Feb 14, 20 australian author shaun tan s newest title, the bird king. On the book the rabbits started life as a picture book by author john marsden and illustrator shaun tan. The rabbits by shaun tan, shaun tan 97807344165 dymocks. In school he became known as the good drawer which partly compensated for. The rabbits by john marsden and shaun tan is a book about environmental issues created by man. Awardwinning artist and author shaun tan has achieved international recognition for his work, including the cbca picture book of the year award for this book, an honor book award for memorial with g. He won an academy award for the lost thing, a 2011 animated film adaptation of a 2000 picture book he wrote and illustrated. Those familiar with tans work, perhaps though the lost thing or tales of suburbia, will know that he is a genius in all respects. Its not really a graphic novel but is more than just a picture book. He wanted to become a genetic scientist but after enrolling in a special art program for talented and gifted students, he decided on. Other books he has written and illustrated include the red tree and the arrival. Related subjects creativity and imagination immigration movies sculpture writing. Interview with shaun tan research group on collective.
Yes, i think it was actually far more familiar to me to work this way, because my primary way of thinking is in terms of visual vignettes, and so even when ive worked on longer picture. As we read and view the rabbits we become aware very quickly that the story is, in fact, an allegory telling the story of white rabbits invading a country inhabited by marsupials but also the story of white invasion of australia. Jun 03, 20 secondly, the construction of the illustrations by shaun tan tells more of a story than words ever could. Kate millerheidke, lally katz and john sheedys operatic adaptation of the john marsden shaun tan picture book delivers a wallopingly. Looking at john marsden and shaun tans the rabbits we firstly need to answer three questions, even before we look at any of the pictures. Shaun tan talks about rules and rabbits the extras for rules of. Shaun tan name of the text, its composer, its origin, its date and its form the rabbits is a picture book written by john marsden and drawn by shaun tan published 912000. The rabbits john marsden, illustrated by shaun tan february 12, 2010 march 26, 2015 polly i met shaun tan in the byward market in ottawa when i was waiting for someone at the bookstore, and developed a serious crush on the arrival, a. He graduated from the university of wa in 1995 with joint honours in fine arts and english literature, and. Its a tone that pervades the lost thing, an animated adaptation of tans 1999 book of the same name, which won an oscar at this years academy awards. Shaun tan, authorillustrator of the arrival, answers ten. Feb 12, 2010 the rabbits john marsden, illustrated by shaun tan february 12, 2010 march 26, 2015 polly i met shaun tan in the byward market in ottawa when i was waiting for someone at the bookstore, and developed a serious crush on the arrival, a story about immigration told entirely in pencil drawings. Click here for a interview about the rabbits from 1998.
The rabbits, a picture book written by john marsden and illustrated by shaun tan, is partly allegorical fable about colonisation, told from the viewpoint of the colonised. An unseen narrator describes the coming of rabbits in the most minimal detail, an. The result is a picture book for juveniles for that is a sobering metaphorical analogy for adult readers lucky enough to come across it. The rabbits by shaun tan books hachette australia john marsden published the rabbits in collaboration with shaun tan as illustrator. Tans subtlety provides many visual hints in the scenes drawn and complements and enhances the written story for the perceptive viewer.
The straightforward, deceptivelysimple retelling of australias history is matched perfectly by shaun tans amazinglystunning artwork that complements the narrative with dark black spaces, monochrome illustrations of how the rabbits have overtaken the entire country rabbits, rabbits, rabbits. The interviewer is nick stathopoulos, a longtime friend and fellow artist and illustrator based in. In the arrival, what is the significance of the violent image of a city being raised by vacuum cleanerwielding giants. Shaun tan was born in 1974 and grew up in the northern suburbs of perth, western australia. Crew and the lost thing, an apa design award, an honorable mention at the bologna book fair, three aurealis awards, and spectrum gold and. On the surface, the book is about the colonization and industrialization of australia by western peoples, but it is also the story of any land that was settled by europeans in the last two hundred years. The pair worked completely independently john marsden wrote the words and gave them to tan to work his magic on. Shaun tan creative process and inspirations for academy award winning short film the lost thing. Apr 26, 2011 the work of shaun tan, the australian childrens book illustrator, recalls terry gilliam or tim burton, but with a mature sadhumored control. Award winning australian author and illustrator of books including the rabbits, the red tree, tales from outer suburbia, the arrival and the lost thing, shaun tan, talks to jane hutcheon about winning an academy award, creating books, realistic stories, points of view and stories that dont necessarily have happy endings. The following interview was originally published in eidolon magazine in 1999, shortly after publication of the book. In 2006, his wordless graphic novel the arrival won the book of the year prize as part of the new south wales premiers literary awards.
