From draught to craft…

The difference between instittuionalsied change as opposed to cultural change lies around the personal liberies enacted though self or state. Cultural change is shapperoned by insituional change and vice versa, however of late, an imbalance in this delicate relationship has seen it blur into a Public dialectic of ‘same same but different’.

Kings Cross has become a hotbed of government intervention on the back of mediated qualms and stances surrounding the issues of alcohol fueled violence and incidences of ‘out of control’ behavior. It’s a cauldron of millennial’s and their right of passage in Sydney’s night life on one hand, and an executor of nanny state paradigms on the other. Controls are needed but to what extent?

Institutional change specific to Kings Cross highlights the broader topic of ‘Alcohol & Australians’. In the mediated form, it would revolve around binge drinking and Australia’s relationships and attitudes towards alcohol. Cultural change would involve shifting the Australian experience of alcohol from the macro to the micro, from draught to craft. Right now, there is a blurring of these distinctions and its spawning an extreme polarity in reactions. From restrictions on alcohol and higher duties, to more pubs and clubs to support a waning (by the numbers and statistically speaking) publican base, the ambiguous nature and cahoots of Institutional and cultural change around alcohol needs to re address  the fundamental boundaries of change.

As a larger piece of the puzzle, alcohol, like its associated issues of alcohol fueled violence and the like, is a hot topic for Kings Cross and the need to distinguish Cultural change and institutional change is ever growing.

…its like distinguishing Kings Cross From St Kilda.

The Golden Mile: are we attracted to the thug life?

We’ve all seen some, if not all of the Underbelly series which gave a glimpse into life in Kings Cross in the late 80’s to the late 90’s. We watched as big name gangsters came to life on the TV screen and we were transfixed by the drama that unfolded. But is all of this completely damaging the the Cross’s reputation. As we understand it, the media paints a rather tainted image of the cross and the drug and alcohol fuelled violence which occurs week in and week out, but is this constant media presence and the glorification of the gangster/thug life making it hard for the Cross to turn the long overdue corner?

Perhaps the media and the glamourous life of television is standing in the way of Kings Cross moving away from the thug lifestyle. After watching the video above I was blown away by the type of comments young YouTube users were posting and I couldn’t help but think that this television drama made the Cross appealing for all the wrong reasons and is the main standstill for change when it comes to cleaning up the streets of Kings Cross.

YouTube user comments on the Underbelly 3 fight scene with Danny

Are we enticing our youth into the Kings Cross strip with drugs and alcohol? ‘Monkey see as Monkey do’ – This is a continuous ripple effect throughout the generations and will continue to be a drug and alcohol hub unless we can change that train of thought. The above comments showcase that thug mentality – where the youth are in awe of gangsters and thugs thinking that they are ‘cool’ and that drinking and fighting in bars and clubs shows just how tough they really are. “Wata maad cunttt” – aside from grammar and spelling being uncool, it seems that our impressionable youth are more and more eager to jump on the alcohol and violence band wagon and run riot through Kings Cross. It’s time for change people!!! Let’s clean up Kings Cross.