Study Guide by Anne Chesher

6 x 30-minute episode series by Cordell Jigsaw for ABC TV 6 x 30-minute episode series by Cordell Jigsaw for ABC TV

http://www.metromagazine.com.au

ISBN: 978-1-74295-186-7 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au ABOVE: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX RIGHT: XXXX XXXX XXX XXXX XXX

Part social experiment, part road trip and part character study, Dumb, Drunk & Racist puts Australia and its people under the microscope by testing foreign pre-conceptions of Australian stereotypes, culture and identity. The series exposes a number of confronting topics such as our racism, alcoholism, poverty and social injustice, and looks at multiculturalism, same-sex marriage and the role the media play in reporting this across the globe. Dumb, Drunk & Racist takes the audience on a journey from India to Australia with four Indians. Through their eyes, we’re able to look at ourselves and discuss whether Australians really are racist, drunk and stupid. It is an insight into how other cultures perceive us and how we perceive ourselves.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES Australian callers everyday, and a tel- drinking beer and sledging at the evision news anchor who has reported cricket, to understanding life from an In recent years, Australia’s reputation on the fractured relationship between Indigenous Australian’s perspective; has declined in the views of those India and Australia. Together with Joe, and from driving a taxi in Melbourne overseas and at home. We’ve been la- these four Indians embarked on a late at night, to raising a family in a belled everything from racist and lazy, three-week road trip through Australia same-sex relationship. The series tries to drunk, stupid and cheats. Nowhere to put their own theories, opinions and to make sense of our country and con- is this opinion more apparent than preconceptions to the test. temporary ways of life. India, where it seems our reputation has hit an all time low. In experiencing the good, bad and For me, the series reinforces a number ugly of life downunder, the Indians are of uncomfortable home truths, while We began the series by travelling to immersed in issues including racism, at the same time reminding us of the India with our host, Joe Hildebrand, to multiculturalism, Indigenous Australia, triumphs that we all too often take for investigate the anti-Australian senti- drinking culture, class, sexuality and granted. Though we describe our- SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 ment. There we met Indians who, sport. Through the eyes of the Indians, selves as ‘the lucky country’, often through their loose ties to Australia, the series provides us the opportunity we’re unsure what we actually mean believe the negative stereotypes – a for us to look at ourselves. Personally, by it. Dumb, Drunk & Racist aims to student and an educational advisor as a born-and-bred Australian, the bring a whole new perspective to the who have heard accounts of attacks journey treads the line between as- place we call home. on Indian students, a call-centre pects of Australian life that are equally worker who is subjected to racist as familiar as they are foreign – from – Series director Aaron Smith 2 Curriculum Relevance Dumb Drunk & Racist is a series that will create informed debate and learning amongst senior school (Years 11–12) and tertiary students. It presents topics and issues that require a degree of maturity and developed reasoning skills. Teacher discretion is encouraged for screening to students in Years 10 and below. While in due context, the series contains language and violent behaviour that without guidance, may be confronting or ABOVE: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX o!ensive to younger students. As preparation, it is recommended diversity, and have an understand- Civics and Citizenship that the teacher view the series ing of Australia’s system of govern- prior to screening to a class or ment, history and culture Rationale group of students. s Understand and acknowledge the value of Indigenous cultures and 11. a) Civics and Citizenship educa- possess the knowledge, skills and tion involves the development of the CURRICULUM APPLICATION understanding to contribute to, knowledge, skills, attitudes, beliefs and benefit from, reconciliation and values that enable students to The Melbourne Declaration on between Indigenous and non- effectively participate in community Educational Goals for Young Indigenous Australians activities and public affairs locally, Australians (2008) purports a set s Are committed to national values of nationally and globally. of values to be imparted to young democracy, equity and justice, and Australians through school education participate in Australia’s civic life 11. b) Australia is a multicultural, secu- K–12 and administered through na- s Are able to relate to and communi- lar, and multi-faith society, governed tional curriculum areas. These values cate across cultures, especially the through a well-established representa- reflect the ethics, principles and ideals cultures and countries of Asia tive parliamentary process and based of our national Australian society. They s Work for the common good, in on liberal democratic values, princi- are steeped in heritage and provide particular sustaining and improving ples and practices. guidance for shaping the attitudes and natural and social environments disposition of future generations. s Are responsible global and local Aims citizens. The Declaration outlines aims for 13. a) Develop the knowledge, skills, qualities of individuals in our society The Declaration outlines the outcome attitudes, values and dispositions stu- including: objectives of the national curriculum: dents need to fully participate in civic life as active citizens in their communi- Confident and creative individuals … s The curriculum will enable stu- ties, the nation, regionally and globally. (who) dents to build social and emotional s Have a sense of self-worth, self- intelligence, and nurture student 13. d) Build an understanding and ap- awareness and personal identity wellbeing through health and preciation of Australia as a multicultural that enables them to manage their physical education in particular. and multi-faith society and a commit- emotional, mental, spiritual and s The Curriculum will support ment to human rights and intercul- physical wellbeing students to relate well to others tural understandings, with particular s Develop personal values and at- and foster an understanding of consideration of Aboriginal Peoples’ tributes such as honesty, resil- Australian society, citizenship and and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ ience, empathy and respect for national values, including through historical and contemporary experience others the study of civics and citizenship. of, participation in and contribution to s Have the knowledge, skills, under- Australian civic identity and society. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 standing and values to establish Dumb Drunk & Racist has cross- and maintain healthy, satisfying lives curricula application across all subject Organisation areas. However, this Study guide will Active and informed citizens … (who) focus two key learning areas: Civics The knowledge, understandings and s Act with moral and ethical integrity and Citizenship in relation to society, skills of Civics and Citizenship are s Appreciate Australia’s social, and Health and Physical Education in underpinned by values, attitudes and cultural, linguistic and religious relation to individual wellbeing. dispositions. These include: 3 19. a) The values that are the foundation of liberal democracy and parliamentary representative democracy, such as freedom of expression, government by the people, equality, the rule of law, equality before the law, fair and effective representation, responsibility, accountability and common good.

