National Archives & Portrait Gallery

NAA
Poster encouraging migrants to apply for citizenship
1960's
The aspect of Australian culture that is being represented here is that Australia is a multicultural society. We had a steady influx of migrants in the 60's and we still do today. Australia is a country made up of people from all different cultures and this gives greatly to defining Australian culture.

View from Acton Hill, Canberra 1946
Max Dupain
The aspect being depicted in this image is of Australia as a rural country. You can see a family on bicycles looking down into a valley of farm land. In the foreground there are gum trees. I think they are quintessentially Australian and help to define the cultural aspects being represented in this image.


National Portrait Gallery
Sass and Bide 2008
Deborah Paauwe
I think this portrait portrays Sass and Bide's personality as a duo well. It represents their friendship and bond they share as well as their strong business partnership. As two individual people this portrait does not portray their individual personalities however as a business partnership based upon friendship this portrait displays their identity as a team exceptionally well. The fact that Sass and Bide are an Australian icon and known internationally lends to the sense of cultural identity. On the fashion scene, they would be one of the most renouned Australian design duos.

Elle Macpherson 2000
Polly Borland
As a person constantly in the public eye i feel that Elle Macpherson is a very reserved person when it comes to her private life. This photograph represents that reservedness with the way she has her arms folded beneath her clothes and a tiny hint of a smile on her face like she is holding something back. Again, Elle Macpherson is an Australian icon having been dubbed 'The Body' as an international supermodel. To me she opitimises what it means to be a beautiful woman in her elegance and natural beauty.