Discovering Society
Artworks
Banksy. Various works. Banksy is an anonymous grafitti/street artist (or collective?) whose work has commented on themes as diverse as the Israel/Palestine wall and the definition of Art. Usually spray-painted through a stencil, his works are deceptively simple twists on the everyday which invite us to discover the world in a new way, revealing inequality and hypocrisy through humour. In addition to investigating the context of the artwork you have chosen, discuss the use of contrasting styles and his symbolic use of colour. You can view Banksy's artworks online [https://www.canvasartrocks.com/blogs/posts/70529347-121-amazing-banksy-graffiti-artworks-with-locations] and read a "biography" at The Smithsonian [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-story-behind-banksy-4310304/] Advanced students might choose to discover what has happened to these artworks as they are increasingly commodified and reduced to a part of the system (right down to merchandise in a gift shop!) he originally resisted.
Speeches
Boushnak, Laura. (2015). "Reading is a Daring Act". Imagine dropping out of school at eight to get married or being unable to read your boyfriend's text messages. This Ted Talks speech by an Arab photographer highlights the power of reading as a subversive (=rebel) act. Look in particular at the structure and the way she uses anecdotes to make points about the use of power in society. Please be aware that these are not the experiences of all Arab or Muslim women; don't fall into the trap of racial stereotypes. Recommended for standard and ESL students.
Isay, Dave (2015). "Everyone around you has a story the world needs to hear". This collection of vignettes (=short snippets) of people's life stories is presented by the creator of Story Corps. You can listen to him at Ted Talks [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKHk_UiQboA] or visit the Story Corps website [https://storycorps.org/] which collects conversations between ordinary people telling a meaningful stories from their lives. Both the speech and the website would give you an opportunity to discover how personal narratives enable people to record and discover each other's experiences as unique and memorable. It would work well with biographical texts such as Swallow the Air. Standard students might choose to focus on a particular person's story while Advanced students could focus on the function of Story Corps as a repository of human experience.
Speeches King, Martin Luther. (19). “I have a Dream”. The speech demonstrated the need for black American solidarity to discover a path to equality in the United States where King made the speech. It was so significant to the civil rights movement! King is calling black Americans to unite to achieve equal rights/belonging in their own country.
Scroll through this page to get general notes on King: http://www.e-rudite.net/speeches.htm
And this to get a deconstruction of the speech for techniques: http://www.e-rudite.net/speeches_deconstruction.htm
Truth, Sojourner. (19). “Ain’t I a woman”. One of the first feminist speeches by a American Black woman to a mostly white audience. Many of her points would have been very shocking to a White middle class audience, enabling them to discover new perspectives on their society.
Bush, George . (2001). Axis of Evil. This speech is the original response to September 11 disaster. It presents a coherent argument for going to war against terrorists, but contains all the imagery used today to create racism and fear of “foreigners”, including the implication that people in Islamic countries need Americans to bring the values of freedom, education and prosperity. Very useful if your text has an "us and them" mentality. It would work very well with Go back to where you came from but would also stand up to more complex analysis of the speech as political propaganda from a postcolonial perspective.
songs
Songs Simon and Garfunkle. (). “Sounds of Silence”.This ballad describes a man walking down a dark street desperately trying to communicate with a world that is lost behind bright lights and city walls, so that people “talk without speaking” and :”hear without listening”. The words are simple but the metaphors are strong and full of paradoxes like that of the title. Discuss how the simplicity of the melody and instrumentation help the reader to discover the message the narrator is trying to tell us.
Pink Floyd. “Another Brick in the Wall” This punk-rock classic describes the institutional nature of education – instead of sharing paths to discovery, school creates mindless robotic machines. Watch the video about a young boy who gets into trouble for writing poetry instead of chanting mathematical equations at school, then dreams that school is a factory turning identical students into sausages until the kids fight back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4SKL7f9n58. Wikipaedia has useful summaries at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Another_Brick_in_the_Wall , including analyses of techniques (but you will still need to link them to belonging before they will make sense in your essay!) It would work well with the sorts of discoveries made in Go back to where you come from or Motorcycle Diaries.
