Colonialism and Reenactment Television: Imagining Belonging in Outback House

Abstract

In the last decade or so, as part of an increasing interest in popular history a spate of reenactment television programs have been produced. In Britain there were programs such as 1900 House (1999), 1940s House (2001), The Edwardian Country House (2002). On German television The Black Forest House (2002) and Life in the Manor House (2004) appeared. Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian production companies have also created series that reenact life from around 150 years ago. In the United States there was Frontier House (2002) and Colonial House (2004). New Zealand had Pioneer House (1999) and Pioneer Quest (2000) screened on Canadian television. The reenactment series produced in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States differ significantly from the European versions. In these nations to reenact the past is to engage with the history of colonialism and nation formation. This chapter focuses on an Australian series and uses it to explore contemporary attitudes to land and belonging as they are represented in a reenactment of pioneer history.