NELSON MANDELA....Animal Farm resource...

Which character does this GREAT MAN resemble in Orwell's novel? How can his experience be linked to the text?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgQBoXsxr8w

The women of Hull in 1968 fighting for the safety of their men....This links to Hull's TRIPLE TRAWLER TRAGEDY....A massive moment in the history of my city.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTN0vN_kKyM

OTHELLO ESSAY for Y12..final notes...

Today was the final session exploring possible content for the essay....

‘The conclusion to the play makes it impossible to view the character of Othello as anything other than a tragic hero.’

To what extent do you agree with this view?

STRUCTURE...

• Strong personal voice that allows the examiner to comprehend the nature of your critical argument.

• The MODELLING PARAGRAPH.

• The next paragraph needs to explore Othello's HAMARTIA and how this is, once more, a convention that Aristotle discussed in the POETICS. It could be argued that Shakespeare is shaping the character of Othello to be perceived as a tragic character. What is the flaw that is exploited by Iago? Is it Othello's inability to comprehend the complexity of human emotion due to 'the flinty and steel couch of war being his thrice-driven bed of down' ? Or is it the fact that his own humanity and insecurity is used against him? Remember that Iago states in his first soliloquy that 'the Moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so..' SO...is his decency and honesty his HAMARTIA? Why is this reading of the play so terrifying?

• THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT PARAGRAPH IS THIS paragraph needs to state whether you view Othello as a tragic hero or a tragic victim. THE FOCUS MUST BE HIS FINAL SPEECH IN ACT5 SCENE2. After his ANAGNORISIS, does he display any personal enlightenment or self-knowledge? Or is he still an ignorant murdering ego-maniac? Is he an 'HONOURABLE MURDERER'? Does his belief that he must suffer eternal damnation make him a tragic hero?  Don't forget, we have discussed the idea that he rediscovers the heightened poetry of the tragic hero but fails to recapture his sense of personal dignity and authority. How should the audience view him as he kills himself 'to die upon a kiss'?  

• THE IAGO PARAGRAPH needs to explore the meaning being shaped by Shakespeare through this symbolic character. This is the paragraph that needs to explore how and why the audience may feel their own sense of  PITY and FEAR. IAGO is a crucial character for Shakespeare when framing the sense of pity and fear. Who do we pity? Desdemona? Othello? Iago? Emilia? What is it about the power of Iago that the audience might fear? ALVIN KERNAN describes Desdemona and Iago as 'the two moral poles of the play'. He explores their contrasting moral symbolism: 'Desdemona is a life force that strives for order, community, growth and light. Iago is an anti-life force that seeks anarchy, death and darkness.'  

• CONCLUSION.....I've talked enough about the conclusion. Move beyond a consideration of Aristotle. Arthur Miller?

HOMEWORK: I expect the essay to be handed to me on THURSDAY morning or sent to my email on WEDNESDAY NIGHT. I expect the essay, not counting the modelling paragraph, to be around 1200/1400 words. I am after a precise critical argument that demonstrates an excellent understanding of the play and considers the play within the context of the genre of tragedy.

I expect this essay to reflect the amount of time that we have spent discussing possible content. 

GOOD LUCK LIT FREAKS.

OTHELLO..links to Windrush and Hate crimes..

The WINDRUSH moment is a NATIONAL SCANDAL....
https://www.channel4.com/news/home-office-ignored-windrush-warnings-says-nao
Spike in Hate crimes...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45874265
Here is a link to ALL the Channel Four News reports linked to this NATIONAL DISGRACE:
https://www.channel4.com/news/the-windrush-generation-fighting-to-be-british

I think the play OTHELLO, and the fact that this play reflects the human consequence of hate and prejudice, is, unfortunately, incredibly relevant in 2018.

ALEC GILL'S PHOTOGRAPHY...Link to Tony Harrison..

I made this film last year to document the work of ALEC GILL. This HULL photographer captured the culture of Hull's fishing industry and documented the culture of the Hessle Road community. What does his work tell us about the significance of culture? How does his work compare with the aim of Tony Harrison's poetry? Are they both creating art for a similar audience? How do both represent working-class experience?
https://vimeo.com/241312070

MUSICAL REFERENCES IN V...

Herman Darewski's band....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY-fHnjbIdE
Alban Berg..The Lulu Suite...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=025dWp9OVYA

JONATHAN PIE on HOMELESSNESS...

