A2 Literature

To what extent can you see influences of the Faustian legend in Kanye West's 'Can't Tell Me Nothing'?

A2 Comms & Culture

Here is a lovely response by Maya to the question I set on cultural hybridity and globalisation:
 

'Living in the western world, in a capital city, I’m very much included in a multicultural world. As well as that, my grandparents are from a completely different culture and that has influenced my personal identity.

After creating my cultural map, I saw my main interests stem from the western world, like America. This didn’t surprise me as I consciously involve myself in American television programmes, music and art. But I was more surprised at how widely my interests spread across the globe, from Japan to Mexico.

In the past I would have had a stronger British and Bajan identity but because of globalisation those identities are becoming more fluid and are mixing with other cultural practices and ideologies. I think my generation, especially in the western world, are huge products of globalisation. I have grown up in a society where access to the internet and easy global travel is the norm, and I wouldn’t think twice about hopping on a plane to get to Brazil, or looking up a native tribe in Africa to get a wider perspective of the world.

There are many positives and negatives about globalisation. Globalisation allows a sense of recognition and familiarity with other parts of the world. For example, having a well known brand name in a country you don’t know would make me feel more comfortable and subconsciously I would link that brand name to home. Unfortunately, globalisation has meant a loss in traditional and native cultural practices and identity, leading to future generations not knowing or recognising their cultural heritage.

I personally enjoy and embrace the fact that my identity is influenced by so many different cultures, as I feel it gives more depth to my personality, therefore making me more interesting as a human being, and hopefully more understanding of other people and their native culture.'

IB English

'Hence shall we see,
If power change purpose, what our seemers be.'

One of the issues raised by Measure for Measure is the idea that power can corrupt even the best of us. Here are two articles it might be interesting to read, one which explores why power corrupts - click here - and one which rejects this idea and provides a counterargument - click here.

A2 LITERATURE - Dr Faustus

Good study notes on Dr Faustus can be found courtesy of The Open University by clicking here. Definitely worth checking out...

A2 Comms & Culture: the role of advertising in constructing objects of desire

Here is the excellent documentary, 'Killing Us Softly', which investigates how advertisers use women when constructing products as desirable. It's divided into two parts, each just over 20 minutes long:

A2 LITERATURE - the fascination with the Pardoner's sexuality

Some good extension work: click here to read Monica McAlpine's famous essay on 'The Pardoner's homosexuality and how it matters'. Do you agree with her?

IB ENGLISH - extension work

As we move into the depths of Measure for Measure, why not listen to a radio programme which discusses whether Shakespeare is still relevant today - click here to access it. This would be a great way to broaden your understanding of the universal themes contained within Shakespeare's plays...

A2 COMMS - EXCELLENT EXTENSION OPPORTUNITIES...

As we come to the end of Post Colonialism for a while, it's worth developing your understanding of some of the issues we have covered further by listening to the following programmes:

Cultural imperialism
What is Englishness?
Multiculturalism

Each programme is between 30 mins - 45 mins long & you need an internet connection to listen as they can't be downloaded (unless you have iTunes, in which case you can download them for free).

I'd say this is essential listening for all of you - please click on them above & give them a go!

A2 LITERATURE - Work in place of Tues 14th November

I am really sorry that I am missing you again.
In place of the lesson, I'd like you to listen to a radio programme which discusses different ideas relating to 'hell' from the past to the present. The programme lasts 45 minutes & you will need an internet connection to listen to it as it can't be downloaded. Listen to the programme by clicking here.

And please make sure you have read the opening Chorus & the first scene of Dr Faustus for Thursday's lesson (set last week).

If you would like to do some extra, then there is also a programme on Marlowe's life you might want to listen to - click here to find out more about the mysterious Mr Marlowe.

A2 Comms - what's your slavery footprint?

Find out here: http://slaveryfootprint.org/.
You might be surprised!

A2 Comms & Culture

Here's an interesting article on 'Mixed-race Britian' from The Guardian newspaper - excellent extra reading for Post-Colonialism : click here to read it.

