How Important Is the Beach for Assertions of Australian Identity - Research Paper Example

The beach in Australia is a central aspect in the lives of people. The lifestyle and activities occurring at the beach have been of concern to almost everyone including the authorities. The Australian identity, therefore, is not fully defined without considering the role played by the beach in shaping the Australian culture. In this regard, this document explores how important the beach is for assertions of Australian identity, how the image of the beach has been represented, and how this image has changed over time. The beach is an important aspect for the assertion of the Australian identity. It is ubiquitous in the lives of Australian people. Almost every Australian knows the beach in a manner that is both particularized and changing (Huntsman 50). Furthermore, the greater part of the Australian population lives at close proximity to the coast; the Australian coastline stretches over approximately 36000 km (Booth 6). Several beaches of socio-economic importance are situated within densely populated parts of the country, causing city-living to be associated with the shoreline. In addition, it is an attraction with opportunities for various activities and certain lifestyles, and as believed by the locals it offers various health benefits. In the nineteenth century, the Australian beach was associated with good health. It was generally believed that the sea air had the ability to restore health and this encouraged people to go to the beaches. Nonetheless, the law was restrictive on behaviour and activities at the beaches. It is with this respect that the beach presents an area that is most likely to make people go against the general culture or generally acceptable lifestyle. As an integral aspect in life of almost every person in Australia, the beach has shaped and describes the identity of Australia in various ways. Some activities such as swimming and sunbathing, for instance, necessitate dressing in particular costumes that have elicited criticism as indecent clothing. Note that the Australians have for long believed that exposing ones body in a public place is immoral; but all beaches in Australia are public places, and it is here that people go to swim, sunbathe and do other activities related to sea water. The concern for indecency has, therefore, prompted the authority to set rules to guide people while at the beach. These guidelines for the beach have existed for many years to ensure the general lifestyle and behaviour of the Australian people is reserved. The women, for instance, were necessitated to wear costumes such as black stockings and bloomers despite the fact that these were not ideal in hot environments. Bathing boxes, which were small hut-like structures with wheels, became necessary and common to cover people in their more revealing swimming costumes. In the nineteenth century, there was no swimming allowed at day time between about 6.00 am in the morning to about 7.00 pm in the evening. In the early times when Europeans were settling in Australia, the beach were no more than entry and exit points for Australia into the outside world. Various supplies were transported through these beaches. Early uses also included serving the cattle, pearling and other industries. These aspects of the beach contribute to the general idea of Australia and its people as a nation of trade and of hardworking people. The importance of the beach and coastline in Australia is further indicated by the deep involvement of the Australian authorities in enforcing the general culture of Australia. Before 1900, lifestyle at the beach was very modest to the extent that aspects such as dress code, morality, sunbathing, and hours for swimming were addressed and defined by the Australian authority and law makers. In fact, Australian have attempted to generally define morality in relation to the activities occurring at the beach. Mixed bathing and swimming that involves children and adults across the gender has been deemed as inappropriate. It is generally believed in Australia that children should not be exposed to scenes of almost naked adults. Issues such as undressing and sunbathing on the beach have also been of great concern to the Australian policy makers. This concern has also led to definition of suitable costumes for swimming at the Australian beaches. The authorities in Australia have insisted on black costumes that cover the body almost completely. The Australian beaches have continued to inspire artistes, photographers, writers, as well artistic and literary works. In fact, the beaches have been characterized by activities that include creativity works using the beaches sands such as sand castle.. The image of the beach in Australia has been represented in these literature, artwork and films in various perspectives. In the nineteenth century, the beach was viewed as a place that maintained a very modest lifestyle to the extent that a dress code was defined and enforced. People went into the beach in clothes that covered almost the whole body. Authorities allowed into the beach only those people that wore costumes that were considered not to be revealing. Several literatures and artwork attest to this occurrence. Drew has indicated that the artistic and literary portrayal of the Australian identity represents the beach in range of ways (54). The 1887 