Vi Tracks and Charlie’s Country Themes Comparison in relation to th of the tenis hemes they explore, Use the following cables to consolidate your evidence from bo! 1. What does each author suggest about the theme 2. How do they construct their view on the theme? 3. Which key scenes are significant in exploring the theme? FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE: Both texts explore a cultural fascination with the allure of life away from society and its conventions: an existence unrestrained by others’ expectations, lived ina kind of “authentic” spiritual resonance with the wilderness. in Tracks, Davidson argues that freedom. ~ In Charlie's Country, de Heer argues that freedom. Key scenes and Film Techniques Key moments and quotes ‘mn Charlie's Country, de Heer suggests independence is. In Tracks, Davidson suggests independence is. ey scenes and Fllm Techniques | Key moments and quotesREJECTION OF SOCIETY: While freedom and true independence may be unachievable goals, both Robyn and Charlie do succeed in removing themselves from society. Both protagonists reject society and its flaws. jes that society in trad ‘in Charlie's Courtry, de Heer Davidson argues that society, Key scenes and Film Techniques Key moments and quotes Tm Charlies Country, de Weer suggests society is. Tn Tracks, Davidson 8 Key scenes and Film Techniques Key moments and quotesHUMANS AND THE NATURAL WORLD: A significant element of each text is the protagonist's experience of the natural world. In Tracks this relationship is largely communicated through the imagery and descriptions of the landscape, where de Heer uses Charlie’s interactions with the natural world to comment on his relationship with nature and culture. Is there a right way to interact with nature? Tw Charlie's Country, de Heer argues that relationship wth 7 Wrarks, Davidson argues that a relationship with nature Key scenes and Film Techniques | Key moments and quotes Tn Charlie's Country, de Heer suggests a relationship with nature Tn Tracks, Davidson suggests a relationship with nature is. Key scenes and Film Techniques Key moments and quotesHuman Relationships are shown to be the key to happiness in both Tracks and Charlie’s Country. TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU AGREE? Key Questions to conside: 1 What relationships are most significant to Robyn and Charlie? 2. Do De Heer and Davidson suggest happiness only comes from relationships, or can it be found in isolation also? 3. When are the protagonists most happy? 4. Do Charlie and Robyn have different perspectives of happiness? 5. How do personal successes, overcoming challenges and achieving goals represent forms of happiness for the ‘two protagonists? ‘Are Robyn and Charlie happy at the end of their journeys? What are De Heer and Davidson suggesting about the concept of personal happiness through their stories? ‘Are they different? Key Words: Human relationships Key to happiness Other words for happiness: Contentment, pleasure, satisfaction, joy, carefreeness, delight, enjoyment, high spirits. Possible Topic Sentences: 1 Deer and Davidson share contradicting thoughts on the value of relationships. De Heer argues that relationships are what saves individuals, whereas Davidson suggests the journey is only fulfilling in isolation Both texts reveal that the key to happiness is found not only in human relationships, but through what is learned from them. Penn and Davidson suggest that true happiness can only be achieved when a balance between relationships and isolation is reached. Both texts argue that itis relationships that create stronger communities. WRITE your introduction below:Tracks by Robyn Davidson Analytical Paragraph: The End of Robyn’s Journey ‘The end of Rabyn’s journey in Tracks is significant, as she reflects on the things that she has learned and gained from her ‘experience, While she is alone for most of her journey, she spends the last part with friends. Think about how the end of her journey reflects or contrasts Charlie's, Use your writing and notes from the final scene in Charlfe’s Country to compare the two texts. What do the protagonists of Charlie’s Country and Tracks learn at the end of their journeys?Analytical Paragraph: Personal Strength Tracks and Charlie’s Country Use the quotes provided to discuss what Davidson argues about the importance of independence in developing strength of character, understanding of one’s self and personal growth. “The two important things thot | did learn were that you are as powerful and strong as you allow yourself to be, and that the most difficult part of any endeavour is toking the first step, making the first decision.” “To be free isto learn, to test yourself constantly, to gamble. Its not safe. | had learnt to use my fears as stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks “I's important that we leave each other and the comfort of it, and circle away, even though it’s hard sometimes, so that we con come back and swap information about what we've learnt even if what we do changes us” “recognized then the process by which I hod always attempted difficult things. | had simply not allowed myself to think of the consequences, but had closed my eyes, jumped in, and before | knew where | was, it was impossible to renege.” “Capacity for survival may be the ability to be changed by environment.” ‘Make sure you compare key scenes from Charlie’s Country that reveal similar and/or different aspects of Charlie's character and how De Heer suggests about the importance of independence in developing strength, understanding of one’s self and personal growth.Analytical Paragraph: Relationships Tracks, Robyn Davidson Charlie’s Country, Rolf De Heer Although Robyn and Charlie enjoy solitude, their relationships with other characters influence their decisions and make their lives ‘more worthwhile. Do