Below are some discussion questions about Maus I. I thought I'd post a little earlier than Monday so that everyone had a bit more time to read before they posted their comments.
Jillian Phillips
Maus has been a pinnacle of Comics study, as well as
Holocaust literature. In the story, Art Spiegelman puts himself as the frame
narrator, as well as telling the story through his father, Vladek. The story
itself tells so much more than just two stories though, it also tells the story
of a man trying to understand what his father went through, and who he is, and
it is also a survivor’s tale.
1
1)What
impact would color have had on the artwork? Because this is such a text heavy
text, would the color have a positive effect on the story, or would it have
been distracting?
2) What
reaction did you have when you first started reading Maus? Did you think that
this was a good way to tell such an emotional tale of survival and loss?
Some survivors have expressed displeasure at
Speigelman’s choice to tell his father’s tale through comics. What stereotypes
do you feel they were holding on to? Do you believe that Speigelman’s artwork
and words could have changed their minds if they had read it first?
And finally, the characters. Why do you think that
Speigelman chose to use comics rather than prose? What is your first opinion of
Vladek? What about Anja? Do you think that Vladek was too old fashioned or
concerned with Anja’s health before they got married? How does he treat Mala?
Does he seem like he suffers from some kind of PTSD?
1) Color can be used to tell time extremely well in flashback scenes for example, and in theory would have been a good cue to telling apart the present from the past in Maus. But (and this is a big sweaty but) I don't think it would've been a good move to include it. The color would have to be selective due to the half and half style of the comic shifting, leaving every transition feeling awkward considering how the graphic transitions are enough to get us from the past to the present. It would serve no purpose other than looking pretty, and Maus, if you haven't figured out yet, isn't supposed to be a very pretty comic. Especially Maus II.
ReplyDelete2) I'm honestly rereading it after a few years so I'll never truly get another first impression. But to answer your question I bought it because I was so interested not because it was assigned. (It was never assigned to me until now by the way and I'm happy someone is teaching it!) My initial impression actually surprised me. The very first page just locked me into the book. I couldn't believe how well handled it was. Art's art, and careful wording kept me glued to the book until I knew everything about Vladek's story along with Art. It's like you could relate to the main character since you are both actually after the same thing! That's brilliant storytelling. But this time around I know what happens and the ending especially just makes the book all the more powerful.
3) I can nearly guarantee you it would have changed their minds if they had read the book first. I can't guarantee it since the survivors tend to be like Vladek who would be far too stubborn to ever admit they've changed their opinion. I can easily see how someone illustrating this horrifying event you went through with cartoon mice to be offending, but it's how the book handles how we see mice and cats and dogs that tell the story of the relationships between them. This as well as the comic stereotype for being "cheap crude kiddie fare" (which if I remember right was hidden under a halftone in McCloud's comic definition as a joke making fun of the stereotype. My point being it didn't seem like a fitting medium for a serious event. But it is, they just hadn't seen it done before.
4) In my 100% biased opinion it's because comics are so much more interesting than prose! (Oh I can already feel the nasty looks coming from the writing students). But honestly the reason he did is because he was inspired by comic work like Binky Brown and wanted to experiment in comics openly and use it as a medium to treat any kind of story. He even gives us a small comic excerpt in Maus he made when he was young about losing his mother told in a grungy experimental format. You can see his interest in furthering comics as a medium even here, and when taken to Maus, its become its own massive endeavor that took on comics and challenged it to become more than it already was. Anyway in terms of the characters it's hard to say anything else here without spoiling much since these questions are almost guess work about how these people think. Certainly a very interesting family. It's amazing that Art even exists after all that has happened to his family.
I was also hooked as soon as a started reading Maus! I think it really accomplishes the task of drawing the reader in and wanting to know more. Also, I didn’t consider that the goal of the reader and of Speigelman are the same (to know Vladek’s story), but I agree that it’s brilliant storytelling.
DeleteColor would be extremely distracting. The reson artists use color is because the story isn’t as dialogue heavy, or doesn’t require too much deliberation on whats going on. But because Maus is a narrative, we need as little distraction as possible to stay on the story. He created this comic to talk about his dad and the horror and sadness he faces. The use of color can distract from the story, and also take away meaning.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE MAUS. I have both books already (thanks to my sister reading it first) and I loved the first one! The way AS uses the opening launches us into his childhood, and the haunting comment his father makes about friends hooks the reader in. I don’t know much about Jewish stereotypes (aside from the jokes they make on Game Grumps), but the whole “judge-y jewish parent” thing is usually one I saw going through out the tale.
I think he chose comics to soften the blow, if you will, of how harsh the reality was. For example, like how the Nazis are cats, whereas the the people are normally mice or another small animal. But mostly, mice. It’s a bold way to compare things, and at first glance, seems like such a cliche in itself that it’s almost laughable. But because of this, it softens the blow because, in reality, they were both people. The sick treatment of human beings, just because someone in power said they were “lesser,” is a truly terrifying concept to think about, and the comparison of cat to mouse is like a sort of blanket to soften the blow. Instead of thinking “Holy shit, this was awful, horrifying stuff,” think that in a less heavy mindset, much like when you’re watching “Tom and Jerry.” You still think Jerry is a piece of crap, or that Tom is being a jerk, but you never stop to think, “Hey this cat is trying to kill and eat this mouse, and this is all a very violent way of going about it!”