SATIRE reveals truth and can expose the absurdity of some political ideas. Pie clearly links to Dickens. OR DOES HE?
WATCH THIS....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIRht6O7sCQ

ANOTHER GREAT DOCUMENTARY TO DIGEST..

POISONING AMERICA. THE DEVIL YOU KNOW.
Here you go folks. An incredible film that would make Dickens RAGE! This is a film about PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE in a way that will leave you staggered. Some of the people working for the TEFLON company remind me of Bounderby. I also thought of COKETOWN.
What say you? Give this your eyes.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bs68rr/storyville-poisoning-america-the-devil-we-know

Only available for 3 weeks.

WATCH THIS FILM. THIS IS IMPORTANT.

This is Sean McAllister's A NORTHERN SOUL. It is a documentary about a man from HULL trying to survive both economically and emotionally. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FILM YOU WILL WATCH THIS YEAR.
THIS IS A FILM ABOUT THE REALITY OF LIFE ON LOW PAY IN the UK in 2018.
What would Dickens make of this film?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bshjrv/a-northern-soul

POVERTY IN BRITAIN...How would Dickens react?

This is the Channel Four news segment I discussed in the last session. HARD TIMES? I think so!
https://www.channel4.com/news/un-probes-uk-poverty-amid-benefits-shake-up

Here is a link to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's Website.
https://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/could-government-have-done-more-enable-people
https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/uk-poverty-2017
The GUARDIAN:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/22/un-poverty-chief-calls-for-e 

THE NUFFIELD FOUNDATION RECORDED IN 2017 THAT 60% of ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY  IN THE UK ARE LIVING IN WORKING HOUSEHOLDS. CLEARLY THE 'WORKING POOR' IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE WITHIN THE PAGES OF DICKENS' HARD TIMES.
LAST WEEK THE UNITED NATIONS PUBLISHED A REPORT ON POVERTY IN BRITAIN.
Channel Four News segment:
https://www.channel4.com/news/un-expert-says-austerity-has-condemned-millions-to-poverty
Government response..
https://www.channel4.com/news/mel-stride-mp-in-this-government-there-is 
Amber Rudd's response...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6406423/Amber-Rudd-dismisses-UN-poverty-report-returns-line-politics.html 
Amber Rudd in Parliament..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jbM_53G1Bs
BIG ISSUE article...
https://www.bigissue.com/latest/social-activism/the-un-poverty-report-highlits-a-national-emergency-that-we-must-act-on/
BBC Article...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46236642
Any consideration of the issues explored by Dickens needs to be placed within the context of our own world.

YEAR 12 ..OTHELLO....15th Nov 2018.

Today we completed our reading of the play so next week we begin to discuss OTHELLO within the context of tragedy and attempt to provide answers to some key questions:

• IS OTHELLO A TRAGIC HERO?
• CAN THE TRAGIC CONCEPT OF HAMARTIA BE APPLIED TO THE CHARACTER OF OTHELLO?
• TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS A CONTEMPORARY PLAY?
• WHAT ARE THE KEY THEMES BEING EXPLORED BY SHAKEY?
• WHY IS IAGO SUCH A MAGNIFICENT WORK OF ART?
• HOW SHOULD THE AUDIENCE FEEL AT THE END OF THE PLAY? TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE THE AUDIENCE EXPERIENCED THE EMOTIONS OF  'PITY and FEAR' or 'PITY and TERROR' ?
• TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU AGREE WITH THE CRITICAL OPINION OF A.C BRADLEY, F.R.LEAVIS or T.S.ELIOT?
• HOW CAN MILLER OR SHELLEY'S VIEW OF TRAGEDY BE APPLIED TO THE PLAY?

Here is a link to my OTHELLO PODCAST....You must listen to this before the next session as it will inform our class discusion:
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/othello-pod

This is a link to the National Theatre resource that presents an introduction to Greek Tragedy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSr6mP-zxUc&t=69s 

Here is a link to a blog entry from September that contains some excellent resources for students to digest:
https://becuriouslit.blogspot.com/2018/09/othelloyear12sept-18.html

Here are some more Othello resources:
LANGUAGE IN OTHELLO....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trhHBQRJUcQ
Opening section of Act 5 Scene 2....RSC 2015...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIQ2Rv35ng
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY REHEARSE Act 5 Scene 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLPZf6SjCMo
THIS IS THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY'S YOU TUBE EDUCATIONAL LEARNING ZONE. CHECK THE OTHELLO RESOURCES. They are fascinating:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjz6LNDQOWaCkQegAHxyo2g
Here is a link to the OTHELLO RESOURCES on The Royal Shakespeare Company's Website:
https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeare-learning-zone/othello

