(This is a working title) Blackrock: Challenges to the dominant ideology held in Australia
Blackrock by Nick Enright challenges the dominant ideology of masculinity and mateship that is held as the icon of what it means to be a 'man' in Australian contemporary society. These displays are criticised and exposed as something not to aspire to. The lack of direction of healthy, emotionally functional males as role models along with the marginalisation of women in our society is highlighted as a huge issue for our youth. Enright encourages us to reflect on these values but leaves us with more questions asked about our society than answered.
Blackrock, was based on the true story of the rape and murder of schoolgirl Leigh Leigh (in Northern NSW in 1989). It encourages us to question the dominant Australian youth culture (particularly male), and encourages us to understand how these ideologies that are often accepted as normal, can lead us to experience the most severe loss, loss of a life. Many aspects of our identity as Australians are brought into question, including physical prowess (and it's connection to mateship). The play asks us to question the value of ‘mateship’ violence in our society and the ever-present misogyny of Australian society.
Enright uses many techniques such as dialogue, stage directions and non-verbal elements, to develop characters and explore his assertions. He further uses Blackrock (the fictional place) as a representation of Australian society. His creation of realistic characters (they are based on real people) enables the teenage audience to easily identify with the themes and ideas and to accept his assertions that Australian society has a long way to go in order to be considered equal and ‘civilised’ much to the common misconceptions that we are very egalitarian. Enright suggest the flawed values of mateship and our concept of masculinity coupled with the rife marginalisation of women and lack of direction provided to youth that is present within Australian culture are detrimental to a culture that claims to value equality.
The marginalisation of women is considered unacceptable in Australian society by law and women apparently have equal rights and status to men. Through Blackrock Enright suggests that although we have equal rights by law we have a long way to go before we have them culturally. Unfortunately we largely still hold images of women sex objects, of male conquest and desire, they are paid less than men in many work environments and they are not represented equally in positions of power at all levels of society (schools, council, politics to name a few). The ideologies of our society are represented through the media; one look at what it means to be a 'real' woman in our advertising campaigns will give you insight into what it means to be a successful woman. You must be a good mother and/or beautiful (thin, physically attractive and sexy) to name a few.
In Blackrock this attitude towards women is presented by the language that is used constant references to women as slags, sluts and things to be used, “we all pounded her, but we left her alive”. Many of the young women in the play are depicted as submissive and promiscuous; Shana and Tiffany for example…… The young women compete with each other for the attention of men through provocative attire and sexualised behaviour this is considered the best way to achieve status among their peers. In Binary opposition to this is Cherie. She stands in solidarity with her female counterparts, and for this stance is derogitorialy called “A Leso”. Her refusal to bow the male ideology identifies her as being different, thus she is ultimately alienated in the masculine society in which she operates.
Cherie defends the innocence of Tracy “She was a virgin”, “She was beautiful…. A beautiful girl” at a macrocosmic level she speaks up for all women who have been abused and have been taken advantage of. She provides the knowledge that there are
