What do you think of the characters so far What do you think of the characters so far? Do you think they are like real people? Have you ever met travelers like this? Daily Journal 19 November 2015

Context Alex Garland’s first novel, age 26 Instant best-seller. Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Steve Jobs, 127 Hours) would direct the film. Has since written the screen play for several films including, 28 Days Later and Sunshine Directed Ex Machina

Literature Circle Roles Discussion Director Summarizer Word Master Connector Culture Collector Cartographer – - Probably not too necessary Character Curator

Discussion The book and the movie The Beach deal with the ultimate dream of every traveler: finding the perfect place or paradise, which is a place unspoiled by tourism. What is the difference between a traveler and a tourist? Do the main characters in the book think of themselves as travelers or tourists? What effect do you think the book and the movie have had on tourism and traveling? Can you think of another book or film that had an impact on global culture like this one had? What do you think Alex Garland thinks of backpack traveling and tourism?

Discussion “Tourists went on holidays while travelers did something else. They travelled.” What do you think of this quote? What is Garland saying about the how “travelers” view themselves?

Discussion What do you think readers or critics thought of this book?

Although critically acclaimed in most Western media outlets, this novel was dismissed by many Asian critics as a “one-dimensional look at the region by an uninformed outsider.” Also, that the Thai people are “two-dimensional, just part of the scenery.” What are your thoughts on this? “That's because these people I'm writing about - backpackers - really only see them as part of the scenery. They don't see them or the Thai culture. To them, it's all part of a huge theme park, the scenery for their trip. That's the point.” ~ Alex Garland Your thoughts?

Intro 0 – 00:03:00 – tracking/following camera 00:14:00 – 00:20:00 – fire on beach

Discussion “Film Tourism.” What do you think this expression means? Do you think film tourism is positive or negative? Can you think of other films that lead or have led to “film tourism?”

“Never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamilar, never fail to be polite, and never outstay your welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience. And if it hurts? It’s probably worth it.” What do you think of this? Do you think it is a realistic philosophy?

Garland spent six months living in the Philippines Garland spent six months living in the Philippines. Much of that experience was incorporated into "The Beach," which he purposefully set in Thailand. "That's because Thailand is more of a Mecca for a certain kind of travel, the kind of backpackers in the book," he explains. "And I wanted to write a certain kind of book about travel.”

Nevertheless, the very backpackers that Garland parodies in "The Beach" have hailed him as a spokesman for a lifestyle that he rejected long ago. "These people say they aren't tourists, but travellers and think they are special, more sensitive. It's stupid. They're not." Garland admits the book is very much autiobiographical. Leo's character, Richard, he says, "is basically me, when I was 18 or 19.“

Discussion "This book is anti-traveler in a lot of ways. That was absolutely my intention. "The Beach" was meant to be a criticism of this backpacker culture, not a celebration of it.“ ~ Alex Garland Do you agree that this book is “anti-traveler?”