Table of Contents

1. Process Journal
* My gradual induction to the world of Australian Literature
* How a living journal on the internet helped my learning

2. My Own Creative & Critical Responses to Australian Literature
* Annotations
* Discussion comments & thoughts
* Essay work
* Commonplace Book
* WordPress entries

3. Essential Resources
* Links to Australian Literature Sites

4. Live Experiences of Australian Literature & Culture
* Seymour Cntre
* NSW Art Gallery
* David Malouf

5. Peer Review

From David Malouf’s visit I was able to understand what he is trying to acheive when he writes, as well as what type of author he is. What really stood out to me were a few things that he spoke about in regards to his writings, particularly of Ransom.

~ He writes as a storyteller

~ Nothing should be irrelevant – it is that which is irrelevant that should give the greatest pleasure

~There is no fixed way to tell a story - each person has a different tone, perspective and emphasis, which he was able to compare to a child wanting to hear the same story from different people in order to find something they thought they would be missing out on

~Nature shows us our limitations as humans through animals, but at the same time shows us a reflection of what it means to be human.

I felt that David Malouf provided a great insight into what he considered significant to himself and others not only as writers, but as humans as well. He helped me to understand the purpose of why he chose certain events and the extent to which he included them.

Comment for Week 11

hi Annarose,

The depth of description that you go into in this story is fantastic – I feel as if I am the girl that is portrayed in this story. You are able to describe everything up to the tiny details such as the hairs on her arms and legs and make them important to the story, well done! I like the fact that the main character is unnamed, it allows the reader to be immersed into what is happening. You have created a believable environment and you use words extremely well. The ending, “The girl smiles.” is short but the entire story can be conatained in those three words. This was great!

~kel

http://studentblogs.acu.edu.au/s00080304/2009/09/21/sensory-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-29

“…out here, he discovered, everything was just itself. That was what seemed new.” (124) How does Priam’s new experience challenge the world of “royal dignity” of which “He was symbolically at the centre” (123).

I felt that everything in the royal world is shown as being symbolised and general, as depicted by the “boar hunt” that is explained in chapter 3. However, when Priam steps out into nature, he discovers that nothing needs to be represented by anything other than itself, it is all important and being a king is not the centre of nature’s purpose. The use of the word “dignity” in the royal world means being symbolised, but in nature each creature/plant holds its own importance and represents itself.

   Comment for week 10:

hey Vanessa,

I really love how you have been able to personify a piece of chewing gum in such a way! You reflect, as the gum, on the tediousness and repetitiveness of life to some people, but show a glimmer of hope. You are able to make the reader stop and think what we could notice if we took the time out to really reflect and observe life pass us by. This was a very unique and interesting take on creative writing piece. Well done ! =)

~ kel

http://studentblogs.acu.edu.au/s00085282/2009/09/26/week-9-if-i-were-a-piece-of-chewing-gum/comment-page-1/#comment-9

The following is inscribed on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in Westminster Abby (1100 A.D.)

 “When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world.

As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

But it, too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country, and who knows, I may have even changed the world.”

We can all change the world, one step at a time.

Comment for week 9

hi Carmelo,

Wow, this poem was fantastic! You are able to describe the struggle that the girl is facing – between staying on the ground or soaring through the air. The lines “She will never fly as the Hawk flies…/But she will forever feel its heartbeat” were very powerful. It made me feel that even though something can’t be acheived, we can still yearn for it, and attempt to emulate what we truly desire. Great work!

~kelly

http://studentblogs.acu.edu.au/s00085420/2009/09/12/wk-7-entry-the-hawk/comment-page-1/#comment-9

Dear Alexis,

After reading “Plains of Promise” I have gained a greater understanding of the Aboriginal situation. Your novel showed the lasting impact that actions of European settlers had on the Aboriginals. By starting the novel from Ivy’s perspective, and then following it up through to Mary and Jessie, “Plains of Promise” showed me how even through generations, they were always treated in a negative way. I liked the symbolism of birds and trees; I felt that this emphasised the connection that Aboriginals have to the land, and expressed clearly the various meanings that can be attached to words and objects. Another aspect of this text that I liked was the changing perspective of the novel-from Ivy to her daughter Mary-that showed the full circle come back around. One aspect that I didn’t particularly like was that it was quite graphic, though I can understand that it was included to convey the extent to which some Aboriginals were abused during these periods in time. Overall, this novel was very cleverly constructed and was a good insight into the Aboriginal situation.

