Anzac Day Analysis

Images of national identity function to project “an image of unity in uniqueness (‘one people, one history, one land’) framed in a rhetoric of inclusiveness (‘fellow Australians’) and yet inevitably partial (some Australians will appear more ‘Australian’ than others)” (Carter 2006, p. 9). The intelligentsia (writers, artists, historians, journalists) create a sense of a shared identity or unity through national images such as public symbols, rituals, stories, books, advertisements, movies, and music. For example, the Australian flag is very prominent during the Anzac Day ceremony which commemorates Australians who served in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations (Carter 2006, p. 12). Furthermore, photographs of Australian cities during …show more content…
However, national identities are context dependent and always in the process of being made and remade. According to Richard White, “a national identity is an invention” (Carter 2006, p.8). This means that national identities are formed by the values, ideas, needs, and desires (about race, society, nature, culture, etc.) already present in a society. For example, “Anzac Day is likely to evoke a different kind of Australianness from a multicultural festival or a visit to Uluru” (Carter 2006, p.12). This shows that there are multiple identities associated with Australia. Furthermore, national identities change according to each person. The transnational sharing of cultures, ideas, resources, and histories make ideas about national identity different for each person. For example, “Australians have long claimed and enjoyed multiple identities: national, local, sub cultural, indigenous, cosmopolitan and transnational” (Carter 2006, p. 18). So, some Australians will seem more Australian than others because some Australians have different perceptions about their national identity. However, this does not mean that national identities are simply chosen according to peoples own