I hope that answers the questions! I can't really say much about the characters, other than, no I don't think it was old fashioned to worry about her illness. And yes, of course he'd have PTSD, that's a given. Why else would you so willingly talk about something like this, if not to get it out. Even if it was extracted from his son, Vladek, talking about your past, or something that's nothing you, is a healing device used by psychologists. So yeah, PTSD.
But being able to recount one's experience isn't necessarily an indicator of having post-traumatic stress disorder, right? I think you picked up on the fact that he seems to remember it very vividly, which could be an indicator. The only other red flag I could get is his neuroisis-- him seeming finicky and anxious and then continuously spilling his pills after he finishes. That's a trait that doesn't seem to be present in Vladek's youth that is present post-trauma.
DeleteMind, I'm speaking only from this section of the reading.
We have to bear in mind what is filtered through the narrative. Spiegelman's presuppositions about his father could have colored the reading of his character for better or worse. Alternatively, it's a fictional portrayal of Vladeck that could have been intentionally patched-- we can't really know.
Not everyone that lives through a traumatic event necessarily has PTSD, but I guess the thing worth examining in the text is how Vladeck and other survivors actually function afterward--so, in spite of resilience, making a point to examine what is compromised and how.
Not his son Vladek, dangit! I was going two different places with the thought, sorry!
ReplyDeleteI honestly think that color would have been very distracting, and I think that choosing Black and White actually represents the colorless world that is depicted as the concentration camp. So I think while color would have been a distraction...I believe that there is a conscious choice to use black and white. Them vs. Us.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time keeping up with the author setting up the story and his decision to use comics as a tool. The conversation about his wife having been a rabbit and now "poof" you're a mouse was weird and slightly confusing. Maybe he explained why mice, but I got lost on that part.
I believe that Vladek was probably always a pain, but there is no doubt that his experiences in the concentration camp formed him into the person he was and amplified his already difficult personality traits. Both Anya and Vladek most definitely exhibit signs of PTSD.
What I believe is the most interesting part of this story is that by the end of this section we have been drawn into the story, both literally and figuratively. We both love and hate Vladek, we are rooting for him and yet dislike him. What I wonder is if this is Speigman's view of his father or as everyone sees his father?
In addition, I was wondering if anyone else had trouble with the choppy beginning of the story? It meanders slightly between, I need to write this story, I want to write a comic, If I write this comic I have to visit my dad, and I really don't want to see my dad. This conflicting beginning was difficult for me to navigate and I would like to hear what other thought about this.
ReplyDeleteAlso how does everyone feel about the choice to use animals instead of stick figures, or "real" people? Speigelman makes a point in the beginning of the story about choosing mice, was this a wise choice? Would it have mattered if he had chosen say cats, goats, or chickens?
The beginning was a bit strange ill agree, but honestly it was so short lived that an explanation was hardly needed at all. I understand they wanted to build out the charterers and their relationships to the author but ill agree it felt a little clunky.
DeleteI think choosing mice was a wise choice, although it sets an immediate tone of helplessness and victimization it also has a form of novelty. I have doubts this book would be as well known or readily available to read if it had been a graphic novel about people in the Holocaust portrayed by humans. It comes off surreal and makes the audience begin to analyze what they are reading. Why did they choose pigs as the polish? Is it simply another animal to use or are there underlying negative connotations with swine? Things like this keep the reader more interested in what as to this point has been somewhat dry content.
Black and white sets a mood, his dark shading throughout certainly exemplifies that mood of trouble, danger, and an ever changing world. I could see him using color in modern images to represent a different time and add contrast to the past. My only worry in the author doing so would be setting a barrier between the authors fathers past and present which could detract from association.
ReplyDeleteOn first looking at Maus I wondered who the audience would be, its a comic of sorts so I would expect children. Perhaps, I thought, it was a way to explain the holocaust in a context that would be understandable to a young audience unaware or disassociated. On further review without having a background in world war 2 it would be much more confusing to navigate this book. I think the medium is wonderful for telling such an emotional story, images can build attachment and shift thinking much quicker than words. That being said, I am not sold on mice as the vehicle to deliver a relatable character we can pity. I like to think that its not self deprecating choosing a vermin as the protagonists, it certainly puts me in a place of mixed messages. I can see why it was done, but I don't think as a reader it helps the story analytically.
