Laramie Project Mabo Analysis

The Laramie Project and Mabo are both texts featured in the life writing genre. The Laramie Project is presented as a play, while Mabo is a biographical film. Both The Laramie Project and Mabo use life writing codes and conventions to convey the ideas and themes of each text. While they both share similar themes, the way life writing codes and conventions are applied differentiates The Laramie Project and Mabo.
In the film, Mabo the viewer is positioned to align themselves with Eddie and feel empathy towards him. Film techniques are used in a way where the audience is positioned to understand Eddies struggles and become emotionally attached. Eddies flaws are also revealed during the biographical film making him a more realistic subject, therefore creating verisimilitude. In the play The Laramie Project the audience is aligned with Matthew. Unlike in Mabo the audience is detached from the subject. This is created by Moises Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theatre Company by using a style of theatre called Epic Theatre. Epic Theatre does not encourage an emotional attachment but rather using minimal props, and costumes allows
Rachel Perkins is related to Charlie Perkins, a well-known Aboriginal right’s activist, allowing her to deeply understand Eddie and his case. Similarly, Moises Kaufman identifies as a gay man, creating a personal connection to the story of Matthew Shepard. Both Rachel Perkins and Moises Kaufman use their personal experiences to convey the main themes of The Laramie Project and Mabo, including prejudice, discrimination and alienation. Alienation is a key theme in Mabo and The Laramie Project as both Matthew Shepard and Eddie Mabo were part of minority groups. The filmmakers of Mabo and the Tectonic Theatre Company position the audience to understand the subjects and the challenges faced by those who a part of a