All throughout history there have been many different kinds of wars. Ranging from the United States Civil War to World War two, war has been a present and continuous issue during everyone’s life. Some people have lived through it, while others saw it through the press and news. Throughout this class we had to read the books Persepolis and Maus. Art Spiegelmen learned about World War two by interviewing his father while Majine Satrapi actually lived through the Islamic Revolution when she was a child. Both of the authors have been a part of different wars and it shows in their books. Maus and Persepolis are both graphic novels, but the stories are depicted in different ways because of the use of the different contrast of shading techniques by …show more content…
using the black and white color schemes. If there are three things that can be expected of any comic strip, comic book or graphic novel, then these are words, faces and panels (Liam Kruger). A graphic novel is a book that is made up of multiple panels that are containing pictures. Even though the word "novel" generally discusses to long fictional stories, the term "graphic novel" is applied generously and includes non-fiction, fiction, and anthologized work. Graphic novel is distinguished from the common term "comic book", which is used for comic’s periodicals. Graphic novels make it easier for readers to visualize what is going on all through the story because it shows what exactly what is happening in a stylized form. Maus is a graphic novel depicting the multiple horrors of the Holocaust. The novel portrays the author, Art Spiegelman, as he interviews his father, Vladek, about his time, and what he experienced during the Holocaust. Vladek is an elderly man at the time when the book was being made. He has an extremely troubled relationship with his current wife Mala, who also happens to be his second wife. Vladek has an unhealthy obsession with living prudently and spending time with his father frustrates Art severely. However, they have a father and son bonding experience over the sharing of Vladek’s stories, which are gripping and tragically horrible at the same time. Maus is set apart from all other graphic novels because Art displays the characters as animals instead of people. As the War progressed, the author drew Mice, pigs, cats, and even frogs trade heroic and villainous roles. Art himself even addresses how negligent, he was with the declaration of an animal specials when it comes to his wife, Francoise, because she converted to Judaism, so he drew her as a mouse (Harron). The Jews are depicted as mice, the cats are members of the Nazi party, the Americans are depicted as dogs and the frogs were French citizens. It is easy to make connections between the animals because in the real world, cats eat mice and dogs usually do not get along with cats. Where as in the novel Persepolis the characters have rounded, wide-eye, cartoon faces. Persepolis first appears to be more kid friendly, and the typical comic book. But as one reads on, it is obvious that both authors have either seen, or been through multiple horrors. Each novel shows what has happened during the wars, but Maus shows it more harshly. Another way the graphic novel Maus is easily set apart from the rest of the other graphic novels is because of the use of the black-and-white color scheme all throughout the novel. The only time a reader sees any color is when Maus part one ends and it jumps to Maus part two. Art Spiegelman uses detailed shading and harsh contrasting to make his pictures more detailed and vivid. As the reader reads past the full color cover of either Maus one or Maus two the reader is met with sharply contrasting black and white shading. Art Spiegelman's signature black and white illustration compliments the subject matter of his biography. The Holocaust was an unpleasant part of the world’s history, the book possibly made the situation even more unpleasant to people if the reader's color associations were played off of. Especially in scenes set that showed the concentration camps, like in Maus II the book associated with death like blood and fire and illustrated in the same tones and shading as objects associated with life, like food and water (pg. 48-67). This artistic styling allows the reader to process what is happening in the story without being extremely haunted by the continuous occurrence of death and suffering. Neither Maus I or Maus II would have been nearly as impactful without Spiegelman's well thought out graphic style, and certainly the books would not have complimented each other the way they do if his style had not carried over to one another. Spiegelman's signature style of abstraction and black-and-white only imagery shapes the reader’s understanding of Vladek’s biography while simultaneously making the subjects of the books less rough. Making this stylistic choice of black and white keep the same mood of the biography aligned with the darkness of the Holocaust without turning off the reader, and his decision to represent the characters by depicting them as animals keeps the reality of the Jews' mistreatment more manageable. By using anthropomorphic characters it is easier on the eyes to see what is happening. By seeing people as animals, it enlightens the situation. Without this graphic style, it is completely possible that the biography would have easily passed from the territory of 'impactful' to 'repulsive'. Persepolis was also on the border line from being in the ‘impactful’ to ‘repulsive’ territory. Persepolis is a graphic novel based on Satrapi's life during pre and post-revolutionary Iran revolution and then about her life in Europe. The book traces Satrapi's growth from a rebellious child, to a punk-loving teenager in Iran. The background of the story is about the multiple growing tensions of the political atmosphere in Iran during the 70s and 80s, with members of her liberal-leaning family inside and then executed, and the background of the disastrous Iran/Iraq war. The combination of visual representation and telling the story from a child’s point of view makes the story more easily accessible and therefore attracts a wider range of readers (Contributors). Persepolis, like Maus also uses the black and white color scheme, but the author does not use shading. Most panels in both of the stories only use the colors black and white. One example, is in the inside of the house, it is always light and bright, whereas the outside is continually dark. It is not because is it always nighttime when she goes out. The reason why it is always dark outside is because the author finds the outside world a dark and scary place, unlike in the house where she is in her own little world and nothing bad can happen to her. One reason why Maus and Persepolis is written in black and white, is because it helps to show different contrast between multiple themes.