Rotyn and Charlie gain more from being alone or when with others? What does each protagonist learn about the velue of frlendship, companionship and support fram others? char ’s relationships with others helps him to. Robyn's relationships with others helps her to... QUOTES from Tracks to use as evidence: “And | realized that he needed this trip perhaps as much as I did. And that was the burden. Instead of getting away from all responsibility to people, | was heading straight into 2 heavy one.” “Thad learnt what love was. “That love wanted the best possible for those you cared for even if that excluded yourself”, “without her, | was suddenly susceptible to all those swamping, irrational feelings of vulnerability and dread” ““My sister was married with four children. We appeared on the surface as different as chalk and cheese, but we had that closeness ‘that only two siblings who have shared a traumatic childhood can have.” “Glendle...would be the frst and last friend | was likely to meet..the thought of Glendle being away was too much to bear.”Analytical Paragraph: Solitude and Independence Tracks, Robyn Davidson Charlie’s Country, Rolf De Heer Robyn and Charlie are alone for much oftheir journeys. What do they both learn from being alone for so long? Do you think it is ‘important to their development and growth for individuals to spend time alone? From being on his own, Charlie learns... From being on her own, Robyn learns... QUOTES from Tracks to use as evidence: “t's important that we leave each other andthe comfort of it, and circle away, even though it’s hard sometimes, so that we con come back ond ‘wap information about what we've eornt even if what we do changes us and” “Although she could not understand my desire to be alone, her compony wos never an infringement of my privacy, as it wos easy and relaxed and carried with it thot ability many Aboriginal people have to touch and be affectionate without stiffness, and to be comfortable with silence. \whot | wanted todo... was tobe alone, to test, to push, to unclog my bain of all its extraneous debris, not to be protected, to be stringed of all the social crutches, nt to be hampered by any outside interference whatsoever, well meant or nat. “had rediscovered people in my past and came to terms with my feelings towards therm. had learnt what love wos. Thot love wonted the best possible for those you cored for even if that excluded yourself. That befor, | had wonted to possess people without loving them, and now I could Tove them ond wish them the best without needing them.”Rolf De Heer’s Charlie's Country questions the government interventions placed on Indigenous communities in Australia and argues that even when free of these laws the impact of white settlement constrains Aboriginals from connecting with their traditional culture, This is epitomised in the sequence where Charlie escapes his community to live off the land and return to his past traditions. De Heer creates a montage of wide angle shots that present Charlie engaging with nature, These shots, coupled with the slow non- diegetic plano and the natural diegetic sounds of nature, work to suggest that this way of life for Charlie and subsequently all Indigenous Australians suffering from the contraints of white laws, is what is being lost and needs to be revived. Many of the shots of Charlie immersed in nature are taken from behind trees and at a distance, which helps De Heer to create a sense of naturalism, with the viewer watching, rather than engaging in these ways. Charlie moves within the frame when hunting and walking through the bush and the viewer feels as though they are privy to secretive moments that De Heer suggests have been lost due to white settlement and the confines placed on Indigenous Australians through laws and policies. The sequence reveals Charlie in his natural state and the close up shots of long grass bending and bowing in the wind create a beautiful and serene environment with an cethereal quality. When Charlie cooks the fish, the camera hovers over it and the viewer is in close proximity with Charlie as he eats It. Here the viewer is drawn in to Chalire’s character to share in his joy of being “free”. Similarly, when Charlie begins to paint De Heer takes care to help the viewer share this moment with Charlie up close to create a sense of intimacy between him and the viewer. Gulpili’s warm facial expressions and corss-legged position give Charlie's character an empowered quality. As the rains arrive, the camera lingers on the fire made by Charlie ast is extinguished rapidly. The following montage of shots are in stark contrast to the freedom portrayed earlier in the sequence and the viewer sees Charlie's decline in health and inability to sustain his time in the bush as a symbol for the dark cloud that hangs of Indigenous culture due to the impacts of white settlement. De Heer ‘argues through this sequence that Charlies age and illness has created a barrier that prevents Aboriginal people from reconnecting, with their culture in meaningful ways without the stain of white colonialism lingering over them. Come up with three comparative statements to TRACKS using the quotes below: “To be free is to learn, to test yourself constantly, to gamble. It is not safe. I had learnt to use my fears as stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks” “There are some moments in life that are like pivots around which your existence turns—small intuitive flashes, when you know you have done something correct for a change, when you think you are on the right track. I watched a pale dawn streak the cliffs with Day-glo and realized this was one of them. It was a moment of pure, uncomplicated confidence—and lasted about ten seconds.” “Iliked myself this way, it was such a relief to be free of disguises and prettiness and attractiveness. Above all that horrible, false, debilitating attractiveness that women hide behind.” 