Persepolis brings a
unique graphic style to the autobiographical narrative. Satrapi using a black
and white, often only six to eight panels on a page represent a childlike
understanding of the world since the novel follows Satrapi's own childhood. To
me, the black and white symbolizes both the past and how the Islamic revolution
left Iran dry of its rich colorful cultural history. I believe that Comics work
together and flow together. What you draw doesn’t need to be said and what you
say doesn’t need to be drawn.
Drawing is a language everyone can understand.
One reason from Schirato and Webb’s theory of Visual
Narratives why Satrapi might have wrote it in comic form is, social
institutions. I believe the aspect of social institutions is structures of
relationship, obligation, role and function. One type of social insinuations
being political and religion is shown throughout the book. Because politics and
religion is shown so much in the book and there are so many different leaders
and powers being discussed it helps to be in comic form. It is helpful to be
able to put a visual picture and differentiate between them. A good example of
this is when Marji is comparing God and Marx. (13) Being able to see the
difference visually helps us identity and be able to connect.
Not only with politics but also with Aesthetic. Being the
artistic self-expressions of a people becoming part of their cultural identity.
The emotion is expressed easier through the comic form and able to be felt but
all ages. It gives you the chance
to be able to be expressed to the art, culture, and nature of the story. They
are important for understanding the society and similarities in the society.
The reader normally has to become aware of the social institutions to
gain acceptance and understanding of the society which comic form can help.
You have some excellent points here!! One of my favorites is “What you draw doesn’t need to be said, and what you say doesn’t need to be drawn.” I was thinking about this a lot when I, too, read McCloud’s Understanding Comics, and I would like to expand on you thought-provoking statement.
ReplyDeleteComics are definitely an interesting genre. You can do so much with a comic that you couldn’t normally do with another kinds narratives. For one, there is the obvious appeal of visual aids throughout the text, bringing out the concrete characters and settings of the words we read (or don’t read! For example, the author never has to talk about where the action is taking place or who is there; it is all included in the visuals!) . I believe this leaves the actual words with a lot more power. Look at the relative amount of space given to words versus the space given to the pictures: Words are relatively scant! This makes them all the more important. For example, intertext is very apparent to the audience when “Iron Maiden” or “Kim Wilde” are the written focus (as opposed to the pictorial focus) of a panel.
Although words are powerful, the pictures are what make this genre unique. It is as easy to draw a worried face as it is to write the words “she is worried.” However, a picture can show what the words may not say. I believe in the immense power of expression that words have and the art that goes along with them, but I find it difficult to cut through the connotations attached to most words in order to really understand circumstance and situation.
On the other hand, a picture of a worried girl can tell you that she is worried and so much more. Take the last panel on page 139 of Persepolis, where Marji is pointing towards her apartment. Alone, the words tell a small sort of narrative, “You can’t go beyond this point. …I live there… And he let me through.”
However, the more dramatic elements of the panel are the look of worry drawn on Marji’s face, the rebel guard with his machine gun, the black line depicting a crime scene etched across the whole scene, and the crowd gathered all around in traditional Iranian dress. Drawing a picture leaves very little to be misconstrued. It is a setting. Plain and simple.
I believe this also goes along with another thing you mentioned, “The reader normally has to become aware of the social institutions to gain acceptance and understanding of the society...” I think my example from the previous paragraph supports this claim of yours as well! For instance, we see where we are (a Middle Eastern country from the clothing of the characters), the time frame (somewhere in the realm of the 20th or 21st century from the machine gun held by the guard), and the situation (some kind of crime/ disaster- probably war related- which is emotionally connected to the worry on the little girls face, the anger of the guard, and the crowd).
Pictures are easier to read. You are presented with a situation and are able to take it in as you need it. With a written narrative, you must read every word in the order prescribed by the author for you to fully understand all the elements of the story.
Thanks for letting me jump off of a few of your ideas!
The idea that you don't have to say what you draw and that you don't have to draw what you say is interesting, because it then becomes important which parts are said and which parts are drawn. The black and white drawings and the relatively simple drawing style make the images depicted more powerful in a way, because the simplicity of them makes the messages they depict more direct, whether it's a sad face, laughter, or depictions of the violence in the war. The words usually say the more abstract concepts that are difficult to portray in images, such as details about events. The dialogue is also important, because it shows the interactions between people that may not necessarily be shown by the expressions of their faces, and provides reasons for said expressions.
ReplyDeleteI read in my media class that black and white images give a piece a serious tone. I think the power of the images stems from there. Sometimes adding colors can make an image almost whimsical and fun, which clearly is not the desired effect for this narrative. Black and white, however, is the bare minimum and tends to remind people of more serious, focused times.
DeleteThe simplicity of the artwork also makes me think of a child's drawings, which add to the point of view of the author. Since she was a child at the time of her story, she almost gains more credence with the audience when her words are paired with the childlike pictures.