So far, the two graphic narratives we've read in class have been powerful memoirs--1st-person stories of violence and loss. Given what we remember from McCloud, particularly his assertion that comics artists encourage reader identification through their use of icons, the gutter, and closure, can we say that comics are a medium particularly appropriate for telling first-person stories? What do you think?
For more on comics and the first-person, check out:
this book on comics, gender, and first-person storytelling
or this great article on the "I" and comics
In my honest opinion "Persepolis" has been a bit more appropriate in retelling a first person story. It is drawn with symbols, the charterers are not heavily detailed, that make this story hit closer to home for me. McCloud mentioned that doing symbols allows the reader to connect more directly with what they are reading. The comic becomes more broad and exploratory with the addition of symbols. "Maus" used symbols in the animals involved, but they were still heavily detailed. It is more about the story of people, and less the story of a person. I know that the goal of both novels is to tell a personal story from the authors life, however I want something more than situations foretold.
ReplyDeleteThis is in no way saying that "Maus" was not exceptional in its own right and certainly unique, but I kept getting caught on the art work.
Yes when told in the fashion of Persepolis I find it an exceptional way to tell a story above and beyond books, conventional movies, cartoons where symbols are not as abundant. I am excited to read any work of similar nature and caliber in this class.
I agree with you whole-heartedly, Persepolis also hit very close to home for me as well. I did enjoy Maus, but in Persepolis, the narrator being a young girl struggling through times of war, really put it in a different perspective to me, it was more real than seeing animals being personified and living through war.
DeleteThere’s a certificate offered at UC called “Critical Visions” and that’s what this discussion kind of makes me think of. One of the purposes of the track is to examine forms of seeing through culture and society (implications of politics, advertising, art, visual culture in general, etc). I think the visual medium represents a really unique avenue to sort of convey this subjectivity of sight and perception—it allows a certain degree of raw expressionism with the simplest of forms. So in a sense (like McCloud talks about) we get a sort of “show and tell” element with the comic-- showing us their world, and the hierarchies and arrangements of how things are seen in this world, which is great for the first person memoir. Nuances of style are particularly characteristic—I feel like Satrapi’s really thick lines and simple shapes are innocent and raw—particularly useful for a coming of age, and for her curious, perceptive nature.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually enrolled in that "Critical Visions" certificate program as well!! Good comparison!!
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DeleteYes, I believe we can say comics are a medium appropriate for telling first-person stories, I think it is a very unique and fitting way to show your ideas. McCloud was on point with his assertion that comic artists encourage reader identification through their use of the icons, the gutter and closure, it is absolutely, now being a reader of comics, I definitely can say I identify with the icons, it is easy to see yourself in the story being told.
ReplyDeleteSince our past 2 books have been entirely based in 1st person, it's already supporting how well comics work as a medium to support that kind of story telling. I'm thinking of other comics and even super hero comics have some portion told in 1st person. It's a great way to show details of the situation that is very relatable to the reader. So yes, it is is a great style choice if you're looking for a way to represent your 1st person point of view.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that the comic book medium is particularly appropriate for first-person narratives. One of the unique qualities of the comic medium that McCloud discusses is the way comics engage readers. This is not only done by engaging multiple senses and encouraging the use of imagination in the gutters of comics, but also through the drawings themselves. One example of this would be abstracted character drawings. As we've seen, the more a face is abstracted, the more people it can be said to describe (universality). We don't just see the image, we become it. In this way, reader participation is highly encouraged. When the story being told is from a first-person perspective, we feel like we are vicariously experiencing the events of the story. I think this is especially true for Persepolis, since the style of drawings is so bold and minimal.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to first person storytelling, comics have a great deal of tools at their disposal. The merging of imagery and text is a natural part of how most minds perceive and interact with the world, and the level of awareness of our surroundings in real life seems to run in parallel with the amount of verbal and visual detail that comics offer as a medium. Another important aspect to note is the value of icons, relative to our perception of reality. While our memories may be based on real-life experiences, I think that people are more inclined to remember or emphasize what's "thematically" important with an event, much like comics or other media.
ReplyDeleteComics are a great way to recount first-person narratives. This is a given. However, I feel that many media have the same affinity for such storytelling, since the first-person perspective is generally considered to be at the core of narrative art. What's important to recognize is that various media have their own special way of handling this kind of perspective, and each one provides its own impact on the "flavor" of that memoir.
What makes Persepolis in particular an excellent example of first person storytelling is its reliance on an almost abstract graphic style: The nuns looming over Marji, wearing clothes as black as void; the simplified drawing style of her historical flashbacks. It may not provide much realism with its style, but her use of abstract icons brings us into her first person account much more so than any statistics or photographs might. The oppressive air of Iran's regime could only be "accurately" captured by being put in a more surreal light.