Theological Reflections on Picnic at Hanging Rock

The article can be found: here.

The main points of the article include:

1. Questions such as 'how am I related to the other' can come up in films.

2. The film includes a spiritual dimension that is worth investigating.

3. The book is fiction.

4. The schoolgirls live in a climate of 'strict discipline and repressed sexuality.'

5. Mrs. Appleyard is a representation of empire.

6. Her world is one of 'certainity and control.'

7. The English in the film who remain strongly tied to England are portrayed negatively.

8. The girls who disappear do so because they wanted to.

9. Miss McCraw's disappearance is not actually shown.

10. Edith, who doesn't disappear, is unable to expand her consciousness.

11. Mrs. Appleyard's breakdown can be seen as a response of empire retreat which leads to fear, mistrust, condemnation and violence.

12. The girls and their teacher 'ascend the rock of consciousness and thus transcend the oppressive system of domination symbolized by Appleyard College.'

13. Sara's defiance of Mrs. Appleyard makes her a target for that person's anger and frustration.

14. The artilce talks about the 'mystical body of Christ,' relational power, ecosocialism and the death of Mrs. Appleyard.


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