ThinkTank - Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt

the
ThinkTank
In the Spotlight
In the first installment of this section we bring
an interview with our Head of the Deparment
Jörg Helbig
E-zine on E-learning
IAA E-learning Awards
by Monika Wegscheider &Martina Maierbrugger p. 2
by Monika Wegscheider &Martina Maierbrugger
p. 3
We also present the first installments of our future regular
contributions
p. 5
Tips for Students
by Carmen Wernle, Savita Stangl & Helene
Marktl
WIKUDA Rocks!
Uni band’s brilliant performance!
p. 7
Experiences Abroad
by Hassenfelder Corina & Thomasser Elke
Anglophones Cultures Today
p. 10
by Carmen Kacianka & Lisa Tributsch
SOL Today
p. 12
by Novak Verena & Tzvetelina Andonova
Film Review
p. 14
by Andrea Ettinger & Posratschnig Susanne
Book Review
p. 16
by Koller Bianca & Kapeller Martina
Funglistics
p. 18
by Anthony Hall, Alessandro & Sandro
Congrats Helen
A new PhD on the block!
p. 21
p. 21
Editors
Nikola Dobric
Carmen Amerstorfer
A word from the editors
Dear students, staff members and visitors,
Welcome to the first issue of our department’s new news letter The ThinkTank. It is entirely the work of the students attending the Integrated
Language Skills course, who did a marvelous job both with the choice of
the topics as well ad the presentations of them. The newsletter was also
enriched by Anthony Hall and his (in)famous crossword puzzle (give it
a try) and was put together by this issue’s editors Carmen Amerstorfer
and Nikola Dobric.
This E-Zine will present several regular sections in every issue:
Contributors
Alessandro Assaloni
Andrea Ettinger
Anthony Hall
Bianca Koller
Carmen Kacianka
Carmen Wernle
Corina Hassenfelder
Elke Thomasser
Helene Marktl
Lisa Tributsch
Martina Kapeller
Martina Maierbrug
Monika Wegscheider
Sandro Ofner
Stangl Savita
Susanne Posratschnig
Tzvetelina Andonova
Verena Novak
Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Intitut füt Anglistik und Amerikanistik
March 2010

News

Tips for Students


In the Spotlight (interviews with members of the staff )
Experiences Abroad

Anglophone Cultures Today

Book Review(s)





SOL Today
Film Review(s)
Funglistics
A quick look at + Cartoon
Flee Market (starting with the second issue)
The editors would like invite any students (or other possible contributors) to send in texts, crossword puzzles, comments, experiences or other
interesting topics pertaining to our department, areas of study and classes
offered, and/or anything that would pertain to the overall insight Anglophone culture(s) and language(s).
Everyone is also invited to send us ads for the next Flea Market section
which can involve topics ranging from tutoring, givin/asking for private
lessons, offering used books, to advertising various events. Please send
them to the editors (not too long please) and they will be published in
the following issue.
In the end, we also invite comments, opinions and suggestions regarding
the topics chosen, presentation and appearance of the newsletter, so do
write to us with your ideas.
This newsletter will be available only electronically in several versions
(Adobe Flash, HTML, PDF) but you are free to print it out if you prefer
reading it like that.
With best wishes and looking forward to your feedback,
Editors
1
Professors Zima-Smith, Volc and Hall
Win A Prize For E-Learning Courses
E-learning in Klagenfurt started out with Claroline but several years ago the whole university started using
Moodle. Professors Hall, Volc and Zima-Smith offer e-learning courses for each of their classes: “the advantages
of Moodle and other e-learning platforms are that students can exchange their ideas in forums, do not have to be in class
every single time to get the material and it is easy for the professor to upload texts, documents, links to youtube videos and
audio links for language classes as well as the development of Wikis“. However “Even though e-learning is important,
communication in class is still more important and cannot really be replaced with e-learning”, says Zima-Smith.
Prof. Hall’s most successful course that featured e-learning was one in which students had to test each other online. Prof. Zima-Smith says that she usually asks her students whether they want a paper reader or prefer an electronic version, and in the last few semesters almost every student chose the electronic version. The three professors
agree that working with Moodle, or any e-learning platform, can be quite tim consuming and is much more work
than it might seem.
