Volcano Man (ATOM Study Guide)

Filmmaker James Crawley’s life has been captured on camera by his father Richard, but when he discovers some of his dad’s hidden tapes, James decides to make a film of his own. Delving into a lifetime of home videos and new interviews with those closest to him, James pulls back the curtain and reveals the real Richard Crawley, an eccentric photographer and documentarian who lives atop a dormant volcano, and whose approach to life is utterly explosive.

Curriculum Links:

This study guide on Volcano Man is mainly aimed at secondary school levels 10–12, with relevance within the class activities to the Australian Curriculum General Capabilities of: Literacy, Personal and Social Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking; Ethical Understanding.

Volcano Man can be linked to the following subject areas within the Australian National Curriculum:

• English
• Media studies
• Health and Physical Education

Volcano Man may also be relevant to senior level English Literature studies when examining a range of literary forms (including non-fiction and film), and narrative voice.

It will also be of relevance to courses in senior level Media and Film Studies across various individual state and territory jurisdictions, especially in the study of documentary, narrative voice and voice-over, and narrative construction.