I think the frame narrative plays a bit of a role in the choice of the comic medium. We have the embodied writer literally in the work interviewing his father for the very story that we are reading—Spiegelman is both reckoning with the story of his father and the story of all Jews, and is bearing a responsibility to pass on the oral narrative that would have otherwise died with Vladek. On one hand, it makes sense that we would have picked a safe and comfortable medium that he personally connected with. It feels insensitive to impose readings on people, but a medium that is known for being not serious, maybe safe, or maybe childish was a bit of a buffer to the direct assault of words. But to be fair, images can sometimes be more assaulting than words are. I know there’s an absence of color (which McCloud talked about) and color causes us to focus more on the literal shapes and forms of what are in front of us, whereas black and white images are processed in the brain more like words are. The use of the comic (and knowing that it’s a frame narrative) makes me feel as if the images are there to show, laid out just as they are—kind of raw, without being explained or embellished (which could have been the implication had prose been the choice). They feel on one hand apologetic and low-key—and I say this because of the choice of the rounded, innocent eyed cartoons, and the mice being small and kind of helpless (well, there’s more to the mice than that. That’s an entire subject we could talk about, honestly). The images are assaulting but it is a comic and your eyes dictate the speed at which you move forward, to go back, or to linger. It’s not like a film where you are bombarded with images and sound at the digression of the director. I guess the medium, combined with the frame narrative makes me feel like there’s a lot of ambivalence tied up in this work—there’s a sort of detachment (it is his story, but not), and a sort of intimacy both with the recording of the narrative, and with the use of the cartoon which we project on to more so than if it were an embodied actor. It’s a specific story, but also becomes the generalized story for an entire race of people.
ReplyDeleteI do want to note that the black and white honestly feels a little chaotic to me—did anyone pick up on that? The panels are small and there’s little to no variance in line and there’s very heavy (I don’t know the technical term for it) shading (etching) in the panels? The style of font kind of mimics the ink work of the cartoons as well (maybe just my edition?) and it all blends up into a jumbled sort of mess to sort through visually. I wonder what people thought of that aspect of it, in terms of the narrative?
Maus 1
ReplyDeleteThe use of Black and White is something I always imagine in a Holocaust piece. One of my favorite films, Schindler’s List, was set during this time and was shot completely in Black and White except for a few glimpses of red and scenes toward the end of the film. Having it in Black and White set the sullen mood of the peace and created a sort of mysterious field of understanding around this time. I feel as if the addition of color in Maus 1 would have simply slowed down the pace or flow of the peace yet would, like most color, be very striking and emotional in specific scenes. Another thing that Black and White does is that it keeps it in the past and generalizes it.
When I first started reading Maus, I was used to the inclusion of these characters being animals. I grew up on the personification of animals. It’s always somewhat chilling when it is presented in this form, but, since it is set in such a dreadful time, the use of animals would simply emphasize the animalistic nature of the tragedy. The story opening up as a boy runs to his father for support and end up talking to his father about his own life, it sets up a coming of age tale where a man learns about his own family history and these meet ups pulls his relationship with his father together. The use of mice as the Jewish people and cats as the Nazis was the most perfect representations of both. This playful nature between as cat and a mouse could not have been more accurate in the larger aspect of the Holocaust.
Speigelman presents his father’s history so well in this piece. I feel like survivors would have seen themselves in this story because it was so personal in respect to the author’s father. The inclusion of these characters as animals would of both lightened the mood and strengthened the feelings that these people had during this time of their lives. Jewish people were like playthings for the Nazis. Feeling like a cornered mouse was probably a common feeling.
I recognized the character of Vladek very closely because he reminded me so much of my Grandfather. Nothing was good enough for him and he was always complaining. You can tell he had been through a lot in his life, but you can also see that he has somewhat moved on and became a regular American man. Vladek is a person who is looking for a certain life. He wants a specific wife, a good job and his investigation into the health of Anja was just a reflection of his desire for perfection. His treatment of his second wife Mala could possibly be just his continued desire for this life he has always dreamed. It’s interesting that he kept so much of his personality through the Holocaust. He stayed true to himself and this desire for a better life probably kept him alive most of the time. His desire to have a better living as a captive of war was a reflection of this desire for the better.
I think you make a really interesting point that using animals in place of humans in the comic book can be chilling. I have found this to be the case whenever childlike elements are mixed with scary topics - such as children in a horror movie. I have never completely understood it, but there is something so creepy about that. Maybe it has something to do with the innocence of animals / children providing a counterpoint for the harshness of reality. In a way, it's similar to tales like Red Riding Hood, where the villain is a wolf instead of a human. Animals also represent certain characteristics to us - and there's the whole cat chasing mice element that comes into play here.
DeleteI'm glad someone has brought up the emphasis on of character choice. By having them be animals, it somehow makes it more relatable for us, the reader. You can get into the psychology behind why we can relate to these animal characters but honestly, I think it numbs us or eases us into the story more softly. It gives us a new perspective on this story when "told by animals." Not saying this is a child's cartoon and that it's meant for children, it just relates to those commonly used animal cartoons that demonstrate us "how to brush our teeth. Or 'Why you shouldn't bully each other.'" You learn with character animals at a young age and this is just a grown up version for a very tragic historical event.
Delete1) While I don't think that the addition of color would take anything away from Maus, I also don't think that it would add anything of relevance. The way Spiegelman illustrates his frames is very matter-of-fact; besides the fact that the characters are mice, everything looks just like it really looks. The frames tell the story so well as it is that they really do not need color to enhance the realism. There are still some techniques that could enhance the story quite a bit- some classmates have already mentioned Schindler's List which is a very good example of color enhancing the mood and telling the story.
