Through this analysis, we are able to gain a glimpse into how the powers that

be define us, a sort of ‘single voice’ that works to promote the status quo or to
effect social change. However, it is also up to us, as the audience, to
determine how we will interpret these messages. The ‘single voice’ typically
belongs to those who hold the power and leaves very little room for
differences of opinion. “Broadly speaking, the media exist in a very close,
sympathetic relationship to power and established values.

They favor a consensus view of any problem: they reflect overwhelmingly

middle class attitudes and experience. Basically, this unfits them for an
authentic portrayal” (Hall, 1974). More than simply speaking of the news or
documentary forms of media, Hall’s ideas encompass the world of
entertainment media as well. He indicates that even here, where the goal is
supposed to be strictly entertainment, the media continues its long-standing
tradition of reinforcing middle-class society’s concepts of the world.

In order to appeal to the middle class, many of the films produced tend to
reflect the hopes and dreams of this class of society. It tends to reinforce the
thought that it is only through hard work and struggle that one can appreciate
this good life. This is as true of the classical narrative of Australian film as it is
of any other. An analysis of the film Gallipoli from a post-colonial perspective
reveals how the Australian culture and identity is shaped both by its colonial
past as well as through its focus on today’s individuality.

The film tells the story of two young Australian runners during World War I.
The film begins in 1914 in Western Australia as the first young man, Archy
Hamilton, trains with his uncle Jack for an upcoming running competition.
They train in the early morning before Archy is expected out on the ranch
helping his father and the ranch hands pull in the cattle. However, Archy
demonstrates his loyal character early on when he stands up for one of his
black friends who is his mate.

Although Archy is an up and coming star in the running circuit, he wants more
than anything to enlist and fight for Australia in the war already raging. This
story is interrupted to catch up with the other main character of the film, Frank
Dunne. Frank is working with three other men on a railroad project in Western
Australia when one of the men reads a story about the current situation in the
war. Hearing of the treachery of the enemy, the other three men impulsively
decide to join up, but Frank opts out, deciding he’d rather pursue other options
when one of the men point out that it couldn’t be worse than what they’re
doing.

Frank and Archy meet up for the first time at the competition that Archy has
been training for. Archy is a regular contestant, but Frank enters at the last
minute, having already developed a reputation as a sprinter in the past and
attempting to win some quick money for himself through a little underhanded
betting. Although the race is close between the two men, Archy wins the race
and Frank loses his money. Uncle Jack immediately launches into a plan for
Archy’s future running career, but Archy quiets him, informing him that he will
not be returning home and then turns around to enlist. However, he is quickly
identified as being underaged and turned away.

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Rather than holding his defeat against Archy, Frank decides to help Archy
enlist while also contriving to have Archy help him return home to Perth. He
teaches Archy how to jump on trains and Archy teaches Frank how to survive
the Australian desert. This shared experience unites them in a close bond of
mateship that remains true throughout the film.

Upon arriving in Perth, Archy has convinced Frank to join the light horse, but
Frank is unable to prove his ability and is left behind. However, he runs into
his old friends again and signs up with them into the infantry. After a brief
training session in Cairo, Frank and Archy meet up again in a mock battle and
Archy convinces his commanding officer to accept Frank into their unit. From
here, the boys are sent on to Gallipoli, where life on the battlefield seems
largely like a unique form of playground until they finally reach the trenches.

Because of poor communication, the battle at Gallipoli turns into an Australian

massacre as rank after rank of Australian soldiers throw themselves
unquestioningly into the direct line of fire of the Turkish enemy. Working as a
communications runner, Frank does his best to get the commanders to stop
the massacre, but is unable to reach the lines in time to save Archy from going
over the wall. The film ends as Archy’s body is slammed backward during his
final run by the impact of machine gun bullets striking.

One of the major themes of the film is the theme of mateship, which is an
important concept in the Australian culture. The first main character seen in
the film is Archy, who lives on his father’s ranch and trains with his uncle for a
career as a sprinter. Although he is obviously undergoing intense training in
preparation for a big race, Archy decides to race against a difficult cowhand at
the beginning of the film in order to uphold the dignity and respect of his black
friend who had just been insulted by the same field hand. Archy’s simple
understanding that this is his mate is enough for him to risk his life and career
in order to uphold his friend’s dignity.
The race tears up his feet because he agrees to run barefoot through terrain
that includes scrub brush, rocks and burning sand but he wins because the
field hand fell off his horse just before reaching the gate. These injuries make
it difficult for Archy to go about his regular business, but he does it anyway
because, as he tells his uncle, “there were bigger things at stake” and “it takes
more to win than body.” This early introduction to his character makes it easy
to believe that Archy wants to join the war simply because he feels it’s his
patriotic duty.

That Archy has been thinking about joining the war is made clear as he
discusses it with his uncle. As they discuss his uncle’s past, having run away
from his family at around age 16, it is clear that the uncle is well-aware of what
Archy is thinking of. His uncle’s responses continue to sound resigned and
discouraging, continually insisting that war is different from what he had done
as a younger man.

However, having always been loved and supported, even if it also meant he
had to work hard, gives Archy a sense of belonging and responsibility. This
attitude is revealed to Frank when he says, “I’d be ashamed of myself if I
didn’t fight.” That much of his life is lived within these idealistic ideas is
revealed as he remains cheerful and bright even as he and Frank land on the
beach at Gallipoli among a shower of shrapnel from a just-landed bomb.