Teachers Talk Texts

In this episode, Clare speaks with Sonia Murr about Trevor Noah's memoir, 'Born A Crime'. The text is a wild ride, careering from absolutely hilarious to gut-wrenchingly heart-breaking in the turn of a page, and it provides a unique vantage point to interrogate the impacts of apartheid in South Africa. Sonia's reflections and insights into the novel are thoughtful and considered, especially around political correctness and engaging with this text meaningfully in a classroom. 

If you are interested in reading more of Sonia's insights, she is the author of the VATE teaching notes, available for download here: https://www.vate.org.au/shop/inside-stories/born-crime-vate-inside-stories-2023-pdf 

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In this episode, Clare speaks with Philip Thiel about Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed novel,  'Things Fall Apart'. Together, they discuss the importance of understanding a post-colonial lens as a means of exploring this text, and how Achebe invites his reader into this narrative through his decision to write the novel in English. Further, this conversation centres on the significance of gender, and not just masculinity, but femininity too, and how Achebe interrogates these constructs in his depiction of traditional Igbo society.   

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Kat from BEAR Learn returns in this episode, flipping the script and putting Clare in the hot seat to answer questions about Much Ado About Nothing. Having recently authored analysis of 50 key quotations from the play in collaboration with BEAR Learn, this conversation dips into some of the key ideas and concerns of Shakespeare, and how students can streamline their study by honing in on high utility quotations that can do heavy lifting in analysis. The conversation gives a little taste of what the analysis includes, and students (or teachers!) can click on the links below if they are interested in more. But more than that, this conversation explores why Much Ado is still so relevant for today's audience, in how it interrogates the power dynamics of gender, of marriage, and more broadly, of status in society.

Want to get the analysis? Click here!

Want to know more about BEAR Learn? Click here!

Interested in a Bear BANK? Click here!

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Clare is joined by Melinda Keyte in this conversation, to discuss Toni Jordan's novel, 'Nine Days'. The discussion is rich and broad, as Melinda speaks knowledgeably and passionately about the text, including ideas of women's emancipation, the symbolism of the house on Rowena Parade, Jordan's rich characterisation and the importance of love in upholding social values in difficult times. The novel itself traverses a period of significant change in Australia, and so there is much to explore. Even those with a confident conception of their understanding of the novel should listen in, as this discussion will challenge and inspire new understandings and perspectives. 

A couple of post-conversation notes from Melinda:
- Check out page 259, as this is where you will find many pivotal quotes about Connie's death and Kip's reflection after Alec discovers the photograph - "no one expected a grand passion, you see. We aimed for smaller things: the health of our family, being warm, being safe." 
- Don't forget that Charlotte had a daughter, Libby, as well. The three women, therefore, Stanzi, Charlotte and Libby made Alec feel oppressed (in his own words). He says he'll "never live in a house", preferring to think of himself in a loft in New York or somewhere in India. But, fundamentally, it is his relationship and respect for his grandfather that saves him from tragedy in that fatal car trip.  

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Teachers Talk Texts is BACK! After a brief hiatus, Clare is back in the recording chair, accompanied by new baby Scarlett, ready to talk texts. In this episode, she is joined by Ashleigh Cavalin to discuss one of the new films to the Year 12 text list - Billy Wilder's 'Sunset Boulevard'.
The conversation delves into the symbolism of the film, and how Wilder used this film as a mechanism to criticise and condemn the Hollywood industry of the time. From fancy cars to rats in the pool, listen in for some insights into a true classic.

To hear more from Ashleigh, check out her YouTube channel, and accompanying resources in her TPT store, Mrs Cavalin's Classroom. 

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...and Teachers Talk Texts is back for Season 3! Have you missed me?

In this episode, Clare speaks with Punita Mistry about Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. If you are looking for a critically feminist reading of the text, this is your episode. If you are a bit unsure about critically feminist readings of texts, have a listen anyway, because Punita's arguments are so well evidenced and articulated that even Clare was swayed into questioning the absolute nature of Lizzy and Darcy's love (shock!). 

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In this final episode of the 2021 season, Clare is joined by Lisa Wilks-Beasy to discuss David Malouf's mythological reimagining, 'Ransom', and Stephen Frears' film, 'The Queen'. The conversation explores a range of points of connection and disconnection, as Lisa confidently moves from text to test, identifying pertinent analytical points. Malouf's rich storytelling and description is placed in comparison with Frears directorial style, including acknowledging his use of real historical footage of the time. Fundamentally, both texts foster empathy in their reader and audience to the difficulties that leaders face in negotiating the challenges thrown at them. 

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Clare is joined for the second time by the knowledgeable and insightful Sophia Marsden-Smith for a conversation that explores the big ideas of Arthur Miller's pivotal play, 'The Crucible', and Rosalie Ham's dark novel, 'The Dressmaker'. Together, Sophia and Clare explore the elements of Australian Gothic, in the case of 'The Dressmaker' and the historical allegory of Miller's play, and the underlying fear that is inherent in the communities of both texts. Fundamentally, these texts are important because they reveal the truth of human experience, and how individuals, and how women, seek to claim their agency in a world that denies them liberty. 

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In this episode, Clare speaks with Tahnee Dwyer about Christine Piper's 'After Darkness'. The conversation spans the entire text, as Tahnee expertly weaves through the three interwoven plotlines, culminating in a rather contentious epilogue. Piper's incredible skill in characterisation and use of setting to reflect a character's inner mind is explored, as well as the text's capacity to evoke empathy in the reader, to better understand the experience of individuals placed in impossible positions, and the ramifications of this on a life.

If you are interested in more of Tahnee's analysis, head to: https://bearlearn.com/product/afterdarkness/  to download her key quotes and analysis. 

Join in the conversation on Instagram @teacherstalktexts 

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In this episode, Clare is joined by Tania Castauro to discuss the comparative text pairing of Robyn Davidson's 'Tracks' and Rolf de Heer's film, 'Charlie's Country'. Tania has a strong understanding of the two texts, and confidently shares her interpretations around the parallels between the path Charlie takes and the trip Robyn embarks upon. 

Engaging actively with these two texts is a significant undertaking, as the issues and ideas they explore, provoke and condemn serve as critical reminders of our nation's past, and a reminder of our unavoidable responsibility as Australians. The discomfort that comes with reading and viewing such narratives is necessary to catalyse growth in ourselves, in our understanding, and in our empathy for others. 

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