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A Study Guide by Katy Marriner A FOOT IN EACH WORLD. A HEART IN NONE © ATOM 2016 A STUDY GUIDE BY KATY MARRINER http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN: 978-1-74295-936-8 http://theeducationshop.com.au Spear (2015), a feature film directed by Stephen Page, tells an Indigenous Australian story through movement, dance, sound, visual design and digital Australian Curriculum Learning media. A young Aboriginal man Djali journeys through his community Areas: Year 10 attempting to understand what it means to be a man. Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers English are advised that Spear contains voices and names of http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/english/ deceased people. curriculum/f-10?layout=1#level10 Curriculum links Humanities and Social Sciences: History http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/ Spear is suitable for secondary students in Years humanities-and-social-sciences/history/curriculum/f- 10 – 12 in the learning areas of Dance, Drama, 10?layout=1#level10 English, History and Media. The Arts: Dance Spear can be used as a resource to address the http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/the-arts/ Australian Curriculum: Cross-curriculum priority – dance/curriculum/f-10?layout=1#level9-10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures. The film’s depiction of the experiences of Indigenous Australians, particularly of adult males, The Arts: Drama provides opportunities for students to engage in http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/the-arts/ discussions about Indigenous Australian identity drama/curriculum/f-10?layout=1#level9-10 and belonging and to examine the influences of tra- ditional Indigenous views and values, as well as the The Arts: Media Arts impact of the views and values of contemporary Australian society. Details about integrating this http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/the-arts/ cross curriculum priority can be accessed at http:// drama/curriculum/f-10?layout=1#level9-10 www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/crosscurricu- lumpriorities/Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander- histories-and-cultures. Australian Curriculum: Senior 2016 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION In addition, teachers of Year 10 are advised to con- sult the curriculum documents for these subjects Secondary Curriculum endorsed by their state or territory. English Teachers of Years 11 and 12 are advised to consult the curriculum documents for the nominated sub- http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/ jects endorsed by their state or territory. seniorsecondary/english/english/curriculum/ seniorsecondary#page=1 The activities within this study guide provide 2 personal interpretations to describe the structure, content and aesthetic qualities of a film; { observe, experience and write about dance in an analytical, a critical and a reflective manner; { understand influences on the dance works created by choreographers; { develop and justify their own and other interpretations of a text; { create a wide range of texts, make pres- entations and contribute actively to class and group discussions. Teachers are advised to direct students to com- plete activities that are subject relevant and age appropriate. Spear can also be used to support the teaching of pastoral care programs. It is important that stu- dents are provided with strategies to support their learning about themselves and others. Students with well-developed social and emotional skills opportunities for students to: find it easier to manage themselves, relate to oth- ers, develop resilience and a sense of self-worth, { understand the aesthetic, style and format resolve conflict, and feel positive about themselves of a film; and the world around them. { analyse, explain and evaluate the struc- ture of a text and how the features of the text influence audience response; { understand how ideas and viewpoints Synopsis about events, issues and characters that are expressed in texts are drawn from and Djali (Hunter Page-Lochard) wants to shaped by different historical, social and understand what it means to be a man. cultural contexts; His journey begins in Arnhem Land and { use appropriate media terminology and takes him to the city streets of Sydney. Djali’s search for meaning exposes him to the troubled stories of other Indigenous Australian men. He witnesses the indignities and hardships they face as they negotiate life in a contemporary society that ignores their needs. Djali’s challenge is to navigate his way to a state of being that will nourish rather than destroy him. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2016 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 3 In addition, Spear provides an opportunity for created on country and stories gathered from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to Bangarra is widely respected community Elders. It is this inherent con- see themselves, their identities and their cultures acclaimed nationally nection to land and people that makes Bangarra portrayed on screen in a feature film made for a and around the unique and enjoyed by audiences from remote mainstream Australian audience. Australian regional centres to New York. world for their powerful dancing, Spear is an expanded version of a dance work for CLASSIFICATION: M distinctive theatrical stage, also called Spear, which was performed by Bangarra in 2000. It is recommended that teachers preview Spear voice and utterly prior to classroom use given its depiction of adult unique soundscapes, themes, particularly suicide. music and design. USEFUL LINKS: Led by Artistic http://bangarra.com.au/ RUNNING TIME: 84 MINUTES Director Stephen https://www.facebook.com/Bangarra/ Page, Bangarra Languages: English, Ka La Lagaw Ya and Yolgnu celebrated its 25th https://twitter.com/bangarradance Matha. anniversary in 2014 https://www.instagram.com/ bangarradancetheatre/?hl=en and achieved their Bangarra highest box office https://www.youtube.com/user/ bangarradancetheatre Bangarra is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander results since the organisation and one of Australia’s leading perform- company’s inception ing arts companies. Bangarra is widely acclaimed Before and after viewing nationally and around the world for their power- ful dancing, distinctive theatrical voice and utterly activities unique soundscapes, music and design. Led by Artistic Director Stephen Page, Bangarra celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014 and achieved their high- est box office results since the company’s inception. » BEFORE THE SCREENING The company’s dance technique is forged from over 40,000 years of culture, infused with contemporary TASK 1 2016 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION movement. The company’s sixteen dancers are professionally trained, dynamic artists who represent Watch the official trailer for Spear. the pinnacle of Australian dance. Each has a proud Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, Suggested link: http://www.spear-film.com. from various locations across the country. au/#!trailer/fbevv Bangarra’s relationships with Indigenous communi- a. What do you think the film will be about? What ties are the heart of the company, with its repertoire questions do you have about the film? 4 b. What does the trailer tell a potential audience about the genre, narrative, characters themes Look at the promotional poster for Spear. What can and setting of the film? you see? Your notes should refer to both the visual and written features of the poster. c. What does the trailer tell a potential audience about the director of the film and the production Use the following questions to guide your note company? What other information is included in taking: the trailer? { What is the title of the film? What is the d. How does the trailer begin? How does the trailer tagline of the film? What credits are end? Was the trailer effectively edited? shown on the poster? { What is the dominant image of the e. Does the trailer make you want to see the film? poster? What does this dominant image suggest? { What is in the foreground of the poster? TASK 2 What is in the background of the poster? { What are the dominant colours of the A film’s promotional poster is both art and adver- poster? tising. The poster exists to promote the film for { Does the poster draw on the codes and a commercial purpose. The poster also has an conventions of a particular genre? aesthetic value. { Does the poster suggest the likely audi- ence of the film? Use Google images to locate a copy of the promo- tional poster for Spear. Drawing on your notes, write an evaluation of the promotional poster for Spear. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2016 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 5 » AFTER THE SCREENING Analysing key sequences After the screening of Spear, spend time as a class, – film as text discussing the students’ interest in the film and provide students with the opportunity to ask ques- As you watch Spear, use the following questions to tions about the film. Ask students to review their make notes about the film’s key sequences. responses to Tasks 1 and 2 and where necessary make adjustments that correct and/or clarify their { What did you see? analysis of both the trailer and poster. { What did you hear? { What did you think? { What did you feel? The title of the film Use the notes that you have made to write an ex- Construct a class mind map about the film’s title. tended response that addresses the following key Begin the mind map by writing the title of the questions: film – Spear, in the centre of the mind map. In the space around the title, record the reasons why { What is the sequence about? the film is titled Spear. { Why is the sequence significant? { How does the filmmaker use story ele- Drawing on the class mind map, your task is ments to convey meaning? to answer the question – Why do you think the film is titled Spear? – by writing an extended Story elements include: response. Your claims should be endorsed by specific evidence from the film. - the opening, development and resolution of the narrative SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2016 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 6 Choreography is the creation and composition of a dance by selecting and arranging movements and patterns of movement to convey expressive intention.
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