MARRY ME MARRY MY FAMILY Series 2 http://www.metromagazine.com.au https://theeducationshop.com.au A STUDY GUIDE BY © ATOM 2019 ISBN: 978-1-76061-311-2 MARGUERITE O’HARA Introduction Marry Me, Marry My Family is the second series of stories in this program. As with series 1 in 2018, we are invited to walk down the aisle with six couples as we explore the chaotic and colourful road to intercultural weddings. The first series of Marry Me, Marry My Family premiered in January 2018. In this second series we follow the preparations of couples from equally diverse backgrounds as they prepare for their weddings. Each one-hour episode follows two couples as they explore the pressures of navigating family, religion and traditions when planning for a wedding. In some cases, their families don’t always share their children’s priorities. The couples allowed the filmmakers access to their lives in the weeks before their weddings, a stressful time in anyone’s life. Each of the 3 episodes runs for approximately 1 hour. CONTENT HYPERLINKS 3 SYNOPSIS 6 VIEWING QUESTIONS 18 POST-VIEWING ACTIVITIES 4 CURRICULUM LINKS 6 Episode 1 21 RESOURCES 2019 © ATOM 5 PRE-VIEWING 10 Episode 2 QUESTIONS 21 PROGRAM MAKERS 14 Episode 3 2 Synopsis In 2017, one in three couples married in Australia were born in different countries – 36,000 of our 112,000 weddings involved a blend of different religions, traditions and cultures. It’s happening every Saturday across the country, and the numbers are rising. But the path to wedded bliss in these multicultural mixes is not always smooth; it’s a case of cross-cultural courtship, conflict and eventually a celebration. This is an observational documentary showing how important family traditions and obligations are during a milestone moment. Marry Me, Marry My Family is a snapshot of multicultural Australia right now. Our families come from all over the globe – Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Australia. There are those that have fled war to be here, some are economic migrants and some have been in Australia for many generations. What they all share is a dilemma about how much their weddings should reflect their history. And when two strong families come together, there is a struggle to work out whose history is more important. Some of our participants are second-generation migrants The couples getting married moving away from their parents and blending further into Australian society. For a Hindu father, inviting a thousand EPISODE 1 guests from his Fijian Indian community, including his mechanic and his accountant, is priority. For his daughter, who grew 1. Nandi – 34-year-old Fijian Indian up in Australia, wanting only close family and friends is more Marketing Manager and Dan – 33-year- important. The battleline is drawn and we watch it play out. old Anglo Australian podiatrist 2. Rose -30-year-old Filipino and Others are refugees or recent migrants, breaking away from the Hassan- 33-year-old Pakistani rules of the old country, in their quest to become Australian. A Australian Muslim. They are both Muslim groom from Pakistan is forced to choose between his registered nurses. family and the Catholic woman he has fallen in love with. EPISODE 2 And it’s a look at how we’re shaping up after the passing of the historic Same Sex Bill in 2017, as two grooms wrestle for 1. Eskii - 27-year-old Ethiopian nanny control over wedding plans. and 36-year-old plasterer Scott 2. Ranmeet – 27-year-old Punjabi Malay Marry Me, Marry My Family is loud and fun; it’s full of garish doctor and George - 28-year-old colour, of laughter, tears and chaos. And at times, we wonder if Construction Manager, Greek Orthodox. any of them will ever make it down the aisle! EPISODE 3 1. Pariya – 34-year-old former refugee from Iran and Viktor, 38-year-old mortgage broker from Macedonia 2. David – a Psychology student and Pagan Druid. Darren is a 52 year- old ex-councilor and ex-mayor of the city of Port Phillip in Melbourne, Victoria. He is 2019 © ATOM now an urban planner, from an Orthodox Jewish background. 3 Curriculum Links Marry Me, Marry My Family would be suitable for middle and senior secondary students. The series would also be relevant to tertiary students studying in Cross Cultural Studies areas, Religion and Society, Social Work, Psychology and students interested in becoming Civil Marriage celebrants (You must complete a Certificate IV in Celebrancy offered by a Registered Training Organisation, such as TAFE) These stories provide rich studies of some of the best aspects of cultural identity between different cultures and beliefs and same-sex marriages. Weddings may be big or small, conventional or original, but they are all public statements of partnership and commitment. Weddings may be challenging but are mostly entered into with optimistic intentions by the couples and their families. The general understandings addressed in the film include: These ideas are all addressed in each story. • Cultural identity • The challenges of modern multiculturalism Intercultural Understanding and Ethical Understanding are • Traditions that are part of different cultures and traditions two of the General Capabilities that