19. b) The foundation of civil behaviour Production Background and civic duty in a modern democracy Dumb, Drunk & Racist was shot including appreciation and support, over thirty consecutive days during care and compassion, respect for January and February 2012. "e cultural identity and diversity, religious shoot began with a week in India, 1 tolerance, fairness, social justice, hu- #lming background stories and man dignity, freedom, civility, honesty, interviews with the series host, respecting others’ rights and views, Joe Hildebrand, and the four responsibility, inclusiveness, equality, Indian participants in New Delhi, sustainability, appreciation of differ- Chandigarh, Jaipur and Pune. ence, peace, giving and contributing and valuing involvement as active "e Indian participants were citizens. 2 selected from a diverse range of applicants throughout India. "ey – Australian Curriculum: Civics and were cast with the assistance of Citizenship Draft Shape Paper, 1: xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxx 2: local Indian production assistants ACARA 2012 xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx and interviewed remotely from Australia via Skype. On the #nal Health And Physical Education day of #lming in India, all of the to explore their own personal identity, Indian participants, and their Personal and Social Capability and to develop an understanding of Australian ‘guide’ Joe Hilderbrand, factors that influence and shape their meet each other for the #rst time 118. In the Australian Curriculum, sense of identity. on a rooftop in Old Delhi. From students develop personal and social there, they travelled to Sydney capability as they learn to understand Ethical behaviour to begin the Australian leg of the themselves and others, and manage production – three of the four their relationships, lives, work and 121. Ethical behaviour involves stu- Indians had never been to Australia learning more effectively. The capa- dents in building a strong personal and before, two of them (Gurmeet and bility involves students in a range of socially oriented ethical outlook that Mahima) had never been overseas. practices, including recognising and helps them to manage context, con- In Australia we travelled as a team regulating emotions, developing em- flict and uncertainty, and develop an of 10 – #ve people onscreen, pathy for and understanding of others, awareness of the influence that their and #ve members of the crew establishing positive relationships, values and behaviour have on others. behind the scenes, supported by a making responsible decisions, working production and post-production effectively in teams and handling chal- 122. The Australian Curriculum: Health team based in Sydney. We travelled lenging situations constructively. and Physical Education focuses on by road and air to regions including the importance of treating others with Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, 119. Students use personal and social integrity, compassion and respect. Uluru, Alice Springs, Brisbane, capability to work cooperatively with Students will value diversity and the Queensland Darling/Western others in movement- and non-move- reflect on ethical principles and codes Downs, Moree, the Gold Coast and ment-based activities, appreciate their of practice appropriate to different Mt Isa (where temperatures reached own strengths and abilities and those contexts at school, in relationships, in 44 °C). In India and Australia of their peers and develop a range of the community, the workplace and the combined, we took 15 $ights and interpersonal skills such as commu- sporting field, and develop the com- travelled over 35000km. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 nication, negotiation, teamwork and mitment and capacity to consistently leadership. apply these principles. "e series was shot predominantly on two Sony EX3 cameras, 120. The Australian Curriculum: Health – Australian Curriculum: Health And with smaller cameras, GoPros and Physical Education enhances Physical Education Draft Shape Paper, and handycams mounted for personal and social capability by ACARA, 2012 travelling scenes in and outside our providing opportunities for students production vehicles. 4 Series Synopsis

