Is mentioning super heroes in an I&B piece too overdone or too cheesy? My example would be in the show "Arrow" the main character oliver who is a billionaire, is pressured by his family into taking over and running his fathers company and becoming a modest, responsible adult but really he wants to be a hero and save the city from criminals. He's pressured to take on an identity that he doesn't want to be associated with. Also batman where he says "It's not who I am underneath but what I do that defines me". I like that quote but wouldn't be sure how to turn it into a full paragraph
also something we touched in class on about how most year 12's will be 18 years and how society expects 18 year olds to be responsible but some people don't feel like they have become truly responsible at 18 and thus don't feel like they belong as a proper adult
also the example of Elliot Rodgers (guy who shot up a college campus) can be used as an I&B example. Although he was twisted and psychopathic and despite his family being rich and well connected, he was constantly bullied in each school he went to and never belonged with others.
Superheros are a pretty common one, but it's a broad enough topic, and since I've already acknowledged WWII and asylum seekers this is probably worth a mention.
I really like your point about the paradox of being a young adult, and what that label actually means. If anyone else wants to unpack this further or challenge this in some way, I'd welcome it.
And I've mentioned the USCB shootings in the media stories section. Sorry, I have this thing about actually mentioning the shooter's name. You probably should know it if you're writing a piece, but I remember this press conference in America back when I was a kid, (I think it was one of the high school massacres) in whichc the principal said something along the lines of 'I would ask the media not to dwell on the perpetrator of this horrendous crime. Don't show his face, don't make his name infamous, because this feeds the culture and only makes other desperate children think of this as an option. Instead, focus on the victims.' He then preceded to tell stories about some of the children who'd been shot, who they were and what the community had lost. Obviously your essays aren't a form of broadcast media, so you're free to delve into the shooter's psychology for academic reasons, but I think the other side of the story has potential too. Or otherwise you could zoom out and consider the role of the media coverage like I've just done.
Shootings in America are depressingly common, so while this year's assessors may not have heard
this story in particular, they will be familiar with many others, and you definitely address this if it's not too bleak for you. I'll also put a video link to one of John Oliver's segments on the Gun Debate in which he compares the situation in the US to here. Makes you proud to be Aussie
he makes us look quite awesome.
For identity and belonging I'd also highly recommend the novel cum movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Added, cheers Jono_CP
also i just saw you included black mirror, massive props haha. white bear was absolutely fantastic.
Thanks for adding it on the list! Oh and i just saw Black Mirror on the list, as if i didn't see it earlier it's my favorite TV show/social commentary,love the ideas implied in it!
I had no idea this show was so popular, always good to know
PS: DON'T WATCH THE FIRST EPISODE,hehe
Lol, dude, why would you say this, now they're all going to watch it *face palm*