For example, a contrast that is easily seen in the story is between Marji’s childhood and adulthood. The first half of the book is completely based on Marji’s childhood, and the other part of the second book involves her childhood, at the very least, physically. On page 189, the reader watches Marji go through a major physical transformation. Readers can barely recognize her afterwards. If her teenage character needed to be compared to her childhood character, it would be difficult to tell that one grows into the other in a short amount of time. And that is another one reason why the book is drawn and colored in black and white. Marjane Satrapi grew up in a world of extreme circumstances and the book’s color scheme is easily reflecting the dramatic contrasts. It is stark, bold but simple visual black and white style, with occasional bursts of color, add an engaging and often unsettling dimension of reality and simplified truth (Liam).
After going deeply in depth into the two different novels, Maus and Persepolis proves to readers that these books are not the ordinary comic strips. The graphic novels show the harshness of war by using the harsh and dramatic color contrast of black and white all throughout the novels. Like the color schemes, the themes of the books are quite similar as well. They show what war is like, and how it has impacted their lives. With authors like Art Spiegelman and Marjane Satrapi, they help readers understand the harshness of war and how it can greatly affect someone’s
life.
Persepolis is a inspirational story written by Marjane Satrapi in the perspective of a young girl’s life during a powerful, historical moment in Iran. The Islamic Revolution was a life-changing moment that impacted her view on the world around her and her innocence shaping her into the woman she is today. Not many people understand what it feels like to feel pain, hurt and abandonment as a child from major and minor things. The author writes this story and decides for it to be a graphic novel to allow the not only young readers, but also for those who do not understand what happens everyday in the world they live in. Satrapi uses all rhetorical stances, ethos, pathos, and logos to show problems, purpose and emotions.
Throughout Satrapi’s memoir visual text is used to give the readers a visual or image to perceive the effects of the war. On page 3, Marji explains how the veil became an obligation for young girls to wear on their heads, and in the visual shown, these youngs girls are revolting against the government by using their veils as toys. Another effective visual in Persepolis, is the image on page 15 of the citizens running and their bodies burning because the government had set the cinema on fire; it creates a visual that pulls at the reader’s heart strings. This visual represents the suffering of citizens during the war because of their own government. Satrapi’s visuals create pathos within the memoir.
Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus unfolds the story about his father Vladek Spiegleman, and his life during the WWII. Since Vladek and Art are both the narrators of the story, the story not only focuses on Vladek's survival, but also the writing process and the organization of the book itself. Through these two narrators, the book explores various themes such as identity, perspective, survival and guilt. More specifically, Maus suggests that surviving an atrocity results in survivor’s guilt, which wrecks one’s everyday life and their relationships with those around them. It accomplishes this through symbolism and through characterization of Vladek and Anja.
The graphic novels Maus and Maus II by Art Spiegelman possess the power to make the reader understand the pain and suffering that takes place during the Holocaust. Spiegelman uses animals instead of humans in his graphic novels to represent the different races of people. The use of visual mediums in Art Spiegelman’s Maus enhances the reading of the narrative. The graphics throughout the novel help the reader fully understand everything that is happening.
In the graphic novel, Persepolis, the main character, Marjane, faces many coming of age moments. Each one of these change her in a way that impacts her view on the world around her as her and her family strive for a better life amongst a war that hinders their ability to follow their beliefs. Marjane learns to forgive, experiences pain and suffering, and changes her opinions on God and her own views on religion forever. Marjane’s life has been filled with hard times, but also glorious moments as well.