Whether we like it or not, scientists and sportspeople. "e Australia has an image problem journey begins in Sydney where overseas, and probably nowhere they are dazzled by Sydney moreso than in India. But is Harbour and Bondi Beach, this really true, and how much but soon #nd themselves in is media hype? In January the middle of a heated street 2012, Daily Telegraph journalist argument about a painted Joe Hildebrand sets out on a sign in Newtown that suggests pilgrimage to Delhi to examine banning the burqa. Australia is Above: xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxx this anti-Australian sentiment. one of the most multicultural It’s a timely visit. In 2011 countries in the world, but is Indians wondering what state the lesbians and appalled by the an American journalist went our melting pot working? In the relationship is in after 220 male strippers. undercover at a call centre and the 1950s it was the Greeks and years of white settlement. In Australians drink more alcohol was told, amongst things, that Italians who copped a lot of Alice Springs they visit the than many other countries, Australians are ‘dumb, drunk $ak – in the 1970s and 1980s Todd River where Joe explains and as the series draws to its and racist’. "is seemed to it was the Vietnamese and the the damage that alcohol abuse conclusion, we investigate our re$ect what the Indian press Chinese. Now it’s Australian has caused the Indigenous love of booze, how ingrained had been saying. "e coverage Muslims, but is this racism or population. Suddenly the group it is in our culture, and how of the attacks in Melbourne Islamaphobia? "e Indians are are set upon by two women we use it to grease our social on Indian students and cab surprised by the monoculture upset by their presence … the wheels. In Brisbane, India is drivers, culminating in the of Lakemba and then brought situation becomes tense and the playing Australia in cricket and murder of Nitin Garg in 2010, to tears by footage & memories women begin throwing stones. Joe encourages all of the Indians dominated news about Australia of the 2005 Cronulla riots. A It’s a scary and disturbing to get into the spirit of things and directly impacted on the visit to "e Lakembaroos, a experience and one that has the and have a beer, Gurmeet gets number of Indian students multi-ethnic all women’s soccer team running for cover. so into the spirit that he ends coming here to study. But is this team formed after the Cronulla "is series also examines how up sledging Ricky Ponting. really what most Indians think? riots, cheers everyone up, but we view our own stereotypes; And how would you change they are brought back down to do we think of ourselves as In Surfers Paradise, Amer and their minds? Joe Hildebrand earth by a visit to Villawood salt of the earth country folk Radhika go on a club tour of visits Delhi and there asks four Detention Centre where they or suburban battlers? Why do Surfers and see Aussie binge Indians to join him on a three- #nd themselves in the middle we celebrate our larrikins and drinking culture up close, one week road trip around Australia. of a shouting match about not our scientists and thinkers? young punter tells them ‘you refugees. need at least twenty drinks to As a newsreader and journalist Deep in Australia’s rural have a good night’. Joe decides for a major Hindi network, In Melbourne, Joe and the heartland, the Indians enjoy on a more scienti#c approach Gurmeet Chaudhary was Indians investigate the attacks a country show but are also and sets up a breathalyser shocked by the negative stories on Indian students. Were the confronted by the cattle sales. booth. Everyone is over the appearing regularly in the attacks on students racist, or "e cow is considered sacred by limit but a young Swiss woman Indian media. As a call centre were they simply in the wrong most Hindus and hence beef blows them all away with a worker, Mahima Bhardwaj place at the wrong time? With is considered taboo for many blood alcohol level of .440. tells Joe of her unpleasant $ak jackets on, Joe and the Indians. "ey also meet bushies, encounters with Aussies over Indians walk the laneways and bogans, some not-so-average To wrap up the drinking tour the phone. Amer Singh is meet Indian students on trains. suburbanites and a world- Joe takes everyone to the a third year Law student in "ey join Victorian police on a renowned scientist who has Meandarra B&S, a romantic Chandigargh who decided night patrol where the level of chosen Australia for his Nobel rite of passage where alcohol it was safer to study in India drunkenness appalls Radhika, Prize–winning work. plays a vital role. Despite the than at an Aussie university and Amer and Gurmeet get Mahima and Gurmeet get cultural di!erences, the B&S and Radhika Budhwar whose abused by a white supremacist. a taste of the freedoms of works its magic on our Indians. job it is to advise Indian Australian life by spending an As Gurmeet says, ‘when the students where they should It’s not just the attacks on afternoon and evening with music rocks you have to hit the study overseas. She hasn’t Indian students that sullies a lesbian family and then dance $oor’. recommended Australia for the our reputation abroad – it’s also our relationship with joining a raucous hen’s night in last #ve years. "ey all agree to Finally Joe prepares a barbeque SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 Brisbane. "is is confronting risk life and limb to visit our Indigenous Australia, and the to farewell Mahima, Amer, for Mahima and Gurmeet who reviled and dangerous country. often volatile interplay between Gurmeet and Radhika, but he black and white. Joe takes the both come from traditional is nervous. After three weeks of Over three weeks, Gurmeet, Indians to the place where families, and will have arranged seeing the good, the bad and Mahima, Amer and Radhika Indigenous people #rst came marriages. Mahima is charmed the ugly up close, will Mahima, meet Australians from all into contact with white people, by what she sees as openness Radhika, Gurmeet and Amer walks of life including sur#es, Sydney’s Botany Bay. It’s a good and freedoms available to still think that Australians are bogans, activists, bushies, stepping-o! point, leaving the Australian women, but dumb, drunk and racist? Gurmeet is clearly shocked by 5 SERIES PRESENTER I want to figure it out whether all the Australian people are criminal in this Joe Hildebrand sense. I would like to go there because … I want to figure it out whether it is a Joe Hildebrand was raised in thinking of a section of the society or Dandenong, one of the most ethnically it is a thinking of the whole Australian diverse areas of Australia. He went people … That is why I am going to Dandenong High School before there. attending Melbourne University, where he did an Arts degree majoring in his- Mahima Bhardwaj tory and English. Mahima is from a conservative Hindu Joe is a journalist and columnist for family. At twenty-four, she’s not al- the Daily Telegraph. Much of his jour- lowed to go to bars and nightclubs; nalism has been devoted to exposing she must remain a ‘good girl’ so white supremacism in Australia and her parents can find her a suitable tackling racial issues. A Walkley finalist husband. Her family run a statue shop (having received two commendations), Above: xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxx in Jaipur, Northern India, where she a News Award winner and frequent Below: xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx grew up. The shop sells statues of Walkley judge, Joe has been a profes- Hindi Deities. She has never travelled sional journalist for twelve years, since overseas before. coming to Sydney in 2000, prior to Gurmeet Chaudhary this he was a journalist in Melbourne, Mahima is one of India’s thousands of where he edited the Melbourne At twenty-six, Gurmeet is a journal- call centre workers who dial Australian University magazine Farrago and ist and newsreader for a major Hindi households every night. Her job is wrote for several other publications. 24-hour news network. Gurmeet is to offer deals good enough to retain Joe was also recently named one of not only an anchorman but also a customers. Mahima’s brother works in the ten most influential Australians on reporter. Like most Indians, he is fluent the same call centre. Twitter. in English but he anchors in Hindi. Gurmeet is single and his mother, Like most call centre workers she A regular commentator on the ABC father and sister live in Delhi. As a uses an alias at work, hers is ‘Tia’. (Q&A, The Drum), Seven Network Hindu, he does not drink alcohol or eat Mahima gets nervous when she calls (Sunrise, The Morning Show), Sky meat. His parents are in the process downunder. She’s had some bad News (PM Live) and a host of radio of organising an arranged marriage. experiences with Australians over the stations including 2GB, 4BC and ABC, Gurmeet enjoys travelling and learning phone. She’s been cursed at, called a he was recently named one of the about new cultures, but this trip will be curry-muncher and a variety of other top ten most influential Australians on his first overseas adventure. colourful racist names, and she’s Twitter. Prior to joining the Telegraph, been on the receiving end of several he was NSW political correspondent When he was younger he wanted to drunken tirades. for Australian Associated Press and pursue a degree in Communications also worked for a time in London for abroad but upon hearing negative sto- Our trainers say that the Australians the Press Association. ries from his cousins and friends that are dumb, drunk and racist. South were studying in Australia at the time, As noted, Joe is also dumb, drunk and he was dissuaded from coming here. racist, although half the time he is too Gurmeet used to believe that Australia stupid, sizzled or blinded by prejudice was a good country, a sophisticated to even notice it. Despite or perhaps western culture and a wonderful because of this, he is a multimedia place to visit. But in 2008 after the sensation. He is not, contrary to spate of violent attacks on Indians his Wikipedia entry, a conservative in Melbourne, his perception sud- journalist. denly changed. He, along with many other Indians, began to feel Australian

