Propaganda In My Own Words

Propaganda is an influential source of information for society, however propaganda often has its own agenda based, not on what is best for society necessarily, but more so on what gatekeepers, the media or the government, choose to feed society with. This agenda often appears to lead to a place of idealism and good intentions, from society’s point of view, however the reality may not be so idyllic. Propaganda often uses language and imagery to its advantage, exploiting the power of manipulation that language can be used for, as well as its ability to be subtle and precise. 

Example of writing on the purpose of a text:

In the article Saturday Night At The Movies the author addresses the idea that positives can be found even in dire situations, Kim Newth is highlighting the positive outcomes of the Christchurch Earthquakes, showing that from the awful situation there has been a new found community created around this theatre. Newth tells the reader that "This rural community loves every minute of it", explaining that although they are not necessarily the most modernistic society with the greatest theatre, rural relating to the countryside rather than a town or city, there is much more to this theatre experience than sitting down and watching the latest box office hit. "Saturday night in front of the tell just can't compete with the lure of popcorn and ice creams, good company and the magic of the big screen." says Newth, showing that one of the most important aspects of this experience is the people and community it has built along with it, the good company. She reiterates this again earlier in the text with the specific examples of David Belton and Richard Sutherland, who went to the same movie theatre as young boys in the 60's, bringing back huge nostalgia for them as their fathers were also part of the theatre community that ran at Waikari. So not only has this theatre created a new found community, it has reinstated an old one, bringing with it history and a sort of legacy back with it. It seems that this Waikari theatre that has been reequipped, reinstalled and reinvented with a touch of history kept in the foreground, has truly created a positive out of the devastating situation of the Christchurch earthquakes.

At The Bay - Mrs Harry Kember

Comments and Observations on the Character Mrs Harry Kember in Section V:
-Imagery of Mrs Harry Kember

• Smoking has negative connotations
• However it shows individuality which is somewhat desirable (juxtaposed with the negativity the reader is positioned to feel creates a very interesting character - the idea of something bad being desirable)
• Mrs Harry Kember plays bridge all day - European game associated with higher society (aiding in a very modernistic and individualistic persona)
• Women at the Bay thought her very "fast": lack of vanity, slang, treated men as if she was one of them.

-Mrs Harry Kember's husband was ten years younger and described as very handsome. This is something very modernistic and seen in the text to not be the "norm"

- Mrs Fairfield along with most of the other women on the beach did not approve of Mrs Harry Kember, however despite this, Beryl chose to walk along the beach to undress with Mrs Harry Kember. Mansfield is positioning the reader here to possibly have a negative view on Mrs Harry Kember due to the previous descriptions, diction choice and tone, however to also recognise that there is something desirable in an individual that is modernistic and independent.

-Mrs Harry Kember is very outspoken with her thoughts, complementing Beryl. Beryl denies and rejects the compliment though showing the contrasting personalities.

-Mrs Harry Kember is very confident  individualistic, independent and modernistic in contrast to Beryl who is a very shy and closed individual.

-Beryl's views alter with Mrs Harry Kember's attitude and opinions towards things, showing that individuals are easily influenced by something they see as desirable

-The character Mrs Harry Kember helps Mansfield communicate that ugliness is harshly judged.

Depiction of Women in "At The Bay"

Mansfield suggests that women must mask their true selves in the presence of a controlling male figure. When Stanley leaves for the coach at the end of section three, Mansfield expresses the relief of the women and the sudden change in behaviour and attitude through dialogue. “Their very voices were changed as they called to one another; they sounded warm and loving…” Stanley is in fact representative of a male presence in general. Through this symbolism and the relief shown in the dialogue, Mansfield explores the women's discomfort and silent agitation whilst in the presence of the man, further suggesting that men in that society oppress and degrade women, limiting them of their full potential and removing their freedom.

Investigating Elements of Literature - Diction

“Diction in its original, primary meaning, refers to the writer's or the speaker's distinctive vocabulary choices and style of expression in a poem or story” - Wikipedia

Diction is the choice of words used by the author. It is used to portray a particular atmosphere in the text and it is also used by the author to show their tone or attitude to the subject at hand. As many words can have similar meanings, their different connotations is pivotal to subtly changing their meaning be it for the reader or to express the author’s opinion. 