Beatles, The. (1966). “Eleanor Rigby” [Listen to the original online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51UH_u7WxCo] This song describes the loneliness of city dwellers who live side by side refusing to discovery anything about anyone else. It is a useful text for looking at what happens in society when people stagnate – unwilling to discover/engage with the world around them. Although the lyrics are simple there as some lovely surrealistic elements such as “wearing the face that she keeps in the jar by the door” which could be linked to techniques that convey alienation in other texts. Make sure you also discuss musical elements such as the impact of the lone cello in the instrumentation. You could also listen to the Godhead’s cover version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li580259YwU&feature=fvst . The video clip doesn’t add a lot, but you could discuss the costumes and setting and the alternation between the one singer and the crowd of “lonely people”. Does the change in musical style add or detract from the original song?
Arrogant Worms “I want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger” [Watch it online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10AOfXCyC3Y] This comedy song satirises the idea that we can discoverty our true identity by changing our appearance to that of celebrities. Analyse the juxtaposition between the persona’s voice and the chorus of media voices in brackets. Contrast the bleak message of the song with the “cutsy” voices and upbeat tune.
Coolio (). “Gangsta’s Paradise” [Watch it online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFK6H_CcuX8] This is a gangster’s “re-discovery” or “re-evaluation” of his life when he dies – he defends his life choices, looking back with regrets for what he didn’t achieve and pride for how he protects his “ homies.” Discuss the biblical allusion at the beginning, the expert use of rhythm in the lyrics, the use of slang as an indicator of belonging to a “gangsta” subculture and the way the tone alternates between regretful and threatening. Match this to the choice of musical style, especially the alternation between recitative (spoken melody) and melodic/harmionic sections. If you’re writing about the video clip, discuss the props, costumes and settings, and pay attention to the way the story is told through closeups, cuts and fades into black – it’s a different story to the lyrics so you have to explain how they link together.
Pink Floyd. “Another Brick in the Wall” This punk-rock classic describes the institutional nature of education – instead of sharing paths to discovery, school creates mindless robotic machines. Watch the video about a young boy who gets into trouble for writing poetry instead of chanting mathematical equations at school, then dreams that school is a factory turning identical students into sausages until the kids fight back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4SKL7f9n58. Wikipaedia has useful summaries at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Another_Brick_in_the_Wall , including analyses of techniques (but you will still need to link them to belonging before they will make sense in your essay!) It would work well with the sorts of discoveries made in Go back to where you come from or Motorcycle Diaries.
Beatles, The. (1966). “Eleanor Rigby” [Listen to the original online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51UH_u7WxCo] This song describes the loneliness of city dwellers who live side by side refusing to discovery anything about anyone else. It is a useful text for looking at what happens in society when people stagnate – unwilling to discover/engage with the world around them. Although the lyrics are simple there as some lovely surrealistic elements such as “wearing the face that she keeps in the jar by the door” which could be linked to techniques that convey alienation in other texts. Make sure you also discuss musical elements such as the impact of the lone cello in the instrumentation. You could also listen to the Godhead’s cover version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li580259YwU&feature=fvst . The video clip doesn’t add a lot, but you could discuss the costumes and setting and the alternation between the one singer and the crowd of “lonely people”. Does the change in musical style add or detract from the original song?
Arrogant Worms “I want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger” [Watch it online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10AOfXCyC3Y] This comedy song satirises the idea that we can discoverty our true identity by changing our appearance to that of celebrities. Analyse the juxtaposition between the persona’s voice and the chorus of media voices in brackets. Contrast the bleak message of the song with the “cutsy” voices and upbeat tune.
Coolio (). “Gangsta’s Paradise” [Watch it online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFK6H_CcuX8] This is a gangster’s “re-discovery” or “re-evaluation” of his life when he dies – he defends his life choices, looking back with regrets for what he didn’t achieve and pride for how he protects his “ homies.” Discuss the biblical allusion at the beginning, the expert use of rhythm in the lyrics, the use of slang as an indicator of belonging to a “gangsta” subculture and the way the tone alternates between regretful and threatening. Match this to the choice of musical style, especially the alternation between recitative (spoken melody) and melodic/harmionic sections. If you’re writing about the video clip, discuss the props, costumes and settings, and pay attention to the way the story is told through closeups, cuts and fades into black – it’s a different story to the lyrics so you have to explain how they link together.
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/ .
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.
