ASSANGE’S CURIOUS DNA
The psychology of Julian Assange has been fascinating to watch.
He has his dedicated fans (they are many, and they are vocal) and he has his detractors (same) and there are those for whom the jury is still out.
Last night almost 1.4 million Australians tuned in to watch a program about the formative years of the man who founded Wikileaks, currently holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, today threatening to sue Julia Gillard over a statement she made about his “illegal” activity.
In Channel Ten’s Underground: The Julian Assange Story, Alex Williams portrayed a young computer nerd who got his big break in hacking in Melbourne by gaining access to the US military computer system.
Much of the telemovie is concerned with Assange’s childhood and his relationship with his mother Christine, played in the movie by Rachel Griffiths.
Presumably for legal reasons the movie focuses on a short period in his life – when he was a teenager and had his first brush with the law – and the formation of his personality as crusader for justice.
Actor Ben Williams played a teenage Julian Assange. Image via perthnow.com.au.
If we are all the products of our childhood, the portrayal of Assange’s unusual childhood, with a troubled stepfather with alleged links to the cult The Family, and a protective and influential mother, is intriguing.
Rachel Griffiths said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald: “I viewed him with this kind of psychological curiosity. What makes a man like that? I thought, that man doesn’t have a father and must have an interesting mother because there is some intrinsic molecular revulsion of authority in that man. It’s compulsive. It’s in his DNA.’
The kicker on the Channel Ten promo for the telemovie was “Make Up Your Own Mind” about Assange.
Did you watch the telemovie, and did the insight into his childhood alter your perceptions about Julian Assange?
Perhaps your opinion was already fixed?
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10 Responses to this article
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Serin October 8, 2012
Think they many need to repeat this show- as I was interested- but like many others, I also love the abc’s Call the Midwife- that I think clashed with this program on Julian Assange, a real pity- it seems to be now, all or nothing with the viewing on T.V. We seem to have nights where there is nothing but purile pap on all channels- and then all of sudden a glut of mature intelligent entertainment of this ilk on every station at the same time, very frustrating.
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Janet Georgouras October 8, 2012
Pity it was not on iview.
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Rosie October 9, 2012
You can watch it on your computer on the channel 10 site – free – just like i-view – with just a few adds.
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Jenny E. October 8, 2012
One of the few TV shows that has lived up to the hype this year, made me want to know more. High calibre acting.
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Lisa October 8, 2012
I am glad I got to see this bio pic, very topical. I found this interpretation of his upbringing heightens the justification of the Julilan Assange we see today – what a journey!
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Janet Georgouras October 8, 2012
If anyone is interested sign the getup petition to help wikileaks. We know how social media can be so effective now.
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Ro.Watson October 9, 2012
I felt the show was well acted~ and a got a sense of the concentration and focus some have playing on line~ acting out a sense of self~ I am not sure if I am projecting about this,with clumsiness~ but even though wikileaks is important for opening up closed places~ I am unconvinced about the adult Julian as some white knight….I want to say to him~ face up to swedish authorities for possible alleged sexual offences~ and I hope you are not extradited to somewhere like the U.S, where some criminal penalties, carry a death sentence…It seems that there is protection from this by European human rights conventions…..
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Tine October 9, 2012
I truly do believe that some people have such a strong sense of purpose and direction that they can become “obsessed” in a way. Then again, isn’t it true that if you truly believe in something nothing will sway you from your path ? I’ve seen other people like this and their success is a pleasure to watch due to their ability to focus so strongly on their direction. So I quite believe that the experience in his childhood of the truth being so hidden, or lack of care by some people for others have inspired or driven Julian. We can only watch in awe of these people who are so dedicated to their cause. They are few ! History eventually recognises them as unique even if the present sees them as dangerous.
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Ms Behavin October 10, 2012
I think he was hurt by what happened in his childhood and could see that others were being hurt by cover ups and wilful ignorance. Some people feel injustice more keenly than others and have the means to do something… Perhaps he has taken it a little too far but in the main he has tried to be moral. I also have observed that boys/men let down by their fathers sometimes appear proud or defiant but I think this sometimes hides a pain that is hard to heal…
