Inside a stylish North Queenslander home, comforted by the calls of native creatures and classical tones, it appears the Baxters are an archetypal family, complete with happy marriage and diligent son. But 1968 is a time rife with religious controversy, political upheaval, and the constant looming threat of conscription. The appearance of conservative family values must be rigidly upheld - but what happens behind closed doors? Aaron J. Clarke's play, presented in typical eloquent style flourishing with sophisticated language, cracks open the hard exterior of his characters to reveal their innermost desires, secrets... And motives. How far would you push the boundaries for the one you love?
Death in Xanadu' is a savage indictment against the movie industry, and in this world of celluloid fantasy, the ultimate power belongs to the studio mogul Carlton Hislop, who can either destroy careers or create them - on the condition that they submit themselves to him. Author Aaron J Clarke turns a jaundiced eye on Xanadu, and the result is a depiction of a chain-smoking, heavy drinking, coke snorting, megalomaniac - not to mention perverse - movie mogul, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants and likewise, prevent his abhorrent desires from being publicized. Drawn into this scandal are the producers Tiffany, Lisa and Tony, in addition to the casting director, Kathy, who nominates child actors Frank and Freddie for roles in an upcoming film. Carlton becomes fixated on the young actors the moment he sees their audition. And so the malevolent man descends down a path of depravity, which ultimately leads to his humiliating escape from America and subsequent punishment in tropical Brazil.
Before the Fall' is a retelling of Henry James' 'The Golden Bowl', but with a twist as it involves the gay lovers, Marty Townsend and Carlton Aspern, seducing and manipulating the widowed Australian millionaire Clara de Veer and her daughter Maggie. The precious vase, with its almost invisible flaw, is the vehicle, which Clarke uses to extinguish the flame of trust that previously burnt in Maggie's heart: revealing past misdemeanours and the price one must paid for the sin of adultery -- the surrendering of one's desires.
Drawing upon personal events, Clarke invites readers of his poetry to meet a romantic and sensitive soul. He explores death and desire, questions what it means to be good, and pays homage to the divine and nature, observing it with impressionist intensity. Moreover, the language is simple, yet blended with the ornate to create poetry of great beauty.
The relationship between religion and conflict has generated considerable academic and political debate. Although the majority of religions and spiritual traditions are replete with wisdom that propagates a broader unity among human beings, these same examples have been used to legitimize hatred and fear. While some studies claim that religion facilitates peacebuilding, reconciliation, and healing, others argue that religion exacerbates hostility, instigates vengeance-seeking behaviors, and heightens conflict. But religion does not act by itself, human beings are responsible for acts of peace or conflict, of division or reconciliation, in the name of religion. This book addresses these rather complex issues from the perspective of reconciliation, or atonement, to advance both the frontiers of knowledge and the global search for alternative paths to peace. The contributions in the volume focus in three areas: (1) Reconciling Religious Conflicts, (2) Reconciling Conflict through Religion, and (3) Religious Reconciliations. In each of these sections scholars, practitioners, and religious leaders address specific examples that highlight the complex intersections of religious practices with global conflict and reconciliation efforts. This informative and provocative book is relevant for students and faculty in peace and conflict studies, religious studies, humanities, social sciences, and provides insights useful to practitioners and professionals working in peacebuilding and international development seeking to promote effective resolution and reconciliation efforts.
Upon the Rock' is a blend of narrative voices and styles that tells the story of Marcus Baird, a gay man from Townsville, and Aemilius, a character from a novel set in Ancient Rome written by Aaron J Clarke. Marcus Baird hopes to win the author's affections. His quest for love leads him to England where he is imprisoned in the writer's house. During his captivity, he is forced to confess his darkest secrets hoping to gain absolution and, most importantly, Aaron's love. Likewise, Aemilius hopes to win the affections of Culcita, a dangerous youth who threatens the Roman Republic. Aemilius' quest for love results in him writing his life story and that of Rome's, where deception leads to murder.