Their advice for other professors who want to start using e-learning in their classes is to get a tutor. There is also an
e-learning department at the University of Klagenfurt which can offer (technical) help. Having a tutor can make
a huge difference in the ‘quality’ of the course.
The prize they got was 400 € each, but it is important to the professors to point out that their work would not have
been possible without the help of their tutors. Prof. Hall even wants to share the prize money with his tutor!
The question that imposes itself here is could e-learning also have negative effects on teaching or university life?
Some people are afraid e-learning will replace face to face contact but Prof. Hall and Prof. Zima-Smith do not
think that is really going to be the case. “A much more likely scenario is that of ‘blended learning’ – a mixture of online
learning and face to face contact in class”. They all agree that personal contact between the professor and the students
is extremely important.
2
Monika Wegscheider & Martina Maierbrugger
In the Spotlight
Jörg Helbig
Where and what did you study?
I studied English, of course, French, Philosophy and Education at the Free University of Berlin.
Did you spend a semester abroad (as a student)?
At that time there was no real exchange program but I spent many months abroad especially in France (Nice and
Paris) and Britain (London, Oxford, Manchester and the Cambridge area).
Did you have any student jobs?
Yes, I worked in a pub and gave lessons to pupils (English and French)
When did you decide to become a professor and did you also consider a different career (if so, what was it)?
Well, near the end of my studies I found that life at university is rather attractive and decided to try to become a
professor but originally wanted to be a school teacher. That’s why I have both exams (school teacher at secondary
school [“Staatsexamen”] and “Magister”).
What are, if there are any, the differences between your expectations about becoming a professor and reality it?
I expected it more or less because I knew many professors, so I had a pretty good idea how life as a professor is.
But actually it’s more work than you first think because you are always busy.
What advice could you give someone who wants to become a professor?
My advice is: Publish or Perish. Publish a lot! Otherwise there is no chance to become a professors. I published 15
books and dozens of articles, for instance.
Do you remember the first course/lesson you taught?
Sure, I remember that! It was about Daniel Defoe and the 18th century English novel (Free University of Berlin).
And I wasn’t nervous at all. Actually, I never was because I love teaching.
How many hours a week do you approximately work and how many do you actually spend at university?
There is no general rule, sometimes you have to work more, when you are finishing or editing a book, but I don’t
know. I never counted the hours but definitely more than 40 hours a week.
3
Have you been able to use your own personal interests and/or research projects in courses?
Yes, I’m lucky enough to use my personal interest from time to time because as you know, I’m interested in films
and popular culture of the 1960s, and I like to use both topics in my classes.
Do you do any other work aside from teaching, such as translations?
No, “just” teaching, publishing, and there is a lot of administration to do, especially as head of the department.
How and when did you become the Head of the English Department?
That was at the beginning of 2008 when the “old” Head of Department – Prof. Allan James - stepped down after
11 years.
As we all know, you are quite interested in films, which are your favorite ones?
This is the most difficult question you could ask... I adore directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Powel and
movies like “Peeping Tom”, “Psycho” of course, “North by Northwest”, “Rear Window” and, of course, Carol
Reed’s “The Third Man”.
Do you have a favorite book and author?
As a student my favorite author was Daniel Defoe (Master thesis Moll Flanders) and I still like his books but nowadays I really love Shakespeare and some postmodern British authors like Anthony Burgess and David Lodge.
What’s your favorite type of music/band?
My favorite band are obviously The Beatles and my favorite type of music is Popular Music, especially Rock ’n’ Roll
but also Hard Rock and Folk Rock (Bob Dylan).
Do you have a motto or perhaps a favorite quote you’d like to share?
As a born optimist I think I’ll follow Monty Python’s advice “Always look on the bright side of life.”
What would you like to see in an English Department Newsletter?
Actually, I have no idea what this newsletter is all about but I’d like to see not only the hard facts but, for instance,
cultural events, a fun corner with riddles and jokes, pictures of course, very short interviews with students (their
current favorite song, which films they would recommend) something entertaining.
4
Monika Wegscheider & Martina Maierbrugger
Tips for Students
Becoming a Freshman
1.
Register online at https://campus.aau.at/wf/oing?_flowExecutionKey=e2s1
2.
Note down your five-digit “registration-number”
3.
