Discovery.

What comes to your mind

when I mention the word discovery?
Some people think of dangerous
journeys, other people may think of a
thrilling adventure. Well for me
personally, discovery is a complex and
complicated concept, because of its
negative and positive sides, so whether
you dislike or like discoveries, you cant
escape them in your life. It helps us
uncover the unknown, rediscover the
hidden by most importantly, it helps
shed the light on who we are and the
world around us. Therefore, my
perspective of discovery is that
discovery is all about perspective. The
study of my texts: the poetry of Robert
Gray and the cartoon by Michael Leunig
reinforced my belief that an individuals
process of discovery is unique and a
matter of perspective. In Grays North
Coast Town, it is an accidental discovery
of the Town being Americanised,
flooded with American brands and
lifestyle. The use of allusion in the lines
Shell Station and imagery in a closed
hamburger stand are both relating to
America. Furthermore, it suggests that
there will be significant changes that will
occur in the town that Gray himself has
uncovered over a short period of time.
Gray has also chosen to deploy
sibilance to notify readers that this
change is negative and that it will have
consequences on the society. The
alliteration of the s gives away a
negative atmosphere of the change.
This shows that despite that fact that
some discoveries may be negative in the
short term, they might act as a catalyst
for positive changes in the future. It also
uncovers the fact that some discoveries

are unplanned, unpredictable and open

our eyes to the changes and harsh
realities and help us not to be ignorant
of the world around us. In addition,
repetition is utilised. The recurrence of
car in the phrase car after car now,
suggest that this discovery has taken a
long time. The concept of time plays an
important part of the personas process
of discovery, as it either aids or hinders
their sense of discovery which reinforces
the idea that discoveries can either have
a positive or negative impact on an
individuals identity. In this case, it
hinders their sense of discovery, as the
discovery is not a pleasant one at all. In
another one of Grays poems, Journey:
The North Coast, it is a physical train
journey that becomes identical with an
abstract interpretation. Gray uses simile
to contrast the trains movement to a
ship, a swaying bunk as though on a
board a clipper and to echo the trains
smooth rhythm to that of life. Through
this, Gray allows us to have an insight of
the discovery that he has encountered in
his life. Composers can also express
their perspective of discovery through
visual text as well. In Michael Leunigs
The life you lead, it depicts a path for a
persons journey through life. The use of
dark grey colours suggests the life an
individual leads is boring, dull and
nothing brighter that the colour black.
Light and dark imagery is deployed to
suggest an alternative to the current life,
to contrast that life would be more
positive and brighter in many ways. That
bright light that stands out in the visual,
guides the way to the life you could
have led which suggests that this way
will lead to hope and a better life. This

comes to show that discoveries entail

endless possibilities in life. The facial
expressions give away a sense of guilt
and regret and that something should
have been done so that the person
would not have suffered. The person in
the visual has discovered that their
current life is safe but yet tedious, as the
right choices in life were not taken. This
shows that some discoveries can lead
us to regret our past as choices play a
major key driving force of discovery.
Symbolism is significantly displayed in
the visual. The long shadow of the
person, which follows the man,
symbolises that the man should take risk
in life in order to discover new
opportunities, or what it could lead to.
The characters face is full of regret in
that he should or he wants to take the
path, but instead he takes the life you
lead path. This suggest that the

journeys of discoveries are all about

making the right choices in life, one
wrong turn may lead to regret. Some
discoveries can lead us to regret our
past. In brief, discovering the discoveries
that composers like Robert Gray and
Michael Leunig have encountered,
portray to us that how successful or
disappointing a discovery is, it is defined
by your perspective. They have
reinforced the fact that although
experiencing discovery may be
vigorous, it will give us an insight into
ourselves and the social, cultural,
political and historical context we live in.
That is my belief of discovery as an
individuals discovery is defined by their
perspective, rather than the positive or
negative experiences. So let me finish
by asking you: what is your perspective
of discovery?