This open access textbook provides the background needed to correctly use, interpret and understand statistics and statistical data in diverse settings. Part I makes key concepts in statistics readily clear. Parts I and II give an overview of the most common tests (t-test, ANOVA, correlations) and work out their statistical principles. Part III provides insight into meta-statistics (statistics of statistics) and demonstrates why experiments often do not replicate. Finally, the textbook shows how complex statistics can be avoided by using clever experimental design. Both non-scientists and students in Biology, Biomedicine and Engineering will benefit from the book by learning the statistical basis of scientific claims and by discovering ways to evaluate the quality of scientific reports in academic journals and news outlets.
The seven stories in this selection span Clarke's early career, ranging from The Woman in Question, a drug affected man who is unable to let go of the woman he loves that ultimately leads him to the person responsible for her death. In The Wager, an unscrupulous man bets that a black servant won't be accepted into English high society; in The Unyielding Wind, Clarke reimagines the myth of Pan and Syrinx; and in Stabat Mater, an unhappy wife discovers her husband is having an affair with her sister that leads to a chain reaction resulting in murder and moral depravity. The haunting, The Unobtainable Agnes depicts a young man's love for an older woman, who happens to be a nun and the resulting emotional tension that follows. Beautifully drawn, Clarke's stories are as rich and resonant as his novels.
On the verge of committing suicide, Cécile, a middle-aged woman, suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, contemplates her life in Townsville, and with that of her husband, Alain - whom in hindsight she believes to have made a mistake in marrying. Cécile believes her marriage to be flawed because Alain is unsupportive of her artistic ambitions and her dreams of travelling. Compounding their mutual incompatibility is Alain's authoritarian mother, Eleanor, who stays with them in order to care for Cecile; but in reality, she undermines her son's marriage with her overpowering religious beliefs. Drawn into this marital melee is Julie, an old friend of Cécile's but the secret lover of Alain: the duo insidiously plan to profit from Cécile's death. In 'The Voices of Discontent', Clarke examines the effects of religion, disease, artistic ambition and adultery in an already unstable marriage, discovering that true love overcomes all of these obstacles.
Adam Carlson takes for his research topic an unfinished novel by Noelene Richards, a friend of Virginia Woolf. Trying to finish this extraordinary masterpiece, Adam begins to obsess about the book and its author, an obsession compounded by drugs. This clever debut novel by Aaron J Clarke, a book within a book, plays on perceptions of reality and identity and the possibilities of redemption.
In this finely drawn novella, Clarke portrays the free-spirited Sonia sacrificing her scruples and, more importantly, her first love, the handsome gardener, to the callous millionaire, John. Like the flowers that grow his garden, John's obsessive love for Sonia is tainted with corruption and as a result, a malevolent presence affects the garden to the present day. Unable to resist her fate, Sonia marries John, a man whom she does not love, because he can provide for her and her unborn child. Decades later, the malevolent phantom of the past threatens to wreak havoc on a writer and his mother, who knows the secret to the possessed garden, involving the fate of Sonia. Therefore, she must tell her writer son before it is too late. 'The Flowers of Spring' represents Clarke at his finest, exploring the corrosive effects of money and the consequences for those who obtain it.
NBA star, De'Aaron Fox accidentally ventures into a basketball video game metaverse while his video game counterpart causes havoc in the real world. De'Aaron has to harness all of his world-class basketball skills to play his way out of the digital game and return to reality.
In the distant future, a man downloads an ancient novel and instead of instantly transferring the novel into his brain, the man does something profound, he reads the text. As he reads the novel set in 1940s Townsville, he is involved in the story of Mr. Wilbur's immoral desires for Sam. 'The Cat' is perhaps Clarke's most daring novel: where innocence is betrayed, where reality is challenged, and where there is the possibility of moral redemption.
An extensive interview with a gentleman who is ready to close the chapter of his life. Learn about his ongoing spiritual path as Aaron Savvy talks about his past, present, and future.
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