How an idea becomes an essay

How an idea becomes an essay

Learning goals: To identify symbolism To trace the evolution of an essay

Key Vocab: Symbol

Symbol: something used to represent something else. Anything can be symbolic: words, colours, songs, etc…

Symbolism symbolic symbolises

What do you see?

What you saw:

Guernica by Picasso is a very chaotic painting. There are many figures of people in pain, the people are in white, surrounded by darkness. There are a few shining lights, one through a window and another from a light bulb. The painting shows people on fire, being trampled upon, mothers holding their dead babies and also a few screaming animals.

Hmmmmm…. true… however:

Very descriptive – but simply too literal. A computer could scan this image and it would reveal pretty much the same information.

We want to be able to draw some conclusions.

Opportunities to discuss symbolism:

Guernica by Picasso is a very chaotic painting. There are many figures of people in pain, the people are in white, surrounded by darkness. There are a few shining lights, one through a window and another from a light bulb. The painting shows people on fire, being trampled upon, mothers holding their dead babies and also a few screaming animals.

Question Attack/Planning

You have been given a prompt for your Prac SAC and some writing ideas surrounding:

When you plan, you must always think of the big ideas and broad questions first. Then you can think of some specific examples. If you have specific examples that you know you want to use, then work backwards until you find the big idea!

“It is difficult not to conform to a dominant reality.” Discuss.

“It is difficult not to Mjconform to a dominant Mj

reality.” Discuss. Mj

BIG IDEA Mj

BIG IDEA Mj

Broad question Mj

Broad Question Mj

Specific example from an anecdote Mj or outside source Mj

Specific example from MjLeunig's Mj work Mj

Specific example from MjLeunig Mj

Specific example from an anecdote Mj or outside source Mj

BIG IDEA MjBIG IDEA Mj


reality.” Discuss. Mj


reality.” Discuss Mj

A certain level of conformity is necessary Mj

There is comfort in conformity. Mj

Fear leads many people to conform. Mj

Although it is hard, people can try to convey Mj their subjective reality which clashes with the dominant reality. Mj

Time changes what is considered the dominant reality Mj

The penalty we pay for failing to Mj conform to the dominant reality can be high Mj

Who creates the dominant reality? Mj

What do we have to fear from failing to conform? Mj

There will be non-conformists Mj



Now you can bring in the detailThink about how we might use Pablo Picasso and his painting ‘Guernica’ to help us explore some of our big ideas, or to answer some of our broad questions.

Also think about how Leunig’s ideas about the painting fit into our big ideas.

We are not going to try and respond to every idea with Picasso or even Leunig (and especially not with Disney films) – we want a variety of sources.



Although it is hard, people can try to convey Mj their subjective reality which clashes with the dominant reality. Mj

Time changes what is considered the dominant reality Mj

There will be non-conformists MjPablo Picasso advocated peace in a Mj

time where many wanted a war Mj

' MjGuernica Mj' is now considered a masterpiece and MjLeunig Mj hates Mjhow people now 'love' Picasso yet fail to see his message. Mj

Leunig Mj mentions the 2004 MjFallujah Mj massacre in Iraq Mj

Picasso painted ' MjGuernica Mj' Mj



The following sample essay : • Directly addresses the prompt: “It is difficult to

conform to a dominant reality.”• Is an expository writing piece (aiming to provide

information or explain elements of the prompt). • Includes BIG IDEAS about ‘Whose Reality?’ related to

the prompt. • Includes ideas and reference to Michael Leunig’s work.• Refers to examples of Leunig essays we haven’t read

(so that students see more of Leunig’s views AND to ensure that students don’t simply copy the ideas in this sample piece).

SAMPLE ESSAYThere is comfort in conformity. Humans are social animals and for the most part we like to know that we are ‘fitting in’. Education, employment, marriage, children, retirement, these are all boxes that many of us will tick. Yet right down to the clothes we wear, the food we eat and the music we listen to, it would seem that the dominant reality is making choices for us and that to defy them is not only difficult, but often costly.

Green is direct reference to prompt: It is difficult not to conform to a dominant reality

Clearly it is an intro. Ideas are discussed, the prompt is used and everything is nice and general

Blue is discussion of ideas directly related to the prompt

Red is for examples from outside sources

Purple is for examples from the focus text

Most would argue that a certain level of conformity is necessary: beeping a car horn at a driver who has failed to notice the lights changing, instead of firing a few shots at her, just makes sense. For the most part, people tend to agree with the law and with the various rules and processes that have evolved for us all to get along. For example, in a recent survey… (EVIDENCE). But what about those areas of our lives where we are free to make choices without causing harm to others? We often decide to conform to a dominant reality when we are completely free to express ourselves.

Big idea drawn directly from the prompt

Example

Big ideas

Use of rhetorical questions to raise more ideas

Fear is certainly a driving factor leading many people to conform. We worry that others will not accept us. Even members of sub-cultures fear being ostracised from their groups and conform to their own clearly defined reality. We might think that they are based around shared interests, but what chance is there that amongst a group of boys who enjoy surfing, that all will share the same taste in music, film, literature, cars, food and so on? Very little, yet surfers who listen to Justin Bieber, drive pink BMWs and like silent Russian films are hard to find. Another example highlighting how fear of standing out can lead people to conform can be seen when (HISTORICAL EXAMPLE).


