Masterpieces of connection
Using poetry, prose, drama and film for
SACE Stage 2 English Communications
Text Response Study to deconstruct
masculinity
Only connect...

Billy Elliot

Touch Me

When the Rain
Stops Falling

Meaningful
connections…
Making Connections

In Stage 2 English Communications…

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.
Making Connections

…is key to Critical Literacy

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.
Making Connections

…is key to Critical Literacy

The influence of context on language
and the way in which power, bias, and
discrimination are embedded in
language can be considered.
Making Connections

…is key to the Text Response Criteria
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
WARNING
metalanguage ahead

Synecdoche

Metonymy

Diegesis, diegetic

Tracking,dolly,zoom
Write as many notes as you can
by word associating on the
phrase below:
Fathers & sons
Stephen Daldry’s Billy 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
MICHAEL
It’sIt’s
a load
a load
of of
bollocks
bollocks
 BILLY
BILLY
NoNo
itsits
not
not
 MICHAEL
MICHAEL
It’sIt’s
shite
shite
kicking
kicking
people
people
in.in.
Anyway,
Anyway,
I don’t
I don’t
know
know
why
why
you
you
bother.
bother.
 BILLY
BILLY
I’mI’m
good
good
 MICHAEL
MICHAEL
Are
Are
you
you
shite.
shite.
Look
Look
at at
them
them
gloves,
gloves,
they
they
went
went
out
out
with
with
the
the
Ark.
Ark.
 BILLY
BILLY
They’re
They’re
meme
Dad’s,
Dad’s,
these.
these.
 MICHAEL
MICHAEL
Exactly.
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.
Where Billy comes from - the world of his father (and brother)

MICHAEL It’s a load of bollocks

BILLY

MICHAEL It’s shite kicking people in. Anyway, I don’t know
why you bother.

BILLY

MICHAEL Are you shite. Look at them gloves, they went
out with the Ark.

BILLY

MICHAEL Exactly.
No its not
I’m good
They’re me Dad’s, these.
Where Billy wants to go - his true nature

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.
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.