Sexual Symbols in The Black Hole

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Recommended: Challenges faced by adolescence

Adolescence is a period in life when individuals learn who they are and shape their identities in relation to their experiences and others around them, such as role models, peers, and family; as a consequence adolescence has always been considered a crucial developmental stage. In Black Hole “the bug” only affects teens, which suggests that the teen plague is not a metaphor for AIDs, but is actually the social, physical, and emotional turning point in which the character s mature from teens to young adults. Similarity the teens infected with “the bug” share other attributes besides the physical manifestations and isolation, such as between their lifestyles: sex, drugs, and symbols. In the novel, Black Hole, Charles Burns communicates the transition from adolescence to adulthood through the use of a sexually transmitted disease called “the bug”. This version of adolescence is reinforced by Chris and Keith’s mutations; skin-peeling and sperm/ tadpole-like protuberances, and respectively, they feel secure in their organic surroundings, like the forestry and waters. However it is essential that they flee from that environment so that are able to blossom from undeveloped minors to full grown adults.

Charles Burns is not taking a moral bearing but a realistic approach on adolescent sex, hence his insertion of Dee and his girlfriend Jill, who sustain a sexual relationship while remaining “bug” less (No. 6).Though AIDS can be taken from this in that it does not affect those who do not have it. However, Charles Burns only hints at the possibility that transmission of the teen plague results from unprotected sex No. 2 and 4 of the series provide virtuous istances to support this position, the only known cause in Black Hole is sexual inte...

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...the book’s sexual symbolism. While such imagery has been used before, Charles Burns utilizes a grotesque tone, disorientation, and irrationality to communicate the emotional turmoil that surrounds the lives of teens that were molded by “the bug”. Adolescence is free spirited but adulthood hood is polluted, like a disease. Charles Burns effectively demonstrates the difficulties that surround the adolescence transition, such as intimate relationships social and emotional as well as physical changes that shape a young adult.

Works Cited

Charles Burns quotes

CBhttp://www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk/features/2008/10/03/interview-with-charles-burns/

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/columnist/arnold/article/0,9565,1121476,00.html#ixzz1IOYwY5MY

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/arnold/article/0,9565,1121476,00.html#ixzz1IOYFAqwg

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