Okay, so I know you're not supposed to notice, much less comment on, such things, but it's really struck me here that you can get away with being a lot less 1. thin and 2. attractive and still be on stage or on screen in Australia. I went to both a high school and college spoiled for choice of beautiful young things, so my theatre experiences at each were probably a bit skewed, but the professional theatre I've seen in America also backs this up -- actually even more so. If you're going to be an actress in particular, you've got to be ultra-thin, unless of course you're a comic relief figure or over the age of fifty. Though even then it doesn't hurt.
Yet much of the theatre I've seen in Australia features actresses in particular in roles and outfits girls of their size would rarely be allowed in in America.
I'm not saying Australians are unattractive -- they're not. Australia is full of attractive people. Many of them happen to be international, but, well, let's not quibble over details.
Seriously, though. There's lots of gorgeous Australians -- guys and girls. They're just out living life, though, instead of strutting and fretting their hour upon the stage.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
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5 comments:
Also, in TV ads for shopping stores, you can totally believe that the actors work there. They actually look normal.
--An American in Perth
so true! thanks for stopping by, beth!
Yeah, we like real looking people in real stories (ones that we can imagine happening to ordinary people) - it helps us identify with the story we're being told.
Have you also noticed this other major difference between Australian films and those from the USA (particularly Hollywood) - you are far less likely to be shown a graphic "how-to" manual of sex in Australian films. You're much more likely to be left to assume the couple have done the deed without an explicit scene to confirm it.
yeah ... actually that helped me put my finger on another cultural difference: americans are all about trying to make it to the very top, to be the very best, to stand out entirely. thus, we like our movie stars to exemplify the ideal individual -- particularly in terms of physical appearance. australians, though, like to keep things even. level the playing field. avoid sticking out at all costs. thus, (if i'm getting this right) they'd prefer to see natural, everyday actors who don't necessarily outshine them incredibly.
fair call??
Hmm, maybe. We don't mind a bit of eye candy but we also appreciate the ordinary.
As for sticking out, there are two big areas where it's ok to stick out - sport and 'block buster' movies (think Nicole Kidaman, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, Eric Bana, Baz Luhrman, George Miller). What we (generally) don't like is what we perceive as arrogance (although this might be forgiven if you're a highly paid sports star).
Unfortunately, being academic and personal qualities, like not being a ratbag in class, get you labelled as a teacher's pet. Fortunately most people grow up - particularly if they end up being teachers! :-)
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