RESOURCES FOR YEAR 9....WAR POETRY..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-gloucestershire-46154997/grace-jone
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-46154097/armistice-the-soldier-who-di
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-merseyside-46039028/sculpture-insp

Danny Boyle's beach sculptures....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umi59coNrvg&pbjreload=10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jNHw4pAlyU

Owen...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB4cdRgIcB8
Brooke..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAFnhJojMYY&list=PLPoFiRrHslxNjKvG3DqleloDuS-LCgMCv 
Sassoon..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLuTiITZykg&index=6&list=PLPoFiRrHslxNjKv

CAROL ANN DUFFY..poet laureate's poem for the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1.
THE WOUND IN TIME:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-46169604/remembrance-day-car 
Peter Jackson's colour footage of WW1..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-45803977/peter-jackson-world-war-one-footage-brought-to-life-by-lord-of-the-rings-director

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-sussex-42933171/film-remembers-lewes-world-war-one-dead

BLACKADDER...Final episode....
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0078nnr/blackadder-blackadder-goes-forth-6-plan-f-goodbyeee

Sainsbury's advert 2014....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWF2JBb1bvM

THE NOT DEAD...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvA3K-tC6t8&has_verified=1

This is the documentary created by Brian Hill and Simon Armitage that helped create the poem REMAINS. Armitage created this poem having listened to some of the soldiers discussing their experiences when recording material for this film. The soldier that inspired the poem discusses his experience and recites the poem beginning 44 mins...

A DIVIDED SOCIETY?

Tony Harrison represents Britain as a divided society that he hopes will become UNITED. Is our society as divided???? DO WE NEED THE PHILOSOPHY REFLECTED IN THE POETRY OF TONY HARRISON in 2018? Spot the rhetorical Q!

How posh is Parliament..Channel Four News..
https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-qa-how-posh-is-parliament
48% of Conservative MPs were privately educated. 7% of population attend private schools.
FACTS on INEQUALITY IN BRITAIN
https://fullfact.org/economy/inequality/

Channel Four News clips
Aaron Banks is not an elected politician. He bankrolled UKIP.. Is this democratic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vZ17-5bbGA
Homeless film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu1EVZgN0_8
Brexit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FsKuNSf4uQ
JOHN HARRIS' films for The Guardian are brilliant. Here are two that explore 'BREXIT'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB8GjRjV6oE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH0F0pzsivY
AUSTERITY BRITAIN..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yg8QaeBdNs
BBC..Universal Credit..Note the comments of ex-Prime Minister John Major.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45817897?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cn89m309ykvt/universal-credit&link_location=live-reporting-story
SKY NEWS...Universal Credit..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfhsjM9kBDQ
Prison crisis in UK..BBC Newsnight..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeFlGdPOQnA 
Minister for Suicide Prevention...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45804225 
https://news.sky.com/story/suicide-prevention-minister-joked-about-throwing-herself-off-beachy-head-11522855 
The working homeless...BBC article..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-44904638

Windrush? Grenfell? Boris Johnson and the Brexit bus?....Some Prisons in meltdown...School funding crisis...mental health provision being cut all over the UK due to austerity...WOWZA!

I don't want to depress any of my fine students but the government policy of AUSTERITY is an extremely controversial policy and has had a MASSIVE impact on the UK. Since 2010, council funding has been cut in the UK by 49%. The impact of this policy has been that local councils are struggling to fund resources for all kinds of services from bin collection to providing care for society's most vulnerable and isolated people.

I would love to provide some kind of balance. The government champion the fact that we have never had so many people in the UK in employment. The NHS and Education are receiving record funding.

POETRY Y10...Belated National Poetry Day...

METAPHOR POEM...

SCHOOL IS...
SCHOOL IS AUTUMN. Colourful and changes quickly.
SCHOOL IS MUSIC. Some great tunes but some melodies just give me a headache.
SCHOOL IS THE SKY. Vast and endless.
SCHOOL IS A BISCUIT. Sweet but has the potential to rot your teeth.
SCHOOL IS RUGBY. Tough, fun, challenging and occasionally painful.
SCHOOL IS....