painting, Slumbering Sea, Mentone by Tom Roberts and the Sketch of Littlehampton Beach painting by Charles Conder's are early artworks that show the beach life in Australia; there is simplicity and modesty. Other works have illustrated variously the adoration of the beach and the sun in Australia, and indicate it as a place for recreation and family activities. These artwork include photographs such as the Bondi and Sunbaker by Max Dupain as well as contemporary artwork like Cole Classic and The Bathers by Anne Zahalka (Australian Government). The beach in Australia is also portrayed as a place that has attracted sporting activities such as surfing (Leighton 46). Some literatures, artworks and even filmworks have depicted the Australian beaches with a dark-side point of view. Some films and documentary have hinted the risky nature of some beaches due to the presence of dangerous marine species. The Blackrock, a 1990 Australian drama, explores the dangerous culture and loyalty among the youth surfers in Australia; “it places a significant focus around the stereotypical youth, surf culture which is seen to exist within Australian society” (wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au). The image of the beach has nonetheless changed over time. Today, unlike in the nineteenth century, the Australian beaches are characterized by a wide range of activities including sports and other recreational activities. Sports include cricket, soccer, Tai Chi, snorkelling, and surfing. Swimming and fishing are also part of the beach activities. Moreover, the idea of separating beach goers and swimmers on the basis of age and gender has disappeared, and now the beaches accommodate individuals, families, and groups of all kinds simultaneously irrespective of age and gender. Surf lifesaving associations have emerged in Australia due to various dangers associated with the beach. These risks include burning sunrays, pounding surf, and certain dangerous marine species. In fact, Australia was the first country to have lifesaving clubs and associations (Drew, 24). The primary roles of the Australian beaches have shifted from tradition activities to new ways of utilizing the beaches. For many years some popular beaches served as the centre for cattle and pearling industries. Moreover, during the European settlement, transportation of various supplies including food and weekly posts utilized the sea; also travelling occurred mostly by the sea. Nonetheless, many beaches such as those near the town of Broome have become key holiday and tourist destinations. The beaches are now popular for their clear water and white sands. The changing image of the Australian beaches also takes the form of physical alteration to the landscape as their uses change. Various amenities including changing rooms have been built to serve the need of the beach users given the mushrooming of varying forms of recreation. For example, at the Bondi Beach, a pavilion that houses bathing sheds, Turkish baths, dressing rooms, a gymnasium, a ballroom, and shops was built to serve the large numbers of beach goers and swimmers. In addition, images of cafes, shops, parking lots, holiday resorts, jetties and even surf clubs have dominated areas close to the beaches in the whole of Australia. Consequently, the popularity of these Australian beaches has contributed to their pollution; there are rubbish, jetsam and flotsam left on the beach. Furthermore, litter from the surrounding cities and towns is washed into drains that ultimately goes to the beaches. The modest lifestyle of the beach has also been eroded. In contrast to the nineteenth century, it has become common and acceptable for people including women to wear more revealing and smaller costumes; for instance, the now popular bikinis expose a great part of the body. What is more, some Australia beaches have come to be known in modern times as “nude beach” for their popularity as designated areas where people can stay nude (Booth 63; Huntsman 33). It is worth to note, however, that nudity is illegal in Australia (Booth 64); although generally, being topless while at the beach has increasingly become acceptable to local councils in Australia (Marks). An look at the importance of the beach in asserting Australian identity reveals a modest way of life in Australia that is being threatened by various activities, lifestyle and involvement at the beach. Authorities and policy makers have been keen in ensuring that the cultural identity is reserved. The image of the beach that has been depicted in various artwork, literatures and filmworks including photographs and paintings is changing as time elapse and people and authority become more liberal. Works cited Australian Government. The Beach. 17 March 2008, 7 August 2009, . Blackrock, 7 August, 2009, . Booth, Douglas. Australian beach cultures: the history of sun, sand, and surfing, Taylor & Francis, Sydney, 2001. Conder, Charles. Sketch of Littlehampton Beach, 1890. Drew, Phillip. The Coast Dwellers: Australians Living on the Edge, Penguin, Ringwood, 1994. Dupain, Max. Sunbaker, 1937. Huntsman, Leone. Sand in our souls, 4th edn., Melbourne University Publishing, Melbourne, 2001. Leighton, Ray. Boys and the boards, Manly Beach, New South Wales, 1938. Marks , Kathy. Topless wars reignited on Australia's beaches, 31 December 2008, 7 August 2009, . Roberts, Tom. Slumbering Sea, Mentone, 1887. Read More