Comments on: Banal nationalism for breakfast

By: steven

steven — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:50:54 +0000

the other point is the subtle inference that by not buying Australian, you are un-Australian….

By: Bea

Bea — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:04:35 +0000

Until I listened to Ingrid’s lecture on banal nationalism I didn’t realise how desensitized I had become to how much this happens to me every day and that national identiy is an imaginary concept (that just blew me away with how obvious it is, but how come no-one notices or says anything?).

In the 5 days since I listened to this leture I have noticed 3 examples of ‘Australia’ being used in advertising – Jeans for Genes day material (show your Aussie spirit…), in my own company’s advertising (which up until now I had not even realised that the reference to ‘Australia’ was included for a reason… and I work on some of the marketing messages we put out in the world!) and on a fridge magnet for beef jerky (100% Aussie Beef).

I dread to think how many references to ‘Australia’ I am still not seeing even though I am now on the look-out for it!

Thanks to the signage assignment and Ingrid’s lectures I will never see another sign without wondering about the reason why it is the way it is and whether the writer considered all the implications before they went to print (or if the writer even knows there are possible implications/implications beyond their intention).

By: Loy Lising

Loy Lising — Sun, 16 May 2010 10:36:42 +0000

Until my recent conversation with Ingrid on Billig’s “banal nationalism” and until my reading of this blog, I have never really been that conscious of whether I eat nationalism for breakfast or consume it in any other mundane way. :o) Reflecting on the matter, I realised that in the Philippines where I grew up, you also get your dose of banal nationalism at the cinemas. There, it is customary for everyone to stand for the national anthem (and yes, with hand on chest!) before viewing the first session of your chosen film. Thinking about those occassions actually make me nostalgic about my ‘home’ away from home. I have just realised that the memory of the experience is strong; perhaps because the feeling of a sense of nationalism (through the singing of the national anthem) is associated with something ‘fun’ (watching a movie). And it did work! There’s banal nationalism for you.