A Critique of the Militarisation of Australian History and Culture Thesis: The Case of Anzac Battlefield Tourism
This paper analyses the militarisation of Australian history and culture thesis with specific reference to the increasing popularity of Anzac battlefield tourism. I argue that the militarisation thesis contains ontological and epistemological flaws that render it incapable of understanding the multi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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UTS ePRESS
2012-11-01
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| Series: | PORTAL: Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://learning-analytics.info/journals/index.php/portal/article/view/2371 |
| _version_ | 1818571618438348800 |
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| author | Jim McKay |
| author_facet | Jim McKay |
| author_sort | Jim McKay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper analyses the militarisation of Australian history and culture thesis with specific reference to the increasing popularity of Anzac battlefield tourism. I argue that the militarisation thesis contains ontological and epistemological flaws that render it incapable of understanding the multifaceted ways in which Australians experience Anzac battlefield tours. I then argue that in order to study how Australians both at home and overseas respond to the upcoming Anzac Centenary researchers will need to deploy an empirically-grounded and multidisciplinary framework. I demonstrate how proponents of militarisation: (1) ignore the polymorphous properties of Anzac myths; (2) are complicit with constructions of ‘moral panics’ about young Australian tourists; (3) overlook the reflexive capacities of teachers, students and tourists with respect to military history and battlefield tours; and (4) disregard the complex and contradictory aspects of visits to battlefields. My counter-narrative relies both on Stuart Hall’s work on popular culture and empirical studies of battlefield tourism from myriad disciplines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:58:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-527855b795054e75b272398903924800 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1449-2490 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:58:26Z |
| publishDate | 2012-11-01 |
| publisher | UTS ePRESS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PORTAL: Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-527855b795054e75b2723989039248002022-12-21T22:58:47ZengUTS ePRESSPORTAL: Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies1449-24902012-11-0110110.5130/portal.v10i1.23711990A Critique of the Militarisation of Australian History and Culture Thesis: The Case of Anzac Battlefield TourismJim McKay0Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies, The University of QueenslandThis paper analyses the militarisation of Australian history and culture thesis with specific reference to the increasing popularity of Anzac battlefield tourism. I argue that the militarisation thesis contains ontological and epistemological flaws that render it incapable of understanding the multifaceted ways in which Australians experience Anzac battlefield tours. I then argue that in order to study how Australians both at home and overseas respond to the upcoming Anzac Centenary researchers will need to deploy an empirically-grounded and multidisciplinary framework. I demonstrate how proponents of militarisation: (1) ignore the polymorphous properties of Anzac myths; (2) are complicit with constructions of ‘moral panics’ about young Australian tourists; (3) overlook the reflexive capacities of teachers, students and tourists with respect to military history and battlefield tours; and (4) disregard the complex and contradictory aspects of visits to battlefields. My counter-narrative relies both on Stuart Hall’s work on popular culture and empirical studies of battlefield tourism from myriad disciplines.https://learning-analytics.info/journals/index.php/portal/article/view/2371Anzacbattlefield tourismmilitary historymythologiesnationalismmilitarisation |
| spellingShingle | Jim McKay A Critique of the Militarisation of Australian History and Culture Thesis: The Case of Anzac Battlefield Tourism PORTAL: Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies Anzac battlefield tourism military history mythologies nationalism militarisation |
| title | A Critique of the Militarisation of Australian History and Culture Thesis: The Case of Anzac Battlefield Tourism |
| title_full | A Critique of the Militarisation of Australian History and Culture Thesis: The Case of Anzac Battlefield Tourism |
| title_fullStr | A Critique of the Militarisation of Australian History and Culture Thesis: The Case of Anzac Battlefield Tourism |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Critique of the Militarisation of Australian History and Culture Thesis: The Case of Anzac Battlefield Tourism |
| title_short | A Critique of the Militarisation of Australian History and Culture Thesis: The Case of Anzac Battlefield Tourism |
| title_sort | critique of the militarisation of australian history and culture thesis the case of anzac battlefield tourism |
| topic | Anzac battlefield tourism military history mythologies nationalism militarisation |
| url | https://learning-analytics.info/journals/index.php/portal/article/view/2371 |
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