[Antagon]

Originally Posted by choc e-Claire

Hahaha!

My favourite Austrian animal story was a few months ago when there was a kangaroo hopping around and nobody had any idea where it had come from. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45407767

Whoa, Kirchschlag. I actually know that place. It's where I had to pick up some camera gear to take pictures at my prom back when I was still living in Upper Austria (They wouldn't let me use my own). It's also a low-key skiing region in winter. It's not too far away from a hilly part of the state capital Linz, which does indeed have a zoo. But no missing roos in that zoo according to the article. Weird. There is a legit Kangaroo farm somewhat outside Vienna, with permit and all. Went there once with my then-girlfriend who lived closeby. Oddly enough it was also a pretty hilly region. What is it with Austrian hill-dwellers and the obsession with keeping kangaroos?

[!@#$%!]

ostrogothstralia

[choc e-Claire]

Originally Posted by Antagon

What is it with Austrian hill-dwellers and the obsession with keeping kangaroos?

I think it's more of a 'what is it with the world's obsession with Australia?' question.

I'm genuinely curious now. Why is there such an interest?

[Antagon]

Originally Posted by choc e-Claire

I think it's more of a 'what is it with the world's obsession with Australia?' question.

I'm genuinely curious now. Why is there such an interest?

Just throwing in a guess here, but I suppose people view its (stereotypical) fauna and topographical features to be very unique. Which, in a way they are if you look at it from a perspective that didn't originate in Oceania. People are genuinely interested in things that seem "different" to what they are used to and they tend to romanticize such things or even completely distort them - be they cultural symbols, languages, spiritual faiths, particular animals or even entire countries.

On the one hand it's somewhat understandable, this fascination with what is different, but on the other hand I completely understand the frustration that comes with being on the receiving side of this fascination. Being presented as the "other", or "exotic" does indeed delve into a few of the less admireable human traits. It's quite patronizing. To a certain degree, every country has experienced that. People tend to romanticize what is new or different to them - take the first district of Vienna for instance - it's all Mozart, classical music and 17th to 19th Century decadence there - of course watered down, perfectly calculated and presented in a flashy way so it may attract tourists. It's how a lot of people see that town - quaint, oldtimey, decadent and full of classical music. It's just so nice, so "different".

Australia for some reason however seems to take the brunt of that way of thinking. I guess enough people see its most famous (globally perceived) cultural symbols, features and landmarks as somewhat insular and completely unique to that specific country and so "far away" from what they are used to. As simple as that may be and as dumb as that may sound.

[choc e-Claire]

It's all Crocodile Dundee's fault

In actuality, Australia isn't that different to Europe, at least in near the cities - Melbourne is roughly Berlin-sized in population, and we appear to have similar standards of living and culture and that.

when you move into the country it gets a little different though

[Antagon]

Originally Posted by choc e-Claire

It's all Crocodile Dundee's fault

In actuality, Australia isn't that different to Europe, at least in near the cities - Melbourne is roughly Berlin-sized in population, and we appear to have similar standards of living and culture and that.

when you move into the country it gets a little different though

Yeah, that's the actual situation. But unfortunately, those facts don't always factor into the popular conscience. Popular conscience is mostly dominated by exceptions or extraordinary examples - The Outback, Ayers Rock, all kinds of unique animals. The difference is only in the mind and tends to get exaggerated to no end. But it does make a quick buck, so that's why the focus shifts towards those outliers time and time again. "Similar standards of living and culture" doesn't sell vacations. "Whoa, look at all this crazy, different stuff!" does. And that's how an exaggerated fascination with Australia will probably continue to be a thing for ages.

And yeah, good old Paul might have had a role in that as well...
In more than just one way, actually https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95OovSKEtfs

[choc e-Claire]

You're right.
The animals are pretty unique, and something that makes sense for other countries to freak out about - I kinda just accept kangaroos because I've grown up in the same country as them (I've seen them in a carpark, for god's sake).
But the outback and Uluṟu (the non-colonialist name for the big rock) loom large in people's imagination.

