Everyone Loves Bandit from Bluey – But is He a Lovable Larrikin or Just a Bad Dad?

Blog

Burton, David and Cantrell, Kate. 2022. "Everyone Loves Bandit from Bluey – But is He a Lovable Larrikin or Just a Bad Dad?" The Conversation.
Article Title

Everyone Loves Bandit from Bluey – But is He a Lovable Larrikin or Just a Bad Dad?

Article CategoryBlog
AuthorsBurton, David (Author) and Cantrell, Kate (Author)
Publication TitleThe Conversation
Number of Pages4
Year2022
Place of PublicationAustralia
Web Address (URL)https://theconversation.com/everyone-loves-bandit-from-bluey-but-is-he-a-lovable-larrikin-or-just-a-bad-dad-184239
Abstract

Bandit Heeler is a hero. The cartoon father of Bluey and her younger sister Bingo, Bandit is the much-loved dad dog at the heart of Australia’s favourite four-legged family. He balances the drudgery of housework with the creative escapades of his daughters, repurposing everyday objects and actions for imaginative play and engagement. Awarded a Father of the Year award in 2019 and widely cited as the model of modern fatherhood, Bandit’s engaged presence in his daughters’ lives has been hailed as a watershed moment in children’s television. In a break from TV’s 'bad dad' trope, Bandit has been worshipped as a 'dad-idol', even inspiring a Facebook group of 14,000 dedicated dads who identify as Bluey superfans. Child psychologists have explained how Bandit inspired their approach to pretend play and improvisation. A new article published in The Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health lays out 'what Bluey can teach us about parenting and grandparenting'. But there is a darker side to this lovable character. Bandit never strays far from the reductive stereotype of the Australian larrikin: the likeable roguish male stuck between childhood and adulthood whose disrespect of authority and rough-and-ready masculinity reflects Australia’s emotional attachment to the working-class underdog.

KeywordsAustralian television; children's television; Bluey; larrikinism; fatherhood
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020470214. Screen and media culture
470502. Australian literature (excl. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander literature)
360201. Creative writing (incl. scriptwriting)
Byline AffiliationsSchool of Creative Arts
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q765y/everyone-loves-bandit-from-bluey-but-is-he-a-lovable-larrikin-or-just-a-bad-dad

Log in to edit

Download files

Published Version
Everyone Loves Bandit from Bluey – Burton & Cantrell.pdf
License: CC BY-ND 4.0
File access level: Anyone

  • 219
    total views
  • 52
    total downloads
  • 28
    views this month
  • 4
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