Acrostic??
S
C
H
O
O
L

HAIKU?  A 17 syllable poem.
5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables.....

School
School is a fine Tree.
Autumn provides its colour.
It will change with time.

Poetry
Contains strong language
Intellectual Self-Defence
Muscle For The Mind

PATIENCE KERSHAW...

This previous blog entry provides useful resources for Harrison's WORKING...
https://becuriouslit.blogspot.com/2017/04/year-13-mon-24th-april-17.html
Link to The Victorian Web...note Patience Kershaw's comments
http://www.victorianweb.org/history/ashley.html 
Lord Ashley's Mining Commission in 1842..research required..
Brityish Library Resource..
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/report-on-child-labour-1842
https://spartacus-educational.com/Mines_Collieries_Act.htm

CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE..The Danger of the Single Story...

This is a beautiful speech..soak it up Lit freaks...THE POWER OF THE STORY:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg

Notes for Y13..HARRISON related..THE MINERS' STRIKE..

Remembering the 30th Anniversary of the strike...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzwATFfA1Lo&t=1s
Channel Four News..30 years after the strike...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA-76QeiuSQ
Celebrating Thatcher's death...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InfxZI4jZaQ
Thatcher speaking about the strike...look at the comments section...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhsl0QHSDWE
TV AM...ITV News..Mr McGregor..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq8m0syu2N4 
BBC fail to admit editing footage from Orgreave to suggest miners started violence..Campaigners call for an apology...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-27893072 
BBC..footage of Orgreave..Note the voiceover....media bias??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2jH53e6_jQ

OTHELLO..Year12..SEPT 18..

The first couple of sessions have involved reading the opening Act of the play. Students need to be aware of the key moments in Act One Scene One/Two/Three and consider how Shakespeare represents:

• VENICE
• IAGO
• OTHELLO
• DESDEMONA

Students need to consider how Shakespeare is shaping the drama. Students need to be aware of the significance of Iago's soliloquy that concludes the First Act. Why is this use of dramatic form so significant?

Here are some resources for your delight....
What is Tragedy?..Here is an excellent and essential resource from the National Theatre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSr6mP-zxUc&t=69s 
Playing Othello...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cNOd1tUaaw
Playing Iago..Iqbal Khan's 2015 RSC production was the first to have a 'black' Iago...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcCzk8aT8H8
Actors playing Iago and Othello in a NFT production discuss their roles...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyoCIwJn9Ic 
Performance history of Othello....National Theatre Resource..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrLvq1EcRH0
Kenny Branagh's Iago soliloquy at the end of the FIRST ACT...note the visual imagery..:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zbGMcsCtjg
I made this OTHELLO podcast for last year's Y13 as a pre-exam revision resource. Lend it your lugs:
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/othello-pod 


 

Tony Harrison resources for Y13..SEP 2018

My Tony Harrison podcast:
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/tony-harrisonthis-pen-is-all-i-have-of-magic-wand

First section of the film version of V from the controversial Channel Four broadcast. Navigate through the rest of the film from this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPutBM7zfv8&t=9s

This is a wonderful BBC Radio 4 documentary of V..SOAK IT UP:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW49WJ0F2HM&t=1064s
Harrison reading the poem on Radio 4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7if44iVP3_I

YEAR 12/13 POETRY COURSEWORK..July 2018

Over the last couple of sessions we have been discussing some of the poems in my FEED YOUR BRAIN anthology and discussing the ideas reflected in the AQA Critical Anthology. The poets we have discussed have included..

• TS Eliot
• Percy Shelley
• Ted Hughes
• Big Phil Larkin
• Hollie McNish

YOUR COURSEWORK will demand that you explore the content of THREE poems from your chosen poet. The central question that you will need to answer within this coursework task is:
SHOULD THE POETRY OF ?????? BE CONSIDERED CANONICAL?
or
TO WHAT EXTENT CAN THE POETRY OF ?????? BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE LITERARY VALUE?
*****the whole focus of the task needs to consider notions of literary value.

The quality of the class discussion has, apart from one SHOCKING LESSON after the mock exam, been OUTSTANDING. The discussion linked to Eliot's Prufrock and Shelley's Mask of Anarchy was particularly impressive. Here are some resources to digest. They will broaden your understanding of the task and allow you to develop a broader understanding of our poetic tradition.