Enrol at the Studienabteilung
Don’t forget your:
•
A-level certificate
•
Passport
•
Citizenship certificate
•
Official photograph
•
Five-digit registration-number
4.
You will get a seven-digit matriculation number and a money-order form with a PIN-Code
5.
You will get a uni@klu Card, which functions as an identity card as well as service card
6.
Install your personal university account at https://wwws.uni-klu.ac.at/uniklu/olr/auth_form.jsp
7.
•
You need to enter your matriculation number and your PIN-Code
•
In the end you get your personal university account as well as Email address
Now you are able to register for any courses via your personal university account
(For further information enter http://campusstatic.uni-klu.ac.at/lvanmeldung/)
8.
Pay your ÖH-Gebühr (Telebanking is possible)
9.
One week after the payment, you will able to print out your Studienblatt as well as your Studienbestätigung,
which you will need to present at the tax office. Furthermore, you are now able to print the validity of your uni@
klu Card on it, which you can do in front of the Studienabteilung
5
When you have finished all steps above, you can call yourself as a freshman at Klagenfurt
University. Congratulations! Enjoy your student life and don’t forget to study hard!
Some Tips to Help You Survive as a University Freshman
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lecture Rooms 5-11 are in the Mensagebäude! (Check out this map.)
Visit the university’s exchange platform, das Schwarze Brett, if you are looking for something like a flat/job/car/lecture notes/etc. or if you want to flog something yourself.
Discount vouchers for some of the best restaurants close to the campus are available at the ÖH
ServiceCenter.
There are some exclusive student discounts on Students’ Wednesdays
The Sports Institute USI offers affordable ways to stay in shape and have fun.
It’s really not that complicated to charge your [email protected] and make use of the numerous
copiers/printers.
Apply for a discount on the STW bus fares if your principal residence is Klagenfurt.
Improve your language skills at the Self Access Center. The SAC provides books, cds, dvds,
newspapers and magazines in various languages
Make use of the introductory sessions of the library.
More Helpful Links:
English Department: http://www.uni-klu.ac.at/iaa
Curricula:
BA http://www.uni-klu.ac.at/iaa/downloads/BA_2010_English.
pdf
MA http://www.uni-klu.ac.at/iaa/downloads/studienverlaufsplan_magister_tabelle_20.6.2005.pdf
LA http://www.uni-klu.ac.at/iaa/downloads/Studienverlaufsplan_Lehramt_2010_2.pdf
ÖH: http://www.oeh.uni-klu.ac.at/
Library: http://ub.uni-klu.ac.at/cms/startseite/
6
Carmen Wernle, Savita Stangl & Helene Marktl
Experiences Abroad
Guidelines for Going Abroad
· First of all, you have to choose the country and university of your favor.
· The next step is to apply for the university you have chosen. You have to announce your first and second choice.
For the application, go to the BIB (http://www.uniklu.ac.at/bib/inhalt/1.htm) and pick up the application form.
Fill out the sheet and add a curriculum vitae, a letter of motivation and a Studienerfolgsnachweis. Hand everything in at the BIB (be aware of the deadlines)
· After the application deadline, you will receive an e-mail from the BIB (normally within two weeks).
· After that, you have to write an answer mail to the BIB in which you announce if you take the place or not.
· If you still want to go abroad, the BIB will send a mail to the university you have been nominated for.
The universities you can visit through our Department
· After a couple of days or weeks (depends on the university), your advisor at the university abroad will get in
contact with you.
· Normally, he/she will send you an application form which you will have to fill out and send back.
· Depending on the university, you will have to do a tuberculosis test, provide a bank statement etc., which you
need to attach to your application form.
· After sending the forms, you will receive a form which you will need when applying for the Visa.
· Then you can make an appointment at the embassy in Vienna. Call them to arrange an appointment and to
find out what you need to bring along. Do not take bottles or electronic features with you, as there are very strict
security checks! (Keep in mind that it may take a little while to get an appointment at the embassy! I had to wait
3 weeks)
· Normally, the embassy returns the passport with the Visa in it within a few days.
· After you receive your Visa, you can book a flight.
7
· You should always be in contact with your advisor as he/she will help you with everything.
· As a foreign student you need to take classes for at least 12 ECTS points. Talk with Ms. Heaney before you leave
to check if your courses will be accredited at Klagenfurt University.