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
Dickinson, Emily "Much madness is divinist sense" online at Schmoop [http://www.shmoop.com/much-madness-is-divinest-sense/poem-text.html]
Shelley, Percy. (1817). "Ozymandius" is a sonnet which uses the metaphor of a gigantic statue of an ancient leader to discuss the way all tyrants eventually fall. don't forget the analyse the use fo the sonnet form as well as the metaphor of a leader whose head has falled from his body and is lyign half-covered and forgotten in the sand. It could be linked to any of the set texts but matches particularly well with an analysis of Prospero's role in The Tempest or the way politics function in Life of Pi or The Motorcycle Diaries.It can be found online at Schmoop [http://www.shmoop.com/ozymandias/]
Shelley, Percy. (1817). "Ozymandius" is a sonnet which uses the metaphor of a gigantic statue of an ancient leader to discuss the way all tyrants eventually fall. don't forget the analyse the use fo the sonnet form as well as the metaphor of a leader whose head has falled from his body and is lyign half-covered and forgotten in the sand. It could be linked to any of the set texts but matches particularly well with an analysis of Prospero's role in The Tempest or the way politics function in Life of Pi or The Motorcycle Diaries.It can be found online at Schmoop [http://www.shmoop.com/ozymandias/]
Films
Bridges, Jeff. Stick It. Once an Olympic gymnast, ??? is taken to
court for delinquent behaviour and forced by a judge to return to elite
gymnastics training. After refusing to join the squad she discovers she has
alot of real-world experience to offer. Focus on her changing attitude to the
other team members and the way this is demonstrated through the camera angles,
soundtrack and choreographed gymnastic performances. It would suit a sporty
student who is looking at teens who discover ways to resist social norms.
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).
Caro, Niki. Whale Rider. A young Maori girl invokes the spirit of her ancestors, despite the sexism of her community to discover her true destiny as a cultural leader. Think about how she uses her cultural traditions to challenge her community and compare the ways different techniques like the soundtrack, the voice-over wide panoramic shots of the seascape and intimate point of view shots position the hero in her community. Listen to the extras to find out more about what the director intended. The review at http://filmforthesoul.blogspot.com/2009/06/year-2002-whale-rider-niki-caro.html is quite negative but shows you how to discuss techniques.Polanski, Roman. Oliver Twist. Orphaned early in life, Oliver Twist discovers his place Fagin’s band of pickpockets migth gibve way to higher aspirations. This film adaptation uses harsh angles and monotonous textures in the setting and low-key lighting to convey the dark themes of Charles Dickens’ famous novel
Piznarski, Mark. (2004). Veronica Mars 1.02 “Credit Where Credit's Due". [Ms Carmyn has a copy]. Virtually any episode of this teen detective series deals with belonging. This episode deals with racial stereotyping and class distinctions, as well as the beginning of the bond between Veronica and the school ‘bad boy’. Focus on the way mise en scene is used to differentiate the “haves” from the “have nots” and the witty dialogue that links Veronica with the heroes of the episode. For the purposes of HSC English, ignore the season arc about Veronica’s dead best friend.
Burton, Tim. Edward Scissorhands. Edward is a Frankenstein’s monster left with scissors for hands after the ‘doctor’ dies. Rescued by an Avon lady, he finds it impossible to conform to middle class suburbia. Focus on the allegorical nature of the film as revealed through setting and lighting, symbolism and odd juxtapositions between the fairy-tale and gothic elements. The commentary is excellent. Three quick scene analyses can be found at http://home.pacific.net.au/~greg.hub/edward.html (click the links for other summaries of symbolism).
Living with the Enemy [Look on the TV4Ed drive] This SBS series involves a person with strong views about a social issue living with a family who holds the opposite viewpoint. focus on the constructed nature of the way the people are brought together as well as the camera angles, dialogue which show what they discover about each other and society in general. Better answers will discuss the way the editors have selected shots to give the viewer a particular opinion about each charracter and theme.
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).