Here is a link to my David Almond film. This 10 minute film deals with WHY a writer may bother to write and Almond explains why he believes literature is valuable:
https://vimeo.com/133467392
Hollie McNish....Embarrassed and Mathematics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2z-Cd3luqA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NLpLV5nUi0 
Katie Tempest..Renegade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NRYLzWovtk&t=26s
First section of Kate Tempest's BRAND NEW ANCIENTS....and EUROPE IS LOST...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLWlB3ib7ZM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffxrCDvJ8LI 
John Cooper Clarke...Twat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qN9pduox0&list=PLOlYHMQ9JTWw8KHSVtTjlXuwUAPN0R3B0 
T.S.Eliot..The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock..read by T.S.Eliot himself...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAO3QTU4PzY&t=39s 
Rupi Kaur..SHE IS A BIG POETIC DEAL AT THE MOMENT..What do you think? Literary value?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHkFFA5iGlc 
This is the essay written by Rebecca Watts that is very critical of McNish/Kaur..
https://www.pnreview.co.uk/cgi-bin/scribe?item_id=10090  
A BBC article exploring modern female poets..
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170713-the-women-poets-taking-over-the-world
Benjamin Zephaniah:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXDxMH2EUTY

SO..YOU LOT NEED TO READ and THINK. Digest these resources..attempt your own research...and think about why the work of your chosen poet may be considered to be of 'VALUE'.

Rupi Kaur discusses her work..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QEgOmgQVG4
Imtiaz Dharker and poetry..THE RIGHT WORD..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNRuT87Edp8


READ   THINK   READ   THINK   READ   THINK   READ   THINK   READ   THINK   READ

INDUCTION DAY 6th July 2018....

Hollie McNish..Embarrassed..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2z-Cd3luqA

Mathematics..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NLpLV5nUi0

John Cooper Clarke...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qN9pduox0&list=PLOlYHMQ9JTWw8KHSVtTjlXuwUAPN0R3B0

Katie Tempest..Renegade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NRYLzWovtk

Article by Rebecca Watts criticising Kate Tempest/Hollie McNish/ Rupi Kaur....
https://www.pnreview.co.uk/cgi-bin/scribe?item_id=10090

T.S.Eliot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAO3QTU4PzY 

Film that captures the work of David Almond. This was film was created when Almond visited the school in  2014.
https://vimeo.com/133467392 

OTHELLO PODCAST...
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/othello-pod

FEED YOUR BRAIN....

YEAR 12 18th June 2018....

In the last session I introduced an Anthology of poetry to assist you when preparing for your COURSEWORK. We discussed how MODERNISM attempted to create a new literary form to capture the experience of the new century. I referred to the work of Picasso and how his work changed in an attempt to find a new form of artistic expression to reflect the complexity of the industrial world. We linked this to Eliot's LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK.

This is Picasso's work in  1900..

 





















This is Picasso's work in 1907..

Below is a link to a recent interview on Channel Four News with the brilliant poet Benjamin Zephaniah...Click on link below...He is a man with views that are worthy of your attention. READ HIS POETRY. HE IS AN INCREDIBLE TALENT but is not considered canonical. BE AWARE OF HIS EXISTENCE...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zowOkv0Cuhk
Here is his poem..MONEY..1991..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2TiNi9w-XE 

BEN OKRI and the power of poetry..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufVvUS2UhcQ
Here is Ben Okri's poem about GREENFELL...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC9Ni-IPnAc&t=68s 

TONY HARRISON'S V...this is the film from 1987..Part One..You can navigate from here..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPutBM7zfv8&t=9s 
This is the poet that we will study for the second paper of the exam. V is an incredibly controversial poem. READ IT..LISTEN TO IT...THINK ABOUT IT...

EXPLORING V...BBC Radio 4 Documentary...Essential resource..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW49WJ0F2HM&t=1064s 
This is the audio recording of the poem from the BBC..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7if44iVP3_I 

Here is a link to my TONY HARRISON PODCAST...
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/tony-harrisonthis-pen-is-all-i-have-of-magic-wand

HOMEWORK:
READ the CRITICAL ANTHOLOGY
READ GRAY'S ELEGY
READ THE NOTES I GAVE YOU TODAY
READ SHELLEY'S MASK OF ANARCHY and
TONY HARRISON'S V
We will also be discussing THEM and [UZ] so read that beast n'all.
READ MY POETRY ANTHOLOGY....FEED YOUR BRAIN
LOTS OF READING  READING  READING.

