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Learner Portfolio Entry 1: A Quiet Place Entry

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Learner Portfolio Entry 1: A Quiet Place Entry

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Humanity's fate has arrived, as they were stripped off (of the one way that brings us together). Our ability to speak. Yet the indominable will of the human spirit, allows one family to continue living, with the use of sign language. A man, his wife and his (3) three children snoop around an abandoned pharmacy searching for medicine that could help treat their sick son. The mother of the boy delicately shifts the small flasks of pills to ensure no sound is made, whilst her fatigued boy lies down next to a counter.

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What are my own conceptions of war and where did they come from?

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What are my own conceptions of war and where did they come from?

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During my childhood, a lot of the media I consumed was from Indian tv or movies. India is a country which gives a good amount of value to patriotism and nationalism. So I would watch a completely fictional movie, where India would be usually be in a war. These movies showcased a perspective of war that is very positive and enthusiastic, resulting in me wanting to go to war too. However, over the years I came across the author Michael Morpurgo, whose books were usually a fictional story revolving around a war, usually around the time of the second world war. In the books "An eagle in the snow" or "The amazing story of adolphus tips" or "War Horse", Michael showcased war as one of the most horrid things that could ever happen to someone, by emphasizing on the deaths of loved ones, destruction of homes and more. I am glad I came accross his writings and stories of developing young men just like myself, because they've helped me develop a good understanding of political conflicts and why they occur.

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1. Why does the commercial open with an image of hands holding a trophy and a baseball player signing an autograph?  How do the images connect to the voiceover ("They didn't join this team to win championships or become famous")?

The opening showcases this particular image to represent fame, success or achievement. However the voiceover acts as a contrast to the image, to describe that soldiers do not participate in the millitary for their personal glory, but to serve their country.

2. Why make a list and why make that list superlative in this statement: "They are brighter, better educated, lead, and equipped than any team in history"?

These descriptions emphasize on the fact that soldiers in the millitary strive exceptionally in comparison to people who do not join the millitary. The audience feels admiration and trust as soldiers are portrayed as highly skilled in intellect.

3. What is the interplay between text (the voiceover) and images in this part of the commercial: "They are doctors, lawyers, engineers, technologists, and combat troops"?

Voiceover lists a variety of professional roles. The listing assonates in the audiences mind, catching their interest. The images conform with the assonance in order to reinforce the fact that soldiers are more than fighters. That they are professionals in a large number of fields.

4. An image with the American flag is presented at 32 seconds.  Why?  What purpose does this symbol serve at this point in the commercial?

The flag symbolizes patriotism, pride and unity. This allows for the creators to evoke an emotional connection to the audience.

5. The voiceover states "One day, they may be asked what they did to make a difference in this world.  And they can respond: I became a soldier."    How do the three images provided during this time connect to and amplify the statement given in the voiceover?

The images amplify the emotional strength of the statement by showing the soldier's contributions

6. How does the music at the end connect to the purpose of the commercial?

It is inspirational, triumphant and it delivers a message of honor and pride. This ultimately inspires the audience to support the millitary.

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Analytical Questions for Military Advertisement

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Analytical Questions for Military Advertisement

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Why are they displaying people of many races/genders?

Why has no voiceover been used?

Why are short and concise phrases used instead of long sentences?

Why is the music loud and the production quality so clean?

To what extent can this advertisement be misleading or optimistic?

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1. Why did you choose to add text rather than dialogue?

Our entire aim out of the advertisement, was to get our view out to the reader and sort of persuade them to side with us. What happens with dialogue, is that people feel they are being told to do something and it comes off as a command rather than a persuasion. Simultaneously, as humans we start to consider who is speaking, what their background is and so on. However with text, we can speak with ourselves. The person we know the best. This allows our side of the story to better resonate with the audience, and so more people actively choose to join us.

2. Why is the text/dialogue rather short?

So this is a very good question and the answer is, it is simply much more appealing to the audience. In order to change the watcher’s opinion, we have to come across as pleasurable. We don’t want the audience to think we are taking all of their time away from them, but only a short two minutes. At the same time, we want them to not just listen to what we are saying, but also think about it and analyse it allowing it to resonate with them. This is impossible with a long dialogue as the watcher does not get enough time to think and relate. It should also be considered that people don’t have a great attention span. We cannot keep the same attitude up for more than about five minutes. After those first few minutes, we start getting bored and instead of relating to the video, we start to despise it.

3. What made you choose the music?

More than images or text, our brains are most emotionally connected to music. The music in this video specifically is rather slow, which reflects on a sense of pride. This allows the audience to relate with the video, simply due to the fact that humans love music.

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How and in what ways does perspective influence the way a text is interpreted?

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How and in what ways does perspective influence the way a text is interpreted?

