Australian Literature has been a very interesting and eye-opening subject for my first semester doing my course. I have learnt much about literature in general and different types of literature and techniques used to portray different idea’s, views and perspectives. What interests me more is that these literature types weren’t just Australian texts/pieces made by Australian’s or about Australia but they delved deep into the furthermost deepest darkest and changing parts of our countries history. When I started this subject I knew there would be a lot of critical thinking and analysing as it was literature and I related it to English I took in high school. I have gained a new found appreciation and respect for different literary types and art having the ability to tell a thousand words.
Each piece that was studied throughout the semester and in each blog post focused on a different area of expertise. Australian landscape, people, Indigenous Australian’s, relationship with Britain and colonisation, post-modernism and much much more. I gained the ability to holistically look at different perspectives to see a bigger picture. Although literature aims to either show an unbias approach to a topic or tries to convince you of a particular idea or see things from a certain view, if you look at multiple pieces and compare and contrast, you get a much better understanding of the overall picture. I gained much insight from studying and thinking about each topic we covered in class and as homework.
My experience whilst participating in the blogging aspect of this subject really got me to understand the way I think and feel. It challenged me and pushed me to think outside the box and not only realistically but creatively too. I was able to learn much about the world I lived in and a few talented people in it. It also intrigued me to read my classmates thoughts on each post they wrote and I would pick up things I myself had missed which added to my own understanding once the light was shone on that part of the story. This activity has taught me to value others perspectives and take them on board rather than thinking only my opinion mattered. Blogging has been a great experience in getting to know myself, others and the world I live in. I have been introduced to new minds and influential people whether they be writers or painters, who have and shaped understanding of our history and other aspects of Australian Literature. One of these great moments was making the link between art and literature when visiting the NSW Art Gallery. Overall, this has been a lovely learning curve that has allowed its students to get personal with their thought processes and discuss in an open and encouraging way ideas and topics while appreciating and participating in a critical discussion. The blogging has really appealed to me as it’s something I am quite familiar with allowing people to study the past using modern means.
Thanks Michael for this experience.
Australian Literature 