Requiem for a Beast Essay

The first sentence in this picture book contains the words “many grandparents ago” which immediately positions the viewer to see that the story is from an indigenous point of view. John Marsden uses minimal written text which may be for two reasons. Firstly the Aboriginal people, at the time this story is set, could not speak English and since then they have never really had a voice. Secondly, the construction of the illustrations by Shaun Tan tells more of a story than words ever could.

Contemporary artist, Ah Kee, has created a work, “Unwritten #9”, references past racial murders and the way they resonate in the present context and explore Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous culture in the contemporary society. Ah Kee created this series of artworks in response to the apparent police cover up of the death of a young man in their custody and protection of their own lead to accusations of racism, riots by the Islanders and their further oppression by the police. The faces are also non-specific and have no identity, this refers to the devastating history of racism and violence against indigenous peoples in Australia. This symbolism also suggests the often unspoken motivations for actions and interactions between Australians

Our nation’s industrial farming has become more than just feeding people; it has become a way for the food industry to make more money as human population continues to grow. Jonathan Safran Foer in his book Eating Animals, illustrates the effects factory farming has had on animals meant for human consumption. Furthermore, Foer asks many questions to the reader on what will it take for us to change our ways before we say enough is enough. The questions individuals need to be asking themselves are: how do we deal with the problem of factory farming, and what can people do to help solve these issues? Eric Schlosser in Fast Food Nation, also illustrates the animal abuse that goes unseen within the food industry as well as Bernard Rollin and Robert Desch in their article “Farm Factories”, both demonstrate what is wrong today with factory farming. Foer gives such examples of employees who work in slaughterhouses giving accounts of what goes on in the kill floors, and stories of employees who have witnessed thousands and thousands of cows going through the slaughter process alive (Animals 231). Namit Arora in the article “On Eating Animals”, as well as Michael Pollan in his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, both address some of the issues that animals face once they hit the kill floor. The food industry has transformed not only how people eat, but also the negative effects our climate endures as a result of factory farming as illustrated by Anna Lappe in “The Climate Crisis at the End

Written during one of the most defining moments in Indigenous Australian history, Enoch and Deborah Mailman’s ‘the 7 stages of grieving’ follows a young Aboriginal woman as she retells some of the hardships and injustices her and her people have and will continue to face. With the quote above in mind, it is clear to see that ‘The 7 stages of grieving’ combines the contemporary conventions of Australian theatre, such as applying multimedia with a decidedly traditional twist. Through the use of stagecraft and symbolism,

The Apology Day Breakfast, and, Heart’s Core Lament are two powerful indigenous poems which use poetic techniques and devices to portray theme, times, places and identities. These poems both address the stolen generation and the impact that white colonisation has had on the Australian indigenous community. However, Natalie Harkin’s, Heart’s Core Lament has more impact through using graphic imagery to connect the poem to historical

As you look at the text of “A Change of Heart about Animals,” answer and then discuss the following questions:

All of the elements in the painting set the mood of sadness as the Indians meet their inevitable end. In the painting there are representatives of different Indian tribes and a diverse age of individuals ranging from infants to elderly, all at the brink of the ocean with the sun setting in the distance. The setting for the painting could not be more perfect as the sun sets to signify the end for the few who have not surrendered and gone to camps

Distinctively visual is not just about images but also the power of language that enables composers to transport us to their world, specifically to the place indicative of the time during which the text was written. Henry Lawson’s collection of short stories in particular ‘In a dry season’ and ‘The drover’s wife’ and my related text, Art Spigelman’s graphic novel ‘Maus’ bring their unique ideas to life shaping and challenging our perspective and understanding of various human experiences of pain, suffering ,courage, resilience and perseverance ultimately bringing personal and social issues to life.

