another pls-help-me related text thread

[melodamn]

Hey!!!! So I had my related text for discovery last term, and I didn't like it at all. I loved the text itself, but I didn't perform with it well, and I think it's time for me to pick a better one. (Related text)

Last term was discovery, core text The Tempest (Shakespeare) with related text the film Amelie (2001), Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

I want a related text I really love, and therefore will easily dedicate lots of time into.
And also maybe something unconventional, so I don't think I want to have a novel for related text (unless it fits perfectly and I'm convinced!)

Some options:

MY LESBIAN EXPERIENCE WITH LONELINESS by Nagata Kabi:
I read this memoir last year and it's really stuck with me. It has a simple plot, but it's an important and moving story. It's a manga (graphic memoir???).

Pros as a related text: I was thinking it could relate to The Tempest due to the adversity and new discovery that Kabi experiences.

Both can relate to the same syllabus points for discovery, which include

- "process of discovering can vary according to personal, cultural, historical and social contexts and values" aka different contexts for the two texts- middle ages Europe/the island, versus contemporary Japan, and

- "discoveries can be sudden and unexpected, or they can emerge from a process of deliberate and careful planning evoked by curiosity, necessity or wonder" aka how Miranda/Ferdinand discover love through Prospero's planning, versus Kabi's planning and thinking to acquire services from the lesbian escort agency,

I was also thinking of the similarities between Miranda and Kabi- their themes surround growing up, change, and culture.

It might also stand out from all the other related texts.

Cons as a related text: techniques?? for a graphic memoir?? how>?

- i know that markers aren't meant to prejudice, but I can't help but feel they wouldn't be cool with reading half an entire essay about a lesbian.
- mentions of sex: this graphic memoir deals with sexuality, eating disorder, depression. The "climax" (pls no jokes im trying to talk about a BOOK!!) of the novel is Kabi going with the escort... is this too mature for me, from the perspective from you guys?? I honestly thought it was brilliant, and I had no issues with the subject matter (except it's really sad... i cried a lot!!!)
- because it's not the sophisticated text out there, I won't be getting full marks even if I write a really great essay.
- is it really appropriate? is this inappropriate??

Thoughts on this idea for a related text to The Tempest?

another idea:

FUN HOME by Alison Bechdel:
okay, this one I haven't read yet, but I know the plot due to the musical etc (if i decide on this, i'll def actually read it!!!)
This is a graphic memoir (again) about the story of Alison's childhood and young adulthood- she's a lesbian (again!!!!!) and this story deals with suicide, sexual orientation, and family.

Pros as a related text: some overlapping with the other memoir above.

- "Discoveries can be fresh and intensely meaningful in ways that may be emotional, creative, intellectual, physical and spiritual": Ariel's freedom at the end of Tempest empower them in a fresh and spiritual way, versus Alison's discovery of being lesbian invoke deep emotional feelings and a new sense of excitement and life,

- "Discoveries and discovering can offer new understandings and renewed perceptions of ourselves and others": Prospero's realisation and discovery impacts himself, and the people around him, particularly Ariel, who is freed at the hands of Prospero's discovery; versus Alison's discovery of her father being gay, and the changed perceptions she has on him and her childhood, and her mother.

Alison's themes are the same as Kabi's/Miranda's- change, growing up, culture.

Fun Home is older and more popular than Loneliness, but I still think it could be fresh and new for markers.

Cons as a related text: is it really appropriate???

- sophistication as a text
- appropriate vs inappropriate?
- i havent even read it yet, so like, i might just be talking falsely. I've seen/known the musical and read the wikipedia pages.
- prejudice and markers: would the markers be cool with this
- subject matter.
- techniques, again.

OTHER IDEAS I WON'T EXPAND ON:

 - any Sylvia Plath poem: I studied Tulips for year 11 as part of the modernism unit and though Tulips may not be the best for discovery, I love her writing especially and there must be some good poem by her on discovery. Help??

- Big Hero 6, the Disney movie: I wrote an analysis of the film for religion in year 10 and it was fun. Of course, it's a Disney movie, so...

- The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis: I know I said i didn't wanna do a novel but it's not too long, it's good, and i know the author (so i can ask him questions maybe???)

Someone help pls?? Lesbian Experience with Loneliness is like my first choice as related text here, but I fear I may be making the same mistakes as in term 4... aka i loved it so much i couldn't see that it really didn't fit discovery/The Tempest.

I'm sorry this post is so long! Term 1 is starting soon and I really want to get my related text down pat. Any responses or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[theyam]

Hello~

You might want to wait for one of the moderators to reply because my advice may not be the best. But anyways I can totally relate to you wanting something unconventional. So this is how I chose my related text and maybe one of the steps might be helpful to you?