ReplyDelete2) I have already read Maus, and it was one of the first graphic novels that I read that really opened my eyes to the power of the medium to tell a story that is uniquely different from any other medium. Being able to see Spiegelman's illustrations while reading the story really helps to convey certain emotions, and to tell more than one story. The characters act out the story before us and in our heads. The text helps to guide along this narrative, but it is not the sole source of information as would be the case with a traditional novel.
3) I think that the survivors who don't approve of Maus definitely have not read it. If they had they would hopefully be able to see past the negative connotations of comics that McCloud discusses in his book. They probably feel that comics are not serious, that they're just distractions, just cartoons, definitely not to be taken seriously. It was a very bold move for McCloud to tell the story of the Holocaust in this way. It's definitely something that in theory sounds terrible- a comic book about the Holocaust.
4) I'm not sure if Vladek is suffering from PTSD, but it is very clear that what he went through during this time period has had huge ramifications on every aspect of his entire life afterwards. Understandably so, his story as told by his son is heartbreaking and impossible to imagine. The evidence of his struggle manifests itself in his mannerisms such as forcing Art to eat all the food on his plate and throwing out his jacket because it looked bad. He does not take anything for granted anymore, almost aggressively so. Every bite of food is a blessing, and the clothes you wear reflect where you are coming from in life. I can imagine that after being deprived of everything that life has to offer, the small details would be the most important.
I think that Speigelman made a good choice in using black and white instead of color. Although this comic has a lot of text, I think the black and white drawings add just enough without taking any of the focus away from the words - it’s a good balance. Also, I am trying to picture this comic with color, and I think it may have made the comic less effective. In this instance, black and white seems to help set a more serious, somber mood and it might have cheapened the comic book if color were used. I don’t think this is always the case by any means, but I do think black and white is better here.
ReplyDeleteI can understand, especially with the stigma that surrounds comic books, that telling a story about World War II through this medium would be a controversial choice. However, I believe that making this particular story a comic book adds to the overall impact in many ways. For instance, it creates a more immersive experience for the reader. By engaging more senses, Speigelman is able to more fully control the reader’s perceptions. Another thing I noticed about the story so far, is that often the illustrations communicate additional information. For example, when Artie’s father begins to tell him his story, the frame suddenly includes a close-up of the identification tattoo on his arm. Although it has already been revealed that Vladek was a Holocaust survivor, I thought this was a powerful visual.
I believe that Speigelman is combining words and pictures in what McCloud would refer to as an additive way (words amplify or elaborate on an image or vice versa). In my opinion, this story is made more effective and impactful due to the way the pictures amplify and add to the text.
I was initially a little confused by the people in this story being depicted by mice. I read this article, which helped clear that up for me: http://www.shmoop.com/maus/what-animal-allegory-symbol.html . I didn’t realize that the title Maus is a play on a German word or that the use of mice alludes to the anti-Semitic stereotype of Jews as vermin or pests. After having that explained, I can definitely see why Speigelman chose to use mice.
Overall, I’m really enjoying Maus so far. I think that telling the story of the war along with the interactions between Vladek and Artie is very compelling. The difference between their lives now and Vladek’s experiences during the war provide a contrast, highlighting the atrocity of the war. This, along with Vladek’s experiences before the war, offers a fuller appreciation of his story. As Speigelman points out, “It’s great material. It makes everything more real - more human.”
1.) I don’t see how words would harbor the use of color in a comic, I think it was an artistic choice made by the author to use black and white. The text doesn’t force anything upon itself; the story could have been told in brilliant colors and been just as effective. The choice to keep everything in black and white adds a barebones honesty to Maus that is tremendously effective for the world-creating, along with drawing everyone as animals, Spiegelman achieves with Maus.
ReplyDelete2.) I immediately fell into the pacing of the story and realized I was going to greatly enjoy it. Yes, it is very effective. Yes it would change their minds, as it would anyone simply damning the piece because of ignorance.
3.) I think Spiegelman chose to use comics instead of prose because he is a comic artist. “Keep it honest,” as Francoise advises Artie in Maus. My first impression of Vladek is he is an extremely resilient, capable, ingenious, brave and heroic man whose selflessness saved his family and friends as much as anyone could hope to be saved in the Holocaust. Anja reminds me of Laura from Tennessee William’s Glass Menagerie — a fragile, dreamy being. Vladek kept Anja alive through the Holocaust I don’t know how that could be considered old fashioned. He was definitely concerned for her, because he knew how delicate of a person she was. He treats Mala like an obtrusive presence in his life, like a memory of the Holocaust, like something he doesn’t need, and he doesn’t want but has to have until he can die.
t's interesting you ask what impact color would have had on the artwork because that was one of the first things I noticed when I opened the novel, but after a few pages in I didn't even notice anymore or feel bothered or cheated by it. I think that the color being in black-and-white and the fact characters are mice help balance out the severity of the story and make it more digestible for the reader. In the same vein that McCloud says that using a cartoon face rather than a realistic human face allows the reader to see themselves in the characters, I think that the mice soften the blow; the story would be more difficult to read if we couldn't see ourselves in the characters. I think that Spiegelman choose mice because mice are often prey, or a victim, and they're often seen as dirty and disgusting just as Jewish people were during the Holocaust by the Germans. My first thought I had of Vladek is was how adorably he speaks to his son and how endearing and impressive his English is. I think it's great and very meaningful that Spiegelman wrote Vladek's character to speak broken English rather than simply just writing in English, which would've been so easy.
