The ‘bogan’ Australian giving War & Peace an irreverent remake – BBC

Report on the “Bogan” Translation of “War & Peace” and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

This report analyzes the cultural initiative undertaken by Australian author Ander Louis (Andrew Tesoriero) to translate Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel “War & Peace” into Australian vernacular. The project is examined through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting its contribution to education, equality, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4: Quality Education

The project directly supports the objectives of SDG 4 by promoting inclusive and equitable access to complex literary works.

• Enhanced Accessibility: By rendering the novel’s dense 19th-century prose into informal, contemporary slang, the translation removes significant barriers to entry for readers who may be intimidated by classic literature. This makes the text more approachable for a wider demographic.
• Promotion of Lifelong Learning: The initiative encourages engagement with world literary heritage outside of formal academic settings, fostering a culture of lifelong learning and appreciation for the arts.
• Innovative Educational Tool: The translation serves as a novel method for understanding themes, characters, and plot, making the learning process more engaging and relatable, thereby contributing to Target 4.7 concerning education for sustainable development and global citizenship.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The translation challenges cultural hierarchies and promotes inclusivity, aligning with the core principles of SDG 10.

• Democratization of Culture: The project subverts the traditional elitism often associated with classical literature by re-framing it within a populist linguistic context. This act reduces inequalities in access to cultural capital.
• Cultural Validation: It elevates a colloquial dialect (“bogan”) to a medium for high art, thereby validating a form of cultural expression and identity that is often marginalized.
• Bridging Social Divides: As noted by the author, the vernacular used transcends specific socio-economic classes, acting as a cultural equalizer that can bring diverse groups together through a shared, humorous experience of a classic text.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

By ensuring the continued relevance of a major cultural work, the project contributes to Target 11.4, which aims to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural heritage.

• Safeguarding Living Heritage: A cultural artifact like “War & Peace” is safeguarded not only by physical preservation but by ensuring its continued relevance to new generations. This translation is an act of reinterpretation that keeps the work alive in contemporary discourse.
• Fostering Cultural Identity: The project uniquely blends global literary heritage with local Australian cultural identity, strengthening community identity through a shared and accessible cultural product.

Project Overview and Implementation

Project Genesis and Execution

1. Initiation: The project began in 2018 as a personal endeavor by Andrew Tesoriero to make the novel more humorous and engaging for himself.
2. Methodology: The translation involved systematically converting the formal prose and dialogue of Russian aristocracy into modern Australian slang. Examples include referring to princesses as “sheilas,” princes as “drongos,” and describing a character as “smoking hot.”
3. Dissemination: Initially self-published with minimal sales, the project gained viral international attention, leading to a significant increase in sales and the prospect of a formal book deal. This demonstrates a global market for innovative and accessible cultural products.

Cultural and Linguistic Significance

• The “Bogan” Vernacular: The term “bogan,” historically a pejorative term for an uncultured person, is re-appropriated in this context as a term of endearment and an informal, cross-social linguistic style.
• Cross-Cultural Impact: The unexpected popularity of the translation in the United States suggests a growing global interest in unique Australian cultural expressions, potentially amplified by other cultural exports.
• Accessibility as a Core Outcome: Feedback indicates that readers find the plot and character dynamics easier to follow in the translated version, confirming its success in making the work more understandable.

Conclusion

The “bogan” translation of “War & Peace” is more than a literary novelty; it is a compelling case study in how creative initiatives can advance key Sustainable Development Goals. By making a cornerstone of world literature accessible and relatable, the project champions inclusive education (SDG 4), reduces cultural inequalities (SDG 10), and contributes to the sustainable safeguarding of our shared cultural heritage (SDG 11). It serves as an innovative model for engaging modern audiences with classic works, ensuring their continued relevance in a rapidly changing world.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article highlights the effort to make a classic, complex piece of literature, “War & Peace,” more accessible and understandable to a broader audience. By translating the novel into informal Australian slang, the author is breaking down barriers to cultural and literary education, promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The story of Ander Louis (Andrew Tesoriero) exemplifies the promotion of creativity and entrepreneurship. He turned a personal hobby into a commercial product, self-publishing and eventually attracting a book deal. This touches upon the growth of creative industries and the economic viability of cultural products.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article discusses the unique Australian “bogan” slang, a form of intangible cultural heritage. The translation project actively uses, promotes, and documents this specific linguistic culture, contributing to the safeguarding and celebration of local cultural identity.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for… appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.”
     
     Explanation: The project directly contributes to this target by making a significant cultural work (Tolstoy’s novel) accessible through a unique form of cultural expression (Australian slang). The article states, “The best feedback I’ve found is people saying how much easier it is to understand what’s going on,” which shows it is enhancing cultural appreciation and understanding.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises…”
     
     Explanation: The author, a “part-time indie author,” started the project as a hobby and is now “on the cusp of signing a book deal.” This journey from a creative side project to a commercial enterprise is a direct example of innovation, creativity, and the growth of a micro-enterprise in the cultural sector.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.”
     
     Explanation: The article explores how “bogan” is a “uniquely Australian” form of language. By creating a significant literary work in this slang, Louis is helping to document, celebrate, and safeguard this intangible cultural heritage, ensuring its recognition and continued use.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 4.7 (Quality Education):

   • Implied Indicator: Increased accessibility and comprehension of complex literary works. The article provides qualitative evidence for this: “The best feedback I’ve found is people saying how much easier it is to understand what’s going on.” This suggests a positive impact on literary engagement.

2. For Target 8.3 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):

   • Mentioned Indicator: Growth in sales and commercial success of cultural products. The article quantifies this by stating, “Overnight, I sold 50 copies,” a significant increase from the “handful of copies” he sold previously. The fact that he is close to “signing a book deal” is another strong indicator of the formalization and economic growth of his creative enterprise.

3. For Target 11.4 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):

   • Implied Indicator: The level of public interest and engagement with local cultural expressions. The sudden surge in sales and media attention (“Out of nowhere, it just went berserk”) after the project was discovered online indicates a high level of interest in this form of Australian cultural heritage, contributing to its safeguarding through popularization.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.com