Many different aspects are examined when choosing a particular word:

• One syllable vs many syllable words
• Literal vs figurative: Whether the word portrays exactly what is happening or some creative license is being used (e.g. in a metaphor or simile)
• Denotative vs Connotative: The exact meaning is portrayed or something more emotional is implied
• Objective vs Subjective: Whether a factual, logical approach is taken or an opinionated approach is taken
• Concrete vs Abstract: Something that is tangeble and specific or something that is not tangible or physical

Exposition of At The Bay – Practicing A Body Paragraph

Mansfield addresses the concept that humanity is faced with the natural occurrence of negative and positive experiences in reality through her use of tone, which fluctuates between a positive and negative state. She creates a negative tone in the beginning of the first paragraph through her diction choice of words such as “drenched” and “smothered”, these both creating a heavy and weighty atmosphere within the setting. Through these diction choices Mansfield positions the reader to feel and notice an oppressive and suffocating atmosphere, thus through the tone she is trying to suggest that this is in fact, an aspect of reality. Juxtaposed with the following section of the paragraph appearing more positive, due to imagery, diction choices [EXAMPLES]. She then creates a paradox, allowing the reader to understand that reality is neither wholly bad nor good, negative nor positive, still nor moving.

At The Bay - Thinking About Section One

Mansfield spends a lot of time developing in-depth description throughout the first section of this short story. Often focusing on the way she reprises what we would see as a natural image of a beach, to what she wants the reader to see, a deeper, subtly darker view of the beach. An example of this being in the first paragraph, where she creates this idea of an atmosphere veiled by water “white sea mist”, “heavy dew”, “Drenched” water is mentioned in almost every aspect of the setting she describes.
Through an uncomfortable/indecisive/dark tone Mansfield creates this heavy, dense atmosphere conveyed through water, (because water is dense and will take the shape or form of the object it is in, filling up cavities and empty spaces). This underlying idea, in fact, speaks largely of the human condition. Mansfield is positioning the reader to see this underlying negativity behind the water, creating a heavy atmosphere and therefore exploring the concept that we all have these weights that we carry with us, burdens or problems that "sit on our shoulders".

Man Alone Commentary

Man Alone

‘That's Auckland, mate–the Queen of the North.’

‘The what?’

The Queen of the North. That's what they call it–in Auckland. This is God's own, this country.’

‘It looks all right.’

‘It's not a bad little town–nor a bad little country neither. It looks small after London though, don't it, mate? It looks different now to me to what it did.’

The soldier had a face that was shrunken and pockmarked and unhealthy-looking; his left arm had not recovered from a shrapnel wound; he carried it stiffly in front of him. He said:

‘It's three years since I seen those wharves. We was billeted in the wharf-sheds two nights before we sailed. It was cold as death.’

‘I didn't think it was ever cold here,’ Johnson said.

‘It's cold enough sometimes in winter, mate, if you're not sleeping in your bed, and we weren't sleeping in our beds.’

He coughed, lighting a cigarette.

‘It's home again now for me, mate,’ he said, ‘and there'll be the wife and kids and all there waiting to meet us.’

With the understanding you have of context, write a short commentary on the passage. Give to me your understanding of the text and the evidence to support your claims. Then analyse this evidence as we did when we wrote in the poetry test recently.

The author, John Mulgan was influenced greatly by his heritage and culture when writing this piece, Man Alone, and this is shown through his writing. His childhood and teenage years growing up in Auckland as well as his life during the war and the influence of England all come through in this text.

The usage of the word “mate” is very interesting in this piece of writing, mate is predominately an informal English word for a “friend” only used among men, New Zealand has inherited it and is now very much part of the kiwi culture.  By using this term we see the influence of the New Zealand English language and how the area he was living in at the time had an impact on his language choice. He more than likely learnt this term growing up in Auckland during his childhood, but then it solidified during the war among comrades, creating a sense of community in dire situations. (not happy with this paragraph - slightly irrelevant and goes off on a bit of a tangent).

Mulgan found coming home from the war almost a homecoming after spending so much time in England, “It’s home again now for me, mate” through this quote we see Mulgan express his how gratitude and relief towards finally being able to come back to New Zealand after the war and finding that it still was home. Mulgan more than likely faced horrific experiences during the war, and so this piece of writing is reflective of the joy he would have felt being able to return to Auckland, his childhood home. This could also be an influence on the way he speaks of Auckland.  He calls it “The Queen of the North”, comparing such a small city to the Queen implies he’s very fond and proud of his country, as he would have been of the Queen whilst fighting in the war.

Mulgan fought in World War 1, building a sense of pride for his county, New Zealand, as well as the Commonwealth and the Queen. During the war Mulgan was made a major and second-in-command of his regiment. This sense of pride for not only New Zealand but representing the Queen, could have influenced his writing in this case. We see throughout the text that he makes references to England many times, “Queen of the North” and “It looks small after London…”, these references to the Queen and London, implying that Auckland is the most powerful city in the North, as well as showing the influence of the Commonwealth on New Zealand at the time. New Zealand was a colony of England when this was written and so it was greatly influenced, this showing through in the text.