Example

What is it that we fear? Cartoonist Michael Leunig explores through his writings the media’s power to influence us to be attractive. Drawing on the ideas of Orwell, Leunig portrays the media as an all seeing “great dictator”, ordering us to be “…charming, strong, good-looking, confident…” or anything else that the dominant reality considers attractive. It’s true; we have never “lived in so much fear of being unattractive” and Leunig worries that in order to be loved by others we end up losing ourselves. Another example illustrating the pressure to be attractive is.. (SOCIAL EXAMPLE). Clearly, these people fear (EXPLAIN). People are afraid to reveal who they really are, their authentic selves, preferring to present a fake and more “attractive” image of themselves to others. However, ultimately, this is damaging to all members of society.


Name used in full as it is the first time mentioned

Surname used as name has already been used in full once

Big idea drawn directly from the prompt, convey using a rhetorical question

Although it is hard, people can try to convey their subjective reality which clashes with the dominant reality. In Pablo Picasso’s painting ‘Guernica’ we see how the Spanish artist felt about the destruction of his homeland during the Spanish Civil War. Many photos exist of the bombing of Guernica, and they provide us with an objective reality of this event. Of course, very few people will ever see them as the conflict has long since left our collective memory. On the other hand, Picasso’s painting of the event resonates with people even to this day, as it not only portrays the suffering of the inhabitants of Guernica, but also conveys the chaos, confusion and pain of all military conflicts. Picasso’s subjective reality allows viewers insight into the terrible consequences of war in a way that objective photographic evidence would not. Rather than documenting the physical pain war inflicts, Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ is also able to shockingly reveal the emotional and mental costs of war.


Extended example

First mention of name so it is used in full

In ‘Guernica’ we see many people in pain, the figures are in white, symbolising their purity and innocence and are surrounded by the darkness of war. There are a few shining lights, one through a window and another from a light bulb; however, the bulb is naked, exposing the victims’ suffering. The painting shows people on fire, being trampled upon, mothers holding their dead babies and animals screaming in pain. Nothing escapes the tragedy that is war. In a time when many felt that war was a necessary part of our existence, Picasso urged them to rebel against the dominant view. Initially, Picasso’s painting met with little praise, one unimpressed art critic simply called it a “brainstorm”. In the face of a dominant reality, Picasso’s non-conformist ideas were not readily adopted. (This paragraph is continued onto the next slide)


Extended example

Time changes what is considered the dominant reality and many people now see Guernica as a masterpiece. So much so, that those like Leunig worry that some people might find the painting “more important to the world than the event upon which it is based”. What matters to Leunig is the “spirit of art itself”. He sees our modern society obsessed with Picasso’s celebrity rather than his message; much like the hip girl wearing a T-Shirt displaying a print of Mao, Leunig urges us to look beyond the surface gloss of modernity and forces us to question the choices we make, especially what we think is ‘real’. Where we see Guernica, a never before heard of Spanish town, bombed in a long forgotten conflict, Leunig sees Fallujah, a city in Iraq which suffered destruction at the hands of the US military in much more recent times. Changing dominant realities are clearly evident in many global conflicts, such as Fallujah. (EXAMPLE of what happened to Fallujah and how initially man were supporters of the Iraq conflict. This would be contrasted with how this support changed over time with figures and anecdotes of personal loss).


Direct discussion of the focus text – linked to other examples – demonstrates comparison and evaluation

Example with use of Leunig quote

Leunig urges us to “swim against the tide”, but the penalty we pay for failing to conform to the dominant reality can be high. Although homosexuality is widely accepted in our modern society there are certain organisations which still maintain a strictly ‘straight’ image. With over 300 players in the AFL, it is somewhat hard to believe that there are no gay players. They are not breaking any laws, yet remain silent for fear that attending the Brownlow’s with anything other than a rake-thin model, or their mother, on their arm would spell public disaster. Another example highlighting how people are often afraid of the price of non-conformity can be seen when (EXAMPLE).

(Paragraph continues on to the next slide)


Example

People have suffered worse fates when challenging the dominate reality; some have paid the price of nonconformity with their lives. In the 1500s Sir Thomas More was one of the most powerful men in England, but refused to acknowledge King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the church. More was a Catholic and he refused to change his beliefs at a time when the majority of his peers quickly followed the King’s instruction. For failing to conform, More was beheaded. Other people have also paid a similar heavy price for staying true to their beliefs. (EXAMPLE).


Example

It is difficult not to conform to a dominant reality, but like Leunig we can try to wear our “true coat”. It might mean that we have to suffer some degree of discomfort, but it may ultimately lead to a more fulfilling life. Whether the dominant reality likes it or not, those rarest of people, the nonconformists, will continue to challenge us. A painting like Guernica is probably on show right now, and being ignored because it goes against the grain. Hopefully for those individuals who choose such a path, such as the first AFL player who takes a brave step from out of the closet, the likes of Michael Leunig will be there to defend them and any other person who “courts a difficult life” by choosing to be different.

Return to the idea of Guernica

Reference to Leunig and use of quote.

Return to the example of homosexuality in the AFL

Return to the idea of nonconformists such as Picasso and Sir Thomas More

Final mention of Leunig with quotation

Direct reference to the prompt Conclusion

Documents

How an idea becomes an essay