Change In The Black Balloon

Through my study of The Turning by Tim Winton as well as The Black Balloon by Elissa Down. I have learnt that change is completely relentless and that even the slightest or most significant change can turn our world upside down. In The Turning, the concept of change is evident both within each stories landscape and its characters. We see the impact of change and its recognition through characters such Vic Lang through the story “long clear view” and both Bob Lang and Vic Lang in “Commission”. The notion of change is also evident in the character of Thomas from the film The Black Balloon.

The Turning is a text in which explores and reflects a variety of aspects of change and how the change is acknowledged. This change is highlighted through
the many stories and within its characters. Some of the aspects include varieties such as change in the nature of characters, the scenes of stories, the change that is occurring and the ways in which the change is handled. As an overall text the turning conveys significant amounts of change and the ways it impacts everyday life in modern society.
• Fathers transfer, new school is a huge change for Vic at his age as most people at school are settled in their own friendship groups. “’your not a baby, if you don’t make a go of it then things will be worse for everybody. So you shutup and stop bawling’’ shows the change in Vic’s change in attitude and his realisation that it’s time for him to grow up.
• Change at home, his father has gone so Vic has to grow up very fast and support his mother,
• The effect is shown through the tasks that Vic completes such as house chores and even the way that he uses a weapon as reassurance for when he is home alone.
It shows the link of how change can turn our world completely upside down.
Understanding Change within the nature of a character in ‘’commission’’ is a key outline in Tim Winton, the turning. This is outlined through the character of Bob Lang and the ways that he changes to sober up for carol and Vic to show his commitment. The use of irony of ‘honest bob’ is also used to support change within Bob’s character. The use of 1st person also allows us to straight away engage in a personal insight to Vic and the feelings he bestows about his father’s sudden disappearance in his life. The use of this technique also allows us to feel sorry for Bob, as he changed for the wellbeing of his family, yet does not receive approval from his son, a quote to support this change is “well it hasn’t been all for nothing then. What hasn’t? Sobering up. I couldn’t have gone back drunk”. The usage of the metaphor ‘great landscape’ also defines the change in relationship that Vic holds with his father. The effect of these techniques allow us to understand the ways in which Bob has changed but at the same time see the way that Vic does not accept the way he has gone about
it.

The film the black balloon represents and demonstrates change as inevitable in which can cause distress in an individual but also at the same time the film evidently shows us that change is not always the fault of others but can be the fault of the individual if they can’t accept it.
Within the black balloon this is shown through the character of Tom coming to terms with the fact that Charlie, his autistic brother isn’t going to change and that it’s not Charlies fault. Quote to show Thomas’s disapproval ‘’I don’t want anything to do with him, he is a freak’’. Also within the first scene we see a collection of red balloons been let into the sky and a single black balloon following close behind. The use of colours as an effect allows our reading path to engage in the meaning behind the balloons and link it to the way Thomas see’s his brother. Change is also demonstrated through non diegetic sound of the song “fall at your feet” by Crowed house, lyrics”the finger of blame has turned upon itself and I’m more than willing to offer myself, do you want my presence or need my help’’ suggests that Thomas finally realises that it’s not his brothers fault, that he is the one that can’t accept it and we interrupt through the lyrics that tom understands that he needs to change. This is also supported through the scene when Thomas quotes to Jackie his girlfriend that he has quote, “fucked up’’. Finally we see change in Thomas when he opens up to his brother and starts to spend time with
him, this is shown in the end scene where the boys share a bath and a conversation where Thomas says ‘’i used to hate being your brother and I would wish I would wake up and you will be normal but you won’t” the word used suggests change over time, past tense and the word wont suggests that Thomas has come to terms that his brother won’t change and he accepts that. This links to the concept of accepting change.
Through this area of study and through the study of my related text my understanding of change has been shaped that change has a much larger and significant concept and affect than what I use to consider and that change needs to be acknowledged as change happens every day one way or another and it can determine who we are and how we live.