Cultural And Relationship Changes example essay topic

"Change is a process that presents both challenges and opportunities" Do you agree? How have the composers of the texts that you have studied addressed this idea?? In your answer you should refer to your prescribed text, ONE item from the stimulus booklet Changing, and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing. It is true that change is a process that presents both challenges and opportunities. Life is always accompanied by challenges and opportunities. Overcoming challenges and grabbing opportunities determines a state of change.

Change is a constant feature of modern life and without it life would be very dull. Change is becoming or making other or different, difference from previous state. It is to alter, to adapt, to be different or to transform. Most changes require catalysts that set in motion a range of changes. These changes can take place instantly or gradually.

The effects can be positive or negative. Some people may not always welcome change or cope with it very well, others do. In looking for Alibrandi, Melina Marchetta clearly demonstrates the concept of change and change in perspective. A variety of events happen throughout the novel through a number of characters, which influences their lives and change their perspectives. Through these events Melina shows that change is triggered by certain events and experiences. Josie and other characters such as Nonna and Michael Andretti experience attitudinal, cultural and relationship changes.

Texts including the autobiography "Still Me" by Christopher Reeve, "The Door" by Miroslav Holub and the film "Chocolat" all have themes and underlying meanings relating to change. In Looking for Alibrandi, of all the characters in the novel, Josie changed the most. Because Marchetta used first person narrator, the responders were able to become the protagonist and experience the same journey as Josie did. Josie experiences cultural change through the roller coaster rides which she examine her own attitudes towards her family, her cultural heritage and herself. At first Josie assumes her social acceptance is determined by her culture and identity.

She despises the fact that she's from an Italian background and she believes that she's set apart from the Anglo Saxon Australians "I'll run one day... not as an Australian, not as an Italian and not as in between. I'll run to be emancipated". One of the major contributor towards Josie's change was the death of John Barton that had a huge influence on Josie because of the closeness of their relationship. John's suicide made Josephine realise that her own culture and her family is not so bad and that others have it much worse than her.

At the beginning of the novel Josie presents her life as misunderstood and dissatisfied but later came to understand that she has so much to live "he had to die to die to achieve his. The beauty is that I'm living to achieve mine" Eventually she decides that her culture makes up who she is and that she can not break free of it "you can't hate what you " re part of... it " ll be a part of me till the day I die". Josie learns to accept her cultural up bringing which is demonstrated in different perspective she has towards "tomato day" 'a tradition that I will probably never let go of'. The poem titled "The Door" by Miroslav Holub, illustrates that change will ultimately happen to every person but the manner in when you accept change will be the way in which change will affect your life. The poet purposely writes in imperative mood to capture the audience attention with urgency to change themselves by being intellectually curious "Go open the door".

This is a metaphor for opening one's mind and horizons. A closed door can be a symbol of a barrier that keeps things confined and limited. By opening the door we remove those barriers and are introduced to possibilities. The repetition of words "Go and open the door" makes the reader consider a range of possibilities as to what may lie behind that door. Images are used to remind the reader that there are no certainties when we open the door, just opportunities from the common and ordinary, "a tree", "a garden" to the fantastic and abstract, "magic city". All these possibilities can give us a chance to venture, discover the unknown, and give us a new and brighter perspective on life.

The poet assures that sometimes one will open the door and see nothing but the "fog" meaning things that are unclear. One should have patience for that which is unclear will be revealed later. "It will clear". The poem encourages us to seek change, to persevere and to at least "open door" as there is still benefit in experiencing whatever we find, no matter how significant or momentous the finding is. In Josie's case, she opened the door and gave the opportunity to herself to change and accept her Italian culture as part of herself. Relationship change is a major change that the novel deals with.

