Spring 2014
Student reflections
The lAramie Project Year 11 studies complex themes Year 11 students engaged in a new unit of inquiry this year through the study of The Laramie Project. This play, written by Moises Kaufmann and the Tectonic Theatre Company, is based on a series of interviews following the 1998 murder of 21-year-old university student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, USA. The focus of the inquiry was to explore the ways in which writers manipulate genre for the purpose of exploring ethical judgments and moral reasoning. Capturing the voices of individuals within the community, this powerful and deeply moving play enabled students to gain insight into the perspectives of those involved. To provide greater context to the play, students also read a range of articles, editorials, songs and poems that were related to the events in Laramie but also revealed the extent of the impact upon American discourse around gay rights and justice, and the ongoing debates around these issues. Reading the play and supporting texts sparked discussions about the nature of hate crimes, the ethics of capital punishment, human rights and forgiveness. Students were able to build upon their skills of critical reading and analysis, as well as examine the ways in which context shape meaning both in terms of how a text is written and in terms of how it is read. The unit also encompassed a multidisciplinary component in which students also explored the play in their Drama classes. By building set dioramas or designing costumes to represent aspects of the play’s themes, the students further explored the topics and issues discussed. The culminating task for the unit enabled students to construct a written response to the play and the issues raised by reading it. Here students were given the choice of a range of genres in order to craft their responses. Students selected text types such as dramatic monologue, screenplay, editorial, letter, short story or writing Act IV for the play, and a sample of these is included here. The quality of student writing was outstanding, reflecting appreciation for genre conventions and language for specific effect as well as empathic understanding of the play’s characters. Flora Mather Head of English
Excerpt from Michael Xin’s editorial The piece is written to reflect social attitudes ten years after the murder of Matthew Shepard and one year before The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was passed. ‘... This event should be something bigger, an open door for America to change itself. However as time moves on, the sheer brutality and importance of Shepard’s death is fading rapidly, and as it stands, it is only a “tragedy,” but nothing else. It should have been the starting point for America, and the world as well, to recognize that there are people in our community who are in constant fear of violence and even death at all time simply because they have a different sexual orientation. Yet so far, no change has been enacted, the voice of LGBT rights activists are still a weak wailing, and most of the world shut their ears and turn their backs whenever faced with this issue. In English speaking countries, the words ‘gay’ and ‘f*ggot’ are common profanities, insults in a politically incorrect context, used to replace words like ‘lame’, ‘loser’, ‘cowardice’, and others of a similar meaning. Change is difficult, yet this is already ten years after the murder, and something should have been done.’
Excerpt from Ezra Kohn’s slam poem ‘Hatred or Hope’ In my opinion, angels and demons cannot coexist. Like day during night, or clear air during mist. Maybe there’s no such thing As villains or heroes Just people who could do anything If given the right windows. Given the right circumstances, Given enough chances, I believe Matthew could’ve been an Aaron Matthew could’ve been a Russell, I believe anyone could be a killer With enough reason and muscle. For the only angels and demons that exist Are the ones we encourage and resist The ones that writhe inside us, And we surrender when they persist. Because after all, we are just one and the same Similar in nature but different by name Maybe we’ll be the victim. Maybe we’ll tie the rope. Sometimes the placement’s easy When we choose between hatred and hope. So next time you meet someone new Think of all the people they could be Killers, lovers, fighters, mothers People like you, or people like me. THE LARAMIE PROJECT
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