Reflection

Introduction

This reflective essay aims to highlight the textual integrity of my composition Off Track in providing respondents with a nuanced insight into the thematic concept of ‘Living in Australia’, with particular focus on the duality of the Australian landscape and cultural attitudes towards the ‘other’. Cheng has effectively employed language features and stylistic devices within her short story ‘Fracture’ to establish a suspenseful genre and contrasting perspectives, which, alongside the themes of Stimulus 1, are emulated within my own composition.

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The construction of structural elements in my composition has allowed for audiences to successfully engage with the thematic concepts of “Living in Australia”. Melanie Cheng’s Fracture conveys suspenseful undertones through punctuation and imagery: “There was no mistaking it - the bright green handle”. This is emulated through the anaphora of truncated sentences in: “Thump-thump” which establishes a psychological tone. The thriller genre emphasises the moral ambiguity of characters, highlighting how marginalised communities are often mistreated due to power corrupting ethical codes, inspired by the conceptualisation of Stimulus 1. Stimulus 1 can also be thematically linked to the concept of stereotyping within Australian society, with the ‘cracks’ representing the groups individuals are broken into, directly contrasting the idea of a ‘unified’ Australia. The ‘man’ is intentionally ambiguous representing the ‘invisible’ treatment marginalised communities, such as homeless people, are afforded, due to a blanket stereotyping of these groups. The use of a tricolon and truncated sentences: “No family. No friends. No one to remember him” emphasises a volta in Jack’s internal monologue, disregarding the homeless man’s life due to stereotypes, further conveying the disparities within Australian society. Thus the inspiration of stylistic choices from ‘Fracture’ has allowed for an effective exploration of the concept of ‘the other’ within Australian society.

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The exploration of the concept “Living In Australia” is conveyed to respondents through the implementation of language forms and features. The characterisation of the ‘Outback’ is established through a simile and personification in: “The Outback always had a siren-like effect on him…an oasis of vivid contrasts and dramatic landscapes, but an unyielding monster underneath, waiting to claim its next victim” in which the duality of the Australian landscape is prevalent through vivid visual imagery and a metaphor, which is representative of the inequitable and brutal nature of Australian society. The utilisation of third person narration and contrasting dual perspectives, emulated from Melanie Cheng’s ‘Fracture’, effectively allows for audiences to explore the contrast of the ‘foils’. The application of auditory imagery in: “with the constant thrumming of the Outback to soothe him,” which juxtaposed with: “The constant thrumming of the Outback seemed accusatory” utilises anaphora to highlight the parallels between the character’s moral conscience, which is symbolised through the extended metaphor of the ‘Outback’. This highlights the duality of the Australian Outback within society, but also represents how prejudiced attitudes can overcome perceived societal ethics. Thus the implementation of literary techniques has conveyed the duality of the Australian Outback, symbolising Australian society.

Conclusion

Conclusively, my composition “Off Track” is effective in illustrating the duality of the Australian Outback and prejudiced attitudes towards the ‘other’ within the overarching concept of “Living in Australia”. Cheng’s ‘Fracture’ has inspired the construction of my own composition, alongside the thematic concepts of Stimulus 1.