ReplyDeleteGreat questions from Jillian and really interesting conversation above! I put up a post about Spiegelman and another about the use of animals/ caricture in Maus above. Stay tuned for me to add a podcast on the books this week! I am really enjoying your work in class so far.
ReplyDeleteFirst, color would be extremely distracting. More importantly, the lack of color in the comic draws some interesting parallels between Maus and the black and white images that we have of the concentration camps from that era.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, the story is interesting but it is hard to make a connection with Vladek. It seems that Spiegelman made a point to record his father's words verbatim, which I think is an interesting touch. I do think that this sometimes makes Vladek come off as a little blunt. I do think that this makes him more identifiable, and thus helps pull the reader into the story.
I feel that the stereotype of comics has been too thoroughly perpetuated for people to accept it as a medium through which to tackle an issue as big as the Holocaust. That said, I do believe that this preconception is the only reason that a survivor would have a problem with this representation of those events.
I think that Vladek clearly suffers from some sort of PTSD, as he seems reluctant to approach the subject. In the beginning of the comic, it seems like Art was trying to get his father to tell his story for a long time. Furthermore, his reactions to small inconveniences and his treatment of Mala lends to someone who needs stability to overcome his formerly turbulent life.
First off, I’m very impressed on how hooked I became within just the first chapter. I wasn’t sure what to expect since world history isn’t one of my favorite subjects. But doing it in the medium of a comic pulls on my visual learning style. I wish I could of learned more about world history using comics as good as this one.
ReplyDelete1. I want to discuss some of the choices Spiegelman has made in this comic. First, the line thickness and weight is very heavy and thick throughout the comic. It is consistent in the fact that each frame is dark and heavy lined with ink. It’s not a bad thing, but draws emphasis to the light area where the text is. By making each frame dark it makes the text bubbles stand out. What this does for the reader, subconsciously, is draws them into the story/text. They only glance at the frames content for visual information. My eyes were constantly jumping from one frame of text to another with my eye glancing through the characters in the frames to just get a sense of the environment. This whole method, whether he was intentional with it or not, is very effective in grabbing the reader. I couldn’t stop reading what was going to happen next.
2. Now comparing McCloud’s thoughts on a simple character (not a realistic character) to Spiegelman's characters. The more simple, the more the reader sees themselves in the character. The simple mouse characteristics Spiegelman uses, give us, the reader. a sense of displacement but familiarity at the same time. We become curious as to what these mouse creature's lives are like and that makes us want to read more. Their lives are similar enough to relate to and their vague physical attributes, which draw us into the characters.
3. It was such a smart call on Spiegelman part to tell such an impactful, historical event on such a personal level. The personal level of a son trying to understand his father’s personal achievements in such a difficult part of his life. We connect with the son in the same ways we are trying to understand what his dad went through. That personal connection keeps the reader emotionally invested in the plot.
4. What makes this comic so successful is the story line. The story line is so well spoken the cartoon/comic frames themselves just help assist the story telling. If this story was written in only text it wouldn’t be as interesting to read. Visuals always help tell any story better. Spiegelman has made conscious decisions with every element.
The only thing I have to criticize is the font use in the text bubbles, it is very hard to read. If that was intentional, the only thing I could think of is the reader has to look harder at the text to understand it. (I’m being sarcastic with that answer but at the same time I'm not. Maybe he wanted it to be like that)
1) I don't think color would have had much of an impact on Maus. I don't stuff like that has much of an effect on stories like this, and I don't think there's anything overly-intentional about its presentation. I think its black-and-white because that is and was the standard for comics of graphic novel length, simply because it's too expensive to use color ink for books with large-lengths and large-printruns. This simple, capitalistic factor has influenced the medium as a whole, and I think it's overreaching to look any farther in to it.
ReplyDelete2) I think Art chose to present his father's story in the medium of comics because he is a comics artist. When presented with inspiration, a playwright most likely wouldn't compose a prog-rock album, a painter most likely wouldn't write an epic poem. A comics artist, when he wants to tell a story, will make a comic. Simple as that. Again, I think it's reading too much in to something that doesn't impact such an important piece of work.
Can you give some specific examples of holocaust survivors critiquing Maus? I think they'd be interested to read, if they exist.
I like Vladek very much, from what I've read. He seems like the kind of parent who legitimately cares about people, and about his children. I also enjoy his sense of humor, and his ability to tell a story.
He exists, as all people do, as a unique person wrapped in stereotypes.
Re: Specific examples of holocaust survivors critiquing Maus
DeleteI was also really interested in this, so I did a search online. The wikipedia article about Maus mentions this briefly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maus). It seems that many people, not just survivors, had objections to some of the choices Spiegelman made. Also in the wikipedia article, under 'reception and legacy,' it is mentioned that there was some controversy about how to classify Maus as a genre. Spiegelman actually had to petition The New York Times to move it from "fiction" to "non-fiction" on their best seller list.