- So my prescribed text for the AOS was Robert Gray poetry and the main ideas I wanted to focus on in my analysis was the destruction of the environment and the amorality of humans.
- I tried looking through the suggested texts for Robert Gray but honestly they all looked boring as and I wanted a text that had similar ideas to what I wanted to focus on.
- Then I tried to figure out what form I wanted my related text to be and I decided a short film was the best.
- So I went onto Youtube typed in short films about humanity/destruction of landscape and a whole list of films popped up. I ended up choosing Prince Ea's short films. I have no idea about the Tempest but if it focuses on humanity and you find that interesting I suggest you try watching some of his videos.
- Hope this somewhat helps

Good luck~

From theyam

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey! I love that you seem to be thinking about this so much - That shows me you'll definitely make the right choice. Most students just pick something in an hour and run with it, the fact you are willing to be careful and analytical is fantastic

I didn't do Discovery and don't know these texts, but what I'd suggest as the best way to figure out if a text fits is to write a practice response. Pick a question, mock a response up (even just a couple of paragraphs), get some feedback from someone who can provide it. That will be the best indicator of whether it will work for you or not!

For what it is worth, here's a bunch of suggestions of great related texts, and this thread is an in depth guide on making the decision

[Mada438]

Hello~

You might want to wait for one of the moderators to reply because my advice may not be the best.

Just because you aren't a moderator doesn't make your advice any better or worse then that of a moderator. Don't be afriad to offer some advice no matter what!
Also, good on you for using prince Ea's videos, i love his work and that certainly is unconventional!

Hey!!!! So I had my related text for discovery last term, and I didn't like it at all. I loved the text itself, but I didn't perform with it well, and I think it's time for me to pick a better one. (Related text)

Last term was discovery, core text The Tempest (Shakespeare) with related text the film Amelie (2001), Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

I want a related text I really love, and therefore will easily dedicate lots of time into.
And also maybe something unconventional, so I don't think I want to have a novel for related text (unless it fits perfectly and I'm convinced!)

Some options:

MY LESBIAN EXPERIENCE WITH LONELINESS by Nagata Kabi:
I read this memoir last year and it's really stuck with me. It has a simple plot, but it's an important and moving story. It's a manga (graphic memoir???).

Pros as a related text: I was thinking it could relate to The Tempest due to the adversity and new discovery that Kabi experiences.

Both can relate to the same syllabus points for discovery, which include

- "process of discovering can vary according to personal, cultural, historical and social contexts and values" aka different contexts for the two texts- middle ages Europe/the island, versus contemporary Japan, and

- "discoveries can be sudden and unexpected, or they can emerge from a process of deliberate and careful planning evoked by curiosity, necessity or wonder" aka how Miranda/Ferdinand discover love through Prospero's planning, versus Kabi's planning and thinking to acquire services from the lesbian escort agency,

I was also thinking of the similarities between Miranda and Kabi- their themes surround growing up, change, and culture.

It might also stand out from all the other related texts.

Cons as a related text: techniques?? for a graphic memoir?? how>?

- i know that markers aren't meant to prejudice, but I can't help but feel they wouldn't be cool with reading half an entire essay about a lesbian.
- mentions of sex: this graphic memoir deals with sexuality, eating disorder, depression. The "climax" (pls no jokes im trying to talk about a BOOK!!) of the novel is Kabi going with the escort... is this too mature for me, from the perspective from you guys?? I honestly thought it was brilliant, and I had no issues with the subject matter (except it's really sad... i cried a lot!!!)
- because it's not the sophisticated text out there, I won't be getting full marks even if I write a really great essay.
- is it really appropriate? is this inappropriate??

Thoughts on this idea for a related text to The Tempest?

another idea:

FUN HOME by Alison Bechdel:
okay, this one I haven't read yet, but I know the plot due to the musical etc (if i decide on this, i'll def actually read it!!!)
This is a graphic memoir (again) about the story of Alison's childhood and young adulthood- she's a lesbian (again!!!!!) and this story deals with suicide, sexual orientation, and family.

Pros as a related text: some overlapping with the other memoir above.

- "Discoveries can be fresh and intensely meaningful in ways that may be emotional, creative, intellectual, physical and spiritual": Ariel's freedom at the end of Tempest empower them in a fresh and spiritual way, versus Alison's discovery of being lesbian invoke deep emotional feelings and a new sense of excitement and life,

- "Discoveries and discovering can offer new understandings and renewed perceptions of ourselves and others": Prospero's realisation and discovery impacts himself, and the people around him, particularly Ariel, who is freed at the hands of Prospero's discovery; versus Alison's discovery of her father being gay, and the changed perceptions she has on him and her childhood, and her mother.

Alison's themes are the same as Kabi's/Miranda's- change, growing up, culture.

Fun Home is older and more popular than Loneliness, but I still think it could be fresh and new for markers.

Cons as a related text: is it really appropriate???

- sophistication as a text
- appropriate vs inappropriate?
- i havent even read it yet, so like, i might just be talking falsely. I've seen/known the musical and read the wikipedia pages.
- prejudice and markers: would the markers be cool with this
- subject matter.
- techniques, again.

OTHER IDEAS I WON'T EXPAND ON:

 - any Sylvia Plath poem: I studied Tulips for year 11 as part of the modernism unit and though Tulips may not be the best for discovery, I love her writing especially and there must be some good poem by her on discovery. Help??

