1. EDU 21ACL – Australian Children’s Literature Australian Family Stories Family stories and social issues Dougy NIPS XI James Moloney Ruth Starke © La Trobe University, David Beagley, 2006

2. References Starke, R. (1995) What is a multicultural book? Viewpoint: on books for young adults. 3(1) Autumn: 22-24 Foster, J (1995) The People: Family Life versus Individualism. Chap.8 in Australian Children’s Literature: an exploration of genre and theme. Ed. Foster, Finnis & Nimon. Wagga, NSW: CIS Ingram, L (1991) The Family Story: a context for care. Chap. 11 in Give Them Wings: the experience of children’s literature. Ed, Saxby & Winch. Melbourne: Macmillan.

3. Foci 1. Concepts of Family and Family Stories 2. Representing families in these texts 3. Social issues in Family Stories

4. Concepts of Family and Family Stories  What elements of family stories do they have? e.g. IN families, ABOUT families, or FOR families  Are they ‘typical’ of traditional family stories?  How do they meet or challenge aspects of your criteria for family stories?  e.g. characters, settings, plot development, themes, voice, style  What do the stories tell you about families?

5. Concepts of Family and Family Stories  What do the stories tell you about families?  What IS family?  Contextual definitions: Sociology, Philosophy, Religion, Biology, Ethics, Law  Common aspects: Social unit, parents, children, kinship, blood ties/social ties, multiple formats, nuclear/extended, create/sustain, responsibility  Contradiction or Diversity?

6. Concepts of Family and Family Stories  What do the stories tell you about families?  What elements of family stories do they have? e.g. IN families, ABOUT families, or FOR families  Are they ‘typical’ of traditional family stories?  How do they meet or challenge aspects of your criteria for families, and/or family stories?  e.g. characters, settings, plot development, themes, voice, style  e.g. structure, relationships, responsibilities  How do they meet or challenge aspects of your criteria for families?

7. Background on James Moloney  James Moloney born in Sydney in 1954, now lives in Brisbane  After University he became a teacher, then a Teacher Librarian.  In 1977-8 he taught in Cunnamulla, a little "outback" town where many Aborigines live.  First novel published in 1992.  In 1997, A Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove won CBCA Book of the Year Award.  1998 decided to leave teaching and become a full time writer.  Books include: Crossfire, Dougy, Gracey, The House on River Terrace, A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove, Angela, Touch Me, Swashbuckler, Buzzard Breath and Brains, The Black taxi, The Book of Lies

8. Representing families  Dougy : Aboriginal culture of family – including commitment to (and from) extended family  But excluded from wider family of Euro- dominated society  Locational family of town community  European concept of family - extension is friendship (i.e. choice), not family (i.e. obligation)

9. Social issues in family stories What aspects of family are:  examined  e.g. sibling rivalry, parent-child relations, parental responsibility, mutual support, loyalty, identity, format (nuclear, extended, lone parent … ), “social” family/ group, cultural expectations, social pressures …  emphasised  The breakdown of the social family, and the resilience of “blood” family

10. Representing families Ruth Starke  Originally worked in PR and marketing  Started writing in 1992 and completed uni qualifications in literature  Now teaches at Flinders University and TAFE NIPS XI  Began as concept in multicultural analysis – Social definition of “Multicultural” so often focuses on difference, not inclusion  Sequel in NIPS go national

11. Social issues in family stories  Representations of Family, and commentary on possibilities  Who is included in / excluded by the text?  Representation of characters from a diversity of backgrounds:  gender  cultural / ethnic  socioeconomic  family structure

12. Social issues in family stories  Identity – who am I, in relation to others?  Differentiation – what makes me different, how do I belong?