Rural Myths and Urban Ideologies

Abstract

The argument of this paper is grounded in the contention that the traditional city/bush, urban/rural distinctions made of Australian society represent a false dichotomy. Rather, it is suggested that this distinction serves an ideological purpose in opposing, for example, rural and urban workers, rural and urban owners/managers etc. The rhetoric and the reality of Australian cultural mythologies is analysed with the aim of demonstrating the ways in which images of Australia and Australians are exemplified and enacted in the daily life of country towns. To this end, the paper offers an examination of (a) mass media and (b) some 'urban' aspects of the rural economy, particularly the control of rural industries by urban and transnational interests.

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