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Ednapedia: A History of Australia in a Hundred Objects
"From our dainty gum nuts and towering Uluru to our world-class sharks and Opera House, marauding possums and poets, taking in game-changing inventions such as the dual-flush toilet and zinc cream, you will be amazed at what our sunburnt country has contributed to modern Barbies. Bex powders. Bogans. Feral Koalas. The immortal pink Lamington, Australia’s contribution to world patisserie. Plastic banknotes. Thongs, Uggs and utes. Not to speak of the Great Barrier Reef, goon and Nellie Melba. One of the world’s most distinguished thinkers and cultural personalities, Dame Edna Everage has inspired generations of Australian artists and icons.
- GenresAustraliaNonfiction
224 pages, Hardcover
Published October 6, 2017
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About the author
Dame Edna Everage
12 books8 followersDame Edna Everage was a character played by Australian dadaist-comedian Barry Humphries. As Dame Edna, Humphries has written several books including an autobiography, My Gorgeous Life, appeared in several films and hosted various television shows (on which Humphries has also appeared as himself and other alter-egos).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 31, 2022
Barry Humphries, through the agency of his alter ego Dame Edna Everage, has been spectacularly successful as a satirist and humorist at the expense of (at first) the conservative bourgeoisie of his early years in Melbourne, followed latterly by a wider target offered due to his growing audience. There can be no argument as to his stature in Australian cultural history as an iconic performer, artist and comedian. His multiple productions in all media over sixty years plus have been incredibly successful. However, when it comes to the 'Ednapedia' his prestige cannot carry the burden of what is a rather tired and relatively unfunny book. This is not his finest moment in print, let alone in any other format.
The concept behind the book is fine and perhaps the expectation of Humphries being able to take the piss out of both the subject and the format of the text is unreasonably high. There have been a plethora of book that nominally present the history of something or someone through a selection of artefacts. In and of itself that's an intriguing idea. However this has become a rapidly tiring concept and Humphries could have set his aim on the construct. Perhaps a selection of irrelevant and meaningless items might have served his purpose more usefully. Or a few arched eyebrows shown towards other similar books or presentations. Instead Humphries follows the form and methodology of the concept of this and similar books with little acerbic wit or mocking of conventions. The faux seriousness of the text doesn't really do enough to undermine the seriousness of the mode.
As for the listings themselves and the associated humour much of it seems tired or repetitive, without the spark of joyful, silly, malicious parody that Humphries can be so good at. There are the usual tropes (e.g. making fun of NZ via Edna's bridesmaid Madge Allsop) and some jokes that date back perhaps to at least the 1970s. Edna's personality is dominant throughout every page and that's fine, yet here we are at the beginning of the third decade of the twenty-first century and she is not saying anything really powerful or terribly funny about today. The photos of the Dame, of which there are many, are okay in their way but they don't really add much to the risible or satirical purpose of the text.
Finally, and this might be the most noticeable problem of the text for those coming to Humphries for the first time or with their humour more in tune with more 'politically correct' sensibilities, the jokes that refer to minority groups are just not that funny. This reviewer would like to think that Humphries does not ascribe to any prejudices per se however his efforts to lampoon the attitudes on either side of the political fence are becoming stale and dare one say a little tone deaf. It would be hardly surprising if this book does not arouse some degree of indignation from some readers, whether it be misplaced or not.
So, who will be receptive to the 'Ednapedia'? Fans of the Dame and her manager/creator without a doubt, though as I count myself as one I would like to think they will not receive this book uncritically. Those who have at best a slight familiarity with Dame Edna Everage or at worst no knowledge whatsoever will perhaps be entertained, however I doubt the overall response will be positive. It is a shame as Barry Humphries has been a giant of Australian humour and culture. This is a minor late work that doesn't enhance or confirm his position, his legacy.
The concept behind the book is fine and perhaps the expectation of Humphries being able to take the piss out of both the subject and the format of the text is unreasonably high. There have been a plethora of book that nominally present the history of something or someone through a selection of artefacts. In and of itself that's an intriguing idea. However this has become a rapidly tiring concept and Humphries could have set his aim on the construct. Perhaps a selection of irrelevant and meaningless items might have served his purpose more usefully. Or a few arched eyebrows shown towards other similar books or presentations. Instead Humphries follows the form and methodology of the concept of this and similar books with little acerbic wit or mocking of conventions. The faux seriousness of the text doesn't really do enough to undermine the seriousness of the mode.
As for the listings themselves and the associated humour much of it seems tired or repetitive, without the spark of joyful, silly, malicious parody that Humphries can be so good at. There are the usual tropes (e.g. making fun of NZ via Edna's bridesmaid Madge Allsop) and some jokes that date back perhaps to at least the 1970s. Edna's personality is dominant throughout every page and that's fine, yet here we are at the beginning of the third decade of the twenty-first century and she is not saying anything really powerful or terribly funny about today. The photos of the Dame, of which there are many, are okay in their way but they don't really add much to the risible or satirical purpose of the text.
Finally, and this might be the most noticeable problem of the text for those coming to Humphries for the first time or with their humour more in tune with more 'politically correct' sensibilities, the jokes that refer to minority groups are just not that funny. This reviewer would like to think that Humphries does not ascribe to any prejudices per se however his efforts to lampoon the attitudes on either side of the political fence are becoming stale and dare one say a little tone deaf. It would be hardly surprising if this book does not arouse some degree of indignation from some readers, whether it be misplaced or not.
So, who will be receptive to the 'Ednapedia'? Fans of the Dame and her manager/creator without a doubt, though as I count myself as one I would like to think they will not receive this book uncritically. Those who have at best a slight familiarity with Dame Edna Everage or at worst no knowledge whatsoever will perhaps be entertained, however I doubt the overall response will be positive. It is a shame as Barry Humphries has been a giant of Australian humour and culture. This is a minor late work that doesn't enhance or confirm his position, his legacy.
Displaying 1 of 1 review