Shining on in the Gloom: 9/11 and the Creation of an Appearance of Consensus

Abstract

The ‘tyranny of distance’ that once marked Australia's standing as an outpost of the British Empire may have dissipated, yet there is much to suggest that the insecurities that characterised its colonial status now find renewed expression in Australia's alignment with American political, cultural and military interests and policies. Assisting in fostering public allegiance to a new American Empire, are some segments of the media that, far from reporting the news, now engage in propagandist style campaigning that collapses time, space, and difference. The ‘Shine On’ Memorial initiated by Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper to mark the first anniversary of the 9/11 bombings exemplifies this approach. Imploring citizens to join in ‘a community memorial’ as ‘a mark of respect to the victims’ and ‘a symbol of hope’, this campaign dug deep into Australian insecurities to manufacture an appearance of consent, and thus operated to mask and delegitimate difference and dissent.

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