eruditeHSC

Q: I am in desperate need of related belonging texts. I need to relate them to ‘Romulus, My Father’ in some way and need a film and a written text. I was more hoping to find a short story as I am a bit short on time and I’m not a big reader.

A: ‘Footy Legends’ is an aussie film about a multicultural football team that needs to prove a few things and it deals with a Vietnamese family with ‘belonging’ issues. It’s uncomplicated and does the job.It’s set in sydney. ‘Whale Rider’ is a NZ film and it deals with family and the belonging and alienation issues that the course draws on. ‘Home Alone’ is old but also does the job. There is a list on the website.
If you go to the online section on the belonging page of the website there are links to transcripts from the ABC’s Australian Story which interviews people about their achievements and a lot of them will involve belonging. Andrew Denton’s Enough Rope is another link that takes you to transcripts and there’s plenty of material there. Transcripts are as short as a decent short story which is part of the reason for recommending them.
I’d also like to recommend a picture book, The Arrival’ by Shaun Tan and another, ‘Belonging’ by jeannie baker. Both are excellent, on the Premiers Reading Challenge and therefore available. The first isn’t a children’s book in the true sense. The second relies purely on image.’ The Long Way Home’ by Libby hathorn is another good one about a street kid. short stories are harder. I’d suggest browsing some anothologies in a public library or get a hold of Joseph’s Coat edited by Peter Skyrznecki, which deals with multiculturalism and therefore the issues of moving country, belonging and alienation etc.