An Open Letter to Students: How to Be Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Cantrell, Kate and Gildersleeve, Jessica. 2023. "An Open Letter to Students: How to Be Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable." Sullivan, Patrick, Tinberg, Howard and Blau, Sheridan (ed.) Deep Reading, Deep Learning. New York. Peter Lang Publishing. pp. 367-70
The Keepers
Cantrell, Kate, Boomtown Pictures, The Together Society and Surf Life Saving Foundation. 2021. The Keepers. Brisbane, Australia.
Separated parents’ experiences with the Australian school system: an overview
Desmarchelier, Renee, Bryce, India, Schaffer, Krystal, Lawrence, Jill and Cantrell, Kate. 2022. "Separated parents’ experiences with the Australian school system: an overview ." The Australian Educational Researcher. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-022-00596-3
From Stage to Page to Screen: The Traumatic Returns of Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife
Prowse, Nycole, Gildersleeve, Jessica and Cantrell, Kate. 2022. "From Stage to Page to Screen: The Traumatic Returns of Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife." Social Alternatives. 41 (3), pp. 30-36. https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.719953708416246
Traumatisation, Critical Reflection, and Painful Pedagogy: Students’ Reflexive Engagement with Difficult Content
Gildersleeve, Jessica, Cantrell, Kate and Bryce, India. 2022. "Traumatisation, Critical Reflection, and Painful Pedagogy: Students’ Reflexive Engagement with Difficult Content." Transformative Teaching: Focus on Pedagogy 2022 AMPS. Florida State University, University of Dundee, Zayed University 15 - 17 Nov 2022
Creative Returns: Reformation, Recovery, Renewal [Textual Work - Catalogue Publication/Curatorial Work]
Batorowicz, Beata, Cantrell, Kate and McLean, Tarn. 2022. Creative Returns: Reformation, Recovery, Renewal [Textual Work - Catalogue Publication/Curatorial Work]. Toowoomba, Australia 16 Sep - 14 Oct 2022
Screening the Gothic in Australia and New Zealand: Contemporary Antipodean Film and Television
Gildersleeve, Jessica and Cantrell, Kate. Gildersleeve, Jessica and Cantrell, Kate (ed.) 2022. Screening the Gothic in Australia and New Zealand: Contemporary Antipodean Film and Television. Netherlands. Amsterdam University Press.
Pulling the Trigger: A Systematic Literature Review of Trigger Warnings as a Strategy for Reducing Traumatization in Higher Education
Bryce, India, Horwood, Nicola, Cantrell, Kate and Gildersleeve, Jessica. 2022. "Pulling the Trigger: A Systematic Literature Review of Trigger Warnings as a Strategy for Reducing Traumatization in Higher Education." Trauma, Violence and Abuse: a review journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221118968
The Shape of the Story: Using the Lemniscate as a Narrative Structure for Writing Non-Linear Stories
Cantrell, Kate. 2018. "The Shape of the Story: Using the Lemniscate as a Narrative Structure for Writing Non-Linear Stories." Peripheral Visions: Australasian Association of Writing Programs 23rd Annual Conference (AAWP 2018). Perth, Australia 28 - 30 Nov 2018 Perth, Australia.
Quackademia: A Personal Reflection on the Prevalence of Insecure Employment in Australian Universities
Cantrell, Kate. 2019. "Quackademia: A Personal Reflection on the Prevalence of Insecure Employment in Australian Universities." 24th Australasian Association of Writing Programs Conference (AAWP 2019). Sydney, Australia 25 - 27 Nov 2019 Australia.
Terra Somnambulism: Sleepwalking, Night Dreams, and Nocturnal Wanderings in the Televisual Australian Gothic
Cantrell, Kate. 2022. "Terra Somnambulism: Sleepwalking, Night Dreams, and Nocturnal Wanderings in the Televisual Australian Gothic." Gildersleeve, Jessica and Cantrell, Kate (ed.) Screening the Gothic in Australia and New Zealand: Contemporary Antipodean Film and Television. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam University Press. pp. 123-140