- Big Hero 6, the Disney movie: I wrote an analysis of the film for religion in year 10 and it was fun. Of course, it's a Disney movie, so...

- The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis: I know I said i didn't wanna do a novel but it's not too long, it's good, and i know the author (so i can ask him questions maybe???)

Someone help pls?? Lesbian Experience with Loneliness is like my first choice as related text here, but I fear I may be making the same mistakes as in term 4... aka i loved it so much i couldn't see that it really didn't fit discovery/The Tempest.

I'm sorry this post is so long! Term 1 is starting soon and I really want to get my related text down pat. Any responses or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hey!
So i see where you're coming from with your eagerness to do "my lesbian experience with lonliness" as a related tect as you enjoy it immensely. But no matter how much you like it, if you don't believe its any good for discovery, then its probably not your best option.
While you do want to enjoy reading/viewing youer related text multiple times, some texts are still better than others.
If you believe a novel is too long, then how about looking at short stories? They can be read very easily in very short amounts of time and can have lots of ideas to talk about. I'd recconmend looking at Tim Wintons work as a good place to start. I use his short story 'distant lands' as my RT.

Also check out this thread here for a comprenhensive list of realted texts suggestions
Good luck! 

[elysepopplewell]

I think you should go with the Lesbian Experience text. It seems to be the one that you can make the clearest links with, and you can really passionately study it because you enjoyed the text so much. You have experience first hand of the way the text had an effect on you, so it's not hard to argue the discoveries of the reader if you choose to pursue that road. Also, I think the content of the text might be refreshing for a marker, as well as the unique techniques that this text type will employ.

So I think this should be your first choice!

[melodamn]

Hello~

You might want to wait for one of the moderators to reply because my advice may not be the best. But anyways I can totally relate to you wanting something unconventional. So this is how I chose my related text and maybe one of the steps might be helpful to you?

- So my prescribed text for the AOS was Robert Gray poetry and the main ideas I wanted to focus on in my analysis was the destruction of the environment and the amorality of humans.
- I tried looking through the suggested texts for Robert Gray but honestly they all looked boring as and I wanted a text that had similar ideas to what I wanted to focus on.
- Then I tried to figure out what form I wanted my related text to be and I decided a short film was the best.
- So I went onto Youtube typed in short films about humanity/destruction of landscape and a whole list of films popped up. I ended up choosing Prince Ea's short films. I have no idea about the Tempest but if it focuses on humanity and you find that interesting I suggest you try watching some of his videos.
- Hope this somewhat helps

Good luck~

From theyam

Short films!!! Thanks for this suggestion I will check out Prince Ea's work!

Just because you aren't a moderator doesn't make your advice any better or worse then that of a moderator. Don't be afriad to offer some advice no matter what!
Also, good on you for using prince Ea's videos, i love his work and that certainly is unconventional!
Hey!
So i see where you're coming from with your eagerness to do "my lesbian experience with lonliness" as a related tect as you enjoy it immensely. But no matter how much you like it, if you don't believe its any good for discovery, then its probably not your best option.
While you do want to enjoy reading/viewing youer related text multiple times, some texts are still better than others.
If you believe a novel is too long, then how about looking at short stories? They can be read very easily in very short amounts of time and can have lots of ideas to talk about. I'd recconmend looking at Tim Wintons work as a good place to start. I use his short story 'distant lands' as my RT.

Also check out this thread here for a comprenhensive list of realted texts suggestions
Good luck! 

thanks for replying!!!!! Yeah, about the "no matter how much you like it, if it's not good for discovery then it's not the best option": I don't want to be swept away by my love for this book so yeah, I'll think about it, and whether or not I can be detached enough from the book to have it as a related text.

I think you should go with the Lesbian Experience text. It seems to be the one that you can make the clearest links with, and you can really passionately study it because you enjoyed the text so much. You have experience first hand of the way the text had an effect on you, so it's not hard to argue the discoveries of the reader if you choose to pursue that road. Also, I think the content of the text might be refreshing for a marker, as well as the unique techniques that this text type will employ.

So I think this should be your first choice!

thank you for the solid answer  i talked about it with a friend, and they also think Lesbian Experience could be refreshing and good too (because I love it), so thank you for solidifying my idea for that book as my related text!!!!

the friend also suggested i could use a Black Mirror episode for a related text, so i'll look into that too lol.

But, I think Lesbian Experience will be my first choice for related text!

Hey! I love that you seem to be thinking about this so much - That shows me you'll definitely make the right choice. Most students just pick something in an hour and run with it, the fact you are willing to be careful and analytical is fantastic

I didn't do Discovery and don't know these texts, but what I'd suggest as the best way to figure out if a text fits is to write a practice response. Pick a question, mock a response up (even just a couple of paragraphs), get some feedback from someone who can provide it. That will be the best indicator of whether it will work for you or not!

For what it is worth, here's a bunch of suggestions of great related texts, and this thread is an in depth guide on making the decision

yeah thanks!! I really want to put some hard thought into what I'm doing.

I will write up the response! I was thinking of that too. It's really the best indicator! And thanks for the links!

Thanks everyone for responding and helping me