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Steve Irwin was a Larrikin

News Type: Event — Wed Sep 6, 2006 10:59 AM EDT

The Crocodile Hunter was a Larrikin.

Photo by Michelle. (License: Creative Commons Attribution)

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Steve Irwin was a larrikin - not that there's anything wrong with that.

As an American I was not aware of larrikinism before Steve's tragic death. Larrikins seem to be a uniquely Australian phenomenon. Other larrikins that Americans may be familiar with are Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) and the late Bon Scott (AC/DC).

So what is this larrikinism? And more importantly is it communicable?

Wikipedia defines Larrikinism as:

Larrikinism is the name given to the Australian folk tradition of irreverence, mockery of authority and disregard for rigid norms of propriety. Larrikinism can also be associated with self-deprecating humour.

Now I should note that not all Australians are proud of their national larrikins (yes, that includes Steve). I mean would Americans be happy if the rest of the world thought that all Americans were like Larry the Cable Guy?

For discussion:
Do red necks in the US mock authority enough to be considered American larrikins?

For further research: Larrikinism , Larry the Cable Guy, Red neck.

  • 11 Votes
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{"commentId":279619,"authorDomain":"impossible"}
theIMPOSS1BLE

no rednecks in America are not usually biologists. Some are apparently bad actors though.

Somehow I dont see the rednecks of our country really stealing the hearts of others in different countries.

And government mocking rednecks are all over European TV ALREADY!!!! its a little show called "COPS"

{"commentId":279619,"threadId":"40906","contentId":"352563","authorDomain":"impossible"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Sep 6, 2006 1:10 PM EDT
{"commentId":280093,"authorDomain":"juliansname"}
Julians.name

As an American who lived in Australia for 10 years I can say with some confidence that 'larrikin' and 'red neck' do not translate. If you want a closer Australian term for Red Neck I would go with Yobbo.

"Yobbo or yob is a slang term for an uncouth blue collar individual or thug." - Wikipedia

But Steve Irwin was no Yobbo.

I would also say that most Australians ARE proud of their larrikins, it's really part of their social fabric to ALL act like larrikins at least some of the time. Perhaps my friend Yankeewombat can chime in since he wrote a story on Irwin and quoted the larrikin term earlier today here:

http://yankeewombat.newsvine.com/_news/2006/09/06/352301-steve-irwin-rest-in-peace

What do you reckon Mate!

I wrote my own ode to my favorite Chip off the ol' Croc on my dad blog here:

http://www.cutelittlebastards.com/2006/09/05/croc-hunter-steve-irwin-dies-and-our-hearts-are-heavy/

{"commentId":280093,"threadId":"40906","contentId":"352563","authorDomain":"juliansname"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Wed Sep 6, 2006 5:40 PM EDT
{"commentId":280247,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
Michael Sautter
'larrikin' and 'red neck' do not translate

I did not say they did. I just thought the closest to larrikin in US culture was red neck (that's why I asked if red necks mocked authority more then would they be considered American larrikin). I've never heard the term 'yob' or 'yobbo' used in the US.

I would also say that most Australians ARE proud of their larrikins

I did not say most Australians aren't proud (did you read my comment or just read what you wanted to hear?), I said not all Australians are proud of larrikin; there is a difference.

Finally thanks for the Yankee Wombat article, he explains larrikin better than Wikipedia:

which translates into American something like irrepressible, but lovable, wise ass. In any case I think he was for real and a real larrikin.
{"commentId":280247,"threadId":"40906","contentId":"352563","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
  • 1 vote
#2.1 - Wed Sep 6, 2006 7:42 PM EDT
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{"commentId":281318,"authorDomain":"yankeewombat"}
yankeewombat

Red neck and larrikin are no match but perhaps they have a bit of a connection. I think I feel another post coming on to explore that - tomorrow if I can. Meanwhile thanks for the interest in the term. I've said a bit more about Australian working class values in connection with Steve Irwin today in my own column - evidently I'm too new to post links so you have to dig it out for yourselves.

{"commentId":281318,"threadId":"40906","contentId":"352563","authorDomain":"yankeewombat"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#3 - Thu Sep 7, 2006 12:57 PM EDT
{"commentId":281348,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
Michael Sautter

Here's the link:

Crikey, Mate - a State Funeral?

{"commentId":281348,"threadId":"40906","contentId":"352563","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
  • 1 vote
#3.1 - Thu Sep 7, 2006 1:15 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":281670,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}
Ryan Stolte-Sawa

I find that most "redneck" humourists are egomaniacs, and meagrely likeable. "Yobbo" is indeed a word I would use to describe the arbiters of Blue Collar Comedy. If you're looking for an American Larrikin (hehe, that rhymes!), ye need look no further than Jon Stewart.

{"commentId":281670,"threadId":"40906","contentId":"352563","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#4 - Thu Sep 7, 2006 4:06 PM EDT
{"commentId":281720,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
Michael Sautter

Can Jon Stewart be a larrikin and work in a suit and tie?

And I'm not so sure how folksy he is. Jon is more of an intellectual isn't he?

However he does mock authority and he is a wise-ass.

{"commentId":281720,"threadId":"40906","contentId":"352563","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
  • 2 votes
#4.1 - Thu Sep 7, 2006 4:26 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":282458,"authorDomain":"djehuty"}
Djehuty

To me the original Aussie larrikin was the jolly swagman, although the aspect of humour is missing from that story. Imagine a postcard arriving to troopers 1, 2, &3 a few weeks later, slightly singed, postmarked "hell" saying "Having a lovely time, wish you were here."

The thing I loved about Steve Irwin was his genuineness - what you saw was what you got and he meant everything he did and said. Can't argue with that, I reckon.

{"commentId":282458,"threadId":"40906","contentId":"352563","authorDomain":"djehuty"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#5 - Fri Sep 8, 2006 4:39 AM EDT
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