A2 LITERATURE

If you haven't already discovered it, crossref-it.info is a decent website which can act as a study guide for The Pardoner's Tale  for you if you want one - click here to find it.

If you are ready to start thinking about the poem in relation to what previous critics have argued, then click here to read what George Kittredge has to say about the way the Pardoner tries his tricks on the pilgrims, having confessed all in the Prologue. Kittredge was a renowned American academic; this article was written at the end of the 19thC.

A2 COMMS & CULTURE

At the moment on BBC2, there is a series running called Mixed Britannia - perfect timing for our work on Post Colonialism. You can watch the last episode by clicking here - there are 13 days left to watch it. The next (& final) episode is on next Thursday at 9pm. Thanks to Hilda for flagging this up.

When we were talking about immigration in class today, we mentioned Enoch Powell's 'rivers of blood' speech. If you want to hear some clips from the speech & understand more about the effects of it on British society, then watch this:


Here's a good article which debates the rights and wrongs of colonialism, which is a must read: click here. Please make sure that you read this article this week...

IB English

Some critics view the Duke in Measure for Measure as a Machiavellian character. To find out who Machiavelli was and what the adjective 'Machiavellian' means, click here.

This short video also gives a good insight into Machiavelli's philosophy:



I also mentioned in class that the best on-line study guide I have found for Measure for Measure is the crossref - it one; click here to find it. Measure for Measure is not the easiest of Shakespeare plays, and if you are finding the language and/or ideas a bit tricky, then this online guide would be a good place to start.

A2 LITERATURE

We talked in class about the literary influences on Chaucer  - and the fact that the Pardoner's 'confession' in his Prologue may well have been modelled on the character of Fals-Semblant's 'confession' in Le Roman de la Rose. Click here to read a translated version of Fals-Semblant's speech.

A2 Comms - Gareth & Clare's class

Remember that I am setting work in place of next Wednesday's lesson (28th September) because I am out of college on a course. This is the work:

Watch Mark Steele's lecture on Karl Marx on Youtube (30 mins) & write down 5 key points made about Marx in your books. Click here to watch the programme - make sure you watch each section (each one is 10 minutes).

A2 COMMS & CULTURE

Please tell us how you think the AS course went last year by clicking here: Reflecting on AS - thanks!

A2 LITERATURE

There is another character on the pilgrimage, who is presented as the antithesis of our Pardoner- and that is the Parson. If you want to read the Portrait for the Parson, click here, and then consider the ways in which the two characters are presented differently by Chaucer...

A2 LITERATURE

Decent notes on the Pardoner and on the role of Pardoners can be found here:  http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/webcore/murphy/canterbury/14pardon.pdf

A2 COMMS & CULTURE

As you know, in order to understand Marxism we need to understand Capitalism first. Watch this clip from a 1948 instructional film made in America, in which high school students discuss their understanding of capitalism:

What is Capitalism? (1948)

How do the views expressed in this clip compare to your understanding of Capitalism today?

Where are you on the political spectrum?
click here to find out

IB ENGLISH

Hello. Remember that you need to get yourself a copy of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. I use the Cambridge University Press version. If you would like to find out more about Shakespeare himself, then listen to this radio programme, hosted by Melvyn Bragg: Shakespeare's life.

A2 LITERATURE

EXAM TEXTS 2011-2012:
The Pardoner's Tale, by Chaucer (please make sure you get the original version & not a modern translation). Recommended editions: Cambridge University Press (notes/gloss at back) or Cambridge School version (notes/gloss alongside text).
Dr Faustus, by Marlowe (folio A). Please buy the Longman version - ISBN 978-0582817807. We will start Faustus after October half-tem.
Othello, by Shakespeare - any decent version is fine. I use the Cambridge University press version. We will study Othello after Christmas.

EXTENSION WORK:
Remembering that context is highly weighted for TPT, it's a good idea to find as much as you can about Chaucer and life in the 14thC. Of course you will be writing a literature essay - not a history one - but having a good understanding of context will allow you to write about the text in a more informed and flexible way. Start by listening to this 60 minute radio programme about Chaucer, which is hosted by Melvyn Bragg:
History of Ideas - Chaucer