VCE English Unit 1 The Context Study

About the Context The “Context” is Area of Study 2 of the VCE English course. It is known as “Creating and Presenting” The aim of the study is to create a collection of 5 pieces of writing. The 5 pieces should be directly related to the defining “context” or focus. In this Unit, the Context will be “The Future” The process for developing pieces of writing will involve working from text to our own writing. You will aim to develop your writing, exploring “the future” using different styles and genres depending on the purpose and audience. One of the pieces you write will be an exposition under time-constraints (ie: an exam-style timed essay). One will be a response to a “future(istic)” film. Although we will work through a number of specific exercises in class, you are encouraged to undertake your own investigation of text/writing associated with this study. Explore! Find! Consider! Respond … REACT!

“Writing” You may develop creative writing in a huge variety of formats: Narrative story Newspaper article Research paper Powerpoint presentation Play or speech Collection of short pieces Short story Web page Blog Cartoon/ Comic strip/Anime/Manga-style story or response

Writing … cont’d … and styles … exposition/essay poem/s script (speech or play) letter/s satire/burlesque/parody report diary (could be a blog ) persuasive/argument social commentary c h i l d r e n ’ s s t o r y

Writing – still cont’d … for different purposes. to inform to confront, or alarm to explore your feelings, or hopes, or fears to ridicule or mock to predict to admire to express or provoke regret or nostalgia to carp or criticise

1984 We will begin with a study of one of the 20 th century’s most famous novels: George Orwell’s 1984.George Orwell1984  W O R D S  dystopia totalitarianism love social/political control doublethink thought control newspeak

1984 and writing … Mood: pessimistic, overbearing, tyrannical, split/society, sterile, controlled, bland, fearful Perspectives to explore: Big Brother, the proles, the “ultimate” betrayal, “The Party”, Goldstein – political heresy, unperson Newspeak: language “streamlined”, simplifed … dumbed-down … “EnglishLite”

1984 – from character to writing … Winston - fearful, daring, wants to believe, courageous … Julia – hedonistic, practical, sensual … O’Brien – duplicitous, controlling, callous, single- minded letters – to Julia, or mother; a diary; newspaper article (announcing his “unpersonification” – and re-emergence); someone remembering Winston [love] letters (to Winston); statement of denunciation; dialogue with O’Brien report on the progress of Winston’s re- education; Powerpoint presentation of social “truths”, interview

from themes to writing … ☻1984: out of date? Has time passed this novel by? What has 1984 to say about the world in which we live? What techniques are used to eavesdrop on people now? ☻1984 – 2041: Orwell set his novel only 35 years in the future … what will the world be like in 35 years’ time? ☻Are we moving closer to dystopia? Or utopia? ☻“… we don’t need no thought control …” How are your thoughts “controlled”? Through the “telescreen”? Ads? The cult of celebrity? The entertainment industry?

Other texts: Brave New World – Aldous Huxley Life of Galileo – Bertolt Brecht (the past informs our view of the future – and present!) The Prince – Machiavelli (the ultimate exploration of political and social control?) Gattaca I Robot Blade Runner AI – Artificial Intelligence

The outcome is … or could be … One timed exposition. This will be set as an in-class exercise. You will be expected to discuss a question related to 1984’s vision for the future. One PowerPoint presentation, related to a film (or other text) that you read in relation to the Future. Your aim will be to connect this text to 1984 and explore what visions it offers for the future. And three pieces that you develop, from your own impetus, or from exercise begun in class. Perhaps … A “future” story – modelled on Gattaca or Bladerunner … Where will YOU be in … 20 years? (A letter from the future?) A Powerpoint (and speech?): Big Brother is alive and well! “I spy …” News article on the way “Big Brother” is watching us!