The outcome of a discovery does not always have a positive outcome for all parties involved, whether it is a rediscovery of past knowledge or the uncovering of new information, both may serve to affirm or challenge beliefs, resulting in different ramifications for individuals and their worlds. The author and illustrator of allegorical picture book ‘The Rabbits’ Shaun Tan and John Marsden employs ideas of historical context relating to colonialism and the loss of culture and freedom that took place throughout the process, similarly to Shakespeare’s tragicomedy play ‘The Tempest’, where the exploitation of the character Caliban is repeatedly highlighted revealing the dystopic turn of events the native people would have experienced after the
The Rabbits John Marsden and Shaun Tan 'The Rabbits' is a picture book written by John Marsden and Shaun Tan that uses anthropomorphism to convey a story of colonisation. Despite the small amount of text in the book, it seems to offer many deep meanings. Because of this, Marsden and Tan heavily rely on their illustrations to convey themes using this such as symbolism, motifs, characterisation, and colour. By doing this, they make the book relatable not just to Australian Indigenous people, but to Indigenous people from all over who have had to experience colonisation. The clear depictions make the concepts understandable to all people Colonisation is investigated heavily through the book by use of characterisation.
At the Sandleford Warren, the rabbit that held complete control was the Chief Rabbit, Threarah. He ruled as a totalitarian, having complete control over the warren. Sure, the people prospered, but their were distinguishing levels of rabbits; many did not fare too well because of this (the poor rabbits starved to death and were taken advantage of). Threarah made sure the warren had no interaction with the outside world; thus, it was secure in an in-secure way (having no way to know how to protect itself from the outside world.) When the men came to kill off the warren, the rabbits were disorganized and had no way to survive.
Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma written by Camilla Townsend introduces the historical period of seventeenth century Native Americans and the journey of their survival. Townsend is known for her multiple books mostly focusing on the lives of indigenous people and their stories. This book, however, goes through the specific life of Pocahontas herself. The author uses not only tragedy but also romance when recapping Pocahontas’ life throughout the years. The book successfully teaches and emphasizes the struggles Pocahontas and her people went through and educates the audience of the real history behind this time period.
Richard Wagamese brings to light the troubles of aboriginals living in Northern Canada in his book Indian Horse. Wagamese demonstrates the maltreatment aboriginals have faced at the hands of the Zhaunagush and their residential schools. The disgusting truth of the treatment of aboriginals in Canada is shown through recovering alcoholic, Saul Indian Horse, who recounts his life from the time he lived in the bush with his native family, the Anishinabeg, to the the time he checked into The New Dawn Treatment Centre. Seen through Saul’s eyes, the Canadian government captures and transports native children to residential schools. Not only are these children stripped from their native way of life, they are placed in an environment that eerily resembles an internment camp.
The settlers using the sacred ‘Bora Ground’ as a dump site exemplifies how the Indigenous community are ignored, and socially isolated in a country they once owned. Therefore, diminishing the connection they shared with the land, a similar issue explored in the film ‘Beneath Clouds’. “We are the old ceremony, the laws of the elders… We are the wonder tale of dreamtime, the tribal legends told” The accumulation of metaphors exemplifies what practices make up Indigenous identity. This was ultimately dismissed by white settlers, leaving the Indigenous community socially isolated,
In her book Nanberry, Jackie French portrays colonial life as a very confusing and perplexing time for both the Indigenous Australians and the White British Settlers, albeit in different ways. With the Indigenous Australians confused by the sudden invasion of the white settler (ghosts), and the British Settlers becoming confused by the new sights, smells and culture of ‘Sydney Cove’. Through the characters of Nanberry, Surgeon White and Bennelong, the viewer is shown just how confusing their life was at the time of the first settlement in Australia. Nanberry is one of the main characters in French’s book, and is a prime way through which she portrays colonial life as perplexing and confusing. Nanberry was born into, and partially raised by an Indigenous Australian family, however he was adopted by Surgeon White at the tender age of eight or nine.
Monkey Beach is an adaptation of “Queen of the North,” both written by Eden Robinson. The texts both touch on the theme of intergenerational trauma within Indigenous communities. Through the lens of different main characters, however, Monkey Beach approaches the topic differently through its portrayal of the transmission of trauma. In “Queen of the North,” the transmission of intergenerational trauma is most clearly seen through Josh reenacting trauma onto Adelaine. In contrast, as a novel, Monkey Beach offers a more nuanced depiction of the methods of intergenerational trauma transmission, such as the loss of Lisamarie's cultural identity.
