Masterpieces of connection

Using poetry, prose, drama and film for SACE Stage 2 English Communications Text Response Study to deconstruct masculinity

Only connect...

Billy ElliotBilly Elliot

Touch MeTouch Me

When the Rain When the Rain Stops FallingStops Falling

Meaningful Meaningful connections…connections…

Making Connections

To achieve the learning outcomes for the Text Study, students must demonstrate understanding of the structure and language of particular textual forms and identify the values, attitudes, and beliefs conveyed by these forms. The capacity and willingness of students to read critically and purposefully are highly valued.

In Stage 2 English Communications…

Making Connections

Studying one text in relation to another allows students to recognise that the same idea, experience, emotion, or opinion can be explored in different ways. By exploring ideas of intertextuality students can consider the choices made by authors and the interpretation made by readers.

……is key to Critical Literacyis key to Critical Literacy

Making Connections

The influence of context on language and the way in which power, bias, and discrimination are embedded in language can be considered.

……is key to Critical Literacyis key to Critical Literacy

Making Connections

Students’ performance in text response will be judged by the extent to which they demonstrate:

clarity in identifying the characteristics of different text types (e.g. FILM) and the ways in which those characteristics are used by authors;

depth of treatment in recognising the connection between their own ideas, experiences, beliefs, and values and those explored in the text

……is key to the Text Response Criteriais key to the Text Response Criteria

WARNING metalanguage ahead

SynecdocheSynecdoche

MetonymyMetonymy

Diegesis, diegeticDiegesis, diegetic

Tracking,dolly,zoomTracking,dolly,zoom

Fathers & sonsFathers & sons

Write as many notes as you can by word associating on the phrase below:

Stephen Daldry’s Stephen Daldry’s Billy ElliotBilly Elliot

Why can’t a boy be more like his da’?

– Seamus Heaney’s “Digging”

By God, the old man could handle a spade,

Just like his old man.

MICHAEL It’s a load of bollocks BILLY No its not MICHAEL It’s shite kicking people in. Anyway, I don’t

know why you bother. BILLY I’m good MICHAEL Are you shite. Look at them gloves, they went

out with the Ark. BILLY They’re me Dad’s, these. MICHAEL Exactly.

MICHAEL It’s a load of bollocks BILLY No its not MICHAEL It’s shite kicking people in. Anyway, I don’t

know why you bother. BILLY I’m good MICHAEL Are you shite. Look at them gloves, they went

out with the Ark. BILLY They’re me Dad’s, these. MICHAEL Exactly.

I sort of disappear. Like I feel a change in my whole body. Like there’s a fire in me body. I’m just there. Flying. Like a bird. Like electricity. Yeah. Electricity.

MICHAEL It’s a load of bollocks BILLY No its not MICHAEL It’s shite kicking people in. Anyway, I don’t

know why you bother. BILLY I’m good MICHAEL Are you shite. Look at them gloves, they went

out with the Ark. BILLY They’re me Dad’s, these. MICHAEL Exactly.

MICHAEL It’s a load of bollocks BILLY No its not MICHAEL It’s shite kicking people in. Anyway, I don’t

know why you bother. BILLY I’m good MICHAEL Are you shite. Look at them gloves, they went

out with the Ark. BILLY They’re me Dad’s, these. MICHAEL Exactly.

Where Billy comes from - the world of his father (and brother)

I sort of disappear. Like I feel a change in my whole body. Like there’s a fire in me body. I’m just there. Flying. Like a bird. Like electricity. Yeah. Electricity.

Where Billy wants to go - his true nature

Wayne Sleep as the notable exception

Billy Elliot’s referencing of Wayne Sleep shows the efficacy of a notable exception in questioning unthinking gender stereotypes.

Wayne Sleep as the notable exception

Sleep’s (and Adam Cooper’s at the end of the film) athleticism and stamina are masculine values that can find a place within a highly expressive art form.