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English Essay
What different ways have composers used to examine the relationship between black and white Australia? Discuss with reference to two texts.
From the first contact and many years after they first landed on Australian shores, the Aboriginal people have had a complex relationship with the White settlers. Some would say that it was beneficial for the primitive Aborigines as the White settlers brought many new technologies and developments which could aid the Aborigines in their practices. However, many others would strongly argue that the arrival and dominance of the Western culture ultimately led to an erosion of the Indigenous culture. Although, in today’s society, Aborigines are much better recognised and respected, before this was not the case as the Aboriginal people were seen as inferior and were discriminated against by the non-Indigenous people. This relationship has been explored by many artworks, films, books and songs and poems over many years. The book ‘Rabbits’ by Shaun Tan and John Marsden and the poem ‘Then and Now’ by Oodgeroo Noonuccal have used many visual and language techniques to outline the relationship between black and white Australia and the erosion of the Indigenous culture by the White settlers
‘The Rabbits’, a book by Shaun Tan and John Marden, published in 2000, represents the relationship between the Aboriginal people and the White settlers using various visual techniques. The idea that Aboriginal Australians suffered greatly as a result of colonisation is a major aspect of ‘The Rabbits’. The rabbits anthropomorphically represent the British while the Aborigines are portrayed as native numbats. In one double page spread the baby numbats are seen floating away from their families in white kites. This alludes to the stolen generations and white kites symbolise the white policy of assimilating the stolen children into mainstream society. Additionally, the words 'And stole children' are written across the page in what looks like blood. This is a visual metaphor which conveys the idea of the bonds of 'blood' to family, culture and community and exposes the deep suffering the aborigines endured because of such harsh and damaging policies of the past.
Furthermore, the poem ‘Then and Now’ by Oodgeroo Noonuccal, refers to the negative impacts caused by white colonisation. Noonuccal, through many language techniques, effectively communicates her desire for the Aboriginal lifestyle before colonisation. The poem shows the impact of the 'Assimilation Policy' on the Aborigine's way of life, forcing them to change their culture and live apart from their traditional ways. These two quotes “Now I am civilised and work in the white way” and “Better when I had nothing but happiness” further supports the idea of the Indigenous culture being eroded due to the White settlers. The poem also reflects the effect the policy had on the environment and nature, as it no longer had the Aboriginal community to nurture it. This is supported by the quote, “I have seen corroboree, where that factory belches smoke” The use of the repetition of the words ‘No More’ in the quote “No more woomera, no more boomerang” emphasises the fact that the Aboriginal people have been forced to adjust their ways of life in order to maintain a relationship with the White settlers. All of this, links back to one simple concept and that is the erosion of Indigenous culture due to the White settlers and the complex relationship between the Aboriginals and the settlers which caused many struggles in the Aboriginal community.

Both texts are very similar in the way that they represent the relationship between the Aborigines and the White settlers. Both texts represent this relationship through techniques which have been used to show the erosion of Indigenous culture as a result of the arrival of the White settlers. ‘The Rabbits’ portray the erosion of culture through a variety visual and simple language techniques and similarly, the poem ‘Then and Now’ contrasts both the past and the present to emphasise the impacts of White colonisation. In ‘The Rabbits’ first double page spread is filled with a vibrant and earthy colour palette creating a very serene and peaceful atmosphere as well as representing aboriginal culture. However, as we progress further into the book, the colour palette changes into a much darker, gloomier palette which alludes to the erosion of Indigenous culture. The poem juxtaposes the past and present and shows that after the arrival of the White settlers, their traditional ways were destroyed, “One time our dark children played, where the railway yards are now”. This is similar to the ‘The Rabbits’ as both texts juxtapose the present situation with the desired past.
In addition, part of struggle for the Aborigines was the fight to preserve their identity and culture and this is a major concept which is identified comprehensively in both ‘The Rabbits’ and ‘Then and Now’. Both ‘The Rabbits’ and ‘Then and Now’ take a polemic approach in emphasising the resilience shown by the Aborigines in the midst of the struggles. Both texts represent the Aborigines as taking no action against the oppression of their culture as instead of articulating their opinions, they are reminiscing about their past in which they would not be able to return to.
In conclusion, the relationship between black and white Australia and the erosion of the Indigenous culture has been clearly expressed through the use of many visual, language and poetic techniques. Both texts are very similar in the way that they present this relationship as they both juxtapose the past with the present and the use of various other techniques such as colour palette, repetition and imagery have effectively conveyed the consequences of white colonisation. The relationship between the Aboriginal people and the non-Indigenous has always been an issue with the Aborigines being subject to discrimination and inferiority. Although there have been many acts of reconciliation, would these attempts compensate for the hardships felt by the Aboriginal communities as a result of the issues addressed by both ‘The Rabbits’ and ‘Then and Now’ as well as many other texts?