THE INDIAN PARTICIPANTS society was inherently racist. Gurmeet SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 believes many Indians are fearful of Centred on the opinions of the this country. four Indian participants, their individual backgrounds set the tone If I will not be accompanied by security for the series. guards I will not feel safe, I will feel that there will be a sort of fear in my mind that I may be attacked in this place. 6 why. It makes me more inquisitive. What is making him act in this way? Racism is a very unintelligent, stupid concept. Somehow I ﬁnd it very illogi- cal, stupid, irrational. I’ve never been to Australia so who knows, maybe I have a few unpleasant incidents lined up for me.

Radhika Budhwar

Radhika works as a trainer for multi- national organisations in the areas of cultural sensitivity and conﬂict management. In her spare time she also has a business as a counselor to Indian students seeking higher education abroad. She is incredibly articulate and intelligent, holding a Masters degree in English and post- graduate qualiﬁcations in guidance and counselling. She is also a practis- ing Buddhist.

In 2005, Radhika visited Australia with her family. The trip was a vacation, but they were also contemplating the Above: xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxx possibility of their seventeen-year- Below: xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx old daughter (now 24) studying an under-graduate course in Australia Australian people you find the peo- in the future. An incident in a restau- ple a bit rude and they won’t listen rant cut their holiday short: while out to you. The NSW people you will having dinner one night they were find them very funny, easy going, the abused by a group of drunk Australian Queensland people, Victoria people men. Over several hours, the men not they are very smart … The worst is only racially abused the family but Western Australia. Western Australian also made lewd suggestions towards people are racist … they are very rude. their daughter. Badly shaken, they They do not listen to us. Especially the left Australia to spend the rest of their females! Yes I am very scared and I holiday in New Zealand. Her daughter think I will always be scared of calling never really recovered from the inci- Western Australian people. dent and eventually went to the USA for her studies. Amer Singh Radhika feels a lack of closure from At twenty-one Amer Singh is a third- her personal experiences here. She year law student in Chandigargh. Amer agreed to take part in the series and grew up in Chandigargh in the Punjab is keen to change her opinion about region of Northern India. His family He’s studying law, but his first love is Australia. are Seikh. After high school, Amer filmmaking. He is gregarious and en- looked into the prospect of studying at joys socialising. He describes himself Naturally, as a counselor, I stopped Sydney University. But his family had as a deep thinker, fascinated and at suggesting Australia as an educational seen and heard so many stories about times infuriated by different cultures destination. In fact, even now it seems SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 Indians being assaulted and killed in and viewpoints. He finds the social like a dangerous country to visit and to Australia, they pressured him to study stratification of the Hindi caste system study, at least for Indians. Australia has at home. as offensive as racism. fallen in international eyes – it is now perceived as discriminatory, violent Amer grew up surrounded by his The idea of people being racist doesn’t and completely lacking in the global grandfather’s book collection, and he make me angry, no. It makes me sad a spirit of respect for human life. loves reading and watching movies. little bit, but more it makes me wonder 7 1 2

