Practices of Belonging through the Past and the Present.

The final issue of the Journal of Australian Studies showcases a diverse range of articles. One article explores the influence of queer Australian artists in London from 1930 to 1961, highlighting their connections with the British art scene. Another article challenges the perception of the Angry Penguins as purveyors of Australian surrealism, arguing that they were actually advocating for the internationalization of Australian cultural identity. The dress practices of attendees at the Melbourne Cup in the 1970s are examined, showing how they challenged social norms and contributed to changing approaches to gender and social decorum. The dominant narratives of the Australian New Wave are reevaluated, suggesting that state funding allowed filmmakers to produce radical, antinationalist films. The multimedia project "The Legend of Molly Johnson" by Leah Purcell is analyzed as a form of adaptation and identity-making, with a focus on the intersectional critique of mainstream White feminism. The cultural significance of the British flag within the Australian national flag is critically examined, highlighting its role in reinforcing White privilege. School sports houses are explored as examples of banal nationalism, reinforcing Australianness through the tradition of school athletics and swimming carnivals. The negotiation of places with complex colonial pasts is discussed, using the Flinders Ranges as a case study to examine settler-colonial histories and postcolonial histories of place. [Extracted from the article]