Matt Ottley’s Requiem for a Beast explores belonging through a combination of genres; conventional prose text, a graphic novel and also a combination of Aboriginal and Latin music. A graphic sequence introduces ‘Requiem’ with simple, colloquial language coinciding in tone with increasing darkness of image and music. The loss of belonging, of culture is signified in the words of an Aboriginal elder; “I’m supposed to be a fully initiated woman, but that knowledge, that memory is gone” The theme of xenophobia and the related themes of isolation, loss of identity and fear are made evident through the elder’s story “When many of the people went back to their families – those that could find them – they felt alienated.” Similar to both Golding’s Lord of the Flies and Skrzynecki’s anthology, the separation from the land, their families and the culture removed the stolen children’s connection to life and questioned their identity. The themes of belonging and the “darkness of those years” are reflected in black prose on a white page along with fragmented and shattered images. The main narrative follows a young stockman struggling with his past, his identity and consumed by the story of the Stolen Generations, as he follows the bull “deeper into the day and deeper into himself”. The prose and images rapidly become surreal, dreamlike as his search for identity draws parallels to the Aboriginal search for cultural

Distinctively visual techniques are skilfully employed by Henry Lawson and Kriv Stenders to deepen our understanding of the world of the Australian outback and those who inhabit it, through their struggles and independence with some humour applied to the stories. These visual effects allow us to get a better understanding of the feelings of the characters and relate their life lessons to our everyday life. The Drover’s Wife creates a vivid picture of an independent and isolated mother’s hardship of taking care and protecting her family. Another story by Henry Lawson called The Loaded Dog shares a more humour filled side to the isolated

This was my fourth year in a row participating and running the Killington Beast on both Saturday & Sunday. My right knee has been so bad this summer that I wasn’t intending to go to Killington this year, but the knee started feeling a little better and I got the OCR itch again and had to go do it!

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli, is an adventurous novel that tells a story of a man, who is also a beast, that faces many challenges. These challenges will allow him to return to his rightful being. This man’s name is Orasmyn, Prince of Persia. One mindless mistake during the Feast of Sacrifices results in Orasmyn being turned into a lion by a pari, also known as a fairy. Only a woman’s love can undo the curse. This marks the beginning of Orasmyn’s travels through France and the Middle Ages. Along the way, he is faced with challenges of trying to survive as a lion, in which he eventually overcomes by the end of the story, by finding someone who is brave enough to love him for what he becomes; a beast.

Jack Henry Abbott was born on January 21, 1944, on a military base in Oscoda, Michigan. Growing up in foster care and living in the under the state laws his whole life Jack Abbot didn't have much of a chance for a normal life. From the time that he was born he was living in the state foster care system. After a short while he was in trouble with the law. As an adolescent he was living in the state juvenile detention center. Jack would be punished because he was just that sort of kid. Due to the fact that everyone knew his past he was punished his whole life. Abbott first was sent to the boys' school because of failure to conform to the foster care home and systems. When he was first sent to prison it was because he had insufficient

It would be a good idea to change your feelings, looks, beliefs, or actions because you could have friends just like you, you can be different but be yourself. It may be safer, or better to be a conformist because you can fit in and no one will make fun of you or judge you if you fit in. If you would want to change your beliefs that would be a big change, but if that's what you want to do that's ok but just know you're changing on what you believe in. The dangers of conforming could be trouble because maybe you start to change your body and looks so that would mean it would be much harder to get a job. Their are pros and cons to changing yourself the pros may sound better but they're not. Like look at Leopard Man, well if you don’t know Leopard

In mythology, monsters provide a challenge that humans must overcome. Heroes try to gain fame by defeating them and townspeople are afraid of them. Monsters spread fear for men to conquer. They give the opportunity for heroes to prove themselves. According to Mr. Thomas Bullfinch, “monsters are unnatural in proportions and parts and are employed for the injury and annoyance of men (Bullfinch 1).” Monsters do have strange parts and a common purpose. In Greek mythology, monsters have striking similarities. They fall into distinct categories based on form and duty. Monsters may be part snake, lion, or human. Some have multiple heads. Most monsters’ duties include guarding something for another being. Other monsters have no responsibilities