Sincerely,

Kelly Sheehan.

Comment for week 8

hi Brendan,
I found your poem very funny, especially through the lines “Much as their ignorance and lack of toilet training” and “We do not discard our bodily fluids in public (well, most of us)”. The structure was great and really helped the poem to read well. I don’t really give any thoughts on what birds are, but you used this idea and took it to a new level, well done! In answer to your question, “Why do birds suddenly appear?”, I’m not too sure, perhaps to remind us that as humans we still can’t achieve what birds do with ease. The line also makes a great song. This was a really funny poem, can’t wait to read more!
~ Kel

http://studentblogs.acu.edu.au/s00078341/2009/09/12/week-seven-entry-why-do-birds-suddenly-appear/comment-page-1/#comment-14

Your eyes

So mysterious

Could tell a million stories

And I’d keep listening.

It’s true,

I’m looking at your face.

Finding concentration

Seeping out a million ways.

______________________

I wish I was young
I wish I was small
And my parents hugs
Would save me from all.

Magic and dreams
Would fill up my time
I’d love lollies and chocolate
And puppies and slime.

I’d be good
And smile my charming smile
My parents would not stay mad at me
After a while.

My world is just
One of pretend
Where no one gets hurt
Hearts always mend

Princes and queens
In shining towers.
I’d save the world
With my magic powers.

The bad guy would fail
It’s no lie.
To send me to sleep,
Sing a lullaby.

Life would be easy
Simple and neat.
The days would be long,
Fun-filled and sweet.

and some new things:

I Love You.
Simple to write,
hard to say.
-It denotes a sense
of vunerability
when mentioned-fear not only
that it may not be
reciprocated, but that
it has a way to control
us for we are made
weak by its presence.

“it wept because it knew love,
and knowing love, it knew pain…” ~ Isobelle Carmody, “Darkfall”

Comment for week 7:

hey Georgina,
I enjoyed reading your diary entry as an original take on this poem. I too agree with your ideas about the hill and the hawk, and how the poem makes the reader reflect on the passing of time. Your diary entry was clever-you took enough elements of the original text to show a comparison that a change in literary style can have, but you were able to create a unique piece of your own. It was great that you used ‘I’ and the diary entry really showed your understanding of the poem. This was great! =)

http://studentblogs.acu.edu.au/georginafajloun/2009/09/04/week-6-literature-journal-blog/#comments

I know you shine from afar

what can you see

from up above?

do you see hate?

do you know love?

if you could speak

what would you say?

would you come down to earth?

or stay far away?

though it’s impossible

to fall from the sky

do you ever dream of leaving

the heavens where you lie?

comment for week 6:

hi Rebecca,

I really enjoyed reading your analysis of three different types of literature that focus on Aboriginals. I also think that “Municipal Gumtree” is a great comparison to the hardships Aboriginals have felt, especially through the Stolen Generation. You have linked them all well together as well as to your own experience. Well done!

~kel

http://studentblogs.acu.edu.au/s00085551/2009/09/04/30/comment-page-1/#comment-8

Tristan & Isolde

Our Passionate Love

Too strong to ignore

You’re the reason I live,

The one I adore.

With or Without You

Neither can be.

How stupid to think

Of you without me.

In A Love So Forbidden

We both loved and lost.

We needed each other,

No matter the cost.

As We Both Loved

We were both doomed.

But death could not stop our love,

Instead our love bloomed.

Left as a reminder

To all who pass by

Two trees entwined

Forever,

For All Time.

by kelly sheehan.

Debating

I really enjoyed the debate that we had in our Literature tutorials today, especially as I was a judge and didn’t have to argue a point of view that I may or may not have agreed with. I felt that the questions helped me understand and go deeper into the meaning of the plays that we watched and also made me think about the relevance of plays such as “Norm and Ahmed” in our modern Australian society. Here are some interesting points people raised:

“Norm and Ahmed” reveals the irrepressible xenophobia in Australian society today.

