Representations
Representation
• Studying representations is one of the important elements of
the Stage 2/3 course
• Studying representations helps you understand texts on a
deeper level
• Examining representations means looking at the way
particular aspects of the world in which you live in are
represented in the text.
• The study of representation often focuses on members of
particular social groups such as females, males, teenagers,
older people, ethnic and racial groups or social classes.
Why bother? They are just
stories etc. Well no…..
• Because the way we think about a subject can be influenced by the
way it is presented to us in texts
• We derive our knowledge of the world from two sources – our own
experiences and what we see hear, and read about things.
• Any attitude we hold is influenced by the texts that surround us.
• But unless we deconstruct them we will never know, the ideas and
values will slip under our radar and we will not question possibly
prejudiced attitudes.
• Reel Bad Arabs Brilliant documentary changes the way you see
representations and how destructive they can be.
• To the Manor Born TV show watch The Farm Manager Part 3 (Class
divisions in Britain, comments)
Power imbalance
• Texts tend to privilege some ideas and ignore or marginalise
others.
• Some ideas dominate
• An important question is the extent to which it supports or
challenges dominant ways of thinking
• A question that is often asked in exams is: Discuss the ways of
thinking about (…..?) which are challenged or encouraged by a
text.
Background to Drovers Wife
• Lawson was deeply interested in the effects of the harsh
Australian outback on people's lives, having himself spent 18
months in the bush. This was expressed in a number of socalled "bush ballads" and stories, "The Drover's Wife" being
one of them.
• This is a story about life in the bush and the different
challenges that a woman has to face without the presence of
her husband.
• One of the first stories to examine the Australian women’s
point of view.
• http://nebo-lit.com/novel/lawson/The-Drover%27s-Wife.html
• http://linguallyspeaking.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/thedrovers-wife/
Multiple representations
• The Drovers’ Wife by Henry Lawson
Find 3 quotes in the story which indicate:
• Australia’s attitude towards the land
• Ideas of motherhood
• Ideas of women
• Ideas of marriage
• Ways of dealing with conflict/hardship
Write a paragraph
• How are the values and attitudes of the day towards what
makes a ‘good’ Australian wife evident in the story? Use
QUOTES to support your response.
The Lap Pool
• Less obvious perhaps?
• Modern Australia