AustLit
Texts
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In Turkey I Am Beautiful : Between Chaos and Madness in a Strange Land
Pymble
:
HarperCollins Australia
,
2008
Z1505334
2008
single work
autobiography
(taught in 1 units)
'When Brendan Shanahan returned to Turkey after two years to catch up with old friends he found much had changed. Not only was the country itself transforming but the lives of his Turkish friends seemed to be mirroring the growing pains of a nation on the cusp of its biggest transformation since independence. After travelling extensively in the wilds of the east - where, among other things, he found himself in the middle of a gunfight, was propositioned by shepherds and swam to Armenia in his underpants - Brendan eventually agreed to run his friend's carpet shop in Istanbul. With only the dubious help of his carpet-dealer friend, a lovable but frequently demanding bi-polar drug addict, the results were often disastrous, frequently hilarious and occasionally poignant. By the end of his travels he was broke and owned more carpets than floor, but had come to a deeper understanding both of a country he loved and the people he loved in it.' (Publisher's blurb)
Degrees
Description
This unit is designed to provide students with opportunities to hone their skills as storytellers with a focus on travel narrative, and to foster an understanding and appreciation of the theoretical issues associated with travel and travel writing. As this unit recognises that a writer can draw on local as well as foreign places to construct a sound travel narrative, it is offered to students regardless of how much they have travelled.
Assessment
Research essay 1500 words 30%; Two original travel narratives 1500 words each (total 3000 words) 60%; Class participation: contribution to class discussion, reading analysis & workshopping process 10%.
Other Details
Offered in:
2011, 2010
Current Campus:
Burwood (Melbourne), External
Levels:
Postgraduate
