Land Down Under: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''It's about three quarters of a mile away from the surface of the sun. I've seen insects walking around with knee pads. It's not supposed to be inhabited, and when they're not...frying themselves outside, they all fling themselves into the sea, which is inhabited almost exclusively by things designed to kill you. Sharks, jelly fish, swimming knives, everything.''|'''Dylan Moran'''}}
{{quote|''It's about three quarters of a mile away from the surface of the sun. I've seen insects walking around with knee pads. It's not supposed to be inhabited, and when they're not...frying themselves outside, they all fling themselves into the sea, which is inhabited almost exclusively by things designed to kill you. Sharks, jelly fish, swimming knives, everything.''|'''Dylan Moran'''}}


In [[Real Life]], [[Useful Notes/Australia|Australia]] is a vibrant, diverse and multicultural young country. Most of the population is concentrated in several large urban areas on the coast with a sparsely populated interior. [[Hollywood Atlas|In Hollywood]], Australia is a primitive barren wasteland consisting ''entirely'' of Outback desert, [[Australian Aborigines|aborigines]], dingoes, crocodiles, kangaroos and some other marsupials, and occasionally a couple of rural people who run around wielding bowie knives and boomerangs. People talk with a grating accent, apparently a blend of Cockney English, New Zealander and vaguely British extraction called "Ostrayan" or more concisely "Strine".
In [[Real Life]], [[Australia (continent)|Australia]] is a vibrant, diverse and multicultural young country. Most of the population is concentrated in several large urban areas on the coast with a sparsely populated interior. [[Hollywood Atlas|In Hollywood]], Australia is a primitive barren wasteland consisting ''entirely'' of Outback desert, [[Australian Aborigines|aborigines]], dingoes, crocodiles, kangaroos and some other marsupials, and occasionally a couple of rural people who run around wielding bowie knives and boomerangs. People talk with a grating accent, apparently a blend of Cockney English, New Zealander and vaguely British extraction called "Ostrayan" or more concisely "Strine".


Australia's indigenous wildlife ''is'' unique (one of the handful of megadiverse lands in the world), being dominated by marsupials rather than placental mammals. The dangers of the native animals has been noted by many - US President [[Barack Obama]] [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-17/obama-visits-canberra-school/3677326 brought it up when he visited Australia]. In [[Real Life]], most of these creatures only live in remote areas. In Hollywood, [[Everything Trying to Kill You]], although [[What Measure Is a Non-Cute?|any sufficiently ''cute'' animal, no matter how wild, is inexplicably safe]]. This habit of making Australia a [[Death World]] often results in Australians being considered [[Awesome Aussie|ludicrously tough]] - though there's some [[Truth in Television|truth]] [[Aussies With Artillery|to that]]. Australia is the home of [[Everything's Better with Platypi|the Duck-Billed Platypus]]: best described as "you're not serious... right?" in animal form<ref>and also a noteworthy exception to the "inexplicably cute" rule, as their males are in possession of some disturbingly ''venomous'' spurs</ref>. Also home to box jellyfish, irukandji, and blue-ringed octopus, essentially animal forms of [[Demonic Spiders]], [[Nightmare Fuel]], and of course, koalas. And [[Kangaroos Represent Australia|kangaroos]].
Australia's indigenous wildlife ''is'' unique (one of the handful of megadiverse lands in the world), being dominated by marsupials rather than placental mammals. The dangers of the native animals has been noted by many - US President [[Barack Obama]] [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-17/obama-visits-canberra-school/3677326 brought it up when he visited Australia]. In [[Real Life]], most of these creatures only live in remote areas. In Hollywood, [[Everything Trying to Kill You]], although [[What Measure Is a Non-Cute?|any sufficiently ''cute'' animal, no matter how wild, is inexplicably safe]]. This habit of making Australia a [[Death World]] often results in Australians being considered [[Awesome Aussie|ludicrously tough]] - though there's some [[Truth in Television|truth]] [[Aussies With Artillery|to that]]. Australia is the home of [[Everything's Better with Platypi|the Duck-Billed Platypus]]: best described as "you're not serious... right?" in animal form<ref>and also a noteworthy exception to the "inexplicably cute" rule, as their males are in possession of some disturbingly ''venomous'' spurs</ref>. Also home to box jellyfish, irukandji, and blue-ringed octopus, essentially animal forms of [[Demonic Spiders]], [[Nightmare Fuel]], and of course, koalas. And [[Kangaroos Represent Australia|kangaroos]].
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For those fortunate enough to avoid being eaten by the aforementioned crocodiles, life is one long beach party and all meals consist of ''shrimp on the barbie'' (actually called 'Prawns') and Vegemite sandwiches (pronounced "veeeeejeemoit"). If these stereotypes are absent, the setting is likely [[Sydney]], Australia's most populous metropolis and bustling economic centre. It's the home of the famous Sydney Opera House, [[Eiffel Tower Effect|which all hotels naturally look onto]]. Australia's capital is actually Canberra, built between Sydney and the other major capital, Melbourne, as a concession to neither city being named the actual capital.
For those fortunate enough to avoid being eaten by the aforementioned crocodiles, life is one long beach party and all meals consist of ''shrimp on the barbie'' (actually called 'Prawns') and Vegemite sandwiches (pronounced "veeeeejeemoit"). If these stereotypes are absent, the setting is likely [[Sydney]], Australia's most populous metropolis and bustling economic centre. It's the home of the famous Sydney Opera House, [[Eiffel Tower Effect|which all hotels naturally look onto]]. Australia's capital is actually Canberra, built between Sydney and the other major capital, Melbourne, as a concession to neither city being named the actual capital.


