The Rabbit Proof Fence

Australia is a melting pot of numerous cultures, built on the backs of hard workers from several ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. However, for the majority of its history, Australia has done its level best to wipe out, both figuratively and literally, all traces of non-British influence. From colonial invasion to the White Australia policy to the Stolen Generation, the culture that has been oppressed, harassed and victimized more than any other is the one that boasts the most ancient and legitimate ties to our great land: the Aboriginal people. The disempowerment has been perpetuated and depicted in many important texts. The Rabbits, Australian National Anthem, and The Rabbit Proof Fence are three such texts that use language to …show more content…
The text disempowers because it shows the elements of Silencing or marginalizing one or several groups, being biased and one sided, and being offensive, abusive and judgmental
The book ‘The Rabbits’ uses carefully selected visual language in order to ensure it achieves its purpose - to show the disempowerment that was shown towards the Indigenous people. The images in the book ‘The Rabbits’ show a clear understanding that the rabbits are being abusive, offensive and judgmental towards the bandicoots. The evidence of these can be found in the images of this book. The size of the rabbits changes into an industrial look, as they get bigger amongst the page to show the viewers that they have the power/in charge. This makes sense for the author to include in the text because of the association between industrialism and the disempowerment of those of a …show more content…
This real world disempowerment is reflected in the film’s narrative and film techniques. Throughout the movie, there is language that disempowers indigenous Australians. Such as being offensive, abusive and judgemental, being biased and one sided and silencing several groups. When the girls got taken away from their family, it showed disempowering language towards the indigenous Australians. This was done by letting the indigenous have no say which demonstrates an element of disempowering language. The manner in which the girls are treated (i.e. being disempowered) creates disgust in the viewer. They were undervalued like no one cared about them. Visually, the loneliness is foregrounded by the majority of shots the girls are included in being somewhat empty; the girls often appear with nothing but the fence and a few trees or shrubs in the background. The girls then wanted to escape, but couldn’t due to the fence. The fact that the white government trapped them with this fence with barbed wire is unacceptable and is a visual metaphor of the boundaries imposed upon them, their disempowerment. These shots could also be said to depict their marginalization as by walking along the fence they are, quite literally, pushed to the margins of society, far beyond any city or township, even any community or family. This disempowers the indigenous