· You also have to apply for housing and a meal plan (some dorms want to know in advance if you e.g. have an
allergy or if you are vegetarian). Your advisor will provide the information necessary.
· Last but not least, do not forget to apply for financial support, e. g.:
LR Dr. Josef Martinz: http://www.ktn.gv.at/45451_DE-LR_Dr._Josef_Martinz-Dr._Josef_Martinz_Stipendium
LH Stv. Uwe Scheuch: I also got financial aid from Mr. Scheuch. I just contacted the secretary Ms. Dagmar Hoi
You can also try to get financial support from a company or an organization, if you have relatives working there.
Furthermore, try to apply for support at your local mayor.
After you have done all this, you can start packing your suitcases and getting ready for the biggest adventure in your life!
8
Corina Hassenfelder
Kangaroos, Wallabies and Tassie
Devils
“Seize the world“ was what I was thinking when I made the decision to apply for a semester abroad. It was
clear to me from the beginning that I wanted to go to Australia because any place in the US or in Europe is close
enough to visit during holidays. Of course, when I was nominated for the University of Tasmania my first thought
was, “O dear, how shall I handle that?” I was not particularly worried about the financial aspect, although it is really
something that must be given some thought. What was really troubling me were all the aspects in my personal
life – my family, my friends and my life in general.
After five months of preparation I left for Australia in February 2010. It was really hard for me to leave everything behind. Fortunately, another student from Klagenfurt travelling was with me. During the first few weeks in
Tasmania I was particularly happy to have this colleague around because everything was new and different and it
helped to ease my homesickness to hear the familiar Carinthian dialect every now and then. When we first arrived
in Hobart, I did not really appreciate the new surroundings because I was tired, exhausted and glad to finally be
off the plane. Once I had overcome the jetlag, I was excited to explore the city of Hobart, where I was supposed
to live for about six months. After a couple of days of relaxing and learning how to find my way around, all the
Australian students arrived at the dorm where I was staying. The older students organized an orientation week
for the newbies to help us find our way around and to socialize with others. There was also an orientation week at
university, which in my opinion, was not very helpful.
However, university life started right away and it was very different from what I had been used to. I had weekly
classes, which were divided into lectures and tutorials, and I had quite a lot of work to do. After the examinations
the semester was over and it was time to say goodbye to all the people I had met. The time I spent at the college
was great and it was a completely new experience for me. Although we were living as a community, everyone had
their own rooms and we could come and go as we wished. I did not have to worry about meals or cleaning because
meals were provided three times a day and we only had to keep our rooms clean. There was cleaning staff for the
bathrooms and corridors. There were parties every now and then and older students were around to give a helping
hand when needed. This was also true for university life because lecturers and other staff were happy to help with
whatever problem there might be.
So, after the exams, I packed my bags and travelled around Tasmania for about one and a half weeks before I left
to continue travelling on the Australian mainland. There I spent another month visiting Perth, Melbourne, Alice
Springs and Ayers Rock, Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane, and Sydney. I had a really great time travelling,
exploring the country and meeting people. Of course, it cost a lot of money, but I had enough time to plan and
prepare for the month of travelling. When it was time to leave Australia and fly back home I was happy because I
was really looking forward to seeing my family and friends again. On the other hand, I was also really sad because
I had had such a great time in Australia and had met lots of interesting and friendly people.
I really benefited from my time abroad in more ways than one. Of course, I improved my language skills and
became more confident when talking to people whose mother tongue is English. Also, by living in a college community I was also able to improve my social skills and learned what it means to accept people without prejudice.
By studying at another university in another country I developed a completely different perspective on various
topics taught at university and on how different universities can be. Last but not least, the whole experience abroad
enabled me to see myself and my own country in a completely different way. I experienced great hospitality and
openmindedness and made many friends. Going abroad is such a great opportunity and no one should miss out
on it - so go and “seize the world”.
9
Thomasser Elke
Anglophone Cultures Today
Pancake Day 2011
Did you know that there is actually a holiday
when people celebrate by eating pancakes?