During my search I also came across this article: http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/the-maus-that-roared-art-spiegelman-s-take-on-40-years-of-comics.premium-1.519056
I just want to mention it because parts of it relate back to the controversy / reception of this comic book. Here is a great quote from that article:
"In his book “MetaMaus: A Look inside a Modern Classic,” the 2011 volume that followed publication of “Maus I” and “Maus II” (in 1992), documenting their conception, creation and reception, he recounts being asked by a German journalist, “Isn’t making a comic book about Auschwitz in bad taste?” To which he replies, “Actually, I think Auschwitz was in bad taste.” "
1. I don't think that the use of color in Maus would have been a distraction in the sense that we, as readers, wouldn't have been able to pay attention. However, I do think it would change the way we perceive the story. How, I'm not sure. Black and white seems fitting for such a sombre subject matter. Color could have been employed to separate past and present, or positive and negative experiences. It could have been an affective tool for separating fact and emotion as well, or as a tool for any number of things that Spiegelman may have wanted to separate and distinguish. That being said, if color had been used throughout the entire book (both Maus I and II), I think the text would lose a great deal of its impact on the reader. There is something about a Holocaust text being narrated in color that seems almost desecrating, if not at the very least distasteful. The objections that people have against Maus now, may be even more exaggerated if he had chosen color as opposed to black and white for the entire text. On the other hand, color could have had the opposite effect and served as a humanizing factor. But I think it would have been the first rather than the latter.
ReplyDelete2. I think that comics and graphic novels impact people in ways that words or art alone cannot. If one is looking at Maus from a stance of conventional or mainstream thought, it absolutely seems a disrespectful way to tell the story, but then, by saying this, we devalue comics as a valid art form/medium. The first time I read Maus, I have to say that this is the reaction I had. As I went through the graphic novel, my opinion changed. And now, reading it a second time, I don't believe the story could have been told more effectively in any other way. There are parts of Spiegelman's life, as well as his father's, that just couldn't be captured in another form, including their relationship with each other.
I can certainly understand how Holocaust survivors would see Maus as disrespectful, desecration or insult. And I certainly can't fault them for that. I would assume that many of them are coming from a background of comics as light-hearted or funny or taking on light-hearted and funny topics. For them, framing the Holocaust within such a medium seems to be the ultimate act of disrespect, particularly considering the trauma they suffered through, and the likely long-lasting effects from that. While they are holding onto stereotypes of what comics are, I don't think they can be faulted for that, and I don't think we should fault them for it.
My initial reaction to Vladek was that he was lovable and humorous, but also that he was a little bit manipulative, as he used his status as a Holocaust Survivor to get deals and to wiggle his way out of situations he didn't want to take part of. I like him, overall, but I can understand how this made his and Art's relationships a strained one.
Maus is an amazing comic that I am quiet enjoying. The story is one that is enthralling. The characters are varied and equally engaging. Vladek's meticulous nature, Art's persistence in transcribing his fathers tale, Mala's and Vladek's odd relationship, all create a broad base work for the heart of the story. Vladek and Anja's tale. The use of color in this book would have no impact either way on the story. I feel that I would be equally as drawn in either scenario. When I first picked up the book to read, I was curious. The choice to make the characters anthropomorphic mice was interesting, but due to books like the catcher in the rye and redwall I knew that stories like these can be just as dramatic as with regular people. The seriousness of the message was portrayed well in the demeanor of older Vladek, and the story hits hard in the emotional area. When you hear the story of Art's older brother being killed before the war was over it sets the tone of Vladek's sorrow. Looking at the displeasure of some survivors to the use of Comics to tell this story tells me that the stereotypes that comics are immature or unsophisticated were being bought into. If they had read Maus before making that judgement they would have absolutely changed their mind.
ReplyDeleteI’ve actually thought a great deal about the potential use of color in “Maus”. When I read through these books a few years ago, it occurred to me how seemingly simplistic the art style is. Hard lines, stark black-and-white with minimal shading, it gave everything a visual crispness. This kind of drawing style pairs well with black-and-white, and I can imagine a number ways Speigelman may’ve justified not using colors: Fitting the art with the tone of the material, the cost of printing, and perhaps even a need to have the work taken more seriously. It looks great, so I’d say he wouldn’t need to justify it in the first place. That said, I think drawing with colors could’ve been a fantastic way to add more depth to the story, assuming he maintained an art style that fit with it. A strong contrast to the present and the past could be set up with different palettes, and given the story arcs that take place in both of these timelines, shifts in tone and meaning could be captured beautifully with changes in color arrangements through the story’s progression. Even something as simple as keeping the past in black and white and giving the present more color would work well. I don’t think the addition of color is ever necessarily a good or bad thing. Perhaps Speigalman doesn’t have a good grasp on color palettes, and a version of “Maus” that incorporated it would’ve looked gaudy and childish. This I doubt. But I do believe, barring technological limitations, that the use of color can almost always be employed for the betterment of a work, even if the colors used are just black and white.
