texts and context preliminary advanced: comparative study of texts and context how composed in...

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Preliminary Advanced: Comparative Study of Texts and Context

You will compare how the treatment of similar content in a pair of texts composed in different times and contexts may reflect changing values and perspectives.

By considering the texts in their contexts and comparing values, ideas and language forms and features, students come to a heightened understanding of the meaning and significance of each text.


…texts composed in different times and contexts…


More ideas about historical context…


The novelAnimal Farm

1945By George Orwell

and

the sci-fi film Elysium

2013directed by Neill Blomkamp.

Texts in time…


So… in what kind of “worlds” did George Orwell and Neill Blomkamp live? What influenced each of them as they were growing up?

What did they each believe?

What “ticked them off” about the world in which they’d each grown-up in?

What did they each experience which motivated them to tell their stories?

In order to “get a clue” about the context of each composer – it is absolutely necessary that you have an insightful understanding (not just “knowledge”) of the historical time and place in which each composer “lived”.

You need to understand the cultural, social, political and economic attitudes, values and events which existed BEFORE - DURING – AND AFTER the publication of each text.


• 1970-present• Internet / consumerism /

globalisation

• 1830-1901• The industrial revolutionVictorian period

• 1900-1950• WWI & II / Social upheaval

Modernist period

• 1950-present • The ‘pill’ / Communism

Postmodernist period

Contemporary- Postmodernist

period


Compare CONTEXTS in order to explore the texts

Animal Farm

VElysium

Victorian Period* Industrial revolution farmers to urban dwellers middle class* More “leisure time”* Rise of Trade Unions* Middle Class men were given the vote* British Empire at its strongest* Utilitarian and Liberalism values* Social “Darwinism” used as excuse for social and wealth divisions

* The “novel” dramatised domestic and social relationships.

Modernism* Modernism reacts against strict Victorian moral values* Rise of technology for ordinary people* mass production Vs craftsmanship * stronger middle-class and more equal rights for women* 2 World Wars and the rise of communism* Rise of Secular politics

Postmodernism* “the pill” changed gender attitudes* Women ventured out of ‘domestic duties’* Decline of religion and the traditional family structure* Rise of a powerful new social group – known as ‘teenagers”* rise of immigration and cultural diversity* Electronic and digital technology globalisation* Mass media consumerism* Decline of communism* Environmental issues


1910 - 1920

1920 - 1930

!930 - 1940

Animal Farm: a brief chronology of events related to context…


MID TOLATE 20TH CENTURY

1990

Elysium: A brief chronology.


Who is Neill Blomkamp?? Neill Blomkamp was born on September 17, 1979 in Johannesburg, South

Africa. He is known for his work on District 9 (2009), Elysium (2013) and Stargate SG-1 (1997). He is married to Terri Tatchell. They have one child.


Immigrated to Canada at 18 years old Graduated from Vancouver Film School's 3D Animation and Visual

Effects program in 1998 (May 10, 2010) Merited a position in Time magazine's - The 100

Most Influential People in the World ("Artists" category) - with an homage contributed by Ridley Scott

He is friends with Michael Bay, creator of the Transformer films

Who is Neill Blomkamp??


Known for his: Cinéma vérité technique

Blending naturalistic and photo-realistic computer-generated effects

Social commentary using Science Fiction



What cultural – social – political – values, attitudes and events would have influenced:

1. Blomkamp as he was growing up?

2. Blomkamp’s family?

3. Blomkamp’s perception of the word as an adult? As a father?



…social, cultural and historical context influences aspects of texts…

changes in context lead to changed values being reflected in texts: use of the language of texts, purposes and audiences, analysis of the content, values and attitudes conveyed through a range of

readings (different people’s points of view)


Use of Language… Animal Farm


Comparative study of common features of both texts: …Which means…

What are the similarities between the two texts?

Common premiseStructure


…analysis of how language and other communication techniques contribute to the creation and reading of both texts….


Examination rubric…EXAMINATION / ASSESSMENT RUBRICIn your answer you will be assessed on how well you:

■ demonstrate understanding of the meanings of a pair of texts when considered together

what are the common ideas / attitudes / values / assumptions / information / human characteristics / human relationships between Animal Farm and Elysium?

■ evaluate the relationships between texts and contexts

How closely are the two texts similar? How distantly are they different? Why?

■ organise, develop and express ideas using language appropriate to audience, purpose and form

How? = what language / film forms and features are used in each text to show the ideas etc…

Different contexts…

WRITE ACCURATELY – no waffling-on… you must keep returning to your thesis statement


evaluate how different contexts effect how composers use of medium of production, textual form, perspective and choice of language influence meaning.

Weigh-up / assess

Film, print,

Novel, sci-fi feature film

Dominant? Resistant? Subversive? Marginalised? Disenfranchised? Popular? Cultural? Christian? Non-Christian? Post-modern? Feminist? Capitalist? Marxist?

Formal? Colloquial? Idioms – simile – metaphor – modality – dialogue – imagery – symbols – motifs – audio effects – camera angles, shot types and movement – contrast – irony – satire – persuasive – positive or negative tone – emotive language – factual language – stereotypes – cliches – catch phrases – journalese -

Show specific ideas, events, people, values, attitudes about history and memory.

Time period Cultural, social, historical, technological


Sample examination question

Analyse how Animal Farm and Elysium imaginatively portray individuals who challenge the established values of their time.


• Analyses skilfully how Orwell / Bloomkamp portray individuals who challenge the established values of their time

• Demonstrates skilfully an understanding of the relationships between Animal Farm and Elysium and their contexts using well-selected and detailed textual reference

• Composes a perceptive response using language appropriate to audience, purpose and form

Marks 17–20

How your exam will be marked… (from the NSW BOS)


In better responses, candidates • considered the key notion of individuals challenging established

values and produced a shaped response that developed and sustained a thesis which genuinely addressed the question and which used a discerning selection of textual references.

In weaker responses, candidates tended to • identify some similarities between these texts, often with a limited

understanding of the significance of these similarities. • They often considered the key concept of established values of

their time in a superficial or generalised way or ignored it. • Treatment of context was not integrated into the discussion and

was frequently a reference to the time of composition rather than an understanding of how context is reflected in the construction and reception of texts.

• They often relied on a few basic or inappropriate references to texts.

Comments from the marking centre – NSW BOS

texts and context preliminary advanced: comparative study of texts and context how composed in...

Documents

contexts http

time http

rise of communism

pair of texts

changing values

historical context http

rise of technology

liberalism values