Upon initial encounter, the apology is recognized but once the viewer becomes aware, Bennett has cleverly reconfigured and remixed the apology to reveal a prideful testimony of colonial intent, objective and execution. The remixed ‘un-apology’ makes it irresistible bait for an “ass whopping”, only Billy Jack could deliver which many intergenerational survivors would appreciate. The remix essentially exposes the colonialist project, which was “designed to colonize Indian minds as a means of gaining access to Indigenous resources.” In general, Bennett masterfully depicts colonial residues, the trans-generational violence of exploitation of land, resources and colonial subjugation. The medium of film and media work as an effective tool to create a dialogue between these characters of different decades, time and narrative is conflated and transcended the historical wrong doings that are felt today, the past influences the present and future, or in another’s words, “history is amendable, but knows no past, present and future; it knows no long or short time, no ‘long ago’ or ‘recently’ – as absolutely unique and nonconvertible moments”
In Justin Scott’s death a reclamation takes place. It is realized that “[the] white people who forced them here had never intended for them to survive” (212). Even before moving from their southern designed and southern styled community, the Anishinaabeg left when Justin Scott died. When they killed him; reversing his slaughter and putting an end to his triumph by giving the man who rejected and abused this land down to it. Justin Scott will drift to the depths of that sea and lay with the roots of the Anishinaabe, allowing them to reclaim their former way of life and “destiny” (212).
One could compare this work to that of “Nanook of the North”, by Robert Flaherty in 1922. Although that one was silent and seemed more theatrical than scholarly in style, it still was aimed to educate a mass audience about ‘Nanook’ and his people, what their
Shedding light on a heinous chapter of Australian history, Phillip Noyce’s 2002 film adaption of the book by Doris Pilkington, Rabbit Proof Fence serves as a glaring reminder of the atrocities suffered by those of the “stolen generation”. Set in 1931, the film portrays a simplified version of the early life of three Aboriginal girls and their daring journey from an “integration program” to home again via the Rabbit Proof Fence. They are pursued by A.O. Neville (Branagh), the school director, whom, under government authority, is taking Aboriginal children from their homes and placing them in schools to be educated or more accurately, indoctrinated. Rabbit Proof Fence, through its compelling storyline and depiction of harsh reality, highlights to us that the real villain in colonial Australia was the government and it’s utterly racist policies. As a critic, this film struck me, as I’m sure it will many other viewers, in its veracity of the truth when displaying potentially painful situations.
While reading the book, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma, I learned a great deal about early Indian life, in a way I had not before. Of course, in grade school you learn about “Pocahontas” but not in the way Camilla Townsend describes her. I started this book not really knowing what to expect besides to learn more than I had previously known. I know recently a lot about history has come up for discussion in ways it has never before. Native Americans and Africa Americans have been a topic of discussion for the past few years, shedding light on their history.
Who were those foreign beings? How long had they been in this new land? Were they a threat? What resources did they hold? It was in result of this insatiable curiosity that Smith 's novel spread swiftly between hands and eyes and minds.
“A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mary Rowlandson”: The Influence of Intercultural Contact on Puritan Beliefs “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson” by Mary Rowlandson gives a first person perspective into the circumstances of captivity and cultural interaction and an insight to Rowlandson 's attitude towards the Indians, both before and after she was held captive. Rowlandson displays a change in her perception of "civilized" and "savage", in spite of the fact that her overall world view does not alter. It should be covered below that in the following Essay, since the author and the narrator are the same person, will not be individually distinguished. For one thing, Mary Rowlandson provides all the conventions typical of a Puritan perspective.
In Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s book This Earth of Mankind, the depiction of the Natives in this novel permits the author to expose the effects of colonization by the Europeans in Indonesia. Throughout this novel, the Natives are consistently portrayed as the social group, who is deemed inferior in comparison to the Europeans, which contributes to their oppression. The two characters that represent this attribute are Nyai Ontosoroh and Minke. Despite her backstory and status as a concubine for Herman Mellema, Nyai Ontosoroh is one of the central characters in this novel. She is described as a formidable Native woman, “...this Nyai Ontosoroh who was talked about by so many people...”(29).