Please Check the Signal: Screening the Gothic in the Upside Down
Gildersleeve, Jessica and Cantrell, Kate. 2022. "Please Check the Signal: Screening the Gothic in the Upside Down." Gildersleeve, Jessica and Cantrell, Kate (ed.) Screening the Gothic in Australia and New Zealand: Contemporary Antipodean Film and Television. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam University Press. pp. 7-17
Coping with COVID: pandemic narratives for Australian children
Gildersleeve, Jessica, Cantrell, Kate, Bryce, India, Daken, Kirstie, Durham, Jo, Mullens, Amy, Batorowicz, Beata, Johnson, Rhiannan, Gildersleeve J., Cantrell K., Bryce I., Daken K., Durham J., Mullens A., Batorowicz B. and Johnson R.. 2022. "Coping with COVID: pandemic narratives for Australian children." Heliyon. 8 (5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09454
Improvisation on the Move: Metaphors, Wanderings, and Musical Mobilities
Forbes, Melissa and Cantrell, Kate. 2022. "Improvisation on the Move: Metaphors, Wanderings, and Musical Mobilities." 5th Australasian Jazz and Improvisation Research Network 2022 Conference: Space is the Place (AJIRN5). Brisbane, Australia 06 - 08 May 2022 Brisbane, Australia.
From Pygmies to Puppets: What To Do with Roald Dahl’s Enslaved Oompa-Loompas in Modern Adaptations?
Cantrell, Kate and Burton, David. 2021. "From Pygmies to Puppets: What To Do with Roald Dahl’s Enslaved Oompa-Loompas in Modern Adaptations?" The Conversation. 16 September 2021, pp. 1-4.
Vale Eric Carle: Creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, A Story of Hope ... and Holes
Cantrell, Kate and Johnson, Rhiannan. 2021. "Vale Eric Carle: Creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, A Story of Hope ... and Holes." The Conversation. 28 May 2021, pp. 1-3.
Abused, Neglected, Abandoned: Did Roald Dahl Hate Children as Much as the Witches Did?
Cantrell, Kate, Bryce, India and Gildersleeve, Jessica. 2021. "Abused, Neglected, Abandoned: Did Roald Dahl Hate Children as Much as the Witches Did?" The Conversation. 21 January 2021, pp. 1-3.
Beyond the Resonance Metaphor: Re-Sounding Images, Experiences, and Poetic Reverberations
Forbes, Melissa and Cantrell, Kate. 2022. "Beyond the Resonance Metaphor: Re-Sounding Images, Experiences, and Poetic Reverberations." NiTRO: Non Traditional Research Outcomes. 41, pp. 1-4.
Now You Don’t See Me, Now You Do: Queer Artists as Inverse Magicians
Walker, Gwen, Cantrell, Kate and Middleton, Craig. 2022. "Now You Don’t See Me, Now You Do: Queer Artists as Inverse Magicians." NiTRO: Non Traditional Research Outcomes. 41, pp. 1-8.
Mobilising Metaphor: Self-Making, Storytelling, and Consciousness Raising in the Creative Arts [Editorial]
Cantrell, Kate, Batorowicz, Beata and Forbes, Melissa. 2022. "Mobilising Metaphor: Self-Making, Storytelling, and Consciousness Raising in the Creative Arts [Editorial]." NiTRO: Non Traditional Research Outcomes. 41, pp. 1-3.
Closing the Book
Cantrell, Kate. 2021. "Closing the Book." Times Higher Education (THE). 23 December 2021, pp. 1-3.
Wanderlust or Wanderbust? Rediscovering the Lost Art of Wandering in Precarious Times
Cantrell, Kate. 2021. "Wanderlust or Wanderbust? Rediscovering the Lost Art of Wandering in Precarious Times." 2021 University of Queensland WiP Conference (25th Anniversary): Rites of Passage. University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia 26 - 27 Nov 2021
Choose Your Own Adventure: Vocal Jazz Improvisation, Conceptual Metaphor, and Cognitive Embodiment
Forbes, Melissa and Cantrell, Kate. 2021. "Choose Your Own Adventure: Vocal Jazz Improvisation, Conceptual Metaphor, and Cognitive Embodiment." Musicae Scientiae: the journal of the European Society for the Cognitive Sciences of Music. https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649211062730
