Cameron's Literature Blog

American Literature Peer Review 1

Peer Review of Gavin Tran’s “Art and Literature” post which can be found here:(https://gavintran.home.blog/2019/09/02/art-and-literature/)

This was a really insightful blog post to have read, and it was really enjoyable to dig into your analysis of the relationship between literature and art. Your first sentence was far-spanning and was a really intriguing way to open the post. I also really enjoyed the way in which you incorporated your own personal understanding to formulate your response. Once again, I really enjoyed this blog post, and look forward to reading future posts.

Whitman and Dickinson: Creative

I wrote this “imitation Whitman” poem below entitled “Babe of Optimism”, based on the opening line of the eighth section of “Song of Myself”. I really wanted to capture the freedom of his verses, imitating its formless nature, and lack of structure.

“The little one sleeps in its cradle, head resting on soft pillows

A softness foreign to the world in which he lives

Lies still young child! Babe of Optimism squirm not, be restless nay.

May you enjoy that which such a respite offers

The relief from that which all future desire will stem

For in dreams, you shall see what but now you feel

And long to feel it once again.

For in nightmares of life, you shall long for that which you now possess in abundance

And curse, for it will ever evade you.”

Australian Literature Peer Review 2

Peer Review of Jessica Aramini’s Australian Literature Blog Post #3 which can be found here: https://jessicaaramini1148.wixsite.com/blog2019/post/australian-literature-blog-3

This was quite an enjoyable blog post to read. Your initial discernment of broad themes relating to the artwork within the gallery, and discussion within the tour, was insightful. It provided a great base from which the remainder of the post built upon. “The Prospector” is one of my favourite Australian artworks, and I really enjoyed your analysis of it. Your understanding of not only the elements that make up the physical construct of the artwork, but also the historical context surrounding it, created a holistic analysis. My advice would be to consider utilising your conclusion more effectively, to really tie in all of the elements that otherwise made up a brilliant blog post. I look forward to reading your future posts.

Cameron

CREATIVE Take any single Australian painting that you saw at the gallery yesterday and write a description either in poetry or prose.

The artwork that I have chosen to describe in prose is William Pigenuit’s Kosciuszko (1903), which can be seen above. Also below are some photos that I took on a hike through Kosciuszko National Park in 2017. It was for this reason, having already hiked through the landscape being depicted, that drew me to this artwork straight away. Pigenuit’s capturing of the rugged landscape is masterful, and I was immediately blown away by how familiar the setting was, how alike it was to the real thing.

“Rugged brown waterfalls cascade before me, the green of hardy foliage draped carelessly upon the bare rock, clinging desperately to any spare foothold. Row upon row, for as far as could be seen, did the jutting mountains go back. It was as though one could traverse for infinity and still have more to climb, more to hike, more to see. The grassy expanse on which I sat was littered with moss-speckled lumps, scattered lazily here and there, as though some divine game of marbles, now long forgotten. Most lay to their sides, slumbering for eternity, but some jutted out of the yellowing grass, piercing the fog that gathered about the air. It clung to the sides of mountains, and wafted high above, it’s billowing white tendrils cooling the air, and obscuring the view of the turbulent sky that occasionally let out a grumble. Alike a patchwork quilt, endless clouds of greys and whites drew together, hiding away the warmth of the sun, and the bright blue of the sky. Peering down into the slim valleys, one could see errant wisps of fog, forgotten by the mass that floated above, cast out into the thick brush below. Besides the occasional call of birds, the only sound to be heard is that of the chilling wind, racing through the mountains, swaying the sparse brush.”

Australian Literature Peer Review 1

This was a really great topic to dig into because of the sheer amount of significance that it has not only for Australia’s First Nation’s Peoples but all Australians. I found that the comparison to the World Economic Forum was well put, and really contextualises it for readers who may not be familiar with the intricacies of the Garma Festival. My only advice would be to consider going more in-depth, as to really flesh out your blog posts. Once again, this was a great exploration of the importance of the Garma Festival, and I look forward to reading your future posts.

Comment on https://gavintran.home.blog/2019/08/19/garma-festival/

Henry Lawson or Banjo Paterson? Explain briefly your understanding of why these two authors were so different in their views of the Australian experience.