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, my first reaction to “Maus” was not so much along the lines of “what a disrespectful way of handling a terrible tragedy,” and more “why, it’s another story about the Holocaust. This is getting a bit played out.” Of course, I think it’s safe to say that Speigelman’s work has near-universally surprised and impressed anyone who’s had the good luck of reading it. The reason “Maus” works so well is because of how artfully it distances itself from realism. As a much younger me was quick to opine, stories concerning the Holocaust are far from difficult to come by. Most of them do their best to provide as much detail and accuracy as possible, to better preserve the memory of what happened. And that’s good; an event that awful deserves to be remembered. But with so many of these gritty accounts of what took place, it’s quite easy to become numb to it all. You start to drift away from the sense that the Holocaust actually happened to actual people. It’s less a historical occurrence, and more just a concept. Something you learn in school. Then along comes “Maus,” with its charming pictures of animals with human bodies, dancing and driving cars, and getting gunned down and starving in pits, and then complaining about having their coats thrown away. Speigelman tells his story this way, and in doing so sharpens the blade that is the Holocaust’s story; what was once dull now cuts deep.
Darn character limits...
DeleteTo answer the last two question topics, let’s take a look at the framing device used by Speigelman throughout the story. This was a choice on his part that I feel makes his work all the more cogent: his depiction of the survivors, his father and Mala. All the little interactions and conversations he depicts between himself and his family, from the pill counting to the bad mouthing to the coat throwing, it brings the story all the closer into our own homes. We may get frustrated by Vladek’s lack of consideration for Mala, as well as Art’s own impatience with his father, but they’re all family foibles that most of can relate to. Speigelman’s exploration of his own relationship with his dad is valuable as well for how its depiction of the Holocaust’s long-term influence. It’s easy to think of what happened then as an isolated incident, forever trapped in the past. But the emotional turmoil Speigelman goes through while trying to reconcile with his father is a clear picture of the scarring that still exists from that time. Bringing his own personal connection to the Holocaust to light, while illustrating it in such an approachable manner, affords his piece a unique sense of poignancy.
1. I think because the events of the Holocaust are very somber, that black and white were the only colors that Spiegelman could have used to properly illustrate not only the account, but the emotions attached to the events as well. It pushes the idea that these feelings and events are still very vivid for Vladek, and I think that adding color would have taken away from this. I experienced a feeling of emptiness when I looked at the illustrations, and I believe that any color would have not allowed for that feeling.
ReplyDelete2. I thinkit is genius that Spiegelman used cats and mice to represent the Nazi/Jewish relationship during the Holocaust. In terms of symbolism, the Jewish community was hunted down by the Nazis, much like a cat hunts down a mouse. I also think this was a genius move because like "Animal Farm", I was able to connect myself more to the characters because he used animals instead of people. There is something more emotionally compelling about animals experiencing harsh treatment rather than using the human characters. It also makes the feeling of "helplessness" more apparent.
3. I think the stereotype that was attached to this retelling through the medium of comic was that of the form not being one to handle seriousness, and this is what I believe held back the survivors to be so upset. I think they believed that the illustrations would take away the emotional connection to the Holocaust, rather than add to it.
4. I think Spiegelman chose to use comics instead of prose for the sake of emotional preservation of the story. Overall, there is plenty of prose and historic documentation on survivor's accounts, some of them feeling completely academic and cold. When you add the illustrations to the events, they become more real and easier to connect to. Just reading a story does not always work or pull on pathos, but the illustrations along with the account were able to do so.
5. I definitely believe that Vladek has a strong case of PTSD. Not only does recounting these events cause his physical exhaustion, but he also is still a hoarder and financially frugal. These were two strategies that kept him alive during his time in the concentration camps. Once a technique to survive is no longer needed, it is still hard to shake. I think that he is so emotionally detached from Mala because he is still in love with Art's mother, and that he has to wonder how their life together and her mental health would have been different if they did not experience the torture and suffering of the Holocaust. I believed that is what keeps him from being able to emotionally connect to Mala and also what keeps him so upset. He can never know how it would have been different.
I think that color might have made the pictures stand out more from all of the text boxes and speech bubbles. A problem when back and white like this, with no grey, is that (at least for me) it can all blend together so I have to actively look at the picture and the words instead of having my eye caught by the picture. Color usually solves this by making the picture striking and separate from the words. However, I don't think color really fits the type of story. This type of thing is meant to be gloomy and grey and not bright and colorful so it makes sense that it shouldn't be in color even if that was an option.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read Maus I was a high school student and I have no idea what I thought of it then, the only thing I remember is a very specific plot point that was quite...memorable. But now reading Maus I am happy that a tale like this is told from through comics. There is absolutely no way I would have enjoyed reading this if it was just a book, and I think that is part of Spiegelman's intention is telling it through comics, to make it more enjoyable. It is a very serious topic but it is told through a cartoon of the cat and mouse metaphor. It is so much more readable this way.
If survivors are criticizing Maus for being told through comics they must feel the medium isn't serious enough to convey the right tone of what happened. We haven't really gotten to anything too heavy yet but I know there are moments in the book that make the story very serious and dark and if critics read the story they will realize that comics don't take away from the seriousness of the situation at all, and sometimes even make the message more powerful through the use of visuals.