2. Incontrast, 3. Both,Analytical Paragraph: Final Chapter Tracks, Robyn Davidson Charlie’s Country, Rolf De Heer ‘While the closing sequence of Charlie's Country reveals Charlie's revelation that he needs to connect more with his community, expressed through the uplifting mic qualities De Heer attributes to his teaching of traditional dance, Davidson reflects on the jatring effects of her journey coming to an end and having to reintegrate back into society. Similar to Charlie on his return to his ‘community, the final chapters of Robyn's journey in Tracks conclude with a sense of accomplishment, as she “felt free and ‘untrammelled and light”. Both characters gain greater insight into themselves and the world around them at the end of the texts, but Robyn clings to her memories of her journey wishing she could “hold onto it”. Both Robyn and Charlie stil share a repulsion from the constructs of society by the end of their journeys, but where Charlie comes to accept and adapt to the world he lives in, Robyn stil feels a clear detest of the “freakish-looking people...cars {and their] questions”. De Heer argues that Charlie was thwarted by the effects of white settlement to fully engage with nature and the close up of the camp fire being extinguished is symbolic of his loss of cultural connection with nature. Robyn acknowledges her “romantic naivety’ in regards to her understanding of the meaning of her journey, where Charlie becomes accepting of the two worlds he must fuse together at the end of the film, personified in the final sequence of the film through wide shots of the natural landscape contrasted with repeated shots from the beginning of the film of him at the supermarket and intimate shots of him throwing the cigarettes into the fire again, Gulpills rye smiles and contemplative glances contrast his acting during the opening of the film to illustrate Charlie's acceptance of his place within the world, Similarly, at the end of her journey Robyn is reflective and enjoys peaceful final moments with the camels on the coast. While both characters encounter challenges that they must overcome to achieve the goals oftheir journeys, De Heer provides some hope to Charlie's ending with evocative naturalistic non-diegetic sounds and a final close up shot of Charlie staring contently out of the frame as the credits rll. Davidson, on the other hand, is also reflective and comments on the journey itself, suggesting that it only becomes a memory or an experience that does “not begin or end, [just] merely changels] form”, As De Heer’s presentation of Charlie's ending alludes to a greater sense of his values and place within the world, Davidson's ending encourages readers to seek their own journey and challenges them to take on personal challenges as a form of personal development and growth. Both texts provide a sense of hope for their audiences, but ‘due to little change in his community, Charlie's message seems to leave a lingering scar in the viewers’ minds. Come up with some Similarities and Contrasts about what each text suggests about society and how it is presented. Charlie’s Country Tracks De Heer suggests society is. Davidson suggests society is. 1. 1 2 2 3 3 This evident through. This is evident through 1 2 Ja.Charlie’s Country, Rolf De Heer (dir.) Analytical Paragraph: Closing Sequence and Resolution Rolf de Heer’s ending provides some resolution for Charlie's character, but does he does not resolve the issues faced in Indigenous communities. Instead, De Heer’s closing sequence works to leave the viewer with more questions than answers. Ultimately, Charlie is helped by his friends, learns to accept the aspect of his identity that embraces dance and is willing to pass ‘on his knowledge to younger generations. WHEN WRITING YOUR PARAGRAPH: : How does De Heer leave viewers feeling about Charlie's character, his community and the issues facing Indigenous communities? Does De Heer leave any hope for Indigenous Australians? Does Charlie's story come toa clear resolution? Do you notice a change in Charlie's character through Gulpili’s acting? In the closing sequence of Charlie’s Country, De Heer suggests that...Charlie’s Country, Rolf De Heer (dir.) Analytical Paragraph: Charlie’s Turning Point The sequence of Charlie's time in prison works as a turning point for his character. He has hit rock-bottom and the conditions Which he is forced to endure are depicted by Rolf De Heer in stark contrast to the freedom Charlie feels when living off the land. Think about the ways in which De Heer constructs this sequence, conveyed through his use of film techniques and Gulpili’s acting, to suggest that this isa turning point for Charlie's character. POINTS TO DISCUSS: + De Heer creates a cycle (loop) through editing and repetition of shots to create a particular effect for viewers. © The prison sequence uses symbolism and lighting to highlight Charlie's loss of purpose. © Gulpill’s acting suggests that Charlie is at his lowest point. + Atthe end of the sequence De Heer reveals that Charlie has accepted his fate or has come full circle through specific film techniques.Charlie’s Country, Rolf De Heer (dir.) Analytical Paragraph: Charlie’s Search for Freedom Chatle seeks freedom from the restrictions placed on him by society living under the “white” constraints of his community. Chatle resists society's values and the pressure to conform, but isn't able to fully explore the possiblities of te freedom to which he aspires. KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK: What are the constraints Charlie is trying escape? How does the sequence (film techniques) of Charlie's time in the bush provide a sense of freedom? What stops Charlie from being able to live his traditional lifestyle? What is “freedom” according to Charlie?