Australian Identity in literature, Book: Paul Hogan, "Son of Oz", James Oram

Essay by steven_beardHigh School, 11th gradeA+, March 2006

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He is so Australian he has stronger notions of being than many others. His identity is significantly Australian. You might ask what makes him so Australian? His attitudes, values and beliefs - but more than that - his physical, social, emotional and intellectual attributes that, in any quantity promotes and guarantees him as Australian.

Yes you guessed it, I'm talking about no other than 'The son of Oz' PAUL HOGAN.

If by any crazy chance you don't know whom I am referring this might jog your memory.

- Throw another shrimp on the Barbie

- That's not a knife this is a knife

When foreigners think of the way Australians speak, they think back to the Australian tourism adds, featuring Paul Hogan. They think g'day mate, your gonna have to get used to playing footy without helmets, your gonna get wet cuz where surrounded by water, so come on over ill throw another's shrimp on the Barbie for ya.

When they picture the Australian man, they again picture Hogan. Wearing his stubbies, sleeveless shirt, footy socks. OR they see him wearing jeans, shirt rolled up, croc skin vest and the akubra with croc teeth along it.

Most of the character you see Paul Hogan play, Mick, Dundee, the bush philosopher ect, are all just exaggerations of himself. He did so to one interviewer, that he does 'bung' it on a little bit for the crowd.

At one stage of his life he suffered a brain haemorrhage. When he got out of hospital he still had his humour intact. One reporter asked him what it felt like and he said. "IT felt like a blood big eagle came down and fastened its talons into my head"3

The Daily Telegraph wrote, "Paul Hogan is a tall poppy, but unlike so...