1. Kokoda pre-watching task
Task 1:
Download the set of photographs on the right (f you can't see them) from the period and the place you are about to study — the Kokoda Track, 1942. The images all illustrate aspects of the soldiers’ experience of the Kokoda campaign.
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2. Watch the film! |
Link to access the film can be found here.
Your only homework task for the week is to watch the film, so you can complete the decision-making task. As you watch this film, makes some notes about the conditions that the Australian soldiers of Maroubra Force faced in PNG during the war. |
3. Responding to the Film
What does Kokoda tell us about the nature of war?
Kokoda shows a group of Australian soldiers on the Kokoda Track in Papua in 1942. They are part of a small force of poorly trained and poorly-equipped soldiers who have the task of holding up a far superior Japanese advance along the track from Kokoda to Isurava. The safety of Australia may depend on their being able to hold off the Japanese attack.
Kokoda shows a group of Australian soldiers on the Kokoda Track in Papua in 1942. They are part of a small force of poorly trained and poorly-equipped soldiers who have the task of holding up a far superior Japanese advance along the track from Kokoda to Isurava. The safety of Australia may depend on their being able to hold off the Japanese attack.
- One dominant aspect of the film is the environment. How does the environment shape the nature of the war?
- There is a strong tradition of mate-ship among the Australian soldiers. How is this notion of mateship both demonstrated and challenged during the film? Discus the relationship between Darko and Jack.
- War is described in the film as a ‘crucible’ in which character and people's qualities are tested. Describe some of the qualities (both positive and negative) that are depicted during the film. For example: Where do you see courage (cowardice, self-sacrifice, selfishness) and how is it depicted?
- One of the strongest qualities depicted in this film is that of duty or responsibility. But responsibility can pull a person in two different directions. How does Jack's duty to his bother conflict with his duty to his country?
- Leadership is an important characteristic in war. How does the film depict good leadership? In what scenes does it do this and how does it portray leadership? Where are there examples of ineffective leadership?
- The speech towards the end where Lieutenant-Colonel Honner addresses the men of the 39th praises these men. Do you think this is an effective speech? Explain your reasons.
- One of the key relationships in the lm is between Jack and Darko. What aspects of war does this clash between the two men reveal?
- We never get to see the enemy clearly in Kokoda. Suggest why not.
- What is the dominant image that is presented in the lm? Is it that war is ennobling? Or a necessary evil? Or horri c? Or some other idea or combination of ideas? Discuss and explain your answer.
But is Kokoda good history?
Kokoda is a film about war and what happens to people during it. It is also a representation of the Australian experience of the Kokoda Track. For many people this may be the only knowledge they have of this incredibly important historical event. Does the film present an accurate and fair representation of it? In order to answer this, complete the following:
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4. Your response
Your next task is to return to the primary sources and Complete the following:
- Remembering that our inquiry question is (What were the experiences of Australians in the Second World War), formulate THREE FOCUS QUESTIONS that will break down this topic into smaller constituent parts.
- These should be different aspects of the overall question you could use to answer it. For example, if I was going to do a research project that answered the inquiry question: What effects did Nazi propaganda have in wartime Germany? I could ask the following:
- What agenda did the Nazis push using propaganda?
- Towards whom was Nazi propaganda directed?
- Was there one group who was targeted in German propaganda more than others?
- These should be different aspects of the overall question you could use to answer it. For example, if I was going to do a research project that answered the inquiry question: What effects did Nazi propaganda have in wartime Germany? I could ask the following:
- Choose AT LEAST TWO of the primary sources with which you have been working.
- Evaluate the sources you've chosen in accordance with the way you've been taught in class (Accuracy, Representativeness, Reliability, & Relevance).
- Conduct some research, find and select THREE MORE SOURCES, SO YOU HAVE A TOAL OF FIVE.
- Evaluate these in accordance with the way you've been shown.
- Prepare a two paragraph (TEEL) critical summary of the evidence that incorporates the inquiry question for the week: WHAT WERE THE EXPERIENCES OF AUSTRALIANS IN WWII?
5. Extension
Download the excerpt from Oxford University Press' Big Ideas and complete the questions at the end of the document.
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