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Perspective influences the way a person may interpret a text, as different people percieve characters, events, themes or underlying meanings in their own ways. This can be observed through military advertisements which encourage young people to join the military.

Music for example can have a great impact, as loud powerful music may evoke a sense of pride or excitement for a pro military audience, whilst anti-military audiences may feel overwhelmed and it may even come of as aggressive.

Vibrant bright colours may be alluring to a career-focused audience, who may experience a sense of optimism, but an audience which may previously have served in the military may see it as an attempt to gloss over the hardships of the military life.

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A story can be referred to as a narrative driven by its plot, narration and perspective. The plot answers "What happens?", and describes the series of events in a specific order. The narrator's voice shapes how the plot is told, which could be in first person, second, third. The story is directed to an audience and set within a context, either in the present, past, or future. Language choice influences tone and meaning, while the narrator's authority determines how trustworthy they are. Perspective, or whose viewpoint is presented, influences how events are interpreted, creating a unique narrative experience shaped by these elements.

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The question 'What is Art' brings up a line of thought. Art can take forms such as music, poetry, novels, short stories, speeches or movies, each offering a unique way of conveying ideas or opinions. Art is often known for its emotional resonance, self-expressive nature, uniqueness and its ability to engage audiences visually or auditorily, either way expressing purpose and meaning. For a text to be considered art, it should display creativity, depth, diverse perspectives and originality. This encourages a deeper understanding and appreciation of art in its many forms.

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The title "All The Light We Cannot See", evokes a sense of mystery. It makes me think of the unseen and often overlooked aspects of life. I feel a sense of appreciation when I think of it. However it also evokes feelings of loss or missed opportunities. It suggests the idea of being blind, just like Marie Laure herself, but not literally. Rather blind to the positive aspects around us and focusing on the unseen struggles and hidden pains that people endure. The title might also relfect the harsh realities of war.

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Conflict: It can be between two people/nations, but also internally, when we are forced to act against our values

War: Has a devastating impact on communities and individuals, both physically and psychologically

Time: Is both personal and relative; it is experienced linearly; it can stretch out and speed up, depending on the individual's state of mind.

Seeing: Can be both literal and figurative. Those who are blind are sometimes more able to 'see' the truths in the world around us.

The Natural World: Is the only constant - the watcher, the victim, the survivor - of the destructive behaviour of humans.

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(Marie Laure and Daniel Leblanc have just reached Etienne’s home in Saint Malo and have a warm cooked meal by Madame Manec, the housekeeper. Madame Manec is startled at Marie Laure’s circumstances, but also very impressed with her. P. 120 Also in third person.)

The child’s arrival feels like a gentle ripple through the house. She stands in the narrow doorway, small and still, her face angled towards nothingness. Her careful movements, her hand brushing her fathers arm. It’s not hesitation; but rather that she’s reading the room without seeing it at all.

Madame Manec watches her for a moment, taking in her almost stick-like physique. The untidy stockings, her paleness. A fragile thing she is, but brave. Beside her, the father is speaking, politely and apologetically, but Madame’s attention remains on the girl.

The kitchen soon fills with sounds of the ticking stove, the hum of the gas, followed by the cracking of eggs and sizzles and pops of fatty butter. The girl asks for a fork. What a calm voice, yet so steady. How many miles has she traveled? How rushful and difficult the journey must have been for her, being unable to see? And she continues to express her gratitude through her distinct manners.

Later, after food is gone, Madame cleans the girl’s feet, carefully with a damp rag. There is no fuss, no complaint, just tranquil acceptance. And as the night deepens, and the father’s voice fades into silence, Madame glances one last time at the girl. For the first time in years, the house feels alive.

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1. How do we define ourselves and what role do texts play in this?

We tend to define and express ourselves through our culture, our past experiences, beliefs or choices. In texts, characters are defined this way too, as well as using their persepctive and their role within the context of the novel. These expressions of character and identity are further employed using the relationships of characters with other characters and their interactions, such as speech or imagery or inner monologue.

2. How powerful are textual representations of gender in shaping our understanding and expectations?

As most novels and texts aim to impact the reader's emotions or understanding, textual representations are quite influential especially gender focused ones.

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Before I saw the entire picture, I used to think the image was a metaphorical representation of a little girl pushing away the curtains of the window, attempting to escape its poverty. This escape can be observed as bright due to the shadow that forms behind the little girl as light shines from north east. It seems that the child comes from a background of poverty because of the worn out bland grey clothes that it wears.

After looking at the entire image I came to realize that the child is indeed not in poverty but a child left uncared for by both mother and father.

