So What is The Global Village?
The term "Global Village" refers to the way people today can be linked to all corners of the globe through technology. Although you have had access to tools like email, mobile phones and the Internet for most of your lives, this phenomenon is a recent one and has held great significance for our world and our place in it.
This unit asks you to consider how texts relate to and are used in specific social contexts. The prescribed text we study is the Australian film The Castle. As on other pages, there are additional resources in terms of related material as well as some of the sources covered in class. Any additional ideas are most welcome.
Remember also with film that there are other textual references you can use. Consider use of lighting, sound and camera angles. Think about costume, characterisation and interaction. Even the way a line is delivered can be a textual reference. Use quotes, but remember to consider these other ideas and how they relate to The Global Village. Make sure you consider ideas associated with both engaging with and retreating from The Global Village, both from The Castle and in preparing your related material.
This unit asks you to consider how texts relate to and are used in specific social contexts. The prescribed text we study is the Australian film The Castle. As on other pages, there are additional resources in terms of related material as well as some of the sources covered in class. Any additional ideas are most welcome.
Remember also with film that there are other textual references you can use. Consider use of lighting, sound and camera angles. Think about costume, characterisation and interaction. Even the way a line is delivered can be a textual reference. Use quotes, but remember to consider these other ideas and how they relate to The Global Village. Make sure you consider ideas associated with both engaging with and retreating from The Global Village, both from The Castle and in preparing your related material.
RELATED MATERIAL
Poem by Professor Robert JohnsonThis poem was written as a response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
How would you describe Johnson's depiction of The Global Village? Can you think of ways to link his perspective to those identified in The Castle? For example, is it about retreating from The Global Village or engaging with it? Village Life The notion that the world is one big Global Village has appeal to us, folks who've mostly never lived in a village. Getting to know something about everyone on the planet sounds so connected, so authentic. Who could resist? We forgot about village idiots and about chronic malcontents whose stupidity and bad temper can wreak havoc on our lives. Worse, we forgot about victims of injustice, real and imagined whose resentments simmer and boil just below the surface of village life. And worst of all, we forgot that our Global Village was a stepchild of technology not the flowering of community A place where guns and bombs and hijacked planes can be weapons of terror wielded by the wounded, who make it their life's work to immolate innocents at will in numbers beyond comprehension. Misery has always loved company. It used to be that the miserable had only each other's company. Now, in our cosy Global Village, the forlorn and the rejected the isolate and the fanatic see the happy, chosen peoples at close range Even if only on TV, radio, or Internet, like targets in a shooting gallery or in a video game of doom. Some of them take aim, and the rest is history. Robert Johnson |
InterpretationFirstly, consider the title. You could be mistaken for assuming such a title would lead to a poem about primitive life. However, in reading a poem it is apparent that this simplistic title is misleading as it talks about the complexities of navigating The Global Village.
Inclusive language is used to imply that we are all part of The Global Village and all use it. Initially it discusses the positive aspects, exploring the possibilities of learning more about other cultures. The second stanza elaborates further, identifying the advantages of connectedness and a sense of community. The idea that it "sounds" so connected actually emphasises the idea that it is not really connected, foreshadowing the later focus of the poem. The rhetorical question "Who could resist?" demonstrates that all have been taken in by the idea and have engaged with The Global Village. The poem hinges on the word "However." From here the poem explores some of the negative ideas associated with The Global Village. It appropriates the stereotypical idea of the "village idiot" to demonstrate that there are still problems with the apparent simplicity of village life. The third stanza continues by discussing the "chronic malcontents" who destroy the harmony of the village. The irony here is that the village described here is the world itself. The repetition of "we forgot" in stanzas three, four anf five highlights our naivety in believing that it would only be used for good. The fourth stanza further suggests that there are people who have suffered in life and some of them may take advantage of The Global Village as a method to act on their "resentments" which "simmer" below the surface of village life. The Global Village is personified as a "stepchild of technology", indicating it is not focused on community as much as technological advancements. The following stanza shows how these technological advancements promote destruction more than community and uses alliteration to emphasise this. This is a direct link to the September 11 attacks. The idiom that "Misery has always loved company" but then shows how The Global Village is reworking that saying. The apparent closeness of The Global Village means that the misery of the few affactes many. It also implies that the fact these discontent people can see those who are happy, heightening their resentment. The idea of the "chosen peoples" shows that some members of The Global Village are better off than others. The final stanza highlights the fact that the media of The Global Village, which are also some of its advantages, lead to the misuse of other elements of the Village. He uses simile to show that some members of The Global Village have unknowingly become "targets".In a Global Village, the attackers can imagine these people are just part of a video game. The poem concludes with the ominous use of "history", emphasising both the making of history through these events and the doom of so many. |
Comics
Other Places to Look
- Look for articles. Much of our current news relates to communication, terrorism, technology and fame. All of these ideas have changed a s a result of The Global Village.
Consider specific images, such as the one on the left. Ideas such as the juxtaposition shown highlight ideas about The Global Village.
News reports from television, radio and print are relevant and again often investigate ideas about retreating from the global or engaging with the global.
Advertising also relies on this, particularly Internet advertising. However, there are a variety of other examples to consider.with regard to advertising.
Another format to look at is reality television. The purpose of most reality television shows is to use the advantages of The Global Village to promote individuals as well as the shows themselves. There are also songs about reality shows and similar ideas.
Recent speeches are often a great source of ideas about The Global Village This link will take you to George W. Bush's response to the September 11 terrorist attacks: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/gwbush911jointsessionspeech.htm. The American Rhetoric website has a number of relevant speeches you could also peruse.
The songs "Amerika" by Rammstein and "Californication" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers make clear reference to ideas associated with The Global Village. The film clip to the Rammstein song is particularly relevant.
Remember that all sources you use should have been created since 1985. Avoid film since it is our prescribed text.