are addressed across a • Changing attitudes to marriage in Australian society range of subject areas in the National Curriculum at every level. * Summary of links to the National Curriculum - Media – Years 10 -12 Years 11 and 12 - English – Years 10 -12 - Humanities/History Years 10 -12 See links to senior Media Studies in different state senior - Civics and Citizenship Year 10 curriculum guides. ENGLISH HISTORY Year 10 Year 10 Literature and Context Depth Study - Migration Experiences (1945 – Present) Compare and evaluate a range of representations of individuals The impact of changing Government policies on Australia’s and groups in different historical, social and cultural contexts migration patterns, including the abolition of the White Australia (ACELT 1639 – Scootle) Policy in 1973 (ACDSEH145 – Scootle) Interpreting, Analysing and Evaluating The contribution of migration to Australia’s changing identity as a nation and to its international relationships (ACDSEH Identify and analyse implicit or explicit beliefs and assumptions 147- Scootle) in texts and how these are influenced by purposes and likely audiences (ACELY 1752 Scootle) Describing cultural practices related to family life, beliefs and customs of newly arrived migrant groups and comparing these Creating Texts with those of the communities in which they settled within Australia. Create sustained texts, including texts that combine specific digital or media content, for imaginative, informative, or CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP persuasive purposes that reflect upon challenging and complex issues (ACELY 1756 Scootle) How Australia’s international legal obligations shape Australian law and government policies, e.g. in relation to legalising same- MEDIA ARTS sex marriage in 2017. Produce and distribute media artworks for a range of The challenges to and ways of sustaining a resilient democracy community and institutional contexts and consider social, and cohesive society, in the family, community and government ethical and regulatory issues (ACAMAM077) areas. Explore and Represent Ideas Religion and Society and Comparative Religions Investigate and devise representations of people in their Classes in these areas are frequently studied in schools with community, through settings, ideas and story structure in an affiliation to a particular religion whether this is Christianity, 2019 © ATOM images, sounds and text (VCAMAE 021) Islam, Hinduism or Judaism. This program illustrates both differences and cultural similarities expressed in cultural and religious practices. 4 Pre-Viewing Questions today. What gaps in the jobs market is it designed to fill? Avoid using search engines when responding to these 7. What can we deduce from the countries of origin questions and instead construct responses based on data on this site? your shared understandings. https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/ australian-economy/where-australias- 1. What is your understanding of multiculturalism? permanent-migrants-come-from/news-story/ Why is it a term that has only become more f5ec188ed1c276727566215bd0be4705 common in the 20th and 21st centuries? What is a 8. Discuss how courtship and marriage customs monocultural society? Do such societies still exist may vary in different countries? in today’s world? 9. How have the reasons for getting married 2. How many different cultures are represented in changed over the past 100 years in most your class? countries? 3. Create a simple family tree and see how far back 10. How many different religious groups and you can go on both sides of your family – parents, backgrounds do you think are represented in grandparents, great grandparents. Australian society? Were all these generations born in Australia? This information can be found at the 4. Compile a list of reasons why people decide to following website - https://www.abs. migrate to another country? gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/ What are the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors that by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20 prompt people to leave their country of birth and Features~Religion%20Data%20Summary~70 move to another country – e.g. war and political 11. Marrying another person and vowing to love and chaos, high unemployment, religious or racial care for them ‘in sickness and in health, for richer, persecution, joining family members, seeking for poorer, till death us do part’ are vows that are a more productive life for themselves and their taken in many societies and in many religious family. and secular families. The wording of vows might Set up your list in two columns, one for push vary, but at heart marriages include similar public factors and the other for pull factors. intentions of joining your life with another person. 5. Do you think the factors that led many people to Discuss in your group why you think so many leave their country of origin during the twentieth people want to ‘get married’ whether that century are similar to those prompting people happens in a simple secular ceremony or in a to flee from Sri Lanka, Syria, Iran, Iraq and other lavish wedding.