POETRY for my YEAR 11...

John Agard..Checking Out Me History..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFV_06_UidI
Audio file...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEsknmeyJ5U
Ozymandias...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRWbo2x5lnA
The Prelude..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGn1Ilx_3o4
London..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BERjLZzuOg 
Remains..Simon Armitage..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HxBgCTa3v0 

Films from Aleppo...to consider when reading THE EMIGREE
https://www.channel4.com/news/inside-aleppo-stories-from-the-besieged-syrian-city

YEAR 12 15th March..SATIRE.RESOURCES..COMEDY and social commentary...

In the last lesson I made reference to CHRIS MORRIS and the series BRASS EYE. Below is a link to an episode from 2001 titled Paedogeddan. The Daily Mail asked the question 'IS THIS THE SICKEST  TV SHOW EVER?' after this show was broadcast on Channel Four. The whole point of this episode was to satirically attack the media for their grotesque misrepresentation of the threat to children in the UK. Morris was angered by the MORAL PANIC being created by the British media. The Daily Mail failed to perceive the irony being used by Morris and the satirical nature of BRASS EYE.
The full episode is available below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcU7FaEEzNU

SATIRE is defined as the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. MORRIS follows the tradition of British satire that links to the work of Dickens.
HARD TIMES IS A WORK OF SATIRE.

Below is another episode from BRASS EYE. This episode was titled 'CRIME' :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi3SQq1KjN4 
If you are feeling some Morris love...here is DRUGS..the first two minutes are unmissable:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIAJemmO-bg

LADIES and GENTLEMEN....the late..great BILL HICKS..if you are offended by taboo language..best not listen to Bill. COMEDY AS SOCIAL AND POLITICAL COMMENTARY..:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYWdzigyzNk

Here is Contemporary satirical poet Stewart Lee...UKIPS..:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKEsyIuTrO8

Links to the work of WILLIAM HOGARTH in the Eighteenth Century:
http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/grandfather-satire
http://www.artuner.com/insight/early-cartoons-the-art-of-satire/
https://www.artble.com/artists/william_hogarth


Todeay's session considered SATIRE and discussed Dickens representation of the TRADE UNIONS.

HOMEWORK: Read Men and Brothers and Men and Masters in the Second Book.

YEAR 12 5th March 2018

folks..next lesson we concentrate on the character of james harthouse. i briefly discussed personal identity and national identity today through Imtiaz Dharker's HONOUR KILLING. when I arrived back at my palatial city dwelling, i heard this on the radio...give it a listen. the content of this piece could also relate to HARD TIMES.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4Y7JNXLjnPTny3b3FsgH43/are-british-values-important
KIM LEADBEATER is the sister of murdered MP, Jo Cox.

DICKENS RESOURCES..CH4 News.

A series of CH4 News reports linked to homelessness:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/y-13-22nd-dec-2017resources.html
The Dog feature is part of this series of films.
This link provides info related to inequality in the UK:
https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/
How many people live on the streets:
https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-how-many-people-live-on-the-streets 
Gap between Rich and Poor:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/gap-between-rich-and-poormore-dickens.html

GCSE POETRY..IMAGES FOR WAR PHOTOGRAPHER...

WAR PHOTOGRAPHS...

YEAR 12 29th Jan 2018

Today's session considered the question 'CAN ART CHANGE THE WORLD ?' before moving into a consideration of the Othello timed essay question.
Below are the resources I used to illustrate the ability of Art to challenge our perception of the world and be a catalyst for social change. Obviously this is a previous blog entry so please ignore the homework:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/year-13-monday-28th-november-2016.html
Here are some other links that relate to OUR world but also connect with the motivation of CHUCKY D in HARD TIMES:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/gap-between-rich-and-poormore-dickens.html
The rest of the lesson considered content for the timed essay on THURSDAY. Below is potential content for two paragraphs:

