The Bar Scene Reveals the Nature of Australia and Its Culture Through a Variety of Cinematic

2 scenes

The bar scene

The Bar Scene reveals the nature of Australia and its culture through a variety of cinematic techniques. It has explored the classic stereotypes of Australia and its bushmen, and has foregrounded the outback.

The director utilizes a close-up to show Crocodile Dundee buying a beer. This allows the audience to see the friendly smile and eyes of the hero, but also the noise, humor and violent action created by his 'mates' in the background, emphasizing the close community. While Dundee tames the crocodile with one hand while ordering a drink, it supports the stereotype that Australian Bushmen are physically capable, fearless, and animal lovers.

As he orders a drink, he says, "2 beers, aight? One for me, and one for me mate." This strong- accented, broad slang is another example of the stereotypical bushman, as well as the theory that they are heavy drinkers, further encouraging this image.

Crocodile Dundee wears a leather jacket in this scene, paired with his famous bush hat. The bronzed skin is a reminder of the burning sun, and the teeth he had tied into his hat and necklace act like a proud trophy he wishes to display to everyone. The colors used in this scene are all natural hues like olives and browns, reflecting Australia.

The non-diegetic music of strings is overlaid the scene to create a natural and friendly environment, mirroring the Australian Bush. This idea is reinforced with the natural lighting displayed of Australian landscapes and sceneries in previous scenes. The wooden bar is later juxtaposed with New York, which is filled with advertisements and not made with natural materials, like Australia.

Through careful use of cinematic techniques, the director has effectively portrayed the Australia in his trailer, supporting the bushman image as well.

The Hotel scene

In the Hotel Scene, the director has portrayed the typical Australian Bushman character, covering the physical appearance and their attributes, through a wide range of cinematic techniques. It has successfully explored the stereotype, entertaining and amusing the audience.

The use of the full shot allows the audience to take in everything Crocodile Dundee has done, almost acting like an establishing shot. He looks so out of place, with the classic clothes line hung up next to the window, a little cloth on the floor as his bed, and everything placed on the floor instead of their correct places, such as his clothes. He looks like a fish out of water as he wears a towel over his pants, and carries the phone around with him. This provides an insight into the Australian lifestyle, and just how contrasting it is to living in New York.

The colors are bright and contrasting as opposed to the Australia setting. This outlines how different New York is, drawing immediate comparisons between the two places. The walls are bright salmon, and have decorations on them, unlike Australia's wooden walls, and a blue-purple carpet. The furniture looks more expensive, and the drapes match other things in the room. The layout is much more planned and open-spaced, which symbolizes a typical New Yorker, who is not from a close community and distances themselves from one another.

The moment the trailer changes to New York as the setting, the non-diegetic music changes to a more upbeat, lively song, contrasting the long, string notes of Australia. The trumpets blow a shorter, quicker tune, mimicking a New Yorker's experience; a busy and fast-paced lifestyle.

Crocodile Dundee wears a towel over his pants and a bush hat, highlighting the fact that all Australians that haven't been overseas, or experienced other cultures apart from their own. This gives them that cheeky-ness but also their naivety about other cultures.

Through careful manipulation of film techniques, the director has created a scene that highlights the comparisons between Australians and New Yorkers, but draws close attention to their attributes as well.