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The Babadook - Coggle Diagram
The Babadook
Techniques
Symbolism
The book. Who is the author? Who was it written for? The book's text is warning, but is it for Sam or Amelia?
We don't get the whole text of the book. We do get the following: " If it's in a word or it's in a look; You can't get rid of the Babadook; If you're a really clever one; And you know what it is to see; Then you can make friends with a special one; A friend of you and me; His name is Mister Babadook; And this is his book; A rumbling sound then 3 sharp knocks; ba-BA-ba DOOK! DOOK! DOOK!; That's when you'll know that he's around; You'll see him if you look; This is what he wears on top; He's funny, don't you think?; See him in your room at night; And you won't sleep a wink.; I'll soon take off my funny disguise; Take heed of what you've read... ; And once you see what's underneath... ; YOU'RE GOING TO WISH YOU WERE; DEAD.; I'll WAGER with YOU; I"LL MAKE you a BET; ThE MORE you DENY the STRONGER I GET; LET ME IN!; You start to CHANGE when I get in; The BABADOOK growing; Right UNDER YOUR SKIN; Oh COME!; Come SEE; What's UNDERNEATH!"
I'm interested in the line, "...I'll soon take off my funny disguise...". I'm less interested in what the Babadook "really" looks like, and much more interested in why he/they/it chose the disguise it has. It doesn't help it blend in, so there must be another reason for choosing it.
Amelia's possession.
Does the Babadook force it's way into to Amelia, or does she let it in? When do you think the possession happens?
The Babadook does make Amelia act out of character. Does it make her do anything she hasn't considered? Are the thoughts and goals she has while possessed completely the result of the poltergeist, or is it responding to her bitterness, grief and desires.
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Cinematography
I upped the brightness of this. Consider the framing. How would this feel different if it was a mid shot instead of a close-up?
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Costume design
The rest of the world wears black, which also happens to be the colouring of mourning and something Amelia is trying to avoid.
The Babadook wears a top hat and either a long coat or maybe a cape. Does anyone else in the film wear a top hat? Do they also wear a cape?
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Allusion
Amelia seems to watch a lot of old black and white horror movies. Most of them invole possession or ghosts.
A lot of these films also seem to be silent films (as the actors don't speak, but a musical score would be played over the footage). Why use so many of these films? Most of the audience won't recognise them and they aren't played on TV. People experiencing trauma often experience emotional numbness. The TV seems to start reading Amelia's mind at one point (see the news story about a mum killing her child). Is her numbness manifesting in the TV as the removal of one of the senses?
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Dialogue
Amelia's lines during the possession are key here. Analyse why they exist and why she says what she says.
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Characters
Amelia Vanek
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Used to be a writer (of kids' books!), now works as a carer at a nursing home.
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Oscar Vanek
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When she imagines him, he eventually falls over. The way he kind of falls apart implies that this is what Amelia saw herself. It is probably a main cause of her trauma.
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Themes
Grief
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The film argues that grief must be felt and not ignored. Consider the ending of the film and consider that Sam asks to see the Babadook and Amelia says he that will when he is older.
Motherhood
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Amelia might be a bad mother. She has let problems fester and Sam needs serious help that isn't providing at the start of the film.
At times, Amelia regrets being a mother. This is particularly clear during her possession. However, her love for her son does ultimately break her from the possession.
Do you think our society lets mothers experience regret, anxiety or resentment about motherhood?
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