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prejudice. With globalisation comes give up. Indian media has suggested introspection. that Australians not only play hard, but they play dirty as well. On a number of Media and its Impact occasions, cricketers from both sides have been accused of being racist. So 3 This of course is due to the digital perhaps through sport we get a sense revolution, the opportunity for the of culture, or lack of it. As the period masses to have access and control of colonialism is now past, surely in over media. One of the major topics of this multicultural world, football is the OVERALL SERIES CONCERNS discussion in this series is the power global game. of media and how a small minority can There are a number of overall affect the majority. Tolerance and Acceptance concerns portrayed as thematic discussions that take place in Education and Economy While the series addresses a lot of is- this series. Clearly the object of sues around perception, it also reﬂects the series is to get Australians Education has become big business on the failure to address multicultural- to reﬂect on who they are in an and Australia has been at the fore- ism within. The failure of successive ever-changing global climate. front of the education boom. Until governments to address Indigenous Thematically this series looks at recently, India was one of the greatest social issues is one of the core sub- the way we are evolving, chang- sources of foreign students travelling textual discussions that takes place ing, mutating as a society. to Australia for tertiary education. In in the series. If Australians don’t or recent years, a series of tragic bash- can’t accept our Indigenous peoples Generalisation and Identity ings and a death in Melbourne oc- into the wider community, how can we curred. The media, particularly in India, call Australia a modern and thoughtful Can you throw a blanket over a race of suggested Australians were racist and nation? people and say they all think alike? The that Australia was no longer a safe series sees four Indians from different place to travel. This put a swift end to Freedom and Democracy cultural backgrounds travel to Australia the foreign student education boom. to learn about the Australian way of life, The other discussion point in the series its people and its cultures, but it’s also Sport and Reputation is the question of just how free we are. a story about how we see ourselves. In a democratic society, Australians are Perhaps the one thing that brings encouraged to embody a fair, equitable Globalisation and us together as a nation more than and liberal approach to society. In India

Introspection anything else is sport. Aussies love you may be persecuted for homosexu- SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 a good game of footy and of course ality or ridiculed if you want to marry The world has fast become a smaller they love cricket. Indians also have outside your caste system. There are place thanks to the digital revolution a great love and history of the game. positives and negatives no matter and the burgeoning middle class in Indian cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar where you live. Learning to accept countries like India and China. While are regarded as heroes in India. On the other people’s cultures is surely the this allows us the opportunity to be cricket pitch, Australians are consid- underlying discussion and analysis. more informed, it can also foster ered to be hard ﬁghters who never 8 EPISODES EPISODE 1

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years. They all agree to risk life and limb to visit our reviled and dangerous 6 country.

Joe kicks off the Australian tour with the glitz and glamour of Sydney EPISODE 1 Harbour and Australia’s most renowned beach, Bondi. The travel- Synopsis lers quickly become seduced by the beauty downunder. But before his While in India, Joe meets the four trav- guests relax too much, Joe stops ellers who will join him on a road-trip them in their tracks with a provoca- 4 across Australia. As a newsreader and tive mural plastered on an inner city journalist for a major Hindi network, wall. The mural, which reads ‘Say NO Gurmeet Chaudary was shocked to Burqas’ sparks off our first heated discover in the land downunder. by the negative stories appearing debate … and the Indians aren’t the Radhika has stopped advising stu- regularly in the Indian media. As a call only ones upset by the message the dents to travel to Australia after being centre worker, Mahima Bhardwaj takes mural carries. racially abused last time she was here. Joe through the unpleasant encounters she’s had with Aussies over the Themes The undercurrent of this episode SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 phone. Amer Singh is a third-year law is perception. What is Australia all student in Chandigargh who decided it Mahima, Radhika, Gurmeet and Amer about? Is there such a thing as a typi- was safer to study in India than travel travel from India to Australia to see cal Aussie? Does everyone in Australia to Australia. Radhika Budhwar advises first-hand how dangerous the country have a harbour view and go sailing on Indian students where they should is. Having been racially abused as a weekends? Clearly not. Juxtaposed study overseas. She hasn’t recom- call centre worker in India, Mahima with this iconic image is another that mended Australia for the last five has real fears about what she will seems to be prevalent at this point in 9 2

EPISODE 2

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EPISODE 2 – 1: ------2: ------3: ----- Australian history, the integration of ------4: ------5: ------6: ------Muslims into Australian society and the impact that has on non-Muslim Australians. Lakemba, ‘this is not really Australia 4 … these people have built their own Australia is a country built by im- country in another country.’ Later, migrants. From the early Chinese Radhika and Mahima meet Nasro, group of pro-refugee advocates arrive gold diggers, the post-war Greeks, a Somalian refugee who tells them and tempers flare as our Indians find Italians, Turks and Slavs, the more that although she has experienced themselves in the middle of a heated recent Lebanese, Vietnamese and kindness she has little doubt that argument about refugees. Cambodian migrants, to the most most Australians are racist. Travelling recent – Sudanese, Afghani and Iraqi deeper into the heart of this issue, Joe Themes to name a few – every ethnic group takes the Indians to Cronulla Beach at some stage has been vilified and and there tells them the story of the in- This episode continues with the theme ostracised. Is this part of being an famous 2005 riots. The footage of that of multiculturalism. However the Australian? awful day shocks everyone and brings underlying focus is on nationalism, Amer to tears. From here the crew patriotism and racism. Lakemba is EPISODE 2 travel back into the heart of Sydney’s renowned as a Muslim community and Western suburbs where they play a some say exclusive Muslim enclave. Synopsis game of soccer with the all-female, The transition from episode 1 to 2 multi-ethnic Lakembaroos. Finally Joe follows the right of Muslim women to