The story Persepolis uses the medium of graphic novel and the perspective of a child to convey her message. The events of Persepolis are very dark and in some
In Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and in Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone, both authors commentate on the romanticism of violence that is often associated with war. Because of this, the authors are able to dispel misconceptions surrounding war. Furthermore, the memoirs allow the authors reflect upon their own experiences of war during their childhoods, as well as examine how cultural shifts perpetuated by both war and the increased influence of western culture that took place within their cultures shaped who they became. Through their memoirs, the authors portray the reality of war and violence through cultural experiences.
The perfect person does not exist but, the best version of oneself does. Fear is implemented in a unique way in every individual. The lack of confidence can cause individuals fears to be heightened. Confidence and fearlessness are two traits expected to be obtained by men who are brave, Theseus is a demigod meaning he is the child of of one god and a mortal, Perseus is also a demigod. Both Perseus and Theseus defeated a monster showing the characteristics of fearlessness and confidence: Perseus defeated Medusa; Theseus killed the Minotaur. Theseus is more of brave demigod than Perseus, as comparing their confidence and fearlessness, Theseus possesses the traits often and well allowing him to accomplish more dangerous tasks.
Persepolis is a book that centers on the author’s family during the Iran-Iraq war that lasted for eight years. Marjane’s experience of the war is quite innocent since she saw it from the eyes of a well protected child. She grew up with need to help and make things better for everyone without really understanding what it takes to make the world a better place. In her mind the only possible way to make a change is by becoming a prophet and using supernatural powers to make the world a better place. Marjane’s childhood is proving that children form defense mechanisms to deal with difficulties. These defense mechanisms take children to “happy” places where things are better and everyone is happy unlike in the real world.
Satrapi, Marjane. “Why I wrote Persepolis: a graphical novel memoir: writer Marjane Satrapi faced the challenges of life in post-revolutionary Iran. She used the graphic novel format to tell her unique story.” Marjane Satrapi. Writing!, Nov-Dec, 2003, Vol.. 26(3), p. 9(5) Cengage Learning Inc.
There are many times when problems in a country affect one's life. Persepolis by Majarne Satrapi recounts the coming-of-age of a girl during a period of war. Utilizing a graphic novel to illustrate, Marjane recalls the struggles of her family and herself living in warfare. For instance, in Persepolis, Marjane's external conflict result in her internal conflict.
Persepolis, a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, is not a run-of-the-mill comic book. It is written with purpose. Satrapi wrote and illustrated this book to show Americans that their perspective of her home country, Iran, is askew. She believes Americans are too focused on the “fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism” (Satrapi ii), of the nation and that they forget to notice the normality and humanness of it. Since these two perspectives have vast differences, Satrapi wants to change their minds. Thus, it is crucial that she effectively communicate this humanness of Iran to the literary audience in America. Since the literary devices in a work are needed to correctly convey a message, she found it necessary to include these and manipulate them in her favor. Satrapi uses the innocence of a child along with morals in her pictures and a relation of cultures to effectively communicate her message. It is necessary to examine how she manipulates such literary devices in order to gain a full understanding of the text.
In the novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Satrapi’s childhood was highly impacted by American culture. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the affect American culture had on how Satrapi viewed the Iranian Revolution.
Marji is depicted internally when she says refers to herself by saying “this is me.” Readers are able to use their imagination and the context of the scene to completely fulfill the face of the character in the panels. Satrapis illustrations do not incorporate much detail so this allows readers to fill in the story with their imagination. The cartooning in Persepolis 2 is simplistic and to the point. There is little distraction on the page and her layout of the panels is neat and read left to right. When looking at her work it is made clear that it is the reader’s job to fill in the illustration. Why would Satrapi do this? She presents her illustrations like this because doing so allows the reader to believe the characters more and get encompassed by the story. Moving forward, looking closely at the veils in the panel above, one can see that it is so much more than just an accessory appearing on the page. The veil attracts the audience to her features and expression allowing one to access her internal traits. The power of illustration and what you allow to show or keep to yourself is
Even in our present time we can see how culture principles and characteristic drive can cause conflict. Within a society, an individual does not exist. If an individual does exist, then they are no longer a part of the society causing rebellion. In I and Thou, Buber explains that the self becomes either more disconnected or more unified through its relationships to others. The film Persepolis is an adaption to Marjane Satrapi’s The Complete Persepolis coming-of-age graphic memoir. It involves a young Muslim girl name Marjane as she comes of age within the environment of the Iranian Revolution. The film explores the actualization of Marjane through allegory to show how she must construct her identity within a foundation of westernization, religion, and gender.