Caro, Niki. Whale Rider. A young Maori girl invokes the spirit of her ancestors, despite the sexism of her community to discover her true destiny as a cultural leader. Think about how she uses her cultural traditions to challenge her community and compare the ways different techniques like the soundtrack, the voice-over wide panoramic shots of the seascape and intimate point of view shots position the hero in her community. Listen to the extras to find out more about what the director intended. The review at http://filmforthesoul.blogspot.com/2009/06/year-2002-whale-rider-niki-caro.html is quite negative but shows you how to discuss techniques.Polanski, Roman. Oliver Twist. Orphaned early in life, Oliver Twist discovers his place Fagin’s band of pickpockets migth gibve way to higher aspirations. This film adaptation uses harsh angles and monotonous textures in the setting and low-key lighting to convey the dark themes of Charles Dickens’ famous novel
Piznarski, Mark. (2004). Veronica Mars 1.02 “Credit Where Credit's Due". [Ms Carmyn has a copy]. Virtually any episode of this teen detective series deals with belonging. This episode deals with racial stereotyping and class distinctions, as well as the beginning of the bond between Veronica and the school ‘bad boy’. Focus on the way mise en scene is used to differentiate the “haves” from the “have nots” and the witty dialogue that links Veronica with the heroes of the episode. For the purposes of HSC English, ignore the season arc about Veronica’s dead best friend.
Burton, Tim. Edward Scissorhands. Edward is a Frankenstein’s monster left with scissors for hands after the ‘doctor’ dies. Rescued by an Avon lady, he finds it impossible to conform to middle class suburbia. Focus on the allegorical nature of the film as revealed through setting and lighting, symbolism and odd juxtapositions between the fairy-tale and gothic elements. The commentary is excellent. Three quick scene analyses can be found at http://home.pacific.net.au/~greg.hub/edward.html (click the links for other summaries of symbolism).
Living with the Enemy [Look on the TV4Ed drive] This SBS series involves a person with strong views about a social issue living with a family who holds the opposite viewpoint. focus on the constructed nature of the way the people are brought together as well as the camera angles, dialogue which show what they discover about each other and society in general. Better answers will discuss the way the editors have selected shots to give the viewer a particular opinion about each charracter and theme.
Plays
Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot (842.914
BEC). In this absurdist play Vladimir and Estrogon wait
endlessly on a road waiting for Godot to arrive. Discovery (or the lack of it!)
is expressed in a literal sense (nothing changes except for the leaves) and in
an emotional sense (the joint act of waiting, the sharing of a carrot)
throughout the play. There are lots of study guides out there on this play, but
you will have to reinterpret them to relate the text to discovery. Recommended
for advanced students or students who have studied enough drama to discuss
absurdist theatre (vs realism).
Cornelius, Patricia. Boy Overboard (A822 COR) This children’s play tells the story of a refugee boy whose ambition is to play soccer in a peaceful country. Pay special attention to the way the language and characterisation make a complex topic simple enough for a young audience. Recommended for New ESL students only.
Enright, Nick. Black Rock (A822 ENR) A chilling play which explores the reactions of a community when a teenager is raped at a local party. Focus on the way the community fragments under pressure and how this is revealed through the dialogue.
Guare, John Six Degrees of Separation (822 GUA) When Paul turns up to New York art dealer’s flat with a stab wound, they accept him as their son’s friend. However, as the play continues, they discover friends with the same story. This play explores the idea that all people on earth are connected by six degrees of separation – someone knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows the original person. As an ex-HSC text, it is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well (so don’t just watch the film). The Study guide at http://npproseminar.pbworks.com/f/Guare+Resource+Guide.pdf has useful references you could follow up through Auburn library. The theory is tested at Indya.com at http://www.slideshare.net/bharathi26/six-degrees-of-separation .
Lawler, Ray Summer of the Seventeeth Doll (A822.3 LAW) This Australian classic explores the tenuous relationships between seasonal workers (sugar cane cutters) and their partners in the seventeenth year of their relationship. Examine what characters discover about each other through the colloquial Australian dialogue and the role of symbols. This is an ex-HSC text, which is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well.
Parsons, Nick. Dead Heart (A822.3 PAR) When a man is killed on a remote Aboriginal community, Senior Constable Ray Lorkin struggles to discover the realationship between Aboriginal tradition and Australian law. Focus on the use of Aboriginal and standard English and the symbolism setting and props. You may be able to find the film version at your local video store (It is rated MA15+ due to violence – it opens with a man speared in the leg! - a sex scene).