Mahima, Radhika, Gurmeet and Amer takes them to Villawood detention wear the Burqa. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 are in the second week of their Dumb, centre, and waiting for them is the Drunk & Racist road trip and tonight’s Australian Protectionist Party, a group Central to this discussion is the fear episode begins in Sydney’s Lakemba, of people who believe that multicul- of terrorists and terrorist attacks a suburb with a predominantly Muslim turalism is a failure and that Muslim and as such, the transition to the population. Radhika is clearly sur- immigration should be stopped Cronulla riots explores nationalism prised by the lack of Anglo people in altogether. As they are talking, a and its ugly underbelly. How much

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EPISODE 3

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has international terrorism in the last decade shaped our attitudes toward people of Islamic faith? How much of 3 this attitude is well-founded? EPISODE 3 – 1: ------2: ------3: ----- EPISODE 3 ------4: ------5: ------

Synopsis and shows the Indians CCTV footage Themes Although many Australians think of of a brutal attack on Indian student, Melbourne as our most liveable city, Sourabh Sharma. He then reveals to a Recently it seemed like every Indian for Indians it’s infamous for attacks visibly shocked Mahima and Gurmeet living in Melbourne was in danger of on Indian students. In fact, education that they are going to meet Sourabh being attacked, or even worse – killed. advisor, Radhika advises students not and hear ﬁrst-hand about the attack. This is how the media portrayed to risk studying in Australia at all. In Meanwhile Radhika and Amer patrol Melbourne for a short period of time tonight’s episode, Joe and the Indians the mean streets of Melbourne with in 2010/11. As a result, the number of investigate the nature of these attacks the Victorian Police, Radhika is ap- Indians travelling to Australia dropped – were they really racist or just a case palled by the level of drunkenness but by two thirds. Is this what Melbourne of Indian students being in the wrong Amer seems less concerned. A few and therefore Australia is really like? Is place at the wrong time? Gautam weeks back in India, he told the crew it too dangerous to go out after dark?

Gupta, an Indian student leader at that he wanted to walk the streets of SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 the time of the attacks and now a Melbourne at 2 or 3 am, to see for This is central to the discussion on practicing surgeon, tells Gurmeet and himself if Australia is a racist country, racism and in this episode it becomes Radhika that he has no doubt that Joe grants Amer’s wish and Gurmeet apparent the real concern is the easy the attacks were racist. Later, in one accompanies him. The walk is un- availability of alcohol. What are state of Melbourne’s famous laneways, eventful until he and Gurmeet return and federal governments doing to Joe conﬁrms that many Victorians to Swanston street where they are minimise the health risks associated are scared of Melbourne after dark abused and threatened. with heavy drinking? 11 1 EPISODE 3 2 4

5 EPISODE 4 – 1: ------2: ------3: ------4: ------5: ------shocking experience and one that has EPISODE 4 the team running for cover. impact the media have on Indigenous relations. The fact that the film crew Synopsis Themes was attacked during filming suggests there is a great mistrust of film crews/ From there, the road-trip heads to The series seems to be following a media in Indigenous communities. Moree in Northern NSW, infamous as trail. Initially the thematic discussion one of Australia’s last bastions of leg- was on ‘how racist Australians are’. EPISODE 5 islated racism. The group visits Moree The shift in the previous episode starts Baths, where Charles Perkins cam- to look at whether alcohol plays a part Synopsis paigned for indigenous people to be in this. In this episode the overriding allowed to swim in 1965. At the time, discussion is on Aboriginal people, In our survey of 1000 Indians, 50 per the issue divided the town’s black and their culture, the loss of identity, and cent said that Australians are only of white populations. Does that divide the use of alcohol as a way of coping average or below average intelligence; still exist? Joe takes the question to with that loss. journalist Gurmeet especially shares local Indigenous elders and to Moree’s this view. Tonight Joe introduces the Mayor, Katrina Humphries … both with At the heart of the discussion is cul- guys to bushies, bogans, suburban different views. ture. Can non-Indigenous and tradi- battlers and a Nobel Laureate scien- tional Indigenous Australians ever live tist, but will the Indians change their From Moree to Australia’s red centre, together harmoniously? Has welfare minds? Are we dumb, or do we just

Alice Springs. They visit the Todd had a negative impact on Aboriginal like to hide our light under a bushel. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 River where Joe explains the damage culture? What can be done to change that alcohol abuse has caused the the way Governments deal with this The episode starts off deep in the Indigenous population. Suddenly the very complex issue? Teaching native bush when Joe takes the Indians to group are set upon by two women languages alongside English seems to the Allora & District Annual Show. upset by their presence … the situ- be a very positive step forward. This is country life at its best: cakes, ation becomes tense as the women pumpkins, dodgem cars and the begin throwing stones. It’s a scary and Again a serious subtextual issue is the rodeo. Despite their love for the show, 12 2