[[Useful Notes/New Zealand|New Zealand]] is largely interchangeable with Australia in western media. This is especially ironic given New Zealand has a different culture, history, even ecology - its indigenous ecology almost wholly lacks native mammals of any kind. Also, its location is even more remote, being one of the last major land masses colonized by humans: the Maori arrived only in the 13th century CE. <ref>To give you an idea, the Vikings by this point had not only spotted America, they had managed to establish a settlement, lose a war, and then abandon it...over two hundred years earlier. Just gives you an idea of how HUGE the Pacific is...</ref>
[[New Zealand]] is largely interchangeable with Australia in western media. This is especially ironic given New Zealand has a different culture, history, even ecology - its indigenous ecology almost wholly lacks native mammals of any kind. Also, its location is even more remote, being one of the last major land masses colonized by humans: the Maori arrived only in the 13th century CE. <ref>To give you an idea, the Vikings by this point had not only spotted America, they had managed to establish a settlement, lose a war, and then abandon it...over two hundred years earlier. Just gives you an idea of how HUGE the Pacific is...</ref>


Australia's first European settlements were prison colonies. A fair few Australians claim convict ancestry with '''pride''', truthfully or otherwise. Of course, with [[Those Whove Come Across the Seas|one of the world's highest immigrant intakes]], Australians are, ethnically speaking, slowly becoming a sort of [[Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot|Convict/European/Asian/Middle-Eastern/Oceanian/Americas/African amalgamation]].
Australia's first European settlements were prison colonies. A fair few Australians claim convict ancestry with '''pride''', truthfully or otherwise. Of course, with [[Those Whove Come Across the Seas|one of the world's highest immigrant intakes]], Australians are, ethnically speaking, slowly becoming a sort of [[Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot|Convict/European/Asian/Middle-Eastern/Oceanian/Americas/African amalgamation]].
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Surprisingly, one aspect of Australia that is rarely (possibly never) played up is how important the Aussie mining industry is both historically and economically. In fact, as they have [[Aussies With Artillery|the best military in their hemisphere]], perhaps the [[Our Dwarves Are All the Same|Dwarf checklist]] should be consulted. ''Gruff, gold-loving, blunt-speaking, funny-accented, alcohol-swilling, Elf-hating, boastful of their battle prowess and mainly just the fact that they are Dwarves.'' <ref>This is slightly off-put by the fact that Australians are on average 6 inches taller than Americans.</ref> In comparison, [http://www.economist.com/node/15763381 some have noted] New Zealand's '[[Our Elves Are Better|elvish sensibilities]]'.
Surprisingly, one aspect of Australia that is rarely (possibly never) played up is how important the Aussie mining industry is both historically and economically. In fact, as they have [[Aussies With Artillery|the best military in their hemisphere]], perhaps the [[Our Dwarves Are All the Same|Dwarf checklist]] should be consulted. ''Gruff, gold-loving, blunt-speaking, funny-accented, alcohol-swilling, Elf-hating, boastful of their battle prowess and mainly just the fact that they are Dwarves.'' <ref>This is slightly off-put by the fact that Australians are on average 6 inches taller than Americans.</ref> In comparison, [http://www.economist.com/node/15763381 some have noted] New Zealand's '[[Our Elves Are Better|elvish sensibilities]]'.


