English Portfolio Essay Example

shots draw attention to individual members recounting history. Extreme close-ups frequently capture the Abberton brothers during their battle with the justice system to demand audience empathy. Low angle shots create a sense of power for the Abberton brothers, while mid shots show equality among group members. Urban landscapes use vertical vectors to suggest power dynamics that diminish personal power for the boys, while curved vectors along waves indicate an organic environment that belongs to the Bra Boys.The Bra Boys promote the idea of belonging to the ocean and pushing surfing limits, encouraging younger affiliates to embrace dangerous waves and fostering a sense of belonging within the group. This concept echoes Billy's connection to Benderat in 'The Simple Gift'. Armin Greder's picture book 'The Island' addresses issues such as exclusion and categorization while highlighting universal social issues. The book alludes to Christian symbolism and emphasizes caring for the less fortunate, but also depicts bullying, segregation and a sense of alienation from the rest of the world. The dark hues and image of a raft on pages 4-5 suggest a hazardous voyage and a feeling of mystery surrounding its arrival on the isolated island.The man in the story lands on the island by chance and feels isolated, as he does not belong to the community. This is similar to Billy Luckett's experience in The Simple Gift. The large and overwhelming mob, portrayed through wide-eyed expressions and puzzlement, further emphasizes this isolation. The mob is always shown on the left side of the page, while the man is on the right, highlighting the distinction between them. The mob mentality is similar to that of the Bra Boys, as

they share similar values and ideas. Pages 18 and 19 show the mob conspiring against the man, while one fisherman defies the group mentality and points out their responsibility towards him. The anger of the mob builds throughout pages 26 to 31, with aggressive connotations implied by the use of words such as "marched" and "pushed him". Greder's story in 'The Island' is richly composed.The tale presents numerous themes, including migration, assimilation, isolation, a sense of belonging, and bullying. These themes are relevant to contemporary society and challenge the reader's understanding of belonging through both the written text and visual images. In particular, the focus on isolation draws parallels to "The Simple Gift," where the protagonist Billy experiences feelings of isolation and difference from those he encounters. The picture book "Memorial" by Gary Crew also conveys distinct experiences through the use of various materials in fragmentary pieces to emulate memory's texture. Metaphoric illustrations engage the audience and emphasize that memory is composed of small, ordinary moments rather than grand subjects like war or memorials. The book's design incorporates three key concepts: the fragmentation of materials to create a texture of memory, the vulnerability of past experiences to distortion and decay, and the importance of everyday memories in shaping our lives.In the book "Memorial," visual details trigger fragments of memory, giving the work a sense of nostalgia. Unlike in "Run Lola Run," where the audience is drawn to red objects, the page layouts of "Memorial" shift from one environment and mood to the next, requiring attention to various objects. Pictures often wander off on tangents and do not clearly illustrate the text, creating glimpses of experiences

outside of the written narrative. The discordance between the visual and written narrative suggests that all conversations in the text may be memories of a young boy, now possibly an adult. Additionally, "Memorial" utilizes the lack of text on certain pages, replaced with illustrations that allow for storytelling without a narrative. The book ultimately argues that silence can add depth and convey emotions that words cannot express fully, while offering a unique and distinctive approach to storytelling.The lack of war experience for most young people growing up in suburbia means that words and paintings must evoke emotions rather than rely on personal experience. This need for the audience to construct feeling is exemplified in the use of distinctly visual imagery, as demonstrated in Module A through the oil on canvas painting ‘The Third of May’ by Francisco Goya. Through visual techniques such as colour, composition, light, space, juxtaposition and repetition of images, Goya immerses the viewer in the painting's experience. His technical skill is evident through his use of canvas as a medium to convey meaning. Earth tones and black shades dominate the limited colour palette, with flashes of white shirts and red blood emphasizing the morbid theme. This bright colour contrast draws the viewer's attention to key areas, as seen in “Run Lola Run” with Lola's red hair. The tone set by Goya evokes specific emotions from the audience, and his repetition of the firing squad emphasizes the soldiers' attitudes towards their victims and anonymous roles.The technique used in "The Third of May" prompts the audience to question the natural brutality of soldiers. The disorganized group of captives serves as a stark contrast to

the opposing forces, creating a clear image in the audience's mind of victim and attacker. Time plays a crucial role in this painting, similar to "Run Lola Run," as evidenced by the progression of time in the procession of the damned, the central figure about to be shot, and the corpse in a pool of red blood. The motif of religion is conveyed successfully through iconography, including the crucified Christ seen in the man in white and yellow (papal colors). Through iconography, the composer manipulates the audience and creates the central meaning that sacrificing life will not lead to salvation. "The Third of May" employs visual techniques to highlight specific ideas, widening the audience's understanding.

