Children's Literature: Views of Childhood in Media and Text
True View of Childhood
When one reminisces on their childhood, they are often flooded with memories of play, freedom, carelessness and adventure. These characteristics are what immediately come to mind when discussing the stage of childhood, and many attribute romantic images to the simplicity of this early stage of life. However, there are also several conflicting views that contrast these typical images, seen in situations where children are given roles forcing them to act like an adult. These conflicting views are often explored in young adult literature, such as Meme McDonald and Boori Monty Pryor’s The Binna Binna Man, as well as films such as Paul Goldman’s Australian Rules. Each of these works tell the story of a young adult growing up in a family where they feel they need to be the “men of the house” and put any childish behavior behind. The narrator in The Binna Binna Man is an aboriginal teenager who is growing up with a strong emphasis on family. He spends time with his entire extended family as they travel through Binna Binna Country. His father is not present in the story, so he becomes the paternal figure, despite his young age. He is constantly trying to prove himself as an adult, but often forgets that he still must remain dependant on his elders. The character Blacky in Australian Rules finds himself in several conflicts that force him to grow up. He is subject to intense racism by his community, which is an issue as his best friend and the woman of his dreams are both aboriginal. He also must live with an abusive father, which forces Blacky to act as a protector for his younger siblings. Blacky transforms throughout the film and eventually stands up to his father, suggesting that he must grow up and leave his childhood behind. These two pieces are examples of how contradictory ideologies of childhood are reflected, causing the readers and viewers to adjust their beliefs of what it really means to be a child.
The Binna Binna Man is a novel
When one reminisces on their childhood, they are often flooded with memories of play, freedom, carelessness and adventure. These characteristics are what immediately come to mind when discussing the stage of childhood, and many attribute romantic images to the simplicity of this early stage of life. However, there are also several conflicting views that contrast these typical images, seen in situations where children are given roles forcing them to act like an adult. These conflicting views are often explored in young adult literature, such as Meme McDonald and Boori Monty Pryor’s The Binna Binna Man, as well as films such as Paul Goldman’s Australian Rules. Each of these works tell the story of a young adult growing up in a family where they feel they need to be the “men of the house” and put any childish behavior behind. The narrator in The Binna Binna Man is an aboriginal teenager who is growing up with a strong emphasis on family. He spends time with his entire extended family as they travel through Binna Binna Country. His father is not present in the story, so he becomes the paternal figure, despite his young age. He is constantly trying to prove himself as an adult, but often forgets that he still must remain dependant on his elders. The character Blacky in Australian Rules finds himself in several conflicts that force him to grow up. He is subject to intense racism by his community, which is an issue as his best friend and the woman of his dreams are both aboriginal. He also must live with an abusive father, which forces Blacky to act as a protector for his younger siblings. Blacky transforms throughout the film and eventually stands up to his father, suggesting that he must grow up and leave his childhood behind. These two pieces are examples of how contradictory ideologies of childhood are reflected, causing the readers and viewers to adjust their beliefs of what it really means to be a child.
The Binna Binna Man is a novel
Cited: Australian Rules. Dir. Paul Goldman. Australia, 2002. Film. McDonald, Meme and Pryor, Boori. The Binna Binna Man. Crows Nest NSW: Allen and Unwin, 1999. Print.