Texts & Human

Key terminology:

Theocracy - A form of government in which religious leaders or institutions hold political power, and laws are typically based on religious doctrine. 

McCarthyism - A period of intensive anit-communist suspicion in the US during the 1950s, characterised by aggressive accusation, blacklisting, and investigation without substantial evidence. 

Human qualities - The attributes or characteristics, such as empathy, kindness, creativity, and resilience, that are associated with human beings. 

Human experiences - The collective range of emotions, actions and events that individuals encounter throughout their lives, reflecting the essence if living as a human being.  

Rationale:

In this common module students deepen their understanding of how texts represent individual and collective human experiences. They examine how texts represent human qualities and emotions associated with, or arising from, these experiences. Students appreciate, explore, interpret, analyse and evaluate the ways language is used to shape these representations in a range of texts in a variety of forms, modes and media. 

Students explore how texts may give insight into the anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations, inviting the responder to see the world differently, to challenge assumptions, ignite new ideas or reflect personally. They may also consider the role of storytelling throughout time to express and reflect particular lives and cultures. By responding to a range of texts they further develop skills and confidence using various literary devices, language concepts, modes and media to formulate a considered response to texts.

Students study one presecirbed text and a range of short texts that provide rich opportunities to further explore representations of human experiences illuminated in texts. They make increasingly informed judgements about how aspects of these texts, for example context, purpose, structure, stylistic and grammatical features, and form shape meaning. In addition, students select one related text and draw from personal experience to make connections between themselves, the world of the text and their wider world. 

By responding and composing throughout the module statements further develop a repertoire of skills in comprehending , interpreting and analysing complex texts. They examine how different modes and media use visual, verbal and/or digital elements. They communicate ideas using figurative language to express universal themes and evaluative language skills in using metalanguage, correct grammar and syntax to analyse language and express a personal perspective about a text. 

Themes

Power:

Power is the ability to influence or control others, shaping behaviours, decisions, and sometimes even their beliefs. Power tends to corrupt, as people may prioritise their interests over fairness or compassion. At its heart,  power reflects the complexities of human relationships and the way we navigate authority and dependence. 

Repression: 

repression is the act of holding something back, whether it's emotions, desires, or freedoms. Governments or institutions might use repression to maintain order by silencing dissent. Repression highlights the human conflict between security and freedom, as well as the harm that comes from silencing what needs to be expressed. 

Conformity: 

At its core, conformity reflects the tension between our desire to fit in and our need to be true to ourselves. It's a natural human impulse, but one that raises questions about when blending in becomes losing oneself. 

Manipulation: 

Whether it's in personal relationships or societal dynamics manipulation highlights a darker side of human behaviour, where ambition, fear, or control can override empathy and honesty. It's a reminder of how fragile trust can be and how easily it can be exploited. Despite its negative connotations, manipulation also underscores the complexity of human motivations and the lengths people will go to achieve what they want. 

These themes are largely explored in both, George Orwell's 1984 and Arthur Miller's The Crucible click below to discover more about these texts: