English Essay Prep Y10

$Invictus (2009) by Clint Eastwood$

\ $Belonging in Invictus$

$language$ * In the opening scene with an acknowledgement of the producing company, the non-diegetic sound of ^^Roger Kellaway’s ‘Shoshlza’^^ $promotes the unity$ of Black African culture. In $contrast$ in the ending scene the identical song is sung by the diverse crowd, with unity as the final 6-play of the springboks begins. The song r $epresents expression$ and to show support to struggle. ‘Shoshola’ means $‘go forward’ in Ndebele$ . $Juxtaposed$ at the beginning of the film from the transition from ^^non-diegetic to diegetic emphasizes the significance and symbolism of the song as it displays the growth of individual interconnectedness^^; to belong as both Africana and Black South Africans rejoice in the song. This $illuminates the impact of belonging on communities$ and $interconnectedness$ it creates between individuals $through language and music$ .
$External Influences$ * In the scene where Francois, the captain of the South African Rugby team is interviewed by the reporter he states ^^“But you couldn’t of done without the support of 63,000 South Africans here today” and Francois replies, “Well we didn’t have the support of 63,000 we had the support of 43 million South Africans”^^. This scene $illustrates the development of belonging to a nation$ or

patriotism. The use of $dialogue$ provides a sense of acceptance to individuals. The use of ^^proxemics between Francois and the reporter creates a sense of superiority as the reporter projects criticism through a screen displayed through intercutting.^^ It describes the $symbolic perspective$ on Black Africans, when the plot concludes the reporter is face to face with Francois signifying change.

\ $Challenges / Obstacles of belonging in Invictus$

$Generational Hatred$ * In the scene where Mandela (Morgan Freeman) speaks to the Sports Union about the importance of the Springbok, he states that ^^“Our enemy is not that Afrikaner. They are our fellow South Africans. Our partners in Democracy”^^. The use of $proxemics$ of the members of the council and $monotone palate contrasting the Africans actors$ , their clothing to the white and grey background between the two peoples, ^^displaying the challenges and complexity of generational hatred.^^ This scene $encapsulates the challenge of belonging by attempting to break the cycle created by the Arpithiad.$ This scene $displays a sense of power$ for the Africans, but $at the cost of their humanity an lack of finding importance in unity$ . The use of a $monotone palate$ and $political allusion$ presents the ^^complexity of belonging and not belonging.^^ These techniques presents the generational fighting and resentment of these races turning against themselves to find a purpose, as the ^^dialogue strengthens the feeling of resentment towards each other^^, and further $signifies the motif of cultural difference.$
$Fear$ * In the beginning, a $black child receives a springbok jersey in a clothing donation from a white woman, in disgust the child runs away out of the church.$ The ^^dark undertone with a predominantly white background highlights the women’s shocked facial expressions^^. This scene displays the ^^distinguished separation^^ between the white and black people of South Africa. This close up of the women’s face displays the significance of the springbok to the Afrikaners. The dark undertones lighting with a predominantly white background alludes to the fear between African and Afrikaans. The use of ^^foreshadowing and proxemics^^ is also displayed as at the beginning the ^^boy- symbolic of connectedness and belonging between the two races,^^ depicted at the end of the film celebrating with two white police officers about the nation winning the Rugby World Cup.

\ $Felix Skzynecki 1971 by Peter Skzynecki$

$Challenges of belonging$ * $Envy and Jealousy in belonging has a complex relationship with the development of security commonly found in adequate relationships with others. Envy is the longing for connectedness and interpersonal connections, while jealousy is a byproduct of fear it can also create the emotion of inadequacy in a relationship. This obstacle/challenge in belonging is presented in Peter Skzynecki ‘Felix Skzynecki’$

\ * Presented in the fifth free-verse stanza “^^My father sits out the evening…. Happy as I have never been” identifies the envy presented by the son through present participles, highlighting his father’s identity and belonging to his culture and environment and how he envies him.^^ The ^^metaphor and trope of death^^ is compared with the ^^simile of unhappiness and discontent^^ of the author. These ^^two lines are juxtaposed as the tone differentiates^^ the lives and identity of the two people. Hence leading to the obstacle/challenge of belonging in society and creating relationships founded on belonging. * The challenges of envy and jealously is $illustrated in Skrzynecki’s emphasis of disconnection through historical intertextuality and allusion$ . “^^Watched me pegging my tent further and further south of Hadrian’s Wall”^^ alludes to the disconnected and loss of sense of belonging through culture and language. The t^^erm “Hadrian’s Wall” is a metaphor for the poet shifting away from the northern European culture and gravitating towards southern Australian culture^^. The i^^mpact of envy and jealousy on belonging is strengthened by other quotas and factors regarding language, environment and influence of cultures and the nature of ‘striving to fit in’^^

This poses a significant challenge to belonging as….

\ * Th^^e external influences of belonging create a stronger sense of identity and purpose for individuals, as a contributor to society. The complexity of human nature is that we find acceptance and security within an ambiguous influence^^.

Detailed in Skzyrnecki’s poem the $external influence of the garden on his father gives him a greater purpose and intrinsic feeling of acceptance.$ The simile of ^^“Loved his garden like an only child” displays the strong connection and sense of belonging that Felix feels^^. The garden is a motif explored throughout the poem symbolizing his interests and connections with belonging. $“On the back steps of his house bordered by golden cypress, Lawns- geraniums younger.”$ Emphasis the isolation that Felix feels and his garden provides him with security. The j^^uxtaposition of the garden and the fields of wheat and corn illustrate the longingness of his home but still finding contentment in external influences.^^