Proceed with Caution: The Trouble with Trigger Warnings
Gildersleeve, Jessica, Bryce, India and Cantrell, Kate. 2022. "Proceed with Caution: The Trouble with Trigger Warnings." The Conversation. (21 Dec).
Away at 35: Michael Gow’s masterpiece is a reflection of a grieving Australia
Burton, David. 2021. "Away at 35: Michael Gow’s masterpiece is a reflection of a grieving Australia." The Conversation. 25 October 2021, pp. 1-4.
An Artist-Level Jazz Singer's Metaphors of Cognitive Embodiment
Forbes, Melissa and Cantrell, Kate. 2021. "An Artist-Level Jazz Singer's Metaphors of Cognitive Embodiment." SEMPRE 2021 Conference: Engaging and Interacting with Education, Music, and Psychology Research. Keele, United Kingdom 22 Oct 2021 United Kingdom.
Performance 'Training' in the Dirt: Facilitating Belonging in a Regional Community Musical Theatre Event
Burton, David and McDonald, Janet. 2021. "Performance 'Training' in the Dirt: Facilitating Belonging in a Regional Community Musical Theatre Event." Theatre, Dance and Performance Training. 12 (3), pp. 425-439. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443927.2021.1943508
Cat in a Spat: Scrapping Dr Seuss Books is Not Cancel Culture
Cantrell, Kate and Bickle, Sharon. 2021. "Cat in a Spat: Scrapping Dr Seuss Books is Not Cancel Culture." The Conversation. 4 March 2021, pp. 1-6.
The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Wanderlust, Male Bonding, and Timeless Delight
Cantrell, Kate. 2021. "The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Wanderlust, Male Bonding, and Timeless Delight." The Conversation. 7 January 2021, pp. 1-5.
Lessons Learned from PISA: A Systematic Review of Peer-Reviewed Articles on the Programme for International Student Assessment
Hopfenbeck, Therese N., Lenkeit, Jenny, El Masri, Yasmine, Cantrell, Kate, Ryan, Jeanne and Baird, Jo-Anne. 2017. "Lessons Learned from PISA: A Systematic Review of Peer-Reviewed Articles on the Programme for International Student Assessment." Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. 62 (3), pp. 333-353. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2016.1258726
Literature, Tourism, and the City: Writing and Cultural Change
Carson, Susan, Hawkes, Lesley, Gislason, Kari and Cantrell, Kate. 2016. "Literature, Tourism, and the City: Writing and Cultural Change." Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. 15 (4), pp. 380-392. https://doi.org/10.1080/14766825.2016.1165237
Empathy, Anthropomorphism, and the Uncanny Valley Effect: Why Audiences Strayed Away from the Film Adaptation of Cats
Cantrell, Kate and Hawkes, Lesley. 2021. "Empathy, Anthropomorphism, and the Uncanny Valley Effect: Why Audiences Strayed Away from the Film Adaptation of Cats." The Journal of Popular Culture. 54 (3), pp. 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpcu.13021
Creative Writing: A Damaging Narrative
Cantrell, Kate. 2021. "Creative Writing: A Damaging Narrative." Times Higher Education (THE). 27 May 2021, pp. 2-3.
Playwriting methodologies in community-engaged theatre practice in regional Australia
Burton, David. 2021. Playwriting methodologies in community-engaged theatre practice in regional Australia. Doctorate other than PhD Doctor of Creative Industries. Queensland University of Technology.
Boomtown [Performance]
Mee, Sean, Burton, David and Saunders, Scott. 2013. Boomtown [Performance]. Gladstone, Queensland 18 Jul - 21 Aug 2013
Under this sky: Logan's musical celebration [Performance]
Mee, Sean and Burton, David. 2015. Under this sky: Logan's musical celebration [Performance].
Hedonism's Second Album [Script]
Burton, David and Christian, Claire. 2014. Hedonism's Second Album [Script]. Brisbane, Australia.
The Time Is Now
