I've thought a lot about why I enjoy graphic novels, sometimes over regular novels. It might be that I have a more interesting way of visualizing the story. The panels don't show every second of every moment in the story, and are in this way very particular and controlled representations of the story. However, I don't feel that I'm being cheated - rather, I enjoy seeing the way they focus and expand on the story, the angles that the panels take, and the inventive ways they depict Marjane's feelings. For example, when they want to describe how lost she felt after losing God as her imaginary friend, the panel took up the entire page and showed her floating in space. In a way, this is a better visual than what I could imagine if that same idea were described to me in print. My imagination is being directed in ways that mere words can't do. It's this new intellectual exercise that is perhaps the most exciting for me - I'm seeing the author's vision, and it can be more exciting than simply reading words and descriptions.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Persepolis
Persepolis is one of my favorite works by a writer/artist. It is inventive as well as intellectually engaging and heart-wrenching. It reminds me a lot of Maus by Art Spiegelman, where a serious topic is presented through a medium of imagery and thought/dialogue bubbles. However, there is more humor in Persepolis, which I appreciate.
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I agree that reading Persepolis is an intellectual exercise! It shows so much through the panels like when Marjane is zoning out and not listening to others or even when people are being untruthful. Because of the nature of a graphic novel, it makes me wonder how other people are viewing each panel because there could be some variability in opinions.
ReplyDeleteI think that the humor in place mostly revolves around Marjane's character during the novel. This is interesting as it reveals more about our author/main character and is one of the focus points in the illustrations.
ReplyDeleteThe author uses graphic novels to describe the Marjane's view of the world around her as a child. It also represents her innocence. I agree with you that it is more interesting in visualizing the historical events than simply reading words.
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