Russel, Willy. Blood Brothers (822.914 RUS) This musical examines the relationship of twins who were separated at birth but are found united in death. Focus on the way the dialogue reveals their different upbringings and the things that bring the twins together. Don’t forget to explain why the composer chose to reveal their death in the opening scene.
Shaw, Bernard. Pygmalion (822.9 SHA or online at http://www.enotes.com/pygmalion-text ). The story of a lowly flower girl who ‘becomes’ an aristocrat after learning to speak “high class” English. This play is full of witty comments about the artificiality of a society that uses language to discover social identity. Look in particular at the symbolism of the title, the use of cockney dialect and the way stage directions bring characters together. There are several film versions of this play and it was made into the musical My Fair Lady (F MYF)
Wilde, Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest (822 WIL) This late Victorian play is a social satire of the English Upper classes. Filled with exaggerated characters, mistaken identity and witty word play, it follows the fortunes of Jack/Ernest, an orphan found in a hand bag in a London railway station. An ex-HSC text, there are lots of study guides (including http://www.shmoop.com/importance-of-being-earnest/ ) on this play as well as a couple of films (don’t forget your text is the actual play). Your markers are likely to know it very well. Recommended for advanced students.
Williamson, David. The Club (A822.3 WIL) A social satire of the way football clubs operate, buying and selling players like property. Examine the representation of conflict between the coach, the club president and the players, and the way the dialogue (esp. colloquialisms and profanities) creates a gradual process of discovery for the reader, until they realise that the club’s commercialism completely outweighs any consideration of sportmanship – focus on the “man” in “sportsmanship” is you are using theis play to discover more about the representation of masculity. A 1970s version of this play can be found at F THE; your video store may have a more recent production.
Thomas, Dylan. Under Milkwood (1956). []. This wonderfully lyrical radio play is a gentle journey of discovery as the audience is led through very personal moments in the life a Welsh town’s inhabitants. There is no story; instead the audience moves from character to character, discovering their secret dreams and desires: Miss Price and Mr Edwards’ unspoken courtship, Ms Ogmore-Pritchard’s OCD obssession with cleanliness, Mrs Rose Cottage’s daughter Mae discovery of her sexuality, Mr Pugh’s wish to murder his wife, Captain Cat’s snooping on his neighbours, all interwoven together by the highly narratorial voice that creates a lush poetic wordscape. This text would suit a talented standard student and would fit extremely well with The Tempest. It is overflowing with innovative language forms and features.
Cornelius, Patricia. Boy Overboard (A822 COR) This children’s play tells the story of a refugee boy whose ambition is to play soccer in a peaceful country. Pay special attention to the way the language and characterisation make a complex topic simple enough for a young audience. Recommended for New ESL students only.
Enright, Nick. Black Rock (A822 ENR) A chilling play which explores the reactions of a community when a teenager is raped at a local party. Focus on the way the community fragments under pressure and how this is revealed through the dialogue.
Guare, John Six Degrees of Separation (822 GUA) When Paul turns up to New York art dealer’s flat with a stab wound, they accept him as their son’s friend. However, as the play continues, they discover friends with the same story. This play explores the idea that all people on earth are connected by six degrees of separation – someone knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows the original person. As an ex-HSC text, it is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well (so don’t just watch the film). The Study guide at http://npproseminar.pbworks.com/f/Guare+Resource+Guide.pdf has useful references you could follow up through Auburn library. The theory is tested at Indya.com at http://www.slideshare.net/bharathi26/six-degrees-of-separation .
Lawler, Ray Summer of the Seventeeth Doll (A822.3 LAW) This Australian classic explores the tenuous relationships between seasonal workers (sugar cane cutters) and their partners in the seventeenth year of their relationship. Examine what characters discover about each other through the colloquial Australian dialogue and the role of symbols. This is an ex-HSC text, which is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well.
Parsons, Nick. Dead Heart (A822.3 PAR) When a man is killed on a remote Aboriginal community, Senior Constable Ray Lorkin struggles to discover the realationship between Aboriginal tradition and Australian law. Focus on the use of Aboriginal and standard English and the symbolism setting and props. You may be able to find the film version at your local video store (It is rated MA15+ due to violence – it opens with a man speared in the leg! - a sex scene).
Russel, Willy. Blood Brothers (822.914 RUS) This musical examines the relationship of twins who were separated at birth but are found united in death. Focus on the way the dialogue reveals their different upbringings and the things that bring the twins together. Don’t forget to explain why the composer chose to reveal their death in the opening scene.