Pancake Day is celebrated in several Englishspeaking countries, above all the United Kingdom on Shrove Tuesday, the day preceding Ash
Wednesday. It is a tradition going back hundreds
of years. In fact, it is – according to Christian
and especially Catholic customs – the last day
before Lent, which is characterized by eating restrictions and other self-denials during a period
of 40 days ending at Easter. The term shrove
means to obtain absolution for sins by confession and by doing penance. This day is dedicated
to family and friends, making and eating pancakes, and having fun, playing games and feasting. Pancake Day is also celebrated as Carnival
or Mardi Gras. One of the best known activities
on this day is the Pancake Day race at Olney
in Buckinghamshire, England which has been
held since 1445. It all began when a woman was
cooking pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. While she
was still cooking she heard the chiming of the
church bells. The woman ran to church with her
apron on and the frying pan in hand. Little did
she know that this would start a tradition that
would be around for over 500 years!
Pancake Day in Anglophone countries
Great Britain and Ireland:
In England and Ireland the Tuesday before Lent is
known as Pancake Day. On this day it is traditional
to eat pancakes and take part in pancake races. Pancake races are held all over England. The object of
the race is to get to the finishing line first whilst
flipping a pancake in a frying pan. The whole trick
is not just running the race but flipping and catching the pancake, which must be intact when the
finishing line is reached. The most famous pancake
race takes place at Olney.
USA and Canada:
Much of America celebrates Mardi Gras on the
day before Lent. This means that Pancake Day is
not so popular in the United States and Canada.
However, the pancake is a dish that is particularly
popular in these two states.
Australia and New Zealand:
Only women are allowed to participate in this
race. While frying a pancake and flipping it at
least three times, they must run a designated
path, which ends at the church. The winner then
serves the pancake to the bell ringer and is rewarded with a kiss called the “Kiss of peace”.
Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday
because they were a dish that could use up foodstuffs such as eggs, fats and milk, with just the addition of flour. Many Australian groups and communities make and share pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.
Selling pancakes to raise money for charity is also a
popular activity there.
10
Easiest-ever pancakes
American blueberry pancakes
This simple batter, based on equal volumes of
eggs, milk and flour, produces thick pancakes,
ready for your favorite fillings
Light, fluffy and fruity
Ingredients for 12 pancakes
Ingredients for 12 pancakes
•
200g flour
•
4 eggs
•
1 egg
50g butter, melted
•
•
140g plain flour
•
•
200ml milk
•
sunflower oil , for cooking
•
•
•
•
ing
To make the batter, tip the flour into a bowl and
beat in the eggs until smooth. Gradually add the
milk and carry on beating until the mix is completely lump-free.
•
1 tsp baking powder
300ml milk
knob of butter
150g pack blueberries
sunflower oil or a little butter for cookgolden or maple syrup
Mix together the flour, baking powder and a pinch
of salt in a large bowl. Beat the egg with the milk,
make a well in the center of the dry ingredients
and whisk in the milk to make a thick smooth
batter. Beat in the melted butter, and gently stir
in half the blueberries. Heat a teaspoon of oil or
small knob of butter in a large non-stick frying
pan. Drop a large tablespoonful of the batter per
pancake into the pan to make pancakes about
7.5cm across. Make three or four pancakes at a
time. Cook for about 3 minutes over a medium
heat until small bubbles appear on the surface of
each pancake, then turn and cook another 2-3
minutes until golden. Serve with golden syrup
and the rest of the blueberries.
Now whisk in the melted butter. Place a pancake
pan over a medium heat and wipe with oiled
kitchen paper. Ladle some batter into the pan,
tilting the pan to move the mix around the pan
and pour off any excess. Cook for about 30 seconds until golden, then flip over and cook on the
other side. Pile the pancakes up and serve with
your favorite filling.
A Pancake Joke
A Welshman, an Englishman and an American were
having a drink.
At first they talked about cars and farms, and true to
form, the American had the swankiest car and the biggest
farm. Then they got to talking about children’s names.
‘My son was born on St David’s Day’, remarked the
Welshman, ‘So - look you, we obviously Christened him
David.’
‘That’s a real coincidence’, observed the Englishman’, My
son was born on Michaelmas Day, 29th of September, so
we decided to call him Michael.’
‘That’s remarkable’, piped up the American, ‘Exactly the
same thing happened with my son Pancake.’
