SElf-discovery
School Library Journal [http://www.slj.com/2014/11/teens-ya/bibliotherapy-for-teens-helpful-tips-and-recommended-fiction/] has a wonderful article about books as therapy with a reading list about all sorts of issues which would be excellent for self-discovery.
Blackman, Marjorie. Boys don't Cry. While he waits for his A-level (English HSC equivalent) results, Dante's long-forgotten one-night-stand turns up - with a baby! Needless to say, his carefully planned life falls apart as he discovers what it is to be a father. Focus on the way the story is told from two different viewpoints (Dante and his brother Adam) and the discoveries the boys make about fatherhood, each other and societal attitudes to teen parenting. Recommended for standard students who enjoy an emotional ride!
Websites
Cabot, Meggin and Pierce, Tamora. Sheroes Central. http://www.sheroescentral.com/ Only 20% of books published today have female heroes This discussion board is a place for fans of female heroes around the world to recommend texts, critique popular culture or air an opinion. Get a feel for the types of composers using the site, analyse the way the discussion threads are grouped and then start looking at a couple of members and the way they are using the site to express themselves (eg register, vocabulary, ideas). You may even get some ideas for adventure stories to use as related texts
It gets better Project http://www.itgetsbetter.org/ This website addresses the high rate of suicide for gay and lesbian youth through a blog, news items, links to support services and above all, videos from gay adults telling teens to “hang in there, it gets better”. Discuss the varied ways the site encourages you to take part in this initiative whether or not you are gay. Look for persuasive language, action verbs, imperatives (orders) and other ‘advertising’ features which encourage people to discover a better future for themselves
New Moon Magazine http://www.newmoon.com/ This is the website community of an amazing magazine edited (and mostly written) by girls aged 8-14. It very girl-power and includes places to complain about sexism or celebrate girls’ achievements as well as support diversity of all descriptions. The price for membership is because there is no advertising but you don’t have to be a member to enter the site. Have a look at the “future issues” section to see if you’ve written anything that suits their themes. Discuss the colours, fonts and layout in relation to the intended audience. Choose 5-6 important elements of content which relate closely to discovery, especially the users discovery of what it means to be a “girl”.
Twenty10. http://www.twenty10.org.au/ This is the website of a support group for gay and lesbian youth. It includes everything from a location search for services such as emergency accommodation and counseling to entertainment and events, including links to external sites (eg an anti-suicide site on youtube) and organisation for next year’s mardi gras float. Talk about the way different types of people are brought together online to discover a virtual community. Mention the symbolism of the fingerprint background and the use of the colour pink (an upside down pink triangle was worn by gay and lesbian people in WWII concentration camps and has since been adopted by the gay community).
Songs
Pink “Stupid Girl”. [Watch it online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wSyhXCPh5M]This song critiques popular representations of the ‘stupid girl’ in the media and the video explicitly criticises the media’s role in sexualising young girls and creating body image problems such as bulimia. Discuss the juxtaposition of feminist ideas (eg “presendient”) with traditional ‘stupid girl’ roles (“dancing next to 50cent”), and the impact of casting Pink as both the ‘stupid’ girls with sexy moves and the intelligent feminist singing the song. Try to trace all the pop culture references in the video and discuss the way they are juxtaposed with the innocent girl in front of the television, which enables us to discover some important lessons about stereotyping and media representation of girls..
Speeches
Mokobe, Lee. (2015) "What it Feels like to be Transgender" (2015 International Slam Poetry Winner). Vivid imagery tells the experience of a "girl" in growing up in South Africa and discovering that she can become anything she wants - except a man. You can listen to this poem/speech on Ted Talks [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8DwxjDrNNM] and contact him at Twitter ( Please don't Troll - it's hard enough being transsexual!). Pay careful attention to the use of religious symbolism and powerful emotive language, and the careful control of tone and rhythm to manipulate the listener. As this is a performance poem you can also analyse his use of expression and body language - what was it that made this the winning poem?
Oliver, Stephen (2013) "Real" (2015 NAIDOC Awards) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW3dks0Eu5Q] uses tells the story of a situation many Australian Aboriginals find themselves in - having to defend their identity to a person a White privilege. While I think there are less "techniques" to talk about in this poem than his 2013 "I'm a blackfella", it is a more polished performance and I'm sure that (unfortunately) many students will identify with the sentiment. "It's so annoying when fools come along, ... trying to prove that you're wrong. I don't understand what gives them this right to believe that they have a god-given right to tell me what I am, yet don't know my life - the arrogance just unbelievably rife". Talk about his use of storytelling techniques - tone of voice, pauses, rhythm and language choices. Mention the way he turns Smith's racism back on him and the speed with which the overt racism comes pouring out, revealing the more subtle identity-based racism he began with. Don't forget to locate the performance in the context of the NAIDOC Awards, a time to be proud of all kinds of Aboriginal identities. How might that audience respond compared to a white one at a mixed race poetry slam? Or someone on the street? Or the 'characters' in Go back to where you came from?
