Here are our responses to Rap Point 2. Due to our class size, we decided to split into small groups and examine different pages.
The page we chose was “Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits. Millions and Millions of Rabbits. Everywhere we look there are rabbits.”
The page had an impact because: the book is showing the differences between the rabbits and possums and so the black and white picture is showing the black and white world they live in now. Also, the arrows all over the pages suggest that the two colonies are going in circles. It also shows the only fresh air left being sucked into a rabbit’s invention and what’s left is a black polluted world of rabbits. Some rabbits wearing masks may be hiding who they are and what they did to the new world. The rabbits, with their straight backs and formal clothing show authority and order. The picture shows the rabbits disregard for the natural world and are right into industrialisation with the city background where the skyscrapers all have clocks and smoke stacks, is this positive progress? The statue of the rabbits on the right is reminiscent of the statue
of Queen Victoria holding her orb in her left hand and holding a septor with a light on the top in her right hand. At the base the writing says
"Might = Right" which is saying whatever harm the rabbits inflict is right. The text says there are millions of rabbits everywhere. Is this where they get their might? But just because there's millions of them, it doesn't mean they are right.
Rebecca, Kimberly, Skye, Carmen and Sarah
Our page is the page starting with the line - "They didn't live in trees like we did"
On the top of the page are the possums in the trees taking up only about an eighth of the space. Their world is simple and natural.
The rest of the page shows the rabbits taking over the natural world, with their plan for the future in the centre of the page. It puts you in an uneasy position. You feel like one of the possums, like your world is being overpowered by the rabbits.
Everything in the rabbtis world seems artificial, from the colour of the sky to the rabbits themselves. This is shown through the colours and the shapes used in the drawing. By looking closely at the picture you can see that the rabbits have no respect for the natural world. They are already polluting the earth and destroying everything in their path. This is shown best through the dead lizard, killed by the rabbits carelessness.
In the written text, the use of the words 'they' and 'we' show that the possums have separated themselves from the rabbits and are perhaps trying to avoid them. The fact that the story is written in past tense shows that the rabbits did, in the end, take over completely. The possums say "They didn't live in the trees, like we did." The use of the word 'did' shows that the possums no longer live in the trees.
Just about every element of this picture impacts you in a way that makes you feel empathy towards the possums.
Emma C, Kirsty, Sally, Eloise, Emma D, Leanne, Ashleigh, Kate and Melissa
The pages we chose was "The rabbits came many grandparents ago."
The first two pages show a peaceful scenery with blue skies and outback landscapes. It also shows how peaceful the 'Possums' were before they were disturbed by the 'Rabbits'.
This scenery shows what it was like before the 'Rabbits' introduced man-made machines.
These two pages show us an image of what our country was like before 'Rabbits' came.
The text, "The rabbits came many grandparents ago." Simply means the 'Rabbits' invaded a long, long time ago.
By Jessica, Jacinta and Lily.
We have chosen our page because it ia alot like Australia's outback.
Also, the bit of ripped paper on the side could indicate the destruction the rabbits bring because of the dull colours and vast emptiness. The possums are saying that the rabbits won't understand the right ways which could mean that the possums know the rabbits will wreck their land.
The rabbits are using the knowledge of their own country which doesn't fit the new country they have invaded.
By Luke and Neil
We chose the 10th double page starting with the text "They ate our grass".
This page resembles a community similar to ours. The colours used are warm, creating a feeling of heat and dust.Our summers are usually dusty and red as depicted in this page. The foreground is dark and forbidding and gives the impression that the possums are scared and hiding. The text is written as if that is what the possums are thinking as they are hiding. Its talking about the over use of land and destruction of their friends the "Native Animals".
By Laney, Emily and Danielle.
The pages that interested us the most was the pages with sheep on them. These pages caught our attention because we are from a rural community so we can relate with it and the colours were bright and attractive.
The colours suggest a lush healthy country, but the sheep with unusually large mouths and teeth beared are eating these lush plants and leaving behind nothing but dust and footprints. The animals in the background are cows conected to some kind of milking machine. this shows industrialisation and development. The clock on the machine shows saving time. The cows are also drawn with sections on them seperateing the different parts of meat on a cow eg rump, ribs, as they are bred for their milk and meat.
You can see going back into the distance the landscape divided into sections, paddocks and it reminds us of home. All the sheep are numbered with high numbers like 24 and 63 meaning there are lots more sheep even though we cant see them. They also have "100%" tags on them showing the are only bred for their wool.
There are only 2 rabbits in the picture and no native possums. This shows that the rabbits have moved the possums off their land and spread out. The railway shows that they are far spread and colonised, industrial and productive.
There is a box taking half of the second page that shows death, decay and destruction. The possums are hiding in the background. This shows that they feel intimidated as if there is nothing they can do. It reminds us of our families, farms and the drought, there IS nothing we can do to help.
By Ashley Letitia and Zac.