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vegetarians Mahima and Gurmeet are disturbed by the cattle sale. The cow is considered sacred by most Hindus 5 4 and hence beef is considered taboo for many Indians. Just down the road is Mt Isa, the epitome of a country traditional Indian families, so meet- change has resulted, there is still one mining town full of red dust and blue ing Chloe and Erin is a big surprise, major discriminatory law that prohib- collars. The Indians drop in to meet especially for Gurmeet. Gurmeet and its same-sex marriage. Gurmeet is a local hero, and Mt Isa’s Woman Mahima then go to a hen’s night in shocked to discover that in Australia of the Year, Theresa Braithwaite, Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. In India, gay couples live openly together, cancer survivor and serial volunteer. arranged marriages are the norm something that would be shunned in Theresa’s story really moves Radhika and Gurmeet and Mahima will have his native India. This raises concerns and Gurmeet. The Indians have heard their partners chosen by their fam- for Gurmeet as it challenges his own about bogans but the streets and ily. Unexpectedly, Mahima gets into beliefs. footy ﬁelds of Mt Isa bring them face the spirit of the night but Gurmeet is to face with the real deal. shocked, especially by the strippers. What is a typical Aussie? Central to this discussion is the idea that you can A long way down the road – in Themes categorise a race by looking at what Canberra – Mahima and Amer meet Dr they eat or what they wear or whether Brian Schmidt, Australia’s latest Nobel At 10pm on 24 June 1978, a night- they are gay or straight. The freedom Laureate and a passionate supporter time celebration followed a morning enjoyed by countries like Australia of Australia’s academic attribute. He protest march and commemoration with its dearth of rules and regulations doesn’t think we’re dumb. Maybe by more than 500 people gathered on makes it one of the freest countries in meeting down-to-earth country folk, Oxford Street Sydney. They called for the world – ‘The Lucky Country’. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 good-natured bogans and a Nobel an end to discrimination against ho- laureate is not enough, so Joe sends mosexuals in employment and hous- Travelling to Mt Isa, the Indians meet Gurmeet and Mahima to meet a ing and an end to police harassment Theresa Braithwaite, cancer survivor not-so-average Aussie family. Chloe and the repeal of all anti-homosexual and local volunteer. Impressed with and Erin are a lesbian couple rais- laws. Over the years, equality for gay Theresa’s selﬂessness, the Indians ing four kids in a suburb of Brisbane. and lesbian Australians has been an begin to question the idea that most Gurmeet and Mahima come from very ongoing public debate. While much Australians are stupid. In Mt Isa there 13 EPISODE 6

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4 5

gets right into the spirit and sledges 3 Ricky Ponting! Our joy in consum- is a sense of community that is the ing booze, often to grease our social Themes envy of many Australians. The tight- wheels, is a source of national pride. knit community looks after one anoth- Next stop is Surfers Paradise, these ‘Schoolies’, a phenomenon that start- er. This character trait is well known in days more famous for its drinkers than ed on the Gold Coast, is a term given Australia but perhaps less well known its surfers. The guys go on a club tour to a week-long bender that teenage overseas – the great Australian spirit, and see Aussie binge drinking culture school graduates have come to regard mateship, loyalty and working as one up close. One punter tells them ‘you as a rite of passage. Schoolies has to build a new nation. The history of need at least twenty drinks to have a now extended to almost every capital the digger, the great wars that showed good night’. Joe decides on a more city as well as a number of country that Australians were a force to be scientiﬁc approach and sets up a areas across Australia each year. Is reckoned with – this ‘spirit’ is starting Breathalyser booth, everyone is way this a global epidemic or is it quintes- to rub off on the Indians. over the limit but a young Swiss wom- sentially Australian? Why? an blows them all away. Binge drinking EPISODE 6 is one of the major health problems The Indians are shocked. To them affecting young Australians and it’s it looks like people are drinking as Synopsis the police and hospital emergency much as they can in as short a time departments that are on the frontline. as possible in an effort to get as drunk Australians drink more per capita Joe takes Amer and Mahima to St as possible and have sex or a ﬁght,

than many other nations on Earth. We Vincent’s where Dr Gordian Fulde tells whatever happens ﬁrst. The tragedy SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 also love our cricket, and tonight Joe them that young men are the worst of this malaise is the toll it is having on wants the Indians to get a taste of a and how a simple drunken punch can young lives; binge drinking is a huge grand tradition – a beer at the cricket. destroy a life. The guys head out bush concern, both physically and mentally. Except for Amer, none of The Indians to the Meandarra B&S, a romantic rite drink. So at ﬁrst they are reluctant of passage where alcohol plays a vital Binge drinking is one of the major but after a couple of drinks, Gurmeet role. health problems affecting young