Short Stories
Kafka, Franz. Metamorphosis. (Online at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5200/5200-h/5200-h.htm or http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/stories/kafka-e.htm) This German classic describes a day in the life of a man who wakes up in his family home having been turned into a giant insect. This story describes his discovery of his new body as well as the slow destruction of his relationship with his parents and sister who depended on his income as a travelling salesman. Rich in description and symbolism, this is an excellent text for advanced and extension students. A good analysis can be found at http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/metamorph/context.html or http://www.shmoop.com/metamorphosis/ .
Pausacker, Helen. (1996). “Dear Mum and Dad” in Hide and Seek. This set of letters depicts Sue’s struggle to tell her parents she is gay. Analyse the way she moves from letters the conversational tone as she confides in them, to the formal clichés of the final postcard. Link the language techniques to the irony that her inability to discover a way to communicate with her family is exactly what alienates her from them.
Sharp, Cameron, (2011). “Hamilton High School Speech” in Hide and Seek (AOS folder at 820.9) When the author was invited back to speak at his old high school, he is understandably terrified about telling his story. Discuss the way the structure alternates between the actual speak and the asides in brackets that describe his feelings – an easy example of postmodern self-reflexivity. Focus on the colloquial language (and the author’s awareness of it’s effect on the audience) he uses to make the students accept him as well as the dated slang which makes him sound old (from the 1970s). This is an easy text to show different layers of writing: the author and his speech, the author and his audience, the author and you.
Zuzik, Emily, (2000). “Going without at Ramadan” in A woman’s path: women’s best spiritual travel writing. (AOS folder at 820.9) When travelling in Morroco, the author decides to keep Ramadan even though she isn’t Muslim – a way of discovering the reality of livign in a foreign country. Discuss the features of a travel article -sumptuous sensory description of settings, explanatory sequences – eg about Ramadan – as well as the more personal description of how she feels about not eating all day, and the ironies she notices in Morrocan society.
Hererra, Susana, (2000). “Jum Boo Nah” in A woman’s path: women’s best spiritual travel writing. (AOS folder at 820.9) Describes the alienation of a Western woman on holiday in an African village, and the moment she discoversself- acceptance, a feeling of being “in her skin”. Analyse the things which lead her to feel “other” than the women she obviously finds fascinating, and the way the same image is presented differently after she discovers a connection. Focus on the sensory imagery common in all travel writing, the use of foreign words in italics and the internal monologue that lets you know what she’s thinking at a particular moment.
Poems
Angelou, Maya "Africa" online at Afropoets [http://www.afropoets.net/mayaangelou21.html] depicts the continent of Africa as a beautiful abused woman who is now fighting back against the colonists. Simple language and imagery conveys a powerful image of the damage European clonisation has done to Africa - first by exoticising her beauty then by plundering her resources. Only now is she discovering her power. Make sure you talk about the reader's disdovery (of Africa's past; of the fact that Africa is a Eurocentric concept because it consists of 54 different countries...) as well as Africa's power to fight back against the invaders. Schmoop [http://www.shmoop.com/after-great-pain-a-formal-feeling-comes/poem-text.html] has a good analysis of this poem.
Gregor, Debora. (1994). "Miranda's Drowned Book" online at Anna McHugh's blog [http://discoveryhsc.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/fascinating-related-text-dramatic.html] Rich in symbolism, this poem gives Miranda's perspective on her relationship with her father and the island landscape on which she was raised. Recommended for advanced students, especially if they are studying The Tempest (if you're not, read or watch the play so that you understand the context of Miranda's speech).
Mokobe, Lee. (2015) "What it Feels like to be Transgender" (2015 International Slam Poetry Winner). Vivid imagery tells the experience of a "girl" in growing up in South Africa and discovering that she can become anything she wants - except a man. You can listen to this poem/speech on Ted Talks [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8DwxjDrNNM] and contact him at Twitter ( Please don't Troll - it's hard enough being transsexual!). Pay careful attention to the use of religious symbolism and powerful emotive language, and the careful control of tone and rhythm to manipulate the listener. As this is a performance poem you can also analyse his use of expression and body language - what was it that made this the winning poem?
Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass (1855). This book-length poem is an American classic. Although it is a tough read, if you sit back and let the language wash over you, you will find lots of relevant bits which link with your set text. At the heart of the poem is the insistence that the poet and his world/landscape are one, and that “with the twirl of my tongue I encompass worlds and volumes of worlds”, something which could equally well be said about Prospero in the Tempest (who also “knows well [his] own egotism”!) or the semi-mystical experiences in Life of Pi. Focus on the conscious use of language to discover new ways of looking at the world, as well as the way the the reader gradually comes to identify with the “I” of the poem. An analysis if this text can be found at Schmoop
Novels
Allen-Gray, Alison. Unique. Dominic's life has always been shadowed by the shadow of his older brother (deceased). At the age of 15 he discovers why he seems such a disappointment to his father - he is the first human clone. At first trapped by this discovery, he eventually learns to reinterpret his birth as evidence that all humans are unique and irreplaceable. Allen-Gray's novel explores the issue of cloning from a wide range of perspectives, both expected and unexpected. Look at the way the media discovery enables the writer to explore multiple reactions to the issue and how this contrasts with the writer's own opinin, represented through Dominic. Jamie Cooper has written a study guide [http://jamielcooper.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/unique-novel-study.html].
Ayoub, Sarah. (2013). Hate is such as strong word is a coming of age novel about a Lebanese girl living in Sydney aropund the time of the Cronulla riots. Sophie comes from a traditional Lebanese family and attends a Maronite school. When half-White-Australian Sherhadie enrolls at her school, the entire community to bound to discover their own stereeotypes and biases as racial conflict escalates. Read Sarah's comments here [http://www.theguardian.com/books/australia-books-blog/2014/nov/27/migrant-teens-deserve-their-own-young-adult-fiction?CMP=share_btn_tw]
Christopher, Lucy. Stolen. This award-winning novel portrays the relationship between a teenage girl and her kidnapper, managing to escape simple categories such as villain and victim. Discuss the structure (a “letter” to her captor) the language (intense and emotive descriptions, esp. of the Australian outback) and the characterisation through dialogue (depicting their initial alienation and their gradual shift toward belonging).
Cronn-Mills, Kirstin. Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. Existing at school as her birth-self, Elizabeth, Gabe develops a expresses his a male persona when he hosts the community radio show Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. Pay close attention to the symbolism of songs and to the self-discovery process reflected in Gabe's opening speeches each show. You might also wish to comment about the use of first person and internal monologue which encourages the (presumably cis-gender) reader to discover a transgender identity.
Marsden, John Tomorrow when the War Began. A group of teens return from the Easter camping trip in a hidden valley to discover their town (and all of Australia) has been invaded by a military force. Analyse the way this crisis creates tensions and connections between different members of the group, and pay particular attention to Ellie’s first person narrative voice and the way the landscape defines them when they discover unexpected courage and tenacity as they develop into a group of skilled guerrilla warriors. Pay special attention to tropes and metaphors such as the ironic use of “Hell” as a place of safety.
McCaffrey, Anne. Dragonsong. Talented musician, Menolly embarrasses her family by wanting to pursue a career is a harper even though she’s a girl. This fantasy novel depicts struggle against all the odds to change the ‘rules’ after her accidental discovery of dragon-lizards, which will save her colony. Focus on the way the landscape is used to portray Menolly’s emotions as well as types of orders and questions in the dialogue to establish her role in the hold and the hall.
Films
Bhansali, Sanjay Leela. (2005) Black (Hindi film) Tells the story of deaf/blind girl, Michelle and her teacher, Mr Sahai. As she develops into a well-educated university student, her elderly teacher begins suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, resulting in a touching role reversal. Based on the real-life story of Helen Keller, this film has scoop3d up just about every Indianm film award. Look at the backstory of Michelle's relationship with her family and their power struggles with Mr Sahai as well as Michelle's coming of age. Pay special attention to the use of light and darkness as a symbol of both character's development. There is an excellent study guide to this film in Screen Education 70 (Winter 2013).
Critical essays
Ervine, Janathon. (2008). Citizenship and Belonging in Suburban France: The music of Zebda” in ACME and international e journal for critical studies 7 (2). [View online at http://www.acme-journal.org/vol7/JEr.pdf or look in the Belonging folder in the O-drive]. This is a cultural studies essay about the way music sets and contests boundaries of identity in a racist society, enabling marginalised young people to discover themse. It’s worth getting through the academic language that lays out the political background because the song analysis on p.205-8 is fabulous. Standard students (especially those studying Motorcycle Diaries) may wish to focus on these pages while advanced students thrash out the politics (which would help explain the relationship between Prospero and his family in The Tempest).
De Soyza, Niromi, (2011). “I was trained to kill at 16” in Marie Claire, April 2011. (Belonging folder at 820.9) This is the author’s story of why she joined and later left the Tamil Tigers, a resistance group fighting the Sri Lankan government to establish their own independent country. Discuss the sensual imagery of the hook and the chronological structure of the rest of the article, focusing on how living in a state of civil war made her try to discover a new identifity as a “soldier”, and the discoveries she later made about this decision. Identify some of the powerful emotive vocabulary (eg “betray”) This text would work very well with Motorcycle Diaries because it illustrates one response to the discovery of inequality around the main character.