As there are so many parts to this rap point we have decided to
use subheadings for each point.
What makes this an Aboriginal book?
The Binna binna Man is an Aboriginal book as it is about an
Aboriginal boy’s experiences when he returns to his family’s
land “Yarrie” for the funeral of his cousin. The story is told
using the boy’s language which is a combination of colloquial
English and Aboriginal dialect. We learn that Aboriginal
families are very close. An example of this is when the boy
has to hug his uncle’s new girlfriend and call her Aunty Em.
However the main idea of this story is the importance of
believing in the Aboriginal spirits as the Binna Binna man
plays a vital role in the story. The Binna Binna man appears to
Shandell as she is ignoring her culture and makes fun of the
boy’s belief in him. She is saved by the boy and by Popeye’s
speaking to her in the old language. The Binna Binna man also
tells the boy “Be who you are”, and ‘don’t turn your back on
your ancestors”, (page 73).
The importance of oral storytelling
Ms Sheldon, the Aboriginal Studies teacher from our school,
spoke to us about the tradition of storytelling. Storytelling is
an integral part of life for Indigenous Australians. From an
early age, storytelling plays a vital role in educating children.
The stories help to explain how the land came to be shaped
and inhabited; how to behave and why; where to find certain
foods. As the children grow into adults, more of the history
and culture is revealed. When they are adults they can pass on
the stories to following generations.
This story is also telling Aboriginal teenagers how to behave.
Even though we aren’t told exactly how Sister Girl has died, it
seems that it is because she has got into trouble with the
police. The boy describes Shandell as being a ‘hardhead…she
got no shame” p 63 and he feels she will end up like sister girl.
Shandell tells the boy “We got to find our own way now.
Things are different for us”, p 65.The Binna Binna man
appears ,gives Shandell a terrifying warning, and tells the boy
“Be who you are”, p73.
Therefore Aboriginal culture and oral storytelling helps all the
younger ones to understand how to act.
The visual elements of the story.
We used Rap sheet 4 to examine the cover of the book and
some of the pages in the story. The use of natural colours on
the cover suggests the location of the book, and the close up of
the boy’s face shows he is frightened or worried. Photos are
used to show the location and the people in the story. The
close up shot of Chicky’s wide eyes shows her fear when they
are pushing the car and that this is an exciting part of the book.
The pages that are overlayed with the spiky palm fronds
suggest the presence of the Binna Binna man, particularly
page 36. When Shandell is in danger the page is black and the
text white. This suggests not only the night time scene but also
the boy’s fear and that the Binna Binna man is there. So the
photos, graphics and colour help tell this story.