Initially before Josie has ever met Michael, she resents him. She feels that he abandoned her mother while she was pregnant. When she meets him however she gets the impression that he's an intelligent and decent man. Josie's promise with her father 'you keep out of my life, I keep out of yours' changed as she confined in him after a physical incident with Carley, and was then threatened legal action. Unexpectedly he arrives and the problem resolved. As Josephine is walking alongside her father, she has a change in perspective.

She has changed a great deal when she states, "For a few minutes I know how it felt walking alongside one's father". She likes the idea of having a father figure. Andretti is perhaps the quickest character to change perspectives from having a negative reaction towards Josie to adjusting his role as a father. A good demonstration of relationship change is in the film 'The Chocolat" directed by Lasse Hall strom. The film begins with the unmarried mother, Vianne Rocher and her daughter Anouk, arriving in the small French town of Lansquenet. Vianne leases a disused pasticeria, which she transformed into a colourful chocolate ria.

Vianne intrigues the town with her chocolate recipes. Initially the townspeople misjudged Vianne. They all thought she was strong and mysterious under the influence of the major, Paul primarily because she's an unmarried mother. As they got to know her more they began to get along with her and changed their views of her. The audience is first introduced to Armante, a diabetic old woman who was at first bitter and twisted towards Vianne.

After Armante tasted her chocolates, she became more cheerful and light hearted. The 2 became closer as the movie progresses. Another character who underwent relationship change with Vienne is Paul who at first described them as "rootless, contaminating the tranquillity of the town" broke into Vianne's shop, vandalized it and then ate her liqueur filled chocolate and fell into a drunken sleep. She discovered him there, a transformed man, deeply apologetic for his conduct. Attitudinal change is another issue that the novel deals with.

This can be seen through Josie and Nonna. Initially Josie perceives her grandmother as an old woman who dictated both her mother's and her own life through culturally and socially acceptable parameters. At first they were like cats and dogs screaming at each other 'you are without respect Josie. ' As the novel progresses her attitude changes towards Nonna.

A contrast can be seen at the beginning of the novel when she said 'the granddaughter she supposedly loves' to her comment at the end of the novel when she said 'I was loved by two of the strongest women I would ever meet in my lifetime. ' This occurred when she discovered her grandmother's past life. Katia tries to explain to Josie what it was like for her living in Australia and why she had a relationship with Marcus Sandford. She discovered that nonna was in an arranged marriage to someone she didn't know and she fell pregnant with Marcus Sandford. Through this experience Josie learns that Katia wasn't who she thought she was 'she hadn't stuck to the rules... hadn't worried what other people thought. ' After knowing this she was more compassionate and understanding towards Nonna.

A broader illustration of attitudinal change is the autobiography "Still Me" by Christopher Reeve. It tells the story of a man once known as a superman who has been completely transformed by a misfortune in his life, is now a quadriplegic man. Before the accident, he was a man of ability and hope but after the accident he couldn't move at all, dependent on other's help. The circumstances surrounding his life have completely changed after the accident. He gradually went through unavoidable physical, emotion, and physiological changes. In relation to Alibrandi, Josie had the choice of her change.

For instance, Josie could choose whether or not she wanted to accept her culture as part of her identity. In Jacob's case, he still has the choice of his future directions. On the other hand, Reeve had no choice about the choices he had to make. The choices were imposed upon him. The tone he describes his recollections upon the accident Is positive and sincere. The author presents himself as a rigorous optimist.

He does not show any sign of doubt that 'one day I will be back on my feet'. His attitude to life has changed from being arrogant to being modest. He self realises the grace offered to him from God. He is thankful to God for allowing him to be alive. All of these texts are ones that examine change and change in perspective. In the novel, characters change each other.

In the supplementary material too, people change through contact with others. Change is a process that presents challenges and opportunities. It is a part of life that is inevitable. All change begins with a decision.

The characters in Looking for Alibrandi face certain challenges and opportunities that eventually bring about change. The composers in the supplementary material too addressed this idea through certain events and experiences. The way one deals with challenges and taking up opportunities determines the changes in life.