Shaw, Bernard. Pygmalion (822.9 SHA or online at http://www.enotes.com/pygmalion-text ). The story of a lowly flower girl who ‘becomes’ an aristocrat after learning to speak “high class” English. This play is full of witty comments about the artificiality of a society that uses language to discover social identity. Look in particular at the symbolism of the title, the use of cockney dialect and the way stage directions bring characters together. There are several film versions of this play and it was made into the musical My Fair Lady (F MYF)
Wilde, Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest (822 WIL) This late Victorian play is a social satire of the English Upper classes. Filled with exaggerated characters, mistaken identity and witty word play, it follows the fortunes of Jack/Ernest, an orphan found in a hand bag in a London railway station. An ex-HSC text, there are lots of study guides (including http://www.shmoop.com/importance-of-being-earnest/ ) on this play as well as a couple of films (don’t forget your text is the actual play). Your markers are likely to know it very well. Recommended for advanced students.
Williamson, David. The Club (A822.3 WIL) A social satire of the way football clubs operate, buying and selling players like property. Examine the representation of conflict between the coach, the club president and the players, and the way the dialogue (esp. colloquialisms and profanities) creates a gradual process of discovery for the reader, until they realise that the club’s commercialism completely outweighs any consideration of sportmanship – focus on the “man” in “sportsmanship” is you are using theis play to discover more about the representation of masculity. A 1970s version of this play can be found at F THE; your video store may have a more recent production.
Thomas, Dylan. Under Milkwood (1956). []. This wonderfully lyrical radio play is a gentle journey of discovery as the audience is led through very personal moments in the life a Welsh town’s inhabitants. There is no story; instead the audience moves from character to character, discovering their secret dreams and desires: Miss Price and Mr Edwards’ unspoken courtship, Ms Ogmore-Pritchard’s OCD obssession with cleanliness, Mrs Rose Cottage’s daughter Mae discovery of her sexuality, Mr Pugh’s wish to murder his wife, Captain Cat’s snooping on his neighbours, all interwoven together by the highly narratorial voice that creates a lush poetic wordscape. This text would suit a talented standard student and would fit extremely well with The Tempest. It is overflowing with innovative language forms and features.
Novels
Mac, Carrie The Beckoners. A gripping tale of a girl’s desire to belong and what happens when classroom bullying goes too far. Focus on the characterisation through internal monologue and metaphor. Look at the way April and Zoe relate to each other and their motivation for their different reactions to the beckoners. Pay special attention to the way April’s perspective frames Zoe’s story.
Salinger, J D. The Catcher in the Rye.The ultimate classic young adult novel about a teenage boy who is trying to disxcover a way to escape all the “phonies” he sees around him. Discuss the first person narrator’s use internal monologue, colloquial voice and carefully controlled tone t5o directly address the reader (second person).. Look for motifs such as graffiti, ducks and the red hat, metaphors such as the carousel and literary allusions. An excellent study guide can be found at http://www.shmoop.com/catcher-in-the-rye/.
Rhue, Martin. The Wave. This quick read tells the true story of a history teacher who accidentally created a neo-Nazi club in his school as an experiment to show his class why people followed Hitler. A fantastic text highlighting the benefits and problems associated with a rediscovery of the past. Ask Ms Carmyn for a study guide which highlights the techniques in this novel. There is a film of this text, but it doesn’t have many techniques to talk about; the novel is much better.
Dickins, Charles. Oliver Twist. Orphaned early in life, Oliver discovers a new life with Fagin’s band of pickpockets. Focus on the imagery used to create an atmospheric setting and the emotive language used to make you empathise with particular characters. Pay attention to Fagin’s need to belong as well as the boys. You could also use the film to assist your understanding of the novel (see above), but don’t fix them up!.
White, T. H. (1957). The Master. This contemporary retelling of The Tempest can be found online [https://archive.org/details/masteradventures00unse]. It tells the story Compare the roles of the teenagers to Miranda and Pinky to Caliban in the original, and discuss the ways in which The Master and Prospero dominate their landscapes. Don't forget to discuss the impact of direct allusions to Shakespeare's play. Recommended for advanced students studying The Tempest.