Images are a universal language that appeals to a wider audience through techniques that give the pictures meaning. Consequently, an individual is able to perceive the image in their own way depending on their level of knowledge. As a result, the audience is able to interpret both simple and complex ideas within the pictures according to their own understanding. John Marsden and Shaun Tan’s picture book The Rabbits demonstrates the different ways an individual may interpret narratives through techniques such as allegory, anthropomorphism and symbolism. Through these techniques, simple and complex ideas are communicated, and depending on a person’s knowledge, this reflects different ideas that the person may gather from the pictures in the book. Through the analysis of both visual and literacy techniques, a picture book’s ability to address both simple and complex ideas will be discussed.
Images are universal language that appeals to a wider audience through techniques that give the pictures meaning. John Marsden and Shaun Tan’s book The Rabbits, demonstrates this notion throughout the narrative. Through the use of anthropomorphism, the front cover illustrates a group of rabbits possessing human qualities; wearing clothes, standing upright and carrying objects. Symbolism used on the rabbits represents the idea of them representing the British. The salient image on the cover was the Admiral rabbit, who wears a uniform covered in writing. This symbolism is used to reflect the idea of the intelligence and education the British would’ve possessed. Therefore, images can appeal to a wider audience through techniques that give it meaning.
Many techniques used in picture books reflect simple ideas that would appeal to the younger audience, through salient imagery that is easily recognisable. The cover of the picture book The Rabbits demonstrates this through the illustrations that a younger audience would interpret literally. The cover displays a