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How societal expectations affect women's mental health, well-being and self-worth? 30.01.2025

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How societal expectations affect women's mental health, well-being and self-worth? 30.01.2025

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Dana Goldstein's Fallen Princesses series of photographs, published in 2014, takes the well-known characters from fairy stories and presents them in an everyday context to explore the global issue of 'How societal expectations affect women's mental health, well-being and self worth'

This issue is explored both directly and indirectly across all of the photographs in the Body Of Work through the author's use of Colour Contrasts.

For example, in the photo 'Belle', the author uses sterile green surgical gloves to show the artificial nature of modern expectations of women, but also red cuts on Belle's face to symbolize the painful lengths women go to conform with the unattainable beauty elements.

In contrast, in the photograph 'Cinder' the issue is explored through varying illumination

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How powerful are advertisements in impacting and shaping our understanding of gender norms?

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How powerful are advertisements in impacting and shaping our understanding of gender norms?

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In light of my research, I now think that advertisements are very powerful in impacting and shaping our understanding of gender norms because they are emotionally persuasive. I also believe that organisations such as dove work against gender norms, but prove that both alligning and challenging norms can be monetized.

In order to convey their message in a short amount of time, advertisements are structured upon common gender societal expectations, such as almost artificially appealing women in beauty ads, convincing the audience that buying their product would make one that beautiful. These norms are therefore associated with happiness, success or in this case beauty.

This misleads the audience into thinking the societal expectations and norms are aspirational and therefore worth conforming to. The emotionally persuasive elements of advertisements also influence our self perception. This is because conforming to gender norms internalizes the message, thus shaping how they see not only others in society but themselves.

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What are they?: Works with visual and textual elements used to convey political opinion.

Where?: In countries of democracies and freedom of speech

Who?: Usually artists or creators who hold a political opinion

What is their main purpose?: To convey their political opinion but perhaps also to change the political opinion of the audience.

What tools?: Visuals and text, perhaps catchphrases.

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28.03.2025: How do playwrights explore the complexity of identity?

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28.03.2025: How do playwrights explore the complexity of identity?

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What identity challenges do the characters face in this section of the play?:

Jean struggles to embrace his role as a valet driver, because he feels entitled to something greater. Thus he chooses to consistently express himself in a way that challenges his role as a servant, putting Jean into a crisis, where he feels the need to change his actions and hide what he is insecure about, his role.

How does Strindberg use the tools available to him (words, dialogue, movement, stage directions) to convey these challenges?

The stage directions frequently indicate fluctuations in Jean’s tone—ranging from respectful and polished when speaking formally to Miss Julie, to assertive and commanding when he tries to assert power over her. This shift suggests his struggle between his learned manners as a servant and his deeper desire for authority.

How did you convey these challenges? I used a louder more confident tone when acting out the moments where Jean attempts to assert himself over Miss Julie, and a faster hesitant voice when Jean speaks about his past or his insecurities.

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In this passage, whilst Christina, Jean's fiancee goes to sleep, Jean and Miss Julie pass time together, picking lilacs. Jean is quite hesitant in this act, whilst Miss Julie seems very invested in spending time with Jean.

The author writes up minimal stage directions in order to emphasize on the dialogue within the moment. As a reader of this passage, it makes me think about the emotions the characters feel. This also highlights the tensity of the scene.

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- What is your definition of a 'call to action'?

A message, designed to raise awareness, which can be expressed in a variety of forms.
- In what ways do different texts call us to action?  Give 2-3 different text types, and associated examples.

1. Speech

A speech usually aims to directly target an audience's opinion, in an attempt to gather support over a certain belief or issue. A good example is Abiskar Raut's motivational speech, about the fundamental issues regarding Nepal's education system and politics. He emphasises the importance of Nepal's youth, conveying that they are the ones who can catalyse Nepal's development.

2. Advertisement

An advertisement aims to raise awareness about an issue which affects a large number of consumers, in order to associate their product with the solution to the issue. A good example is the indian colgate advert, which associates their product with the solution to the issue of cavities.

Explain how (or whether) they are effective in calling you - or another reader - to action?  How does the author inspire you to take some form of action?

The Authors of the examples I provided were effective in calling for action on my part, mainly because it made me feel a sense of community, which aims to benefit myself and others.

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25.09.2025 David Attenborough's COP 26 speech 2021

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25.09.2025 David Attenborough's COP 26 speech 2021

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Purpose:

To instill hope regarding the ongoing Climate Change

Audience: World leaders and delegates at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow.

Context:

Global carbon emissions rose drastically

Climate change threatening ecosystems

Critical time

Text Type:

Speech

Big concern:

Carbon concentration

Loss of Climate stability

Inequality of impact

Big message:

Climate action

Reduced inequality

Partnerships for the goals

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Why do people read, write and study literary texts?

1. Exploring different voices/ perspectives amuses people.

2. A celebration of self expression and humanity

3. In order to understand each other better.

What place does Literature hold in society? How and why has it changed over time?

