence on our culture.

· In the 1970s, Australia struggled to retain the sporting supremacy it had once enjoyed, prompting government initiatives like the AIS.

· In 1975, World Series Cricket revolutionised the game, and marked the beginning of Australian sport being big business.

· The trend towards professionalism and sponsorship penetrated further into all codes of football throughout the 1970s.

· Women were granted access to most areas of sport in the 1970s, but would struggle to achieve true equality in the areas of funding and media coverage.

Chapter 5 : American and British cultural influence in the 1970s

· The Australian identity has continually evolved over the decades, from that of a white British colony, to a diverse global culture.

· In 1973, American dominance of the Australian music industry prompted the introduction of local content quotas on radio.

· Government assistance led to a resurgence of the Australian film industry in the 1970s

· Australian television was saturated with American programs in the 1970s, but local content steadily improved in quality and quantity.

· Australian sport held fast to its British roots for many years, but has recently adopted the glitzy presentation and TV-friendly conventions of American sport.

· Critics are divided over whether Australian cultural products have been able to retain a unique Australian identity in the face of American influence.