See also [[Useful Notes/Australia|Useful Notes on Australia]].
See also [[Australia (continent)|Useful Notes on Australia]].
{{examples}}
{{examples}}


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* When [[Young Justice (comics)|Young Justice]] visited the Sydney Olympics, there were kangaroos bounding through the Olympic Village (which was seemingly situated on the side of a cliff within easy eyeshot of Sydney Harbour).
* When [[Young Justice (comics)|Young Justice]] visited the Sydney Olympics, there were kangaroos bounding through the Olympic Village (which was seemingly situated on the side of a cliff within easy eyeshot of Sydney Harbour).
* One place the mining industry ''did'' get some time in the spotlight was in Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers Energon]]'' run.
* One place the mining industry ''did'' get some time in the spotlight was in Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers Energon]]'' run.
* An early villain of ''[[Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew (Comic Book)|Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew]]'' was "Kongarilla", a kangaroo turned into a giant by a secret organization. Kongaroo hailed from "Aukstralia" (Earth-C's version of Australia).
* An early villain of ''[[Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew]]'' was "Kongarilla", a kangaroo turned into a giant by a secret organization. Kongaroo hailed from "Aukstralia" (Earth-C's version of Australia).
* There was an issue of the ''[[Tomb Raider]]'' comic supposedly set in Australia, but which actually appeared to be taking place in the Wild West as everyone walked around with a pistol on their hip and there appeared to be no organised law enforcement of any kind.
* There was an issue of the ''[[Tomb Raider]]'' comic supposedly set in Australia, but which actually appeared to be taking place in the Wild West as everyone walked around with a pistol on their hip and there appeared to be no organised law enforcement of any kind.
* The story in which [[Spirou and Fantasio]] go to Australia is actually centered around the opal-mining industry.
* The story in which [[Spirou and Fantasio]] go to Australia is actually centered around the opal-mining industry.
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== Music ==
== Music ==
* The song "[[wikipedia:Down Under chr(28)songchr(29)|Down Under]]" by Men At Work, obviously. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNT7uZf7lew Look for the koala plushie]. Surprisingly they made it to [[Stealth Parody|complain about the]] [[Flanderization]] of Australian culture. [[Misaimed Fandom|That buggered up pretty quickly]].
* The song "[[wikipedia:Down Under (song)|Down Under]]" by Men At Work, obviously. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNT7uZf7lew Look for the koala plushie]. Surprisingly they made it to [[Stealth Parody|complain about the]] [[Flanderization]] of Australian culture. [[Misaimed Fandom|That buggered up pretty quickly]].
* "We'll surf like they do in the U.S.A.|We'll fly down to Sydney for our holiday|On sunny Christmas Day|Australia, Australia" - [[The Kinks]]' concept album ''Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire)'' tells the story of a man emigrating to Australia from post-war England.
* "We'll surf like they do in the U.S.A.|We'll fly down to Sydney for our holiday|On sunny Christmas Day|Australia, Australia" - [[The Kinks]]' concept album ''Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire)'' tells the story of a man emigrating to Australia from post-war England.
* [[Tim Minchin]]'s ''Not Perfect'': "This is my country, and I live in it; it's pretty big, and nice to walk on"
* [[Tim Minchin]]'s ''Not Perfect'': "This is my country, and I live in it; it's pretty big, and nice to walk on"
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