Ned Kelly is an Australian icon that for many symbolizes what it is to Australian. In contemporary Australian he is represented in a predominately positive light through a variety of texts, such as the film Ned Kelly (2003), fictional novel The True history of the Kelly gang by Peter Carey and the series of iconic paintings by Sidney Nolan. Alternatively in the book Down Under by Bill Bryson the responder is confronted by a quite different and brutally negative representation of the bushranger. Through the use of literacy, film, and visual language techniques the responder is position to adopt a certain view of Ned Kelly and the Kelly Gang which varies from rebel heroes to murderous thugs.
The Movie Ned Kelly released in 2003 and directed by Gregor Jordan, positions the responder to accept the representation of Ned Kelly as a rebel hero and freedom fighter, such as Robin Hood. The film also portrays the police force as corrupt, villainous thugs.
Right from the first establishing shot the responder is positioned to view Ned as a hero and sympathise with him, we see him as a young boy diving into a body of water to save someone. The use of low camera angles gives the impression that Ned is in a position of power and strength, there is strong use of imagery and symbolism as background choral music is being played as Ned comes out of the light reaching out into the darkness to save the boy, likening him Jesus. With this establishing shot the responder is positioned to view Ned as a hero, a saviour to the victimized, mistreated Irish population of Victoria.
Also established early on in the film is the representation of the Victorian police force. They are represented as vicious cowards whose position of power and class has gone to their heads. this is shown In the next scene where Ned is arrested for stealing a horse which he believed to be owned by Isaiah "Wild" Wright, the police man arresting Ned is presented as being violent and aggressive with the use of high angled shots looking down onto Ned he is shown to be in a position of power and Ned as being low in status.
In order to create a representation of Ned Kelly that the responder is likely to accept and sympathize with the composer has positioned the responder to view Ned as a loving son, protective brother and lover. **forgot which scene and her name**.With the use of close ups and eye level camera shots the responder is invited to accept that Ned was just an ordinary man in love, creating a representation of a gentle, young man incapable of committing terrible crimes.
Another representation that positions the responder to support Ned is that he is a larrikin. Shown in the scene where the Kelly gang are robbing the bank and have taken its habitants hostage, Ned starts writing a letter to the premier of Victoria and names the Victorian police force big, ugly, fat-necked, wombat headed, big-bellied, magpie legged, narrow-hipped, splaw-footed, sons of Irish bailiffs or English landlords. He is seen as joking and laughing with his fellow hostages and the feeling and tone of the mood is enhanced by the soundtrack which is upbeat, frivolous and quirky. The composition positions the responder to view Ned as having what Australians like to think as one of there quintessential traits, humour.
Much like the Film Ned Kelly, The True History of the Kelly Gang positions the responder to not view the Ned and the Kelly gang as senseless thieves, murderers and lawbreakers by silencing many of the pessimistic details of Ned's life and crimes. By blurring the lines of realty and fiction and using a variety of poetic devices and language features Peter carey has created representation of ned Kelly for the viewer to the accept.
The True History of the Kelly Gang has been structured and presented by Carey as a series of 13 parcels Ned had written while on the run, the parcels are dedicated to the infant daughter he has yet to see and, he promises, contains ''no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak false.''
The novel has been written from in first person from ned kellys point of view and begins with Ned's childhood. The author invites the reader to understand the reasons why Ned became a bush ranger. Early in the book the responder is confronted with how Ned has experienced hard ship, loss and prejudice. Carey uses the colloquial vernacular and emotive descriptive language that was found in the famous Jerilderie Letters written by ned. Through the use of these features carey has created a representation that ned early in his life was a victim of poverty, prejudice and police harassment.
With quotes like “…the injustice we poor Irish suffered in this present age.” P.5 the responder is positioned to empathise with ned and his harrowing experiences.
In the novel ned Kelly and his family were harassed by the police force and justice system, which explains his willingness to break the law. The author by only allowing Ned's voice to be heard and including only his veiw of events, ensures that the reader is aware of a negative and critical perspective of the law that targeted the Irish and a sympathetic perspective towards Kelly who was forced into breaking the law. Carey uses similes to describe the judge who sentenced Ned's mother to hard labour and ordered his execution.
“…Sir Redmond Barry waited for her like a great fat leech…” p.262
Like the film carey has represented Ned as a family man. A loving son and father, Carey informs the responder that Ned was close to his mother and admired her tenacity and spirit. Ned also adored and respected Mary Hearn the mother of his child. Ned's lover is omitted from most historical accounts so Carey's decision to include their love invites the responder to sypathize with ned.********
“…it were only as I held her that I knew how deep I loved her we were grown together like 2 branches of an old wisteria.” p. 219
“She were a gazelle although I never saw a gazelle she were a foal I carried her around the kitchen ½ drunk in happiness she had that dear Irish smell of homemade soap & ashes in her hair I loved her so I told her.” p. 234
With the use of a simile the author emphasizes Ned and his mothers close unbreakable bond. In the second quote which is directed to his lover there is a use of mixed metaphors which represents Mary's innocence and indescribable joy and love for her. Carey illustrates Ned's love and loyalty for his own mother and mother of his child this represents Kelly as a warm, loving son who acted out of need and necessity and the image of Ned being a cold-blooded killer is easily dismissed.
