Culture, Class and Conflict

Alice Pung writes about the reality behind high school. The reality behind bullying. And, as the session title suggests; culture class and conflict.

Alice Pung's new novel Laurinda explores these themes through the eyes her protagonist living and going to school in Melbourne. A range of influences including her own experiences, formed Pung's story, as she talks about the meanings behind her new novel.

 Laurinda centers around a young high school girl. Pung says she included some of her own experiences into the creation of her character. One of these includes her character's class. As Pung herself did not grow up in a wealthy home, her childhood experiences are reflected throughout the book. When discussing this, one particular quote that resonated with myself, but I'm sure, others in the room as well, is that in Australia:

                                              "We're allowed to make fun of poor people"

This particular quote really hit me and I think it's a very profound statement. In Australia, it is very widely accepted to make fun of and mock of un-wealthy people, as a social norm. Pung related this concept to Australian TV shows such as Kath and Kim; were it is humorous to observe lower-class citizens and their lives. Although I feel as though I have had a personal connection with this quote, books like Laurinda try to expose the struggles of living as a lower class citizen to those who may not be familiar with this. Pung decides to write about this in her novel. The struggles of being poor, but presented in reality, not through TV fiction.

This is something that perhaps I would like to do with my own writing. Write for the purpose of informing readers; making them open their eyes to the struggles of real life and not the trashy programmes on T.V. I felt inspired by Pung's ability to express her honesty in her writing, and not pretend to express her difficulties of growing up as an outcast in urban Australia.


The entire theater was captivated with Pung's discussion. Her genuine attitude and love for writing, delighted the audience and engrossed them into her session. There were so many quotes from Alice that I'd love to talk for hours about about, but I couldn't help not mention this one.