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Australians. For the police and hospital in the world, yet the legacy of this emergency departments it is a major law produces an ongoing negative concern. Clearly surging testoster- impact on the way other nations view one and other hormone levels mixed Australians both here and abroad. The participants in this series clearly with excessive amounts of alcohol discovered a country made up of don’t mix. Clearly the campaign to A recent example of why other nations many different people living diverse stop Australians smoking has been may view Australians as dumb, drunk lives, whether it be in remote parts of a massive success. Could it be time and racist may be due to politicians the country or in large multicultural the Australian government committed such as Pauline Hanson. Hanson iden- cities. Globally, Australia is recognised itself to devising ways of drastically tified a growing concern over the num- for having a very high standard of curbing the consumption of alcohol? ber of immigrants coming to Australia, living, very high rates of tertiary educa- As Radhika says, ‘It is tragic to think and capitalised on it politically. Hanson tion and one of the lowest unemploy- someone is proud to get drunk.’ put forward her argument with one ment rates anywhere in the world. simple sentence, ‘if I can invite whom I CONCLUSION want into my home, then I should have As the series concludes, the travel- the right to have a say in who comes lers views are changed somewhat. The White Australia policy effectively into my country’. Pauline Hanson Australia is a lucky country. The started as early as 1850. White miners (House of Representatives speech, Indians, like many from around the resented industrious Chinese gold dig- September 1996) world who visit, discover this when gers taking their gold and, as a result, they experience it first hand. violence erupted on the Buckland There was a time when Australia was River, Victoria in 1850. In response predominately a white Christian society Are we dumb, drunk and racist? In the to this, the Victorian and New South but those days have passed into his- end the answer is simple. In essence SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 Wales governments introduced tory. Australia is now regarded as one this series asks us to think about our laws forbidding Asians to work the of the most multicultural countries in behavior and ourselves. goldfields thus creating ‘The White the world, with most cultural herit- Australia Policy’. This law became the ages and religions represented in our most contentious in Australian history. relatively small population of around 22 Today, modern Australia is made up million people. of people from almost every country 15 government maintain this facility? 5. What is Islamaphobia? Does this term foster racism? How? 6. What are the opposing views on the wearing of the Burqa? 7. How does mono-culturalism com- pare with multi-culturalism? Which is preferred in a true modern democracy? 8. How does global sport competition improve or challenge international relations? 1: xxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxx xx xx xx xxxx 9. Explain what ‘introspection’ is and how it can affect a society’s demo- in India? How does Gurmeet react cratic wellbeing. QUESTION IDEAS to his Australian experience of 10. What are the ongoing implications homosexuality? for a community when a great From the Series 10. Describe the experience the Indians number of its young adults con- have with Australian Indigenous sume alcohol to dangerous levels 1. Why is the title of this series so people. What impression does this on a Saturday night? provocative? experience have on Radhika? 11. How can ‘empathy’ reduce 2. Gurmeet Chaudhary has firm 11. The Indians are shocked to wit- racism? opinions about life and safety in ness excessive alcohol drinking 12. Are Australians dumb, drunk and Australia. How has he formed during a typical Saturday night in racist? these opinions? Surfers Paradise. Why are they so 3. Mahima Bhardwaj is a call cen- concerned? REFERENCES tre worker in India. She has had 12. If a public debate were to emerge traumatic abusive experiences from the series, why would that be Melbourne Declaration on Educational speaking to Australians on the tel- the case? Goals for Young Australians, 2008 ephone. Suggest how these expe- http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/ riences may affect her personally. CONSIDERATIONS mceecdya/melbourne_declaration, 4. Amer Singh is a law student who 25979.html enjoys a socialite lifestyle in India. Wider Social Issues Amer is clearly upset when he ACARA Australian Curriculum learns about the Cronulla Riots. 1. Terms like wog, spick and chink Assessment and Reporting Describe his reaction to the riots are examples of derogatory terms Authority, Australian Curriculum: and explain why he feels that way. for people of various nationali- Civics and Citizenship 5. Radhika Budhwar advises Indian ties who have legally migrated to http://www.acara.edu.au/ students where they should study Australia. Suggest how these curriculum/civics_and_citizenship overseas. She has not recom- terms create division in our society. _1.html mended Australia for more than 2. In Australian society, we have five years. Why doesn’t she feel terms or nicknames for people of ACARA Australian Curriculum Australia is a suitable place for certain types. Describe the stereo- Assessment and Reporting young Indian people to study? typical lifestyle and attitude of the Authority, Australian Curriculum: 6. Did the Indians notice a difference following types: Health and Physical Education in our culture between urban and i. Salt of the earth http://www.acara.edu.au/ regional areas? Explain. ii. Surfies curriculum/hpe.html 7. The series portrays some aspects iii. Bogans of how multiculturalism works in iv. Activists Cordell Jigsaw Productions Australia. Explain the population v. Bushies http://www.cordelljigsaw.com heritage and background of most vi. Rednecks people who live in the Sydney vii. Scientists ABC TV

suburb of Lakemba. viii. Sportspeople http://www.abc.net.au/tv SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 8. The Indians confront racism sev- ix. Country folk eral times during the series. List x. Suburban battlers these occurrences and describe 3. How does our international reputa- one in detail. tion as a nation impact on our 9. How is homosexuality addressed economy? in the series? What does Gurmeet 4. What is the Villawood Detention tell us about homosexual freedom Centre and why does the 16 This study guide was produced by ATOM. (© ATOM 2012) ISBN: 978-1-74295-186-7 [email protected] For information on SCREEN EDUCATION magazine, or to download other study guides for assessment, visit . Join ATOM’s email broadcast list for invitations to free screenings, conferences, seminars, etc.

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