Thursday, November 20, 2008
Images
In the last few books we read race was one of the main issues. The difference in skin color was the main topic in Ex-Colored Man, Brown Buffalo, Our Nig. They all explored the connection between race, identity and perception. In Persepolis, because of the black and white images, all the people seem to have the same skin color. We don't get the concept of race directly from the author, only from the people surrounding her (when Marji said she was French and the other girls laughed at her because she didn't look French). The world Marji presents to us is surreal - all the differences in appearances she mentions are beard, moustache, clothes - things we can change and choose based on our personality. She doesn't draw images, she draws personalities. I find it somewhat starnge and fascinating that the only gaphic book we've read this semester is one of the least concerened with the way people look on the outside.
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2 comments:
Rali, that is a really interesting point. I love that--the irony that the graphic novel is the one least concerned with color and looks. To play off of that, I think we need to take a look closer at the scene with about the French and Iranian girls. This juxtaposition deals more with heritage and ethnicity instead of race. There is a fine line between the differences in race and ethnicity that is very much gray and murky. However, in this novel, I think it is an important distinction. While we have talked about prejudice against color before, this new prejudice against ethnicity and a country's heritage adds a new dimension.
I agree. I didn't even consider how the graphic novel gives us so little about appearance. Going on Katie's comment though, I think its not just about ethnicity and heritage, but also about belief. Ironically, belief is the one thing that is not necessarily shown on the outside, so it would not be distinguishable in a graphic novel. Marjane's family is against the Shah's regime and does not support the fundamentalist religion. Yet, as long as they wear the veil and follow the laws, no one is any the wiser.
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