Carmen Kazianka & Lisa Tributsch
11
SOL Today
Learner Types
This section of the newsletter focuses on second language acquisition. In every edition of this newsletter, there
will be a brief overview on theoretical thoughts about second language acquisition, as well as tools for practicing
your English. This edition’s focus ia on the first language learning, different theories on language acquisition and
learner types. At the end of this article there will be a tongue twister for you to practice your pronunciation.
Acquiring the ability to understand each other and speak with each other is a unique human ability. Researchers
have not yet found animals that are able to learn a language and express their feelings. Although some animal
species were able to teach sign language to apes, they do not as rapidly learn and acquire knowledge of a language.
Apes are not able generalize grammar schemes within this sign language or build new complex sentences. Furthermore, distinct human abilities within language acquisition are speech perception, speech production, grammatical development, and lexical innovation. Language is a distinctive and universal human feature. Moreover
humans do not only acquire their first language from the beginning of their lives, but can also learn a second,
third or even fourth language. There is a big difference between learning the first language and a second language.
Cognitive maturity as well as the experiences of learning a language both play an important role when comparing
second and first language acquisition.
People in the past have come up with different theories on language acquisition (i.e. Noam Chomsky and Jean
Piaget). Chomsky for example claims that there is an innate ability to learn a language and he introduced a system
with language rules and grammar rules. He states that all languages have sentences and noun- and verb phrases.
This is called the innatist position, which means that there is a biological program for the development of the language. Another theory has been stated by Piaget. He assumes that first the cognitive structure exists. Piaget can be
classified with the behaviorist approach to language learning. According to Lightbrown and Spada this approach
assumes that “language learning is the result of imitation, practice, feedback on success, and habit formation.”.
However, there are two problems with Piaget and his theory: Chimpanzees have the same cognitive structure but
are not able to learn a language. Finally, the third approach is called connectionism or interactionist position and
is located between the two previous positions. According to this theoretical approach, the brain is prewired to be
receptive to learn a language. The connectionist idea views on learning as similar to computers, as a binary system,
which builds up connections. These three positions will apper again with the theoretical approaches to explaining second language learning. Nevertheless, there is a lot you can do to improve your individual second language
skills.
Improving your English skills means practicing every day. In the following passage you will find some tips for you
to develop your language skills. This edition presents different learner types and specific tips for them, as well as a
tongue twister to practice pronunciation.
12
Visual learners:
Visual learners tend to talk very fast and have a tendency to interrupt. They also use words and phrases which
evoke visual images. They learn by seeing and visualising. Tip: Demonstrations and visually pleasing material in class can be very helpful.
Auditory learners:
Auditory learners usually speak very slowly and are good listeners. Their thoughts are linear, and they prefer to hear
the information rather than read something which they have to learn. Tip: Read vocabulary out loud in order to memorise it.
Read-Write learners:
These types of learners have to write the information down in lists and read them out aloud. Read-Write learners
prefer to have the information in form of a text and produce their work in written form. They prefer reading and
writing over every other learning form. Tip: Produce lists and re-write them several times in order to keep them in mind.
Kinaesthetic learners:
The kinaesthetic learners are characterised as the slowest talkers of all. Their decision making is likewise very slow.
They try to engage all their senses in learning and learn by doing. They like to be very active and learn through trial
and error. Tip: Connect the information to real life cases and try to find solutions.
Pronunciation skills
It is always very useful to train your pronunciation by using tongue twisters. Here is one which focuses on the
pronunciation of the consonant ‘p’.
Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers.
A pack of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers,
Where’s the peak of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
Verena Novak & Tzvetelina Andonova
13
Book Review
A Clockwork Orange
About A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
Author:
Release date:
No. of pages:
Genre:
Price: ISBN:
Anthony Burgess
1962
176
Dystopian science-fiction
€ 10,99 @Amazon.de
0141192364
‘What’s going to be then, eh?’
There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, Dim being really dim, and we sat in the
Korova Milkbar making up rassoodocks what to do with the evening, a flip dark chill winter bastard through dry.
(the beginning of A Clockwork Orange)
About the author:
John Anthony Burgess Wilson, born in Manchester in 1917, was an English author, poet, play writer, composer, linguist and critic. He studied music and English literature at Xaverian College and Manchester University.
‘During World War II Burgess served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, leaving the army as a sergeant major.’