Allegory and artwork in john marsden and shaun tans the. The interviewer is nick stathopoulos, a longtime friend and fellow artist and illustrator based in sydney. The rabbits is a picture book by australian author and illustrator shaun tan and author john marsden. Drawing is especially good at this, particularly as its a process that necessarily begins with simple lines and generalisations of form, or as i heard one kid put it once, drawing a line around my think. They give a good insight into the thinking behind how the book was illustrated. The rabbits, written by john marsden, is partly allegorical fable about colonisation, told from the viewpoint of the colonised. The controversial 1998 picture book the rabbits, illustrated by shaun tan and written by john marsden, attempts to tell the colonial history of australia via starkly vivid images of the depletion and erosion of the land and natural resources, as well as the violence committed by the white. The rabbits by shaun tan, 97807344165, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
He told me once that he began writing after the rabbits, his awardwinning book, started life as a 16line fax from australian author. How shaun tan transformed childrens literature financial times. Pairing them together has created a true masterpiece. Although on the surface the rabbits may seem to be an allegory of white. The rabbits, written by john marsden and illustrated by shaun tan, is a partly allegorical fable about colonisation, told from the viewpoint of the colonised.
Shaun tan tales from outer suburbia the book show abc. Shaun tan grew up in the northern suburbs of perth, western australia. John marsden, author, shaun tan, illustrator, illus. Interview with shaun tan research group on collective trauma. The rabbits by john marsden and shaun tan plotline. In this gallery shaun explains why themes of diversity infuse everything he. An interview with author shaun tan 7 english abc education. Books such as the rabbits, the red tree, the lost thing and the acclaimed wordless novel the arrival have been widely translated throughout europe, asia and south america, and enjoyed by readers of all ages. Shaun tan was born in 1974 in fremantle, western australia. Tan was born in fremantle, western australia, and grew up in the.
Booktopia shaun tan books on the booktopia shaun tan author. The rabbits, written by john marsden and illustrated by shaun tan, is a little hard to describe. His books include the rabbits, the red tree, tales from outer suburbia and the arrival, an acclaimed wordless graphic novel about a. Shaun tan is an illustrator and author born 1974 in fremantle, western australia. In school he became known as the good drawer which partly compensated for always being the shortest kid in every class. Queensland performing arts centre presents chief executive. The work of shaun tan, the australian childrens book illustrator, recalls terry gilliam or tim burton, but with a mature sadhumored control. Shaun speaks about how he came up with the theme behind his new book rules of summer available from 8th october 20. Shaun is best known for his illustrated books that deal with social and historical subjects through dreamlike imagery. Aug 12, 20 the rabbits by john marsden and shaun tan is a deceptively simple historical tale complicated by the visual techniques used. Sep 16, 2010 the rabbits by shaun tan, 97807344165, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
We also need to understand where, when and why the book was written. He graduated from the university of wa in 1995 with joint honors in fine arts and english literature, and currently works full time as a freelance artist and author, concentrating mostly on writing and illustrating picture books. Although easily enough applied as a metaphor for colonization in a general sense by those without a grasp of the history of. Australian author shaun tans newest title, the bird king. Secondly, the construction of the illustrations by shaun tan tells more of a story than words ever could. After reading the arrival we quickly became hooked on shaun tans draftmanship. An artists notebook, is a sketchbooksized volume of rough work and inspiration for his awardwinning books and films. It is a postmodern picturebook of sorts and, therefore, its interpretation is not as. The rabbits offers a rich and immensely valuable perspective on the effect of man on his environment. The rabbits, written by john marsden, is partly allegorical fable about colonisation, told from the. The first two questions can be answered easily by looking in the front cover, however the third one takes a little.
Oscar winning illustrator shaun tan talks about his work at the state library of victoria. Write an explanation of the text, mentioning its purpose and audience and showing the relevance of the text to the concept of belonging or not. Shaun has also worked as a theatre designer, and worked as a concept artist for the films horton hears a who and pixars walle. He told me once that he began writing after the rabbits, his awardwinning book, started life as a 16line fax from australian author john. Shaun tan talks about rules and rabbits the extras for. Its amazing how a book with very few words and mainly illustrations can send such a. Apr 16, 2017 john marsden and shaun tan are both forces to be reckoned with in their own right, their individual bodies of work are incredible, both immense in impact and renowned worldwide. He studied in balcatta senior high school and was known there as the good drawer and the most talented artist. An unseen narrator describes the coming of rabbits in the most minimal detail, an encounter that is at first friendly and curious, but later darkens as it becomes apparent that the visitors are actually invaders. Shaun tan books, author biography, and reading level scholastic. The rabbits john marsden, illustrated by shaun tan vicky. The rabbits, the red tree, the lost thing, tales from outer suburbia and the graphic novel the arrival have been widely translated throughout. Because the author is so wellknown to young people through his other works, students will readily.
Jun 10, 20 shaun speaks about how he came up with the theme behind his new book rules of summer available from 8th october 20. Nov 23, 2009 the rabbits, written by john marsden and illustrated by shaun tan, is a little hard to describe. Rules of summer, is a deceptively simple story about two boys, one older and. Thats a great description, hinting at the contours of a thing rather than the thing itself. Shaun tan born 1974 is an australian artist, writer and film maker. Award winning australian author and illustrator of books including the rabbits, the red tree, tales from outer suburbia, the arrival and the lost thing, shaun tan, talks to jane hutcheon about winning an academy award, creating books, realistic stories, points of. It is an excellent example of how a picture book can challenge and engage maturing minds. The rabbits john marsden and shaun tan this sophisticated and compelling book will provide a wealth of ideas and discussion for older students. Shaun tans ground breaking graphic novel the arrival tells the story an immigrants experience with no words.
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