• The first paragraph could consider the significance of time, location and light. The scene takes place at night and Iago is a character linked to darkness as viewed in the previous scene when mocking Brabantio. Iago states in his opening soliloquy that 'Hell and night Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light'. Evil intent is linked to the darkness of the night. The cover of darkness will allow Iago to weave his evil and retain his representation as being 'honest'. Iago hides in the shadows to disguise his true motivation and Shakespeare links the visual image darkness to Iago's character. Darkness inhibits the ability to view the world with clarity and Iago is a character that thrives on characters failing to perceive his true character. Darkness is also linked to evil, just as light is linked to Desdemona's virtue and innocence, and Iago could clearly be perceived as symbolic of the power of evil or the devil. He believes in the 'divinity of hell' and is descibed in A5S5 as a 'hellish villain' and Othello states 'if that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee..'  His ability to hide his true malevolence is central to his machiavellian ambition. Darkness allows him to murder Roderigo without being seen and this ability to act without revealing his true nature is a central characteristic of this powerful villain. Visual symbolism is used by Shakespeare to shape meaning in the play. The use of dakness in this play and the fact that so many scenes take place at night reinforces the idea that this is a play that deals with the theme of perception, evil, and duplicity. In this play, darkness hides the truth. Similarly the visual symbol of 'the kneeling' in Act Three Scene Three is loaded with meaning. SO...DARKNESS as VISUAL SYMBOL linked to the character of Iago is the key focus of this paragraph. DRAMA IS A VISUAL MEDIUM AND THIS PLAY IS RICH WITH VISUAL SYMBOLISM. Many scenes in this play are cloaked in the darkness of night and this is a play that explores the theme of perception and the power of evil....'KNAVERY'S PLAIN FACE IS NEVER SEEN...TILL USED..'

• The second paragraph could explore the fact that this extract is the moment in the play that presents the significance of DRAMATIC IRONY. Why might the audience be surprised by Iago's show of loyalty? What have we witnessed in the previous scene? Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony is central to the tragic nature of the play as the audience PITY Othello's destruction and are helpless as this man of 'royal siege' is destroyed by Iago. Could link to Aristotle's view of tragedy. This paragraph could link to the significance of soliloquy in creating the dramatic irony that drives the dramatic tension. Obviously the soliloquy also has a symbolic significance when Othello begins to use this dramatic form as this illustrates the success of Iago's manipulation. SO THIS IS A ..'SIGNIFICANCE OF DRAMATIC IRONY' paragraph.

• The third paragraph could deal with the significance of the nautical metaphor used by Othello that forewarns of the impending emotional tempest and gives clues as to the destructive potential of Othello's character.

• The conclusion needs to consider the genre of tragedy and link the significance of this moment to the rest of the play.

YEAR 12 22nd Jan 2018...Modelling..

Today's session considered the question 'HOW DOES DICKENS PRESENT BOUNDERBY IN CHAPTER 4 ?' and the class modelled a paragraph in response to this question.
The aim of this session was to illustrate how an A Level paragraph is formed. Students were asked to follow the structure:

• OPINION
• TEXTUAL REFERENCE
• EXPLAIN HOW TEXTUAL REFERENCE SUPPORTS OPINION
• QUESTION FOCUS/ AUTHOR'S AIM...

The whole aim of this lesson was to illustrate EXACTLY how an A Level paragraph is created. WE created a response that was A grade quality and I hope students can replicate this structure when creating their own work. Students have also received two exemplar paragraphs linked to Othello and Hard Times. I expect students to develop an awareness of how important it is to create a clear and textually specific critical commentary. Our last essay was 'okay' but the area we need to improve is the ability to explain HOW textual reference supports viewpoint and how language/form/structure is used to shape meaning. WE ALSO NEED TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO PRESENT A COHERENT CRITICAL COMMENTARY as some arguments were too superficial and ambiguous.

HOMEWORK: I expect students to provide a detailed PARAGRAPH in response to the question:
HOW DOES DICKENS PRESENT GRADGRIND IN THE OPENING CHAPTERS OF HARD TIMES?
I expect the paragraph to be as detailed and textually specific as the example we modelled today and also reflect the quality present in the two exemplar paragraphs. THIS IS A BIG TASK as some students need to show me that they can produce a coherent, textually specific, and structured critical commentary. This paragraph needs to be handed to me on Thursday. I have given you some very detailed notes linked to HARD TIMES so read them!
In Thursday's lesson we will be looking at Hard Times and Othello so bring both texts. We will also be discussing possible content for the timed 'OTHELLO' essay that we will be attempting next Monday. PLEASE CONTINUE TO BRING YOUR BRAINS.
Today's session was excellent. Appreciated. You are a fantastic group.
Here are some DICKENS resources to aid understanding...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9dB9BZWDBU
BBC Dickens documentary with Armando Ianucci..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lZB6E0-yCk

GCSE images..