Furthermore, Melina Marchetta's novel "Looking for Alibrandi" follows the protagonist Josephine as she transitions into a new phase in her life. Her relationship with her father and Nonna, as well as her perspectives and acceptance of her culture, serve as catalysts for change.At the start of the novel, on a national Italian day, Josephine chooses not to participate due to her negative attitude towards her culture. Marchetta uses isolation as a technique to highlight Josie's detachment from her heritage. Josie wishes she could ignore her background and find a beneficial change. The novel also explores Josie's family relationships, which help her transition to a new phase in her life. Unexpectedly, her father, Michael Andretti, visits and Josie's initial reaction is anger and hostility. Through Marchetta's journalistic writing style, readers witness Josie's perception shift towards her father as they develop a firm friendship. This bond with her father gives Josie newfound confidence and she becomes "Proud to be an Andretti". Josie's perspective

on her grandmother changes from annoyance to love and respect through the episodic narrative style of writing. Readers witness Josie's perception evolve as she learns more about her grandmother.At the start of the book, Josie had no interest in spending time with her grandmother and even wanted to annoy her, stating "my main objective in life at the moment is to get on my grandmother’s nerves". As the story progressed, however, she learned about her Nonna's secret affair with Marcus Stanford and realized that her grandmother had not lived life according to the rules she had expected. By the end of the novel, Josie had gained a newfound respect for Nonna and acknowledged the love she had received from "the two strongest women [she'd] ever meet in a lifetime".
The conclusion of the book takes readers back one year later to the same national Italian day, where Josie is now actively involved in setting up for the event. Her pride in her family and heritage has helped her discover that her family is the most important thing in her life. This novel ties in with the theme of "Into the World" and shows how Josie goes through a significant change in her life. Similarly to The Story of Tom Brennan, Josie's relationships with her father and grandmother help her transition to a new phase of life.At the conclusion of the novel, it is evident that Josie's perception of her nationality has evolved, demonstrated through her involvement in the national day. This newfound sense of belonging is a unique example of "Into the World" that I have encountered. The movie Billy Elliot, directed by Steven Daldry,

portrays the concept of "Into the World" through the main character Billy's desire to break free from his constrained, masculine environment and pursue ballet. Daldry employs various film techniques, such as camera angles, symbolism, and music, to depict Billy's journey into the world and assist in our comprehension of growth and transformation in modern society. Set amidst a year-long miners' strike in 1984 North England, Billy's pursuit to transition from a "miner's son to professional dancer" is challenging. His father's perspective that "lads do football, wrestling and boxing," which reflects the whole community's lack of celebration for individuality, establishes a masculine viewpoint. The film starts with Billy jumping while the song "Cosmic Dancer" by T-Rex plays, foreshadowing his passion for dance. This scene is counterposed with violent miners 'on the picket line,' highlighting the hindrances he faces. During a boxing lesson, Billy showcases his passion for dance by performing ballet moves to lively piano music and demonstrates his disinterest in boxing - a standard practice for boys in his community.In this scene, we witness Billy's individuality and courage as he wears his blue boxing shoes amongst the girls in their white ballet slippers. As he starts to enjoy ballet, he returns for more lessons, breaking free from the limitations symbolized by the doors and walls that confine him, exemplified by a tense scene where he is restricted to a claustrophobic toilet cubicle. His mentor-figure, Mrs. Wilkinson, helps him transition into this new world, but Tony, Billy's brother, fights to keep him in his restrictive world because he believes that Billy is only a small child. However, Billy's desire to be a ballet dancer is greater

than his desire to remain a child. To prove himself and gain his father's approval, Billy dances in front of Jackie in the gymnasium. The techniques used to portray his success include close-ups of Billy's feet and Jackie's facial expressions. As Billy enters his new world, he faces opposition from Jackie and Tony but eventually triumphs. There is a heartwarming moment when they become supportive of him by saying "we'll find some money, dad". The epilogue focuses on an adult Billy who leaps onto the stage with a powerful and enlightened stance, showcasing his triumph as a professional dancer.In the text, Daldry emphasizes that Billy underwent a transformative journey of growth and self-improvement by embracing new challenges and overcoming obstacles. The audience gains a deeper understanding of this process by observing Billy's bravery in exploring the world of ballet and seizing new opportunities. This aligns with the central theme of The Story of Tom Brennan, in which Tom also demonstrates the courage and determination necessary to conquer his own fears and venture into uncharted territory.