Burton, David, Palani, Ari and Monsour, Aleea. 2021. The Time Is Now. Brisbane 24 May - 05 Jun 2021
How to be happy: a memoir of love, sex and teenage confusion
Burton, David. 2015. How to be happy: a memoir of love, sex and teenage confusion. Melbourne, Australia. Text Publishing Company.
The Land Mine Is Me [Published script]
Burton, David and Christian, Claire. 2015. The Land Mine Is Me [Published script]. Brisbane, Queensland.
Orbit [Published script]
Burton, David. 2015. Orbit [Published script]. Brisbane, Queensland.
Reluctant Wandering: New Mobilities in Contemporary Australian Travel Writing
Cantrell, Kate. 2021. "Reluctant Wandering: New Mobilities in Contemporary Australian Travel Writing." Gildersleeve, Jessica (ed.) The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature. New York; London. Routledge. pp. 353-364
Jenga, Kafka, and the Triumph of Academic Capitalism: A Taxonomy of Scholars and their COVID Capital
Cantrell, Kate and Palmer, Kelly. 2020. "Jenga, Kafka, and the Triumph of Academic Capitalism: A Taxonomy of Scholars and their COVID Capital." Axon: Creative Explorations. 10 (2).
Doomscrolling, Zoom Overload, and COVID Fatigue: Teaching Creative Writing During the Pandemic
Cantrell, Kate, Doolan, Emma and Palmer, Kelly. 2020. "Doomscrolling, Zoom Overload, and COVID Fatigue: Teaching Creative Writing During the Pandemic." NiTRO: Non Traditional Research Outcomes.
Class, rage, and staging the revolution: Tsiolkas's theatre
Burton, David, Gildersleeve, Jessica and Kelly, Kathryn. 2021. "Class, rage, and staging the revolution: Tsiolkas's theatre." Antipodes: a global journal of Australian/New Zealand literature. 35 (1), pp. 53-65.
Tsiolkas in the Classroom: Confronting Our Discomfort
Gildersleeve, Jessica, Cantrell, Kate, Prowse, Nycole, Bickle, Sharon and Bryce, India. 2021. "Tsiolkas in the Classroom: Confronting Our Discomfort." Antipodes. 35 (1-2), pp. 83-101.
Teaching Editing Skills and Standards Online
Van Luyn, Ariella and Cantrell, Kate. 2018. "Teaching Editing Skills and Standards Online." 23rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP 2018). Perth, Australia 28 - 30 Nov 2018
Eat, Sleep, Publish, Repeat: Writing Creatively, Academically, and Everything in Between
Cantrell, Kate. 2019. "Eat, Sleep, Publish, Repeat: Writing Creatively, Academically, and Everything in Between." 2019 Creative Arts Research Training Academy (CARTA) Research Symposium. Noosa, Australia 03 Jul 2019
Art as Advocacy: Writing for Social Justice
Cantrell, Kate. 2019. "Art as Advocacy: Writing for Social Justice." St Rita's College Annual Mother-Daughter Dinner (2019). Brisbane, Australia 11 May 2019
First a Play, Now a Book, Soon a Film: Reimagining Henry Lawson’s Short Story ‘The Drover’s Wife’
Gildersleeve, Jessica, Cantrell, Kate and Prowse, Nycole. 2020. "First a Play, Now a Book, Soon a Film: Reimagining Henry Lawson’s Short Story ‘The Drover’s Wife’." The Short Story and Its Readers: Words and the World Symposium (2020). Geelong, Australia 02 Dec 2020
Postcards from the Pandemic: Teaching Creative Writing During COVID-19
Cantrell, Kate, Doolan, Emma and Palmer, Kelly. 2020. "Postcards from the Pandemic: Teaching Creative Writing During COVID-19." 25th Australasian Association of Writing Programs Conference (AAWP 2020). Gold Coast, Australia 16 - 18 Nov 2020
Hindsight’s Hoard: What Academics Most Wish They Had Known Earlier
Cantrell, Kate. 2020. "Hindsight’s Hoard: What Academics Most Wish They Had Known Earlier." Times Higher Education (THE). 12 November 2020, pp. 1-3.
Triggering Kindness: Teaching Narratives of Trauma During COVID-19
Cantrell, Kate and Gildersleeve, Jessica. 2020. "Triggering Kindness: Teaching Narratives of Trauma During COVID-19." NiTRO: Non Traditional Research Outcomes.
Things You Lost in 2020 [Textual Work: Poem]
