Graphic Novels As Lit and Multicultural Class @svogel1-blog - Tumblr Blog

American Dervish- Multicultural Lit

Reflections:

American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar details the life of the main character, Hayat Shah, a young Pakistani American boy living in the suburbs of Milwaukee, with his parents who are unhappily married, secular Muslims. As Hayat grows up, the novel details the struggles he deals with as he questions his religious identity. After Hayat's mother's best friend, Mina, comes to America to live with Hayat and his family, Hayat becomes obsessed with being a hafiz (someone who is able to read the Quran from memory), however his hopes are dashed when he learns that in order to become a hafiz, he must be able to read the Quran in Arabic and he has only learned it in English. This becomes the catalyst for Hayat to question his religious identity in relation to people who are present in his life: (occasionally practices Islam), father (atheist), Mina (Practices traditional Islam), and Nathan (Jewish).

Overall, I enjoyed reading American Dervish, I thought Akhtar did an excellent job of portraying the American religious experience through the scope of a young Muslim boy.

Questions:

1) Some major themes in American Dervish are identity and assimilation. Is it necessary for one to reject one identity in order to embrace another when it comes to religion? How does Hayat deal with this?

2) Hayat's mother and father have an unhappy marriage. In fact, all of the relationships between men and women within the novel are complex. Could this be seen as a cultural critique?

Fun Home- Graphic Novels

Reflections:

Alison Bechdel's Fun Home chronicles the author's personal history as a girl growing up in the small town of Beech Creek, Pennsylvania. However, while Fun Home contains elements of the typical coming-of-age tale, Bechdel's life proves to be far from average. Bechdel's father, Bruce Bechdel, a high school English teacher, soon becomes the director of the town's funeral home which Alison and her family affectionately refer to as the "Fun Home". Fun Home also details Bechdel's experience as she comes to terms with not only her own sexuality, but also so that of her father. On this point, I thought that the dichotomy between Bechdel's female masculinity and her father's male femininity was particularly interesting.

Bechdel's writing style is also unlike anything we've read up until this point. She uses an elevated tone throughout most of her graphic memoir (although she does include some comedic moments) and supplements her personal story with a wide variety of literary references which allows the reader to draw parallels between the literature and Bechdel's life. I also feel that literature is really what allowed her to connect to her father on a more personal level both before and after his death, because literature was a common ground that they both enjoyed and some authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald (my favorite author) directly paralleled Bechdel's father's life .

The graphics used throughout Bechdel's work also set her apart from other authors/artists we have read. Instead of using a widely identifiable style, like that found in Maus or Persepolis, Bechdel took care to realistically represent all the characters within her graphic memoir. Therefore, her graphics appear more as artist sketches rather than cartoon caricatures.

Overall, I thought Fun Home was very well written and that Bechdel's use of literary references really enhanced her personal story. Next to Watchmen, this was the most interesting graphic novel we have read this semester.

Questions:

1) In what ways does the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald parrallel that of Bechdel's father?

2) The contrast between Bechdel's own female masculinity and her father's male femininity is striking. In what ways does Bechdel "compensate for something unmanly in him" and how does her father "attempt to express something feminine through [her]" (Bechdel 98)?

Pyongyang- Graphic Novels

Reflections:

Guy Delisle's, Pyongyang, details the author's personal experiences as a westerner working in North Korea as an animator. Even though Delisle stays in the world's most isolated nation for only two months, his experiences are eye-opening .

Overall, I thought Pyongyang was interesting and was able to finish the graphic novel in just one sitting (which is rare for me). I thought Delisle's writing style was very straight forward. Throughout the novel, he does not censor his thoughts or feelings when describing the oppressive and and propaganda-filled society of North Korea. Instead, he records his reactions bluntly and honestly which leads the reader to trust him more.

Questions:

1) What are some similarities between the society depicted in George Orwell's ,1984, and the totalitarian society of North Korea?

2) Government propaganda dominates the life of every person living in North Korea. How does Delisle's understanding of the outside world help him (and other Westerners) discern between what is fact and what is solely put forth by the government?

Under the Feet of Jesus- Multicultural Lit

Reflections:

Helena Maria Viramontes’s, Under the Feet of Jesus is a short novel about the trials and tribulations a family of migrant workers must face in order to survive. The story is told from the perspective of Estrella, a girl who is on the verge of becoming a young woman. What she knows of life, she learns from her mother, Petra, a woman who has survived being abandoned by her first husband (Estrella’s father). Even though the family does not bring in enough money to buy the crops that they spend their days in the field picking, Petra shows that, although she is not able to give her children much, she is able to keep a roof over their heads and some food in their stomachs while attempting to live within a society that treats her as if she were inherently inferior.

In this coming-of-age story, Estrella experiences both the joy and heartbreak that accompany her first love (Alejo) while, at the same time, coming to terms with the hardships which many others who find themselves pushed to the fringes of society must also face such as: racism, lack of healthcare, strenuous working conditions, and little pay.

I enjoyed reading Viramontes's novel. Her unique writing style does not leave the reader on the outside looking in, but rather draws the reader into the story itself so that one is better able to empathize with the characters's situations and reactions.

Questions:

1) The novel ends with Estrella on the roof of the barn admiring the stars. Why does Viramontes choose to end her novel in this way instead of bringing closure to the family’s situation?

2) Consider the make characters in the novel. Do they have more power within society than the female characters? Why or why not?

Reflections on Persepolis

Reflection:

Marjane Satrapi’s, "Persepolis" is a very well-written graphic memoir which recounts her experiences as a small child growing up in Iran both during and after the Islamic Revolution. The comic is drawn in black and white in order to allow the reader to focus on the actions and reactions of the characters without the distraction of color. Marjane also depicts herself as well as her friends and family members in a simply drawn style. This makes the characters easier to identify with so that the reader is better able to empathize with Marjane's account.

On that note, Persepolis, like Maus, was a difficult read for me albeit in a different way. While Spiegelman's account of his father's experiences depicts scenes of widespread genocide, torture, and antisemitism, Persepolis highlights, through a first-hand account, the extremist and sexist take over of Iran during the revolution. Although her journey to adulthood was a constant struggle for individuality, Satrapi finishes high school in Vienna, Austria ,goes to college, marries, and becomes a successful woman despite her childhood and early adulthood.

Questions:

1) How can Persepolis be interpreted from the feminist perspective?

2) Why does the Islamic Revolution in Iran strive to suppress individualism?

Developed Question #2:

Marjane Satrapi's graