English and The Journey

Medea

For those of you studying Medea, an interesting reinterpretation of the classic Greek Tragedy, is Wesley Enoch's Black Medea. Enoch combines the techniques of Ancient Greek and Indigenous storytelling to rework this tragic tale in item 2446. For more information check out the ABC's Message Sticks page: http://www.abc.net.au/message/blackarts/perform/s1345540.htm

Medea the suffragette? Take a look at item 2445 which studies the connection between Medea and the Suffragette Movement.

Speeches

Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address"

The legacy of Abraham Lincoln's "Government of the people, by the people, for the people" speech, otherwise known as the "Gettysburg Address" is examined in Item 2439. Item 2440 offers a tongue-in-cheek but nevertheless very thorough analysis of Lincoln's famous words.

Revenge Tragedy

Revenge is often like biting a dog because the dog bit you. Austin O'Malley

Kill Bill

From The Godfather to Kill Bill, we explore the portrayal of revenge on the big screen in items 2436-2438.

Memento

This unusual film about memory and history is analysed in great detail in item 2447.

Ancient History

Infocus' exploration of everything weird and wonderful about ancient civilisations continues with items 2429, 2430 and 2431. This term we delve into suicide, disability and juvenile delinquency in the Greco-Roman world. Item 2428, "Lively last days and nights", describes a typical night in the ancient city of Pompeii as experienced by the ancient traveller.

History Extension

Item 2435 discusses how the Christian Crusaders were viewed by the Islamic world. Insight is given into how poetry, verse and storytelling were used to strengthen the Muslim military effort.

September 11

The historiography of the September 11 terrorist attacks is the focus of item 2450. Historian Ernest R. May describes the process of writing the final report of the 9/11 Commission.

Item 2434, "Muslims in America post September 11" looks at the social impact of the terrorist attacks on Americans. This item may also be of interest to Society and Culture students.

Biology

Artificial blood

This term we take a look at the development of artificial blood. Items 2422 -2433 discuss the use of this new product in medical research.

Textiles and Design

We have added two new articles for Textile and Design students, which discuss different aspects of the Australian Fashion Industry. Item 2443 is an interview with fashion designers Sass and Bide who discuss their work, inspirations and success.
Item 2442 describes the challenges faced by young Australian fashion designers.

Internet Links

Some useful online resources for history and "The Journey":

British Museum Compass Collections Online:

COMPASS is an online database featuring around 5,000 artefacts chosen by the curators to reflect the extraordinary range of the British Museum's collections. The system features a wealth of links and background information. There are online tours on a variety of subjects and each artefact is illustrated with high quality images that you can enlarge and study in detail.
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/index.html

In the Footsteps of Marco Polo: A Journey through the Met to the Land of the Great Khan

This online exhibition from the Metropolitan Museum of Art follows the journey of the seventeen-year-old Marco Polo, who in 1271 began a journey that would last twenty-four years and take him more than 24,000 miles, through the Middle East and Central Asia, then further to China and the court of Khubilai Khan (1214-1294). www.metmuseum.org/explore/Marco/index.html

Art of the First Cities: the third millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus

This online exhibition surveys the flourishing of the world's earliest civilizations in Mesopotamia and surrounding regions stretching from the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean across Iran and Central Asia to the Indus Valley during one of the most seminal and creative periods in history. www.metmuseum.org/explore/First_Cities/firstcities_splash.htm

News from the State Library of NSW

INFOQUICK 1988- 2005

Indexing in INFOQUICK, the State Library's index to Australian content in the Sydney Morning Herald, ceased at the end of June this year. A review of the service revealed libraries prefer to use online services such as Australia & New Zealand Newsstand and Factiva, or indeed newspapers' own websites, to access full text information from newspapers. However, INFOQUICK will remain on the Library's website, and remains a valuable resource for locating Australian content in the Herald back to 1988. See http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/infoquick/welcome.cfm

Infocus Email Newsletter

As you are probably aware, we are developing an email newsletter for member libraries to keep you up-to-date on new resources, websites and other information relevant to HSC students and teachers. Please note that subscribing to this email newsletter is optional. Information about the State Library's privacy policy is available on request.
If you haven't yet sent us your email address but would like to receive the email newsletter, please do so as the first issue is nearing completion. Send your email address to us at infocus@sl.nsw.gov.au

Upcoming Events at the State Library of NSW

La Perouse Exhibition

More than 200 years ago, French navigator La Pérouse vanished in the Pacific. Explore fascinating original works and documentation in this exhibition which combines historical material from the State Library and the current work of two French-born artists, Nathalie Hartog-Gautier and Catherine K.

The artists have been inspired to create works based on what might have been part of the French record of La Pérouse's voyage including the Australian colony.

The exhibition also includes shipwreck items from La Pérouse's ships on loan to the Library from the La Pérouse Museum.

15 August to 30 October. Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm. Sat-Sun 11am to 5pm. Free.

Contacting Infocus:

Please note that Infocus has two phone numbers:

For inquiries related to orders and invoices please call (02) 9273 1769

For topic suggestions or general Infocus inquiries please call (02) 9273 1519

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