Advanced Modules: an introduction

Module A: a comparative study of text and context

Module B: a critical study of text

Module C: Representation and text

Advanced Module A:

Follow the link to a worksheet that may help you organise your research.

A comparative study of text and context

In this Module you examine two texts that have a strong connection: they may have similar themes; one may be a representation of an earlier text; one may take an aspect of a text and develop it further. You will then be in a position to examine the value of the texts.

• Context refers to the composer's background: historical, social, cultural, workplace etc

          A composer's context will influence the texts that they compose: their themes, their perspective; the setting and characters they create.

          The text set for you to study will also have a context: the set of circumstances that lie behind its composition.

          Context will also play a role in how a composer chooses to present their ideas.

• Comparison is the process of putting two or more things - in this case two texts and their contexts - against each other and looking for what is similar and what is different.

          Comparison also involves evaluation of what is being said and how it is done and the value of the text to the context of its composition.

In approaching this module you need to study:

firstly -

• each composer's context - those personal, historical, social, cultural and workplace circumstances that surround the composer
• the context for each text - the specific historical, social and cultural factors at the time of composing that influenced the composer to create the text that has been set for study
• how context is reflected in the texts set for study
• how the composer has created their text - form eg, novel, drama, film; distinctive structural and language features; characterisation.

then look across the information you have gathered and consider -

• how the contexts of the composers differ
• how these differences are reflected in their texts
• how these differences are reflected in how they have created their texts

Finally, having examined the two texts, their contexts and compared them, you can determine the value of the texts in their own context and for a modern audience. You will be able to decide why we still read, view or listen to these texts.

Electives available in this module are:

Elective 1: Exploring connections

• Prose fiction and non-fiction: Pride and Prejudice and Letters to Alice: on first Reading Jane Austen

• Poetry and Drama: John Donne and W;t

Elective 2: Texts in time

• Prose fiction and film: Frankenstein and Blade Runner, the director's cut (1982)

• Drama and non fiction: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and A Room of One's Own

Advanced Module B:

A Critical Study of Text

This Module involves a close study of one text and the study of how it has been read and received in different contexts and by different audiences since its composition. Students will consider the different ways of reading a text and compare these to their own readings. They will study the reception of the text in different contexts by different audiences. This will lead to students to an informed decision of the text's value in its own context and to its own to current audiences and in new and different contexts.

• Shakespeare: Hamlet

• Prose fiction: Charlotte Bronte

• Poetry: Yeats

• Non fiction: George Orwell; Speeches

Advanced Module C:

Representation and Text

In this module students examine how composers represent events or personalities or situations. They will develop an understanding of the interconnection between representation and meaning.

Representation refers to the way in which a composer chooses to portray their subject matter (events or personalities or situations) in order to convey their meaning in relation to that subject. This involves a composer making choices about the structure of their text and language forms and features of that text in order to convey the desired meaning.

A visual example of the choices composers make can be found in the HSC glossary. Follow the link and scroll if necessary.

Electives available in this module are:

Elective 1: Conflicting perspectives

• Prose fiction: Snow Falling on Cedars
• Film: Wag the dog
• Non fiction: The Justice Game

Suggested related material for Conflicting Perspectives

Film

Note: Some of these films are old but will do the job very well for you.

Play

Angels in America, Tony Kushner

Radiance, Louis Nowra

Copenhagen, Michael Frayn

Film

12 Angry Men dir. Sidney Lumet

Cry Freedom 1987 dir. Richard Attenborough

Guess Who's coming to Dinner 1967 dir. Stanley Kramer

Hotel Rwanda 2004 dir. Terry George

In the Heat of the Night 1967 dir. Norman Jewison

To Kill A Mockingbird 1962 dir. Robert Mulligan

Munich 2005 dir. Steven Spielberg

In the Name of the Father 1993 dir. Jim Sheridan

Notes on a Scandal 2007 dir. Richard Eyre

The Insider 1999 dir. Michael Mann

Breaker Morant 1980 dir. Bruce Beresford

Vera Drake 2004 dir. Mike leigh

Erin Brokovitch 2000 dir. Steven Soderberg

All The President's Men 1976 dir. Alan J Pakula

The Constant Gardener 2004 dir. Fernando Meirelles

Brokeback Mountain 2005 dir. Ang Lee

Rebel Without a Cause dir. Nicholas Ray

Far From Heaven 2002 dir. Todd Haynes

Revolutionary Road 2009 dir. Sam Mendes

The Fog of War dir. Errol Morris

An Inconvenient Truth dir. Davis Guggenheim

9/11 dir. Michael Moore

Howard's End  An analysis of Howard's leadership http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20080218/howard/default.htm

An interview with author, Geraldine Brooks, whose interest in race and relgion is expressed in her books: http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s2446434.htm

Some  general suggested related material for Module C:

• The Monthly is an Australian current affairs magazine with online articles: http://www.themonthly.com.au/

• The Chaser also has online material: http://www.chaser.com.au/

• Time magazine has an extensive archive of it's articles: http://www.time.com/time/

• Vanity Fair also has an archive and focuses more on celebrity: http://www.vanityfair.com/

• Harpers is another magazine examining social issues: http://www.harpers.org/

From Australian Story which provides, transcripts, podcasts and vodcasts:

• An examination of the Nick D'Arcy (swimmer) story: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/darcy/default.htm

• An investigation of euthanasia in the courts: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/bitterend/default.htm

• A look at the celebrity paparazzo, Jamie Fawcett: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2008/austory_months_July2008.htm

• A look at Sally Robbins, who stopped rowing in the 2004 Games in Athens: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2007/s2300194.htm

• John Button went to jail for murder but was later acquitted. These two episodes from Australian Story examine the case and bring the sides in the case together in the last episode. You can download the transcripts of these two episodes.

http://abc.net.au/austory/archives/2002/05_AustoryArchives2002

Idx_Monday29July2002.htm

http://abc.net.au/austory/archives/2002/05_AustoryArchives2002I

dx_Monday5August2002.htm

• The title of this Australian Story series of three programmes is 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt':

         http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2006/s1686115.htm

           http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2006/s1692653.htm        

         http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2006/s1698813.htm