For:

• Norm as symbolism for Australia’s social “norms”, as depicted by the Australian flag on his t-shirt.
• We are often open and welcoming at first but if another culture turns their backs on us we find a way to criticise them.
• Norm was a soldier in the Vietnam War and this may have instilled fear into him.
• Irrepressible as because we are unaware of it and it escapes us.
• Norm uses racist language and only seemed to apologise when Ahmed was offended.
• Norm continues to insult other races.

Against:

• Norm encourages Ahmed to live in Australia
• The play was made in the 1970s where there were fewer acceptances of other races.
• Norm shows remorse after attacking Ahmed.
• Revisiting the play shows how we are more accepting than in the past.
• The influence of the White Australia Policy on Norm’s parents and grandparents.
• Norm only attacks Ahmed when Ahmed turns his back to Norm from a handshake.

Comment for week 5:

hi Sommer,

This was great! It was fantastic how well the lines flowed from one into the other. Using “you” and “I” allowed the poem to feel really personal and connected to the reader. The lines “It was summer time/Sommer’s time/Time to see the world/In the flesh” were my favourite. It also ends very well. Keep writing!

~kelly

http://studentblogs.acu.edu.au/s00092067/2009/08/25/more-a-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-13

1. Of the paintings introduced to you during your tour which did you prefer and why? What did the painting make you feel? What did the painting make you think?

Grace Cossington Smith’s painting Interior with Wardrobe Mirror (1955) was the first of two paintings that I really liked. Firstly the style and technique that she used to paint the image amazed me. The small, vertical, multi-coloured brushstrokes displayed a variety of colours when examined up close, but as I walked further away from the painting the image became clearly visible. One thing that drew me to the painting was the reflection in the mirror- it obviously holds some significance due to its location at the center of the entire image. The mirror is reflecting what is outside the room, the natural environment. I felt that perhaps Smith was contrasting the harsher, man-made materials of bright gold with the softer texture of the greens and blues. Also I thought that maybe Smith was trying to convey that nature is able to pervade our everyday existence, even if we’re inside a house or a building. The vibrant reds and deep blues of the rug also drew me to the painting-the rug was the first thing that I noticed.

Russell Drysdale’s The Crucifixion (1946) was another painting that I was drawn to. At first I thought it was a very bleak image- the red and yellow sky, the broken logs, the crosses in the background and the torn clothing of the individual seem to indicate despair-the world seems dead. But as the second World War ended in 1945, a year before this painting, I believe that this image instead is showing the individual moving away from death and destruction-symbolised by the individual walking away from the three crosses (death). Drysdale’s figure seems to be either crying or, to me, looks like a mother holding a child. This makes me think of the artist’s hope for a new world after the bleakness. The painting has a very religious connotation, as indicated by the title as well as the three crosses. And following the crucifixion was the resurrection of Jesus-possibly indicating that the war has definitely ended and will again be restored to life.

3. Find any additional Australian paintings currently on show in the gallery-not covered by our tour-and say why you were drawn to them.

Arnold Shore’s Bush NSW (1947) was beautiful. I was drawn to the natural colours, the random assortment of plant life that is evident in the Australian bush, the variety of techniques and brush strokes used to create the natural looking plants, and ultimately the sense of peace that this painting emanates.

(image unavailable)

 I also was drawn to Roland Wakelin’s The Red House (1927) mainly because the image reminded me of a small coastal town on the side of a cliff, the sort of environment that I am particularly drawn to. The combination of colours also was interesting.

Comment for week 4:

hey Nicole,
I really enjoyed reading this blog post. It reminded me that I should appreciate what I have in life instead of wanting more. I love how each line starts with “I’ve learnt”-it reinforces what you are trying to say and lets this flow well. I really like how you’ve incorporated quotes you’ve read before and turned it into your own work. Well done!
~kelly

http://studentblogs.acu.edu.au/s00078235/2009/08/21/ive-learnt/comment-page-1/#comment-18