The Australian experience, alike the question of what makes someone an Australian, is truly complex. The stark contrast between the writings of Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson, makes this clear. Paterson appeals to Australia’s heroism, a youthful nation’s optimism and desire to achieve. Alternatively, Lawson portrays Australia realistically, allowing the country’s rougher, and less desirable elements to shine through within his writings.

Within his ballad “The Man from Snowy River” it is as though Paterson embodies the hopes of the young Australia within the equally young rider. Very much the archetypal “underdog” of the tale, it is the rider’s success and subsequent legacy as “a household word” that epitomises the aspirations of Australia as a nation. Australia wished to prove themselves to the well-established nations of the world, namely Britain, and Paterson profits from this national desire, playing into the hopes of the country. By presenting a scenario very similar to Australia’s, Paterson evokes a sense of triumph not only for the young rider, but also within his Australian audience, as they can relate to its message.

In contrast, Lawson’s poem “Faces of the Street” is a direct challenge to the idealism and optimism of the Australia being presented within works like Paterson’s. This is made abundantly apparent in the opening line of this poem “They lie, the men who tell us in a loud decisive tone/That want is here a stranger, and that misery’s unknown”. Lawson’s metaphoric depiction of “want” and personification of “misery”, make his message clear. He is bringing his audience down from, in his eyes, the unwarranted gaiety that works like “The Man from Snowy River” evoke. Lawson challenges writers like Paterson to truly see and present Australia realistically, presenting its flaws, rather than its aspirations, as to achieve true change within Australian society.

Hence, both Lawson and Paterson present different aspects of the Australian experience. Despite the obvious conflict that works such as “The Man from Snowy River” and “Faces of the Street” have, both add to the rich tapestry that is the Australian experience on the whole.

Critical- From what you know about the USA has anything surprised you in the literature that has been introduced to you so far in this unit.

It must be said that my knowledge of the US is quite limited to that of very recent events regarding a certain Mr Trump, so in a sense everything that has been introduced to me in the unit thus far has been new. Perhaps the main thing that has surprised me is seeing the “adolescence” of many well-established and ingrained aspects of the American mentality and political landscape. As I’ve said, I have only ever taken a strong notice of America since 2016 (for obvious reasons) and have witnessed concepts like libertarianism, in their maturity. It is when reading namely Henry Thoreau’s “Resistance to Civil Government” that this revelation was made.

Thoreau opens with a strong case against the role of the government stating, “Government is at best an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient.” (Levine & Thoreau 2017 903) At the heart of this scathing review, is the clear message of reduced government intervention, due to improper governance and immorality; a message that still rings out in the popular philosophy of Libertarianism. A major aspect of the Libertarian philosophy is to “contend that the scope and powers of government should be constrained as to allow each individual as much freedom as is consistent with a like freedom for everyone else.” (Boaz) Whilst not directly interchangeable, it is clear to see how the philosophy of Libertarianism, especially within America, has taken influence from the works and philosophy of Thoreau.

This, therefore, is what I have found surprising from the American Literature unit thus far, being able to witness the mature and established aspects of the American mentality, in their youth. Moving throughout this course it will be interesting to see how these ideas further develop in an ever-changing historical American landscape.

Thoreau , Henry David. Resistance to Civil Government . Edited by Robert S. Levine, 9th ed., vol. 1, W.W Norton and Company Inc. , 2017.

Boaz, David. “Libertarianism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/libertarianism-politics.

Australian Literature 1

Who is an Australian? Describe your own national and cultural background and explain why it is definitely part of what makes up our Australian nation.

Australia is somewhat of a paradox: An ancient land, but a relatively young nation. This makes the question of who an Australian truly is, a difficult one. The first thought that springs to mind when posed this question is the sunburnt bogan, with the Bintang singlet and longneck to boot. I attribute this greatly to my own cultural background, which can be traced back to the convict William Scanes on one side, and a variety of European nations on the other. Australia’s First Nations Peoples also spring to mind, when discussing this idea of who an Australian is.

Living in Western Sydney has greatly broadened my view of who an Australian is, also. The vast variety of cultural groups and nationalities that call Western Sydney, and therefore Australia, home, has also altered my view of who an Australian truly is. To me, an Australian, put simply, is anyone who lives within Australia, regardless of how they arrived, or the rich heritage that they bring with them. In my eyes, one of Australia’s greatest strengths, is our multiculturalism, and acceptance that comes along with this. Australia is an ancient land, but a relatively young nation; a rich tapestry of people and cultures.