Cantrell, Kate. 2020. Things You Lost in 2020 [Textual Work: Poem]. Australia. Westerly.
'Not-So-Invisible Mending': Developing Editing Skills in Large Online Classes through Visible Labour
Wise, Beck, Van Luyn, Ariella and Cantrell, Kate. 2020. "'Not-So-Invisible Mending': Developing Editing Skills in Large Online Classes through Visible Labour." Research in Online Literacy Education. 3 (1).
Double Trouble: The Teacher/Satirist Duality in Thea Astley’s Critical Writings
Cantrell, Kate and Hawkes, Lesley. 2019. "Double Trouble: The Teacher/Satirist Duality in Thea Astley’s Critical Writings." Queensland Review. 26 (2), pp. 218-231. https://doi.org/10.1017/qre.2019.28
That’s Driving Me Up the Wall! Academics’ Pet Peeves
Cantrell, Kate. 2019. "That’s Driving Me Up the Wall! Academics’ Pet Peeves." Times Higher Education (THE). 24 January 2019, pp. 1-2.
Times Higher Education’s Academic Holiday Guide
Cantrell, Kate. 2019. "Times Higher Education’s Academic Holiday Guide." Times Higher Education (THE). 30 May 2019, pp. 1-3.
How to Avoid Being Sucked into the Black Hole of Administration
Cantrell, Kate. 2019. "How to Avoid Being Sucked into the Black Hole of Administration." Times Higher Education (THE). 17 October 2019, pp. 1-4.
Wandering with Wi-Fi: The Wandering Trend in Women’s Travel Blogs
Cantrell, Kate. 2019. "Wandering with Wi-Fi: The Wandering Trend in Women’s Travel Blogs." TEXT: Journal of Writing and Writing Courses. Special Issue 56, pp. 1-15.
The Five Stages of Grief [Textual Work: Poem]
Cantrell, Kate. 2019. The Five Stages of Grief [Textual Work: Poem]. Carlton South, Australia. Cordite Publishing Inc..
No Safety in Numbers: Review of Sally Piper's The Geography of Friendship [Book Review]
Cantrell, Kate. 2019. "No Safety in Numbers: Review of Sally Piper's The Geography of Friendship [Book Review]." TEXT: Journal of Writing and Writing Courses. Special Issue 54, pp. 1-3.
The Casualties of Academia: A Response to The Conversation
Cantrell, Kate and Palmer, Kelly. 2019. "The Casualties of Academia: A Response to The Conversation." Overland. 6 May 2019, pp. 1-5.
A Shape of Infinity [Exhibition]
Cantrell, Kate and Osborn, Peter. 2019. A Shape of Infinity [Exhibition]. Toowoomba 16 - 30 May 2019
A State of Slogans [Textual Work: Essay]
Cantrell, Kate. 2018. "A State of Slogans [Textual Work: Essay]." Kill Your Darlings. Queensland Showcase.
The Satin Man [Textual Work: Poem]
Cantrell, Kate. 2018. The Satin Man [Textual Work: Poem]. Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne University Press.
Contrapower: on Sexual Harassment by Students
Cantrell, Kate. 2018. "Contrapower: on Sexual Harassment by Students." Overland. 13 July 2018.
With the Confidence of a Magician: Review of Laura Elvery's Trick of the Light [Textual Work: Book Review]
Cantrell, Kate. 2018. "With the Confidence of a Magician: Review of Laura Elvery's Trick of the Light [Textual Work: Book Review]." TEXT: Journal of Writing and Writing Courses. 22 (2), pp. 1-3.
#MeToo: Sexual Harassment by Students Can No Longer Be Ignored
Cantrell, Kate. 2018. "#MeToo: Sexual Harassment by Students Can No Longer Be Ignored." Times Higher Education (THE). 23 August 2018, pp. 1-8.
The Emerging Issue
Cantrell, Kate. 2018. "The Emerging Issue." The Victorian Writer. Oct-Nov (5), pp. 8-9.
Supervised exercise rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Wang, Jianxiong, Graham, B., Burton, D. and Car, G.. 2006. "Supervised exercise rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." 5th annual conference for Society of Chinese Scholars on Exercise Physiology and Fitness. Tianjin, China 25 - 27 Oct 2006
Captain Pathos and his Army of Imaginary Friends
Burton, David. 2010. Captain Pathos and his Army of Imaginary Friends. Arts Theatre, USQ.
April's Fool
Burton, David. 2010. April's Fool. first performed: Oakey Cultural Centre 12-13 August 2010.