1. Whose Reality Writing Tasks for Context Notebook

2. Childhood O William Wordsworth said that: ‘The child is father to the man.’ O The experiences we have as a child shape who we are as adults. We can certainly see this in Spies. O Consider an experience – positive or negative – that you had in your childhood that may have impacted how you see the world today.

3. Great Thinkers Respond to one of these statements “If you want to be happy, be.” ― Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform a million realities.” ― Maya AngelouMaya Angelou “Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.” ― Dr. SeussDr. Seuss Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?” ― John LennonJohn Lennon “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. DickPhilip K. Dick “One person's craziness is another person's reality.” ― Tim BurtonTim Burton

4. News and the Media Our sense of reality is shaped by the various stimuli around us. Every day we are bombarded by images and news flashes. The media is one entity that plays a significant role in shaping our reality. Public issues such as Gay Marriage? Our perception of public figures? Our feelings about the world around us? Advertising?

5. News and the Media Cont’d.. Who determines what is newsworthy? News reports are often subjective and many factors play a role on how they are presented. Political situations Advertising Social belief systems Public popular culture When items are reported in the Australian media we get an Australian perspective, when the same item is reported in the international media the perspective changes. Cronulla riots Attacks on International students in particular Indian students

6. This is not a pipe… This is a famous artwork by Rene Magritte. Why do you think he wrote this statement at the bottom of the painting?

7. Propaganda O During the war, and the time in which Spies is set, the government put out a lot of propaganda (images on following page) to make the public have certain positive associations with soldiers. O How does this shape the reality of the people at the time? Can you see this in Spies?

9. Walk A Mile…. O The old expression “walk a mile on someone else’s shoes” can help us to look at multiple realities. O Choose a person who you believe has a different view of reality to you and try to walk a mile in their shoes. Write this in your context notebook.

10. Plato’s Cave Allegory O Plato tried to define personal realities with this story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69F7GhAS OdM O Write in your Context Notebook – what have you understood from this about reality?

11. Second Life O The internet provides us with a way to present ourselves to the world in new ways. From social networking to second life, people are engaging in new realities. http://www.celebitchy.com/4785/couple_who _got_married_two_years_ago_on_second_life _finally_meets_and_gets_engaged/ O What repercussions does this have for our context?

12. Mental Health O Sometimes impaired mental health chnages our ability to perceive reality. O A text that explores this is A Beautiful Mind, a film tracking the life of mathematician John Nash. O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS_d0Ay jw4o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS_d0Ay jw4o O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvF4- C1EuJUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvF4- C1EuJU

13. The Senses O Memory can be stimulated by the sense – in Spies we see that Stephen is reminded of his past by the smell of the privet hedge. O Think about a sensory memory that you have. It could be: O A food that reminds you of a time or place O A smell that evokes memories O A feeling or sensation O A sound

14. Ned Kelly/Robin Hood O What are your immediate associations with these two historical (?) figures? O If you look at them clinically, with these associations, what do you see? O What does this tell us about the nature of reality?

15. Reality TV O Our televisions are cluttered with many examples of reality TV programs. Brainstorm some now. O Do you think these shows accurately show reality? Why/Why not? O What does this tell us about the nature of reality?

16. Escapism O “Humankind cannot bear too much reality” – T.S. Eliot O Are there times when we need to escape from reality? O Is this always dangerous? Can it be healthy? O Explore this in your context notebook.

17. Perspective O Hindsight – it is like foresight, but without a future. O When we look back at things we experienced as children, we would respond to them differently as young adults. O Consider a time in your childhood when you responded to something differently that you would now. Reflect on what this means.