EXPERIENCE THROUGH LANGUAGE-IMAGE

Strictly Ballroom

Unit Overview

In this elective, students are required to examine and analyse the impact of images upon their understanding of texts. They are required to closely examine Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom as well as choose their own related texts. They will be able to show how image creates meaning through the composition of the image and the context that it is used in.

Assessments

Assessment 3: VR & SpeechWeighting: 20% (VR 10% & Speaking 10%)Due: Term 2, Week 9 (Visual representation Monday 8th

June, Term 2, Week 9; Speeches beginning week 9, Monday 8th June)

Part A: Create a visual representation of your imaginative interpretation of the issues & themes represented in the film and an ORT (Outcomes 8, 11)

Part B: Give a speech that relates to the themes represented in your visual representation using textual evidence from the two texts, as well as assessing the process and organisation of ideas needed in visually representing the film (Outcomes 1, 3, 9)

Rubric

Deconstructing the rubric

Why Images?

All around us are images that influence what we do and the way we perceive people, objects and events. We look at photos in magazines that tell us what to wear, where to go for a holiday, what to think, what to read.

We read poetry and novels that suggest pictures in our minds of handsome heros, spring flowers, and cold winters.

We navigate the world of cyberspace and view worlds that blur the lines between fiction and reality

We are obsessed with reality TV that creates celebrities out of ordinary people.

Here, this unit asks you to think about “do you take these images at face value or think about the ways in which we as viewers and readers are being influenced and manipulated? discuss

Overview of Unit-Cloze

So…What’s an image?

In your own books, write down your own definition of what an image is.

Sample response;Images are representations of the world around us. It

is through these representations that connections are made to certain events, situations and people to communicate meaning to the responder.

Denotation/Connotation

When you are exploring the concept of image, you need to also focus on whether the meaning of the image depicted is through denotation or connotation.

Have a go at defining both these terms. What do you think they mean?

Denotation-are direct meanings that are accepted by everyone in a culture. The denotations of words are found in dictionaries. Everybody recognises the meaning of symbols like the national flag, icons for well known products etc.

Connotations vary from person to person according to each person’s life experience and cultural beliefs. Connotations of words and images are emotional and learned responses we make to words, symbols and images.

Four basic definitions of an image

These include;A mental picture or representation, how something

is imaginedA description of something in a speech or writingA picture or visual representation of someone or

somethingA likeness or similarity to a person, animal or

object that occurs naturally or the reflection of a mirror.

Activity 1

“A mental picture or representation, how something is imagined”

• Imagine that you were told you could have a holiday in the best place in Australia. What would it be? Close your eyes and picture it. What aspects of the place did you focus on? What images did you see in your mind? Why did you choose it? What do you associate with the image in your mind? Compare you place with the ones chosen by your friends and classmates. Is it different? You might also discuss what each of you pictured in your mind.

Write this into your books.

Activity 2

“a description of something in speech or writing’

Draw a picture of what you see in your mind. You can use colour to enhance the image:

Example of description: (Handout) ‘The once eternal river Ljuta, characterised by its crystal clear freshwater, aromatic

smells and symphonic sounds that brought joy to both the residence of Kalinovik and passers-by, was now dead, rotten and stagnated. Once the source of life and economic prosperity, it was now a dumping ground for bottles of homemade Rakia. Many feared that the Vojska Republike Srpske, better known as the VRS, a ruthless and coldblooded force, had poisoned the river with BZ, an incapacitating agent used during chemical attacks. The aromatic smells that once ignited love between two young Bosnians was now replaced with nauseating smell of decapitating corpses, feces, both human and non-human, and a distinct tinny metallic copper smell that lined the streets. But the overpowering smell of Rakia stemming from the three bearded soldiers, engulfed my sinuses, entered my lungs and made me debilitated’.

Activity 3

“A picture or visual representation of someone or something”

Task, Draw a visual representation of an obstacle in your life (can

be any obstacle) Then respond to the following questions: 1. What image do you associate with obstacles? Compare your

representation with those done by your classmates. 2. How many different representations of obstacles did your

peers come up with? 3. Would you agree that all the images represent an obstacle

to you or are quite unique to the individuals who create them?

Class Activity

Every day we encounter signs. Consider the type of signs you see on your way to and from school. Draw the signs in your book. Write the words which these images suggest. What relationship is suggested between the composer of the signs and the responder?

In everyday speech we use words which create pictures of people, places and experiences. List as many as you can think of.

What are some (polite) words your family uses to describe someone who does something silly?

Draw an image of what you see when you hear the expressions: birdbrain, boofhead, clown, nerd, geek, goose, dope.

Therefore,

In Mod A, Experience through Language: Image, you will explore:

A set text (Strictly Ballroom film) The nature of images The ways images are used in everyday situations The ways various kinds of images shape meaning such as:

how aspects of the world are represented through images; the relationships and attitudes established in the communication of images; the textual features of the medium and mode of communication.

Vitai Lampada Poem

After reading the poem, you are to draw an image of what the poem is trying to convey

You are then to consider the different images created in your mind.

What image is more validated than the other? Why do you think this is?

Deconstructing how we view images

Images can be broken up into words and pictures. Images

wordpictorial

artistic

cartoonadvertisement

painting

photographic

Still frame

film

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What images are there in our lives?Research Task-Comp lab

Consider the following question: What images are there in our lives and what meaning do these create for us?

You are to construct a mind map detailing the different images in your life (can be both positive and negative).

Find images that represent the ideas detailed in your mind map, print and neatly glue these into your workbook, labeling the representations of each of these images.

Understanding meaning from imagesHandout

Tom Roberts- Shearing The Ram 1890

Film Techniques Cross-word

Understanding images in filmBabe

George MillerView the opening scene till the cut to the carnival without interruption.Using the handout, you are to view it once more and makenotes.

Babe comprehension handout