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Radio National: Is the Great Gatsby 'tilting at windmills'?

Intertextuality is about the process of making connections, either consciously or subconsciously, and can shape the way we interpret a text. In this audio clip, explore the intertextual link between two classic novels: 'The great Gatsby' by F Scott Fitzgerald and 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. This clip ...

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Heywire: Bikes, cameras and cystic fibrosis

What does it take to remain active and optimistic despite having a serious physical condition? Michael McMahon's photo story shows us that cystic fibrosis hasn't stopped him doing what he loves best. A proud resident of Warrnambool in Victoria, and with a strong family network around him, he is living life to the fullest. ...

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Create: What is abstract art?

Traditionally artworks were representations of real life objects and environments. When you looked at these works you could usually identify what the artist was representing. How is abstract art different from this? Watch this video to see an example of an abstract painting, then have a go at creating one yourself!

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First Tuesday Book Club: The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' is a dystopian novel set in the fictional Republic of Gilead. What are some hallmarks of dystopian novels? What are some similarities and differences between this novel and another dystopian novel mentioned in this video, Orwell's '1984'?

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Ways to tell stories

In this video, student writers Noa and Francis discuss the creative choices they made when writing the short stories they've recently had published. Why might structuring a story as a letter be a good way to tell a story about a personal experience? Why was it important for Francis to use a first person narrative voice ...

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Jane Austen: Expectations and aspirations of women

How liberated were the women in Jane Austen's novels? Were they encouraged to confront the social norms and gender roles of their times? Listen as Oxford University's Professor Kathryn Sutherland shares her thoughts on the aspirations and expectations of middle and upper class women in Ms Austen's works. This clip from ...

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The Sea Turtle and the Osprey

The Dreaming of the Sea Turtle and the Osprey (Wundanyuka kulu Jujuju) belongs to the Wurdalia clan of the Yanyuwa People, who live in and around Borroloola, near the Gulf of Carpentaria in the eastern Northern Territory. The story follows the Osprey, who pursues Sea Turtles in the islands of the southwest Gulf. Please ...

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Jane Austen: The novel and social realism

Why did Jane Austen spend so much time detailing the lives of everyday people in her classic novels? Listen as Professor Kathryn Sutherland from the University of Oxford provides valuable insights into the intentions and techniques of one of Britain's best-known authors. This clip from the British Library is one in a series ...

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Jane Austen: The secret meaning of the dance

Why did Jane Austen write about dancing in her novels? What could attendance at a ball or local dance tell us about the characters and their relationships? Professor Kathryn Sutherland explains the significance of dances in the late-18th and early-19th centuries and suggests why Ms Austen chose to describe them in great ...

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Macbeth: Are you a man or a mouse?

Let's get inside the devious mind of Lady Macbeth! Bell Shakespeare's Kate Mulvany and John Bell explore the methods Lady Macbeth uses to manipulate her husband. This delightfully despicable character knows just which buttons to press! Listen in on the conversation with James Evans and see for yourself.

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a-Kuridi: The Groper

In this spectaular animation, the Groper travels around South West Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, close to the Northern Territory mainland. She visits different Dreaming countries while creating waterways, plantations and rock formations. The Groper's story belongs to the Wuyaliya clan of the Yanyuma people. This story ...

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Characters as friends

Do you agree with Morris Gleitzman when he says that characters you create are like friends? How hard do you think it is to put your characters through difficult situations and make them suffer if you feel this way?

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Feathers, Fur and Fins: A song about sugar gliders

Do you know any songs about Australian animals? Listen to this song about sugar gliders performed by Don Spencer. Don sings a gentle song about a gentle character. Look at the features of the sugar gliders as they glide from tree-to-tree in the Australian bush.

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First Tuesday Book Club: A moral minefield: Christos Tsiolkas's 'The Slap'

'The Slap', a novel from Australian author Christos Tsiolkas, created plenty of controversy when it was published. Why is it that some novels seem to stir people up more than others? Learn how the novel affected a group of panel members discussing popular Australian books.

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BTN: Meet a young author

Do you love writing stories? Learn how Hannah Chandler got a book published at the age of 12! Why don't you make your own book? Once you're happy with your story, find yourself an illustrator (a friend, family member or even yourself!) and start designing your pages. Once they're ready attach them all together. Don't forget ...

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Andy Griffiths' tips for writing funny stories

Watch this video and learn how to write funny stories with tips from Andy Griffiths! What does he say is a good starting point? Why don't you try writing a story about a time something embarrassing happened to you? What does Andy say is the key to getting readers to enjoy your story and have a laugh?

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'Sing a song of sixpence' sung by Teddy Rock

Watch and listen to Buzz, Belle and Bop perform the nursery rhyme 'Sing a song of sixpence' in this animated music video. Find out where the king was, what the queen was doing and what happened to the maid. Have fun retelling the story.

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Thinking about settings with Leigh Hobbs

As Leigh Hobbs says, the great thing about inventing a character is that you also have the power to choose where they live. What's your character's world like? Describe your character at home. Where do they live? And what do they do there? Now choose a completely different location and plonk your character there. Think ...

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The Dreamings from the Saltwater Country

The Yanyuwa people of Manakurra are the custodians of the Tiger Shark Dreaming song line. Manakurra is situated at the mouth of the Wearyan River on the Gulf coast of the Northern Territory. In this stunning animation, the Tiger Shark swims into the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria, singing dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, ...

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Kurdarrku: The Brolga

The dance of the Brolga is one of the most graceful in the world. In this Dreaming story from the Mambaliya-Wawukarriya clan of the Yanyuwa people, the Brolga's dance is recreated in stunning animation. The Brolga travels through the country west of the Gulf of Carpentaria, creating plains, wells, trees and lagoons. This ...