AUT Master of Creative Writing Thesis Exegesis - Scholarly ...

AUT Master of Creative Writing 2008
Shorty © Michael Botur 2009
stereo in his work van. Jude is Maori or Pakeha or somewhere in
between, and is removed from tradition in that he does not have a legacy
of standards to live up to, and no whanau or community to impress.
Eventually the Narrator joins Jude’s newfound spirit of redemption,
opening her up to interaction with the elements which she fears – charity,
responsibility and trust.
HART Act
‘I knocked up five sheilas,’ he said.
‘Course ya did, mate.’
‘We’re not fags.’
‘No one’s sayin you are.’
HART Act’s protagonist is a character from a confused subculture
who finds it difficult to negotiate other cultures. Pieman MacManus has a
colloquial-Celtic name; Kiwi ruralness is his subculture – he celebrates
Southland rugby, doesn’t wear shoes and works labour jobs. Pieman
becomes empowered in an exotic situation – a privileged urban fertility
clinic – and discovers a way to escape the abusive relationship imposed
by his mate.
Kelly Barclay writes that ‘Only sport and war have provided for
expression of identity in New Zealand’ (in New Zealand Identities:
Departures and Destinations 2005 p.108.) Barclay is referring to the All
Blacks and ANZACs in battle against foreign agents. The sport/war
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