The Rabbits Belonging Analysis

984 Words4 Pages
When deciding how to present a story either in film or book, the director or author and illustrator choose from a variety of techniques in order to best portray their own views on the subject matter. Both Peter Weir directing the film “Witness” and John Marsden and Shaun Tan in producing the book “The Rabbits” seek to highlight a juxtaposition of cultures where one culture is seen as having little value, basically simplistic and unimportant and the controlling culture has a sense of disdain towards them. Both texts seek to provoke empathy towards the downtrodden culture, in turn Amish in “Witness” or Aboriginal in “The Rabbits”, and to encourage the audience to take their point of view, promoting understanding and indeed admiration. Weir uses film and camera techniques and visual imagery to create two…show more content…
For example the shot of the draught horse and dray against Book’s smashed car and having the car pulled into the barn by the horse symbolising the uselessness of modernity in this Amish world and gives the viewer the impression that, perhaps, this world isn’t so quaint and downtrodden after all. Later, the close-up shot of the boy’s small hand holding the gun brings us sharply to the realisation that Book’s mere presence in this community could be disastrous in destroying the tranquil nature of the world. In ”The Rabbits”, Shaun Tan’s evocative and unusual drawing style adds new depth and subtext to the written word. He shows bare, barren landscapes with huge imposing machines demonstrating the power of the rabbits and the futility of the future for the numbats. It also points out how the new arrivals have affected not only the people but also the land. The flag used for the rabbits is simple and red but symbolises power, rage and danger, increasing our emotional response on viewing the pictures. It supports the image of a “takeover” and the chilling

More about The Rabbits Belonging Analysis

Open Document