A2 Literature - comparing context

AS Comms - the dangers of high self esteem

Is too much self-confidence bad for you? Click here to read an interesting article based on a recent study with American students.

A2 Literature - Philip Larkin

This is one of the best websites I have found for Larkin - it includes biography, some of the poems (annotated) and some essays by literary critics; make sure that you use it! Click here to reach it...

A2 Literature - Philip Larkin

Watch this documentary about Philip Larkin to get an excellent sense of the man and his thoughts about his poetry ( it's in 3 parts):

A2 Literature - Miller interview

Click here to read a really good interview with Arthur Miller, which includes some excellent insights about Death of a Salesman - could be really useful for the coursework!

A2 Comms & Culture: Aston Martin & James Bond

Aston Martin are a great example of a brand who have successfully used product placement as a means of constructing themselves as desirable. In 1964 they initiated a relationship with James Bond films, which has helped to define the brand as many men's dream car.

Watch this - and  then read this, and this.

How have Aston Martin constructed themselves as a desirable brand?

A2 Literature - Connections between DOS and TBE

How Death of a Salesman (so far) can be connected to The Bluest Eye

by Amy

One of the key themes that The Bluest Eye and Death of a Salesman share is that of society’s loss of humanity. Death of a Salesman, which is often viewed as a play criticising capitalism, can be seen as a plea for humanism. This is most clearly seen in the character of Linda who urges people to value humanity no matter how great or small a person is and not just jobs and money. Linda states that Willy “must not be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must be finally paid to such a person” emphasising the lack of humanity he is being shown. In The Bluest Eye society is also criticised as it does not seem to care what happens to the lowest in society, causing them to crumble under the pressure it puts on them. Both Willy Loman and Pecola Breedlove lose their sanity as a result of the poor treatment society has given them. It can also be argued that dreams cause both of these characters to fall. In the case of the Loman’s their dreams build too quickly and their expectations are too high causing them to come crashing down. Pecola dreams only of having blue eyes, and her life becomes completely dominated by this one desire which eventually leads to her tragic demise.