1. I believe Literature can directly influence people's perspectives on issues.

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How do artistic movements represent the concerns of the time?

Example: Modernism 20th century -->

Time of war (1945) --> lack of narrative structure

Fresh start --> no structure

Reflects rebuilding

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6.11 How is 'genre' a complex term? Can we say what the characteristics of genre are?

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6.11 How is 'genre' a complex term? Can we say what the characteristics of genre are?

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It is difficult to define genre, as the specific meaning is unclear. Moreover, classifying literature into specific categories of genres is also difficult, as every piece of literature is unique, and can be classified into multiple genres.

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18.01 Theatrical techniques in Top Girls By Caryl Churchill

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18.01 Theatrical techniques in Top Girls By Caryl Churchill

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Theatrical techniques questions:

Shubhu

i) Overlapping dialogue: read pp.37-38. Which of the interpretations of overlapping dialogue do you agree with? Why?

Firstly, I agree that overlapping dialogue creates realism, by closely resembling the way that people speak in real life.

Create dialogue that more closely resembles the way people speak in real life. Although sometimes rude, natural conversations include interruptions, unfinished sentences and speaking over each other.

On the other hand, I also agree that it was deliberately used to highlight the character’s lack of empathy and emotional distance. This is because the women consistently talk over one another, rarely responding to each other, reflecting their ‘inability to listen to and share experiences’.

The reason for this lack of connection may be because Marlene’s dinner guests are self centred and unable to communicate well with others.

ii) Voice: read pp.38-40. Drawing on this and your knowledge of the play, how does Churchill create a distinctive voice for each of her characters? You can create a table to answer this question in note form.

Churchill uses dialogue and voice to reflect social class and power. This creates a stark contrast between the language of those who are privileged

Character

Voice

Surreal Dinner Guests

Waitress: Entirely silent

Gret: Blunt and doesn’t speak at all

Isabella: Brusque

Nijo: Quotes poetry

→ Sees past experiences as a concubine as a ‘rite of passage’ while Marlene sees it as rape.

Joan: Wise and religious

Joyce

Aggressive and working class dialect

Angie

Simple language, gets confused by simple metaphors

Kit

Childish retorts and short lines

Marlene

Polished her speech to align with corporate life

Slips up with words like ‘pet’, which show her roots hiding beneath the surface.

Sebastian

iii) Structure: read pp. 40-42. Plot the structure of the play visually, in a way that makes sense to you (this could be a story mountain, timeline or other visualisation). Why, and to what effect, does Churchill structure the play in this way?

iv) Characterization 1: read pp.42-44 and note down any interesting ideas.

Jonas

v) Characterization 2: Top Girls feels more like a series of ‘skits’ (or snapshots of moments) than a continuous narrative. As such, there isn’t really any character development. Instead, character is developed through conflict. Create a table or list the different types of conflict that you see between characters. Connect these to the main themes of the play.

Feminist conflict: Malene against Joyce

Joyce criticizes Marlene for abandoning her working-class roots and family responsibilities to pursue career success. Themes: Feminism, Sacrifice,

Social, Class conflict: Marlene against Angie

Marlene wants Angie to embrace opportunities. However, Angie struggles with poverty and limited options, so tension arises around privileges and success.

vi) Set and props: what do you notice about the set (through the stage directions)? What objects appear (or are mentioned) in the play and what symbolism do they have?

The play isn't fully realistic. Scenes flow quickly and often shift locations. This allows them to focus on characters' dialogue and interactions rather than the realistic scenery. Key elements include tables and chairs symbolizing gathering of characters. Furthermore, office prompts like papers and folders represent career ambition and bureaucracy.

Louis

Context: Does the ‘world’ created by Churchill only belong to 1980s Britain, or does it transcend time and place? Read pages 1-5 of the introduction (Contexts) to help you answer the question:

The play is not only about the 1980s, as in Act 1 women from different times in history meet at a restaurant and talk about their lives. Even though they lived a long time ago, they suffered because of men and unfair rules set by society's standards for women.

vii) Sound and light: Churchill gives very few instructions about sound and lighting. If you were directing the play, how would you use sound and light? Choose 2 moments in the play (extracts of 10-20 lines) and describe what sound and lighting you would use and why.

Moment 1: Dinner party act 1

Sound: Soft classical music in the background, with clinking glasses and laughs to create a lively atmosphere. The music dims when they discuss their struggles, highlighting the hidden pain behind their success.

Lighting: Warm and soft lighting to create a cozy feel, which gradually dims as the conversation turns darker, reflecting the emotional tension under their success.

Moment 2: Marlene and Joyce’s Confrontation Act 3

Sound: Sharp, intense sounds like a ticking clock.

Lighting: Cold, lighting with sharp focus on their faces, growing more intense as the argument escalates.