An Era of Two Images: Japan in the Eyes of the Australian Public 1950-1960

Abstract

Since Federation Australia had largely regarded Japan as a nation that posed a direct threat to its way of life, a view seemingly proved correct in World War Two. Yet by the end of the 1950s, a mere fifteen years after the war ended, Australians were more positive about their Japanese neighbours than ever before. This thesis seeks to explore why public opinion moved so dramatically over these years by studying a select series of events, ranging from the Treaty of Peace with Japan to art exhibitions, throughout the decade.