Summary:
Considers the theme of journey in a variety of literature. Describes how many of the sources were very different in nature, i.e. visual texts, poetry, book extracts, cartoons, songs, etc, they are all connected insofar as they all express views or demonstrate aspects of journeys.
Over the last four weeks we have been studying the Area of Study, 'Journeys'. During that time we have looked at many different sources which contain the theme of journey. Although many of the sources were very different in nature, i.e. visual texts, poetry, book extracts, cartoons, songs, etc, they are all connected insofar as they all express views or demonstrate aspects of journeys.
Looking at the theme of journey from many different angles has enabled me to form my own personal understanding of the Area of Study, 'Journeys'. Previously, I may have limited myself to viewing journey as something that could be physical only. I am now more open to journey being more than just physically travelling, as it encompasses inner and imaginative journeys also. I now view journey as a process in which the traveller grows and changes in response to 'covering ground' in their life (whether that be literally covering ground, covering ground within or covering ground imaginatively).
Two texts that I think would be appropriate for inclusion in the Stimulus Booklet for 'Journeys' in 2005 are the songs 'River of Dreams' written and sung by Billy Joel, and 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' sung by Judy Garland from the classic movie 'The Wizard of Oz'. Both songs are relevant to the Area of Study, 'Journeys', and particularly relate to the focus area of 'Imaginative Journeys'.
The song 'River of Dreams' would be excellent for inclusion in a Stimulus Booklet on 'Journeys' as it explores journey on so many levels. It refers to the physical journey, "From the mountains.... To a river", "Through the valley.... To a river", "Through the jungle.... To the river" etc. These lyrics are also a metaphor for the highs and lows he experienced on the journey.
'River of Dreams' also relates to an inner journey as Billy Joel is searching for the meaning of life. The lyrics, "I know I'm searching for something/ Something so undefined/ That it can only be seen/ By the eyes of the blind," and "And I've been searching for something/ Taken out of my soul/ Something I would never lose/ Something somebody stole", expresses his inner journey.
Above all however the journey is also imaginative as everything is happening in his mind or in his 'dreams', "In the middle of the night/ I go walking in my sleep." He journeys "From the mountains of faith", "Through the valley of fear", "jungle of doubt," and "desert of truth" all of which represent his state of mind. He is always travelling "To a river so deep" where he expects to find what he is searching for "I walk down every evening and I stand on the shore/ And try to cross to the opposite side/ So I can finally find out what I've been looking for."
The river is used as a metaphor on a number of levels in this song. As all journeys present obstacles and challenges, this river is proving to be a barrier, "But the river is wide/ And it's too hard to cross." However this same river is also seen as a helpful guide and a path to travel along, "We all end in the ocean/ We all start in the streams/ We're all carried along/ By the river of dreams." This lyric is also a metaphor for journey as it explains how when we start searching we must start with little things, 'streams', until we eventually make up the big picture, 'oceans'. We build the picture by travelling along the imaginative 'river of dreams'.
When looking for appropriate texts I realised that songwriters of today are, in many ways, the modern poets. It was with this realisation that I decided to look through the family CD collection, searching for songs representing journey. I found 'River of Dreams' by Billy Joel to be a good example of an imaginative journey.
The song 'River of Dreams' would be very useful to a student in a Stimulus Booklet in lyric form. The lyrics would be enough to engage the student as it a famous and familiar song and it would enable the students to discover all the aspects of journey it contains. Listening to the song would not be essential though it may enhance some students' understanding depending on the individual student's learning style.
The second text which I believe should be included in the Stimulus Booklet is 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' from the film 'The Wizard of Oz'. When first searching for imaginative journey texts I considered the film 'The Wizard of Oz' which itself is an imaginative journey down a "yellow brick road", however I believe the movie is a journey on too many levels to be included and so I started looking for an extract from the film that I could use. When I heard the song 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' I thought it perfectly encapsulated the theme of imaginative journey and thought it would be very useful for a year 12 student in 2005.
'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' is a journey of the imagination to a fantasy world "behind the moon, beyond the rain." The character, Dorothy, played by Judy Garland, is dreaming of a world where there "isn't any trouble." In her imagination Dorothy journeys to her fantasyland. The direction of her gaze indicates to the viewer that she is imagining her dream world.
The rainbow in this song is Dorothy's road and she believes that it is at the end of this rainbow that she will find happiness- her 'pot of gold'. Her journey however is not very realistic. You can only get there by "wishing on a star" and the destination is a fantasy one. This also indicates that it is an imaginative journey.
The first verse of the song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ Way up high/ There's a land that I heard of/ Once in a lullaby" introduces the idea of a fairy tale land and suggests that the rest of the song will further explore and journey into this land.
The following verses paint the picture of a 'perfect' world where "troubles melt like lemon drops" and dreams come true. This is the world that Dorothy wishes to reach on her journey. From the song, it can be assumed that Dorothy views journey as a positive experience as she views the land she is journeying to as one where she can be happy and leave her troubles behind her. It is clear that she longs to reach this destination through the final lines of the song, "If happy little bluebirds fly/ Beyond the rainbow/ Why oh why can't I"" This line also indicates that Dorothy doubts that she will ever reach this land. She can take this journey in her imagination but knows that, physically, it is an impossible one.
The song 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' should be included in a Stimulus Booklet in lyric form. The addition of a picture of Dorothy gazing into the sky would assist the students in discovering all the elements of journey it contains.
I believe the above two texts to be perfect candidates for the student Stimulus Booklet for 'Journeys' in 2005. Both exhibit exceptional examples of imaginative journeys and would enhance students' understanding of this Area of Study.
This is the complete article, containing 1,199 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page).
