Please come to the library and talk to me if you're choosing a related text. there's lots of stuff not here. Also look at the related texts on the discovery page - almost any of them would work equally well for human experience.
- Ms Carmyn
- Ms Carmyn
All the Light we Cannot see
Texts and Human Experiences Study Guides
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Related text suggestions
Sites with sugestions Novels
- 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.
- Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. Alienated from her stereotypical female peers during her internship at a prestigious women’s magazine in New York, the talented Esther becomes increasingly depressed and is committed to a mental asylum by her family. Discuss how Esthers narrative voice and tone (esp the internal monologue) and explore the various motifs (media, mirrors, photographs, blood) and symbols (bell jar, tree, headlines,) used to depict Esther’s resistance to traditional feminine roles and her eventual recognition of herself as an empowered individual. Some notes about this book can be found at http://www.shmoop.com/bell-jar/ and there is an academic essay at http://www.sylviaplath.de/plath/wagner2.html. that might be useful.
All rights Reserved Gregory Scott Katsoulis - All the truth that’s in me Julie Berry
- Lies we tell ourselves Robin Talley
- Hope in a ballet shoe Michaela de Prinz (autobiography)
- Pan’s Whisper Sue Lawson
- Two Boys Kissing David Levithan
- The ones that disappeared Zana Fraillon
- The Shadow Girl John Larkin
- The Pause John Larkin
- Baynton, Barbara. (). “A Dreamer” in Bush Studies. Set in colonial Australia, this story depicts the Australian landscape as an destructive force that divides the protagonist from those she loves. Analyse the way the landscape and weather symbolise the protagonist’s psychological state, and discuss the force of love which gives her courage to discover a way to overcome all obstacles as well as the irony of the ending
- Johanabas bin Rosli, Fadslishah, (2010). “Act of Faith” in Cosmos VOL??? (Belonging folder at 820.9) When Ahmad is too old to take care of himself, his son (who works on the moon) buys an android (robot) to help him out. Over time, the robot becomes like a son to Ahmad and even helps out in the mosque by giving the call to prayer. Then the problem arises: if the robot has begun to believe in god, can he become a Muslim? Discuss the usual features of science fiction such as jargon and new types of technology, but focus on the way that the robot discovers his place in the human world – by calling Ahmad “Abah” (father), by learning Arabic, by developing his emotion software, by helping out in Ahmad’s community, by trying to adopt Ahmad’s religion. Don’t forget the metaphors used to depict the symbolism of the storm.
- Unheard Voices Malorie Blackman (ed.)
Poems
- 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).
- cummings e e. "next to of course god america" online at The Poetry Archive[http://www.poetryarchive.org/poem/next-course-god-america. This satirical poem uses unconventional punctuation and simple language to carry a serious antiwar message. Nationaist Us cliche's are juxtaposed against grasphic descriptions of the "heroic dead", enabling readers to discover the need for a pacificst political stance.
- Denice Frohman (Hispanic performance poet) "The Hour Dylann Roof Sat in the Church" explores thoughts that might have passed through Dylann Roof's mind before he massacred a congregation in a Black church in 2015. the text is in the comments but you should also treat it as a speech and discuss the delivery. Other poems look at race, gender and GLTBIQ issues as well as NY political issues such as debates around education and democracy.
- Titilope sonuga (Nigerian-Canadian performance poet - "Hide and Seek" reflects on the Western world's reaction to the 200+ schoolgirls abducted by terrorists in Nigeria in 2014. She's worth googling for videos of her performances of poems reflecting on feminist issues and migration experiences.
- Gluck, Louise. "Circe's Power" tells the ancient Greek story of Odysseus from the sorceress's point of view. It can be read from both a feminist or a postcolonial perspective. You can read this poem here [http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/circe-s-power/] . Make sure you also read the original so that you can explain the way Gluck is reinterpreting the story.
- Lee Mokobe (south African, transgender performance poet)
- Stephen Oliver (aboriginal performance poet)
- Moonrise Sarah Crossen (verse novel)
- Stop pretending Sonya Sones (verse novel about mental health)
- Lightning Dreamer (Verse novel about femnnism, slavery and the power of words)
- Margaret Atwood (writer of the Handmaid's Tale)
- Romaine Moreton (aboriginal feminist poet)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Gay, Roxane. (2015). "Confessions of a Bad Feminist". This speech discusses the reality of living as a C21st woman with feminist ideals in an inherently sexist culture. You can read or watch it on Ted Talks [https://www.ted.com/talks/roxane_gay_confessions_of_a_bad_feminist/transcript?language=en] Look at the way she identifies certain acts as "transgressions" against her feminist ideals and the humour with which she presents the contradictions of her life, and the criticisms she makes about the way we regard feminists. What can we discover about our own lives from her confessions? What techniques does she employ to keep us listening/discovering?
Films
- 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.
- Barmak, Siddikq. Osama. Under the Taliban a young girl disguises herself as a boy to support her family and is drafted into the army where her life depends on her ability to discover an alterative identity in a man’s world. Focus on the use of colour and setting to symbolise the harsh reality of life in pre-invasion Afghanistan, where non-compliant women were persecuted to the point of death. Useful reviews can be found at http://www.offoffoff.com/film/2004/osama.php or http://qafilm.qataracademy.wikispaces.net/message/view/home/7184581 .
- Small things Mel Tregonning
- Teacup Rebecca Young and Matt Ottley
- tintinabula Margot Lanagan
- Muttonbirds. (). “Anchor me”. [Watch the Muttonbirds version online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPIhhqM4b4s or the Greenpeace version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ99ouGxgkg]This song argues that a relationship can “anchor” the persona against the pain and horror of his life. Discuss the extended metaphor of the sea, the biblical and Shakespearean (The Tempest) allusions and the symbolism of the images in the video clip. This original video emphasises shifting blue light and floating images, but also literal images such as the boat, the shark, the car in the rain and people floating “up” and “down” while the Greenpeace video uses clichéd symbols such as a dove and rainbow juxtaposed with symbols of industrial pollution to give the song a far less personal context. If your argument discusses macro and micro processes of discovery, you could discuss the way the videos reinterpret the context of the song. Recommended for advanced students.
- 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
- 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.
- 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 .
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's - John Elder Robison
The Truman Show (Movie)
The Sixth Sense (Movie)
The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
for other texts"
Rehab by Michael Godard (Painting)
Can be found on https://fineartamerica.com/featured/...el-godard.html
On Top Of Things - Anthony Mwangi (Painting)
Can be found at: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/...ny-mwangi.html
Wall-E (Animated Film)
No-Logo by Naomi Klein (Non-fiction Book)
The Grapes of Wraith Stienbeck (Novel)