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Quarterly Essay 83: Top Blokes
- The Larrikin Myth, Class and Power
- Narrated by: Nick John
- Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins
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Quarterly Essay 83: Top Blokes
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Publisher's Summary
What makes a top bloke? Does the myth of the larrikin still hold sway? And whatever happened to class in Australia?
In this perceptive and often hilarious essay, Lech Blaine dissects some top blokes, with particular focus on Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese, but stretching back to Bob Hawke and Kerry Packer. This is a riveting narrative of how image conquered politics, just as globalisation engulfed the Australian economy. While many got rich and entertained, look where we ended up.
Blaine shows how first Howard, then Morrison, brought a cohort of voters over to the Coalition side, 'flipping' what was once working-class Labour culture. He weaves in his own experiences as he explores the persona of the Aussie larrikin. What are its hidden contradictions - can a larrikin be female, Indigenous or Muslim, say? - and how has it been transformed by an age of affluence? He makes the case that the time has come to bury a myth and for the nation to seize a new reality.
“Anti-authoritarianism doesn’t need the vocabulary of the bush poets, the accent of Mick Dundee or the imprimatur of the shock-jocks and media tycoons to blossom. It sounds like Grace Tame, and acts like Behrouz Boochani, and looks like Adam Goodes.” (Lech Blaine, Top Blokes)
Lech Blaine is the author of the memoir Car Crash. His writing has appeared in The Monthly, Guardian Australia, The Best Australian Essays, Griffith Review, Kill Your Darlings and Meanjin. He was an inaugural recipient of a Griffith Review Queensland Writing Fellowship.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 29-03-2024
Worthwhile and Worrying
Accepting all that is presented in this essay, clearly makes US the FOOLS. Well presented but shame on us.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 05-02-2022
Interesting point of view
Cannot say that I agree with a fair bit of this essay, but it is thought provoking. I think his analysis of Bill Shortens loss in 2019, is flawed. He misses the very long "kill Bill"campaign before the election.
He is putting a bit much in the class basket, but given that I have traversed the same road, I do follow his argument. In this country class is (or maybe was) a state of mind, more than anyting else. What he (perhaps) downplays is the Labor Partys achievement of extensive mass education which has allowed many to be more socially mobile.
Much of what he is saying is how politicians have marketed themselves which says more about a disinterested electorate than about a population which actually listens (and analyses) political discourse.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Joana
- 25-01-2023
How refreshing, a discussion about class in Australia
This was an excellent Lee written and very well performed essay. At last, an honest look at the reality of class in Australia and how it has been used by politicians and others. Fascinating!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Brett
- 21-09-2021
A must for anyone following Australian politics
A brilliant analysis of the current state of Australian politics and where it’s headed.
Shows what is going right now on in the light of history.
Easy to listen to and over too soon.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 12-10-2021
Good but ....
Well researched take the "larrikin". Some narration issues, eg "keykneeshun/aristocrat could be fixed. Thanks
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 26-09-2021
A worthwhile read on Australian political culture
Excellent quarterly essay. Have listened twice. Want to get it in hard copy now so I can share it
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2 people found this helpful
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- Stephen
- 08-10-2021
Interesting and worthy listen
A powerful essay and viewpoint from the author.
Not everyone will agree with those views or side with the authors’ interpretation of events but his points are well made and evoke thought which is what such essays should do.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 29-11-2021
brilliant
A scathing but hopeful analysis of Australia's political history and the attempt by politicians to erase class while cosplaying as everyday Australians. Excellent narrator!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Lilly
- 18-10-2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this.
A revealing exposé of the characters past and present featured in the Canberra show. Funny with great narration.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 17-10-2021
yawn
name of this book has nothing to do with the story. just political bullshit
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