I touched on this already but I think Spiegelman chose comics rather than prose to make a dark and serious story more readable. He make jews into mice and Germans into cats, it makes sense and is fun to look at when reading such a darkly serious story. Anja is a very interesting character and I know her story gets even more interesting later so I won't comment on that yet. Vladek seems to treat Mala terribly but I have seen older couples with that dynamic before so I don't know if it has so much to do with PTSD or just that she is a second wife and he misses the first. I really don't think Vladek suffers from PTSD, he seems to be fine.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteColor might have made the artwork appear more alive. Color might create the impression that the story was being told more as events that were happening currently instead of recalled events. Color could minimize effectiveness of the cartoon animal character style by making it seem less subtle.The character style is made to be unoffensive compared to the events of the story.
ReplyDeleteColor and text can make more emphatic connections, but that may have been obnoxious given the sensitive nature of the story. Maus had simple character illustration that did not distract from the text. The composition arrangement had relatively large spaces for words, word balloons, and text size. There are words in every cell. This all makes the reader able to focus more on the words and allows for a consistent pace of reading.
Among my first impressions of Maus were the ease of its readability due to lettering and illustration styles. The introductory two pages and first chapter's transitions from memory to the book's description of itself create an engaging narrative perspective. The first chapter is lighthearted and allows the reader to experience the story telling style and background of Vladek prior to the Holocaust events. The second chapter is all about more serious things than were mentioned in the first chapter, other than Vladek's two heart attacks and Anja's suicide. The third chapter ends on an optimistic note. This is probably to create more of an impact when more conflict arises. The pacing and length of chapters is very consistent in Maus.
I think as far as the critics of Maus are concerned, there are some who want to do anything to forget the events of the Holocaust. Also there are always critics of every story and the use of the medium of comics is a stylistic choice.
Vladek is an interesting person. Vladek's experiences make the story unique and he seemed to be right in the heart of the war and its tragedy from its very beginning.
ReplyDeleteI think if there it had been colored artwork it would ruin the effect the story has on the readers. When it’s white and black, you automatically assume it’s old, it’s a tale told back in the day, it gives us a sense of being taken back into time. I think it would have been distracting and would lessen the dramatic effect the story has on the readers.
When I started reading the story, I liked it right away, it grasped my attention and I like how he started the story, I think it was a great way to narrate such an emotional tale, he grasps your attention and makes you want to read more to see what is going to happen.
I think the people who expressed displeasure at Speigelman’s choice didn’t give his story a chance. When people see comics, they automatically assume it’s something childish, not something to be taken seriously, and when it is written about such an emotional event in time, people expect it to be cherished and valued at a more important place than being a comic.
I think it was a brave and interesting choice to use comics instead of prose. Not many do it, and for such a dramatic event, it is a big risk. I think Vladek is a unique character, sometimes you dislike him and think he’s a bit much, and sometimes you sympathize with him and feel pity towards him. I think Anja wasn’t really given much spotlight, we see her through her husband’s perspective, it would’ve been nice to get an idea what was going on through her mind through her. I think it was a normal thing back in that time for people to be concerned about their potential spouse’s health, taking into consideration if they can bear children, and if they will live long enough to take care of the home, husband and family. It’s very well possible he could suffer from PTSD, he is very scatterbrained, has been through a lot with war, his businesses, his first wife’s suicide, it’s easy to see the man is clearly unstable.
I am very grateful that Spiegelman did not put color to Maus, it would have definitely been distracting. I say this because Maus is so text heavy, and in that lends itself to being read rather rapidly. And this then ties in witht he second question here, my first reaction reading Maus, is not positive. I honestly wish it were not a graphic novel. I wish it were just text, i can not say that i have spent much time at all looking at the pictures associated, and have mostly just read through it in novel fashion, and just find it very innefficient. Maybe if i was a more visually focused individual, the pictures would mean a great deal more to me, but i find that i can understand the story just fine without ever really taking the time to look at the pictures, and in this, they are just sort of wasted effort.
ReplyDeleteThis effort wasn't for nothing however, i think Spiegelman chose a graphic novel form because it allows for greater distance between himself and his subject matter. Rather than having to wax eloquently about all the emotions and things that his father was feeling, rather than having to inhabit the character, drawing a character allows him to stay outside of Vladek and to point and say that happened to him, and im just telling the story, rather than rolling up his sleeves, and diving deep deep into the grief and misery that the character of Vladek had to experience. I am not saying that he is completely removed from this, but that he does not have to attempt the empathetic response that an author typically has to acheive to really create and write a character's story, in this case he can be as much of an observer as anyone reading his graphic novel, in fact i would argue he would WANT to remain as detached as his typical reader to ensure he was telling his story clearly enough with the pictures filling in the gaps properly.
As for some survivors expressing dislike at this, i think they were certainly holding onto old school notions that a comic cannot attack something emotionally fulfilling and serious. As for this though, i think Spiegelman does a great job of making them eat their proverbial words, however his choice of symbolizing jews and nazis as mice and cats, could very well feel dehumanizing to the surviors reading it who are being characterized as mice. This move doubtfully leaves them feeling weak and perceived as play things (as mice usually are to cats) I am sure this offended as much as the idea that it was being done in a comic.