It's like these cork hats. I see stereotypes of Aussies wearing them, but I have never seen one IRL.

 

[Antagon]

Originally Posted by choc e-Claire

You're right.
The animals are pretty unique, and something that makes sense for other countries to freak out about - I kinda just accept kangaroos because I've grown up in the same country as them (I've seen them in a carpark, for god's sake).

Exactly! What is mundane and what is "different" or "extraordinary" is relative to the environment one grew up in. I like using the example of Christmas when I talk about the subject. Imagine you're talking to someone that has never heard of Christmas and is wholly unfamiliar with christian symbols. "Oh well, towards the end of December we usually put a tree into our living room and decorate it with gaudy hangings, because of some carpenter that may or may not have lived some 2000 years ago.". Sounds pretty crazy if one is not familiar with the context. So everything you take for granted is relative and might be new and fascinating to someone else - in innocent and somewhat understandable as well as frustrating ways.

PS: You're right, gonna refer to it as Uluṟu from now on, the way it oughta be.

[choc e-Claire]

Haha.

Take my rep and go.

[dirty bunny]

the reason I don't post album covers in the "what are you listening to" thread is because I don't know how to post pictures.


Also, laziness.

[choc e-Claire]

Originally Posted by dirty bunny

the reason I don't post album covers in the "what are you listening to" thread is because I don't know how to post pictures.


Also, laziness.

I usually look up the album review on AllMusic and get the photo from there.

right click - open image in new tab - copy link - remove everything after the jpg - insert into SYG post

[Antagon]

I've actually only encountered the stereotype of that particular hat being propagated once. And that was many years ago in a web-cartoon that was posted on livejournal. It depicted a cat wearing a cork hat and saying "Crikey" if I remember correctly, you know, laying it on thick. Apart from that I can't say I ever consciously encountered the stereotype. Though I might have subconsciously (IB4 someone posts a screenshot that shows it was actually in The Simpsons or something). But I'm sure there are plenty of pieces of media that repeat it ad nauseam. Just like the hills are always alive with the sound of music when Austria is being portrayed in pieces of entertainment media.

[h8kurdt]

Everything I know about Australia came from the fact based episode of the Simpsons. Also, I'll never forget when a Brit climbed up Ayers (I'm just calling it that cos im lazy) rock and had a shit up there. Did the British proud there. No idea what came of that actually.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by h8kurdt

Everything I know about Australia came from the fact based episode of the Simpsons. Also, I'll never forget when a Brit climbed up Ayers (I'm just calling it that cos im lazy) rock and had a shit up there. Did the British proud there. No idea what came of that actually.

tangential (it's the irrelevant thread), lemme recommend some moobys

peter weir’s picnic at hanging rock (original, have not seen derivatives), walkabout, the last wave, the plumber (lol, this one)

jane campion’s sweetie and holy smoke

nick cave’s the proposition

ten canoes... the kid from walkabout is in it, all growed up

all the mad maxes, haa haaa haa (but those dont need recommendation)

[h8kurdt]

Mate...I was taking the piss. Way to ruin it. Ruined it almost as bad as the Australians ruined the Aboriginies.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by h8kurdt

Mate...I was taking the piss. Way to ruin it. Ruined it almost as bad as the Australians ruined the Aboriginies.

 

[Diesel]

A friend of mine went to Australia once: said it was shit. The end. You can't ask anything more than that really.

[choc e-Claire]

Sometimes I realise that I live in a country that is a walking joke.

It's pretty good sometimes.

[Antagon]

Originally Posted by choc e-Claire

Sometimes I realise that I live in a country that is a walking joke.

It's pretty good sometimes.

Well, spring is just around the corner on the northern hemisphere. It's a time when the trolls come out of their hibernation und venture forward from the safety of their bridges. Something to do with trying to figure out whether they can see their own shadow I've been told. They rarely ever do.

[Antagon]

To whom it may concern: Happy Mardi Gras/Karneval