‘Only we humans can know’: David Malouf and war

In 'The Middle Parts of Fortune' (1929)—perhaps the best narrative of the Great War—Australian author Frederic Manning asserted that ‘there was nothing in war which was not in human nature’ (128). Eighty years after Manning, in 'Ransom' (2009), Malouf returns to the classical world to give us an emotive, complex consideration of the events which provide the basis for Western civilisation’s oldest surviving war narrative, 'The Iliad'. 'Ransom' is not Malouf’s first exploration of war, though it marks a movement into a mythic rather than a liberal, realist interpretation. Through 'Fly Away Peter' (1982) and 'The Great World' (1990), we can trace Malouf’s multilayered exploration of the place of war in both individual story and cultural history. In particular, Malouf explores the ways in which war is both shocking and ordinary, delivering a complex appreciation of this recurring aspect of human experience

Ruins or Foundations: Great War literature in the Australian curriculum

The Great War has been represented in Australian curricula since 1914, in texts with tones ranging from bellicose patriotism to idealistic pacifism. Like other literature, war texts on Australian curricula transmit cultural values, values that continue to evolve as successive generations relate differently to war, conflict and peace. Changes in ethical perspectives, aesthetic preferences and popular feeling have guided text selection and pedagogy, so that literature once accepted as foundational to Australian society seems, at later times, to document civilisation’s ruin. In recent years, overseas texts have been preferred above Australian examples as mediators of the Great War, an event still held by many to be of essential importance to Australia, reinforcing ‘the “Englishness” of English curriculum history’ (Green and Beavis 3). This paper first considers arguments for including Great War texts on the national English curriculum, exploring what war literature can, and cannot, be expected to bring to the program. Interrogating the purpose/s of war literature in the curriculum and the ways in which the texts may be used to meet such expectations, the paper then discusses the limitations of war texts and investigates whether there is a case for including more texts by Australian authors

Adaptive Self-regulation in Cycle Time Trials: Goal Pursuit, Goal Disengagement and the Affective Experience

Self-regulation research analyses behaviour and emotion through goal progress (Carver and Scheier 2013). Goal disengagement is advocated as an adaptive self-regulatory strategy for unattainable goals to reduce distress (Wrosch et al. 2003a; 2003b). In an attempt to further understand ongoing goal pursuit and emotions on endurance athletes, this paper applies adaptive self-regulation theory to interpret and explain the experiences of three cyclists in case studies which display variations in success and failure. Following criterion sampling methods we analysed positive and negative affect, goal expectancy and power output from three male participants (triathletes or cyclists; age range 26-50 yrs) who either successfully achieved their goal (Participant 1), were unsuccessful yet recalculated their goal (Participant 2) or failed to achieve their goal (Participant 3) in a 20 km laboratory cycle time trial. Post trial qualitative data provided explanations regarding pacing, perceptions of achievement and feeling states (self-chosen adjectives). Positive affect tracked goal expectancy with increases in positive affect when power output exceeded previous trial averages and goal expectations were high evidencing successful goal striving (Participant 1). Reductions in positive affect occurred where goal progress was below expectations. This reduction was dramatic in the unsuccessful trial (Participant 3). Low levels of positive affect and high levels of negative affect were reported from 12 – 20 km together with disappointment, unexpected feelings of a loss of control and fatigue, suggesting unsuccessful goal striving. Supporting goal disengagement theory, a relinquishment of goal commitment was evident for participant 2 who recalculated his goal. Despite being unsuccessful in achieving his original goal participant 2 reported positive feeling states and perceptions of control post trial indicating adaptive self-regulation strategies were effective in his specific situation. These findings emphasise the need to examine practical adaptive self-regulation strategies in sport and relationships between affect, decision making and goal striving

Individualised RPE During a Self Paced Cycle Time Trial

A number of previous studies have demonstrated that increases in ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during prolonged sub-maximal exercise are linear, and this phenomenon exists during constant load and self paced exercise. These studies have all reported group mean RPE’s at various points throughout an exercise bout. A potential problem with use of the mean in these situations is group analysis of human perceptions may mask individual differences, thereby overlooking important information regarding the individual. This study therefore examined both group and individual RPE responses during paced cycle exercise. Six well-trained participants performed two 20km laboratory time trials on their own bicycles mounted onto the Kingcycle ergometer. Throughout each trial they received feedback on distance covered, time elapsed, and speed. At 0.5km intervals RPE was reported using Borg’s C20 scale. Both group mean and individual RPE data was subsequently plotted against distance completed for both trials. During Trial 1 and Trial 2, the rate of increase in RPE was similar and linear in nature. However, this increase in RPE was not reflective of individual participants who displayed a variety of different RPE responses. It is concluded that use of group mean data in this situation masks potentially important individual differences

The Big Bang Theory: Australia Starts at Gallipoli

Clare Rhoden is a final year PhD candidate in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne. Her research into the representation of leadership in First World War narratives unfolds a distinct Australian style which concentrates on purpose rather than futility

Complex Interplay Between Determinants of Pacing and Performance During 20 km Cycle Time Trials

Purpose: This study examined the determinants of pacing strategy and performance during self paced maximal exercise. Methods: Eight well trained cyclists completed two 20 km time trials. Power output, RPE, positive and negative affect, and iEMG activity of the active musculature were recorded every 0.5km, confidence in achieving pre-exercise goals was assessed every 5 km, and blood lactate and pH were measured post-exercise. Differences in all parameters were assessed between fastest (FAST) and slowest (SLOW) trials performed. Results: Mean power output was significantly higher during the initial 90% of FAST, but not the final 10%, and blood lactate concentration was significantly higher and pH significantly lower following FAST. Mean iEMG activity was significantly higher throughout SLOW. RPE was similar throughout both trials, but participants had significantly more positive affect and less negative affect throughout FAST. Participants grew less confident in their ability to achieve their goals throughout SLOW. Conclusions: The results suggest that affect may be the primary psychological regulator of pacing strategy and that higher levels of positivity and lower levels of negativity may have been associated with a more aggressive strategy during FAST. Although the exact mechanisms through which affect acts to influence performance are unclear, it may determine the degree of physiological disruption that can be tolerated, or be reflective of peripheral physiological status in relation to the still to be completed exercise task