Frank Hurley Analysis

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One make self-discoveries with the people and places around. Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child and Simon Nasht’s Frank Hurley: The Man Who Made History, both explore the necessary link between physical immersion and self-discovery through the journey taken by the protagonist, physically and emotionally. Lula Ann Bridewell (Bride) and Frank Hurley’ engagement with people and the physical world allow them to discover themselves emotionally. Both texts explore emotional discovery through the use of a medium to discover one’s self, the blurred lines between truth and illusion from discoveries, and finally, the racial and colour difference and discrimination that comes from engaging with the world. Therefore both texts help to prove engagement …show more content…

Hurley uses his camera as medium to connect with the physical world as evident in the Mawson Expedition. Nasht positions the audience to view Hurley as the ‘restless adventurer’, allowing them to discover Antarctica alongside Hurley through the parallel with the modern day footage of his daughters following his footsteps in his discovery of the Antarctic. Hence, the audience is able to view the power of nature that Hurley was able to capture and which he was ‘stunned by’. The voice-over in the documentary claims that Hurley used his photography as a ‘means of escaping the drudgery of everyday working class life.” He found himself through photography and orchestrating the perfect image to evoke emotion in the viewer of his photographs. The medium in God Help the Child was a human. The interaction between the protagonist and Rain allows both characters to confide in each other and release some of their past allowing the reader to see deeper into the character. “I’ve never told anyone this” this shows the reader of how secure Rain is and the emotional discovery when she confides in …show more content…

Frank Hurley’s journey through the Antarctic and the photographs he takes, shows the viewer of human endurance and possible connection with the world. His “elaborate concoctions” of photographs throughout his work makes the viewer question the purpose of art and whether it is to represent the absolute truth, or is it necessarily a lie? The documentary raises contradictory concepts in which the audience is made to question. The title of the documentary insights the viewer of one perspective of Hurley as a pioneer and risk taker, however the documentary mainly covers and reveals the negative perspective of Hurley and his work. Similarly, Toni Morrison only shows the negative influence Sweetness had on Bride and makes the reader question where Bride’s strong wielded character initially emerges from. “I know I look good.” Her assurance in herself is not seen through Sweetness’ upbringing of Bride. She creates herself and moulds her character into who she wants to become, comfortable in her own skin, successful and popular within people. However, as the novel progresses, she herself is unsure of what of herself is true and made up. As she travels to find her boyfriend (Booker) she finds her true self through connections and relationships with the world around her. Therefore with engagement with the world, the truth is blurred with illusion through

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