He lectured at Birmingham University until 1950. From 1954 onwards he worked as education officer in Malaya
and Brunei, until his return to the United Kingdom in 1959, where he was diagnosed a cerebral tumor, and given
another twelve months to live. Due to the lack of time Burgess feared to have, he wrote five novels within one year.
He died in November 1993 in London. Burgess wrote under various pseudonyms, such as Joseph Kelly (review
for Yorkshire Post), John Wilson and Mohamed Ali (Daily Mail letters). Despite A Clockwork Orange (1962)
he released numerous other novels, like The Wanting Seed (1962), Napoleon Symphony (1974), Earthly Powers
(1980), A Dead Man in Deptford (1993), just to mention a few.
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Summary
A Clockwork Orange takes place in a futuristic city, where violence in youth culture is dominating society. The
narrator and main protagonist Alex is an ‘ultraviolent’ teenager, who leads a gang of youth criminals. Throughout
the book, the four boys are using a weird slang called “nadsat” while talking, which is said to be a form of Russianinfluenced English. Together with his friends (‘droogs’) Dim, Pete and Georgie, he loves to go out on the streets,
beating and robbing men, participating in gang fights, entering houses without permission and raping women.
Additionally, it has to be mentioned that Alex is addicted to listening to classical music, in particular Beethoven’s
9th symphony. Nevertheless, the police apprehend him, after having raped another woman. He is convicted of
rape and murder because his last victim died. Alex is sentenced to fourteen years in prison. After some hard years
of imprisonment he is offered the opportunity of being cured. He is selected as the first candidate for an experiment, called ‘Ludovico’s technique’, which can be defined as a kind of brainwashing. Alex is forced to watch very
violent movies after being injected with a kind of drug that makes him feel really sick. It isn’t long before he starts
associating violence with the headaches and nausea he suffers from. Furthermore, he can no longer enjoy listening
to Beethoven’s 9th because he sees one violent movie about Hitler, where the background music that is played, is
actually his favourite piece of music. The procedure lasts for a fortnight and finally, Alex is cured. According to the
State, Alex’s treatment has been successful. Alex is released after two years of imprisonment and his earlier victims
start taking revenge on him. One of them recognizes him, locks him in an apartment and plays Beethoven’s 9th to
him on high volume. Finally, Alex can’t stand the symphony any longer and rushes out of an attic window and ...
What’s special about the novel?
What makes the book special is its structure: as the novella is written in form of a sonata, meaning that there
is an exposition, a development, a reprise and a coda. This may be because of Burgess’ background as composer
of classical music. The book is divided into three parts (A-B-A), each consisting of seven chapters. Part I and III
belong together; it is a reverse to Part A. Nevertheless, the structure of A-B-A does not fit because a sonata normally consists of four parts. However, the dialogue sentence “What is it going to be then, eh?” functions as a marker
for each part and because of the fact that chapter 21 starts with the same question as well, the fourth and missing
part of a sonata can be found there.
There are several possibilities of interpreting the meaning of the title, for example, it can be an expression from
Cockney English, where “clockwork” means mechanical and “orange” natural. Furthermore, in Malayan “orang”
means man, which leads to the assumption that “A Clockwork Orange” means “A Mechanical Man”.
This is exactly what Alex is becoming in the course of the story by being brainwashed. Another important factor
that is to mention is the weird language being used. In addition, references to music can be found very easily; not
only because of Alex’s addiction to Beethoven but also as it functions as marker throughout the book. A Clockwork Orange is, in conclusion, one of the most brilliant, although painful and disturbing stories ever put down on
paper.
Enjoy. It is worth a read because it is a real ‘horrorshow’...
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Bianca Koller & Martina Kapeller
Film Review(s) 21 Grams
“21 Grams” is a drama with crime and thriller elements, starring
very convincing actors who very easily make you feel with them.
The movie presents three different characters with different
backgrounds who seemingly have nothing to do with each other,
but whose lives are inevitably intertwined by a fateful accident. The three characters are upper middle-class
housewife Cristina Peck (Naomi Watts), deeply religious ex-convict Jack Jordan (Benicio del Toro) and terminally ill mathematician Paul Rivers (Sean Penn), who is desperately waiting for a heart donation. Cristina lives
in a nice house in the suburbs together with her husband and two young daughters. One day her husband and
kids go out for a walk and get run over by a car.
All three of them get killed and the driver, who is the fanatically religious ex-con Jack Jordan, in a state of shock
leaves the scene of the accident without even stopping. He later turns himself in and goes back to jail for some
time. At the hospital Cristina consents to donate her husband’s organs, which saves Paul Rivers’ life. As the story
continues, the three characters get more and more involved in each other’s lives. Paul hires a private detective to
find out whose heart he was transplanted and finds out about the widow Cristina and ex-con Jack. These events
lead to desperation, hate, love, guilt, revenge, death and, in the end, new life.
The movie is very touching and carries you away right from the beginning. Although a lot of the events that happen in the film are quite sad and unfortunate, the viewer is given a positive outlook in the end. Something which
might present a downside for some viewers is that the scenes are all out of order, which might be a little confusing
in the beginning. However, other viewers might find this “Pulp Fiction-style” of telling a story enjoyable.
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Susanne Posratschnig
Mildred Pierce
Joan Crawford won the Best Actress Academy Award in 1946
for her performance in the 1945 film noir “Mildred Pierce”,
where she played the title role of a mother who is willing to
sacrifice her life and happiness for an ungrateful and egocentric
daughter. The film begins with the murder of Monte Beragon,
Mildred’s second husband. It is not revealed to the audience who
committed the murder until the end of the movie, but flashbacks
being told by Mildred at the police station in the night of the
murder provide the audience with the story leading up to the
fateful event. Mildred Pierce, mother of two girls of whom one enjoys a rather extravagant life style, is forced to
earn her money as a waitress after her first husband leaves her for another woman. Veda, the older daughter, despises her mother’s low societal position and money struggles.
Mildred desperately wants to meet her daughter’s expectations, and so she works her way up from being a waitress
to running a chain of restaurants herself. When her younger daughter dies of pneumonia, the only person Mildred
has left is Veda. In order to assure Veda the materialistic life she wants to lead, Mildred even enters a loveless marriage with the handsome Beragon. But how come Beragon ends up dead in his beach house? The more important
question is rather – who did it?
“Mildred Pierce” is an enthralling drama/mystery that convinces with the help of great acting, especially by Joan
Craw ford and Ann Blyth (Veda), great cinematography and fittingly suspenseful music by Max Steiner. It definitely is worth watching for people who enjoy mystery, drama, glamorous clothes and the special flair of black and
white movies from Hollywood’s ‘Golden Age’.
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Andrea Ettinger
Funglistics
Find the words
ACTIVITY
ACCELERATION
COMMUNITY
COURSE
EXAM
GLOBALIZATION
HILARIOUS
HISTORY
INDIGENOUS
MMORTALITY
MULTICULTURAL
OBLIVIOUS
PERCEPTION
TRANSLATE
SETTLEMENT
Jumbled words
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Puzzles
Alessandro Assaloni & Sandro Ofner
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A Quick Look
WIKUDA Gig
On 29.01.2011everyone at the Hypo Arena in Klagenfurt witnessed a rock’n’roll spectacle performed by WIKUDA university band, The band, whose members are university staff, namely Werner Delanoy, Christian Winkler, Alfred Astei, and Christian Kuschar, performed for over two hours, playing only their songs and they rocked!
Despite the flu epidemic that gripped most of the band members, the guitar solos were impeccable, the rhythm
section brilliant and the overall performance captivated by its old-school sound.
The question remained though: where can we get a CD??!!
Helen - Our New PhD
After a brilliant defense, we are proud to present our New PhD on the Block, Frau Dr.in Helen Heany,
who successfully presented her thesis Issues in Developing a Tertiary-level English Reading Comprehension Test on
04.02.2011 before a comitee of her supervisors and peers. It is an important addition to our department’s list of experts and, of course, just one in a line of Helen’s past and future academic accomplishments. Congratulations!!!
New Website
PHD
After extensive revision, the department is proud to present a new version of our web page, which should bring
a lot more information, more personalized data and should be a lot more fun to browse as well! It is still a testing
Beta version so if you notice any mistakes, inconsistencies or inaccuracies do inform the PR spokesman Nikola
Dobric. Thank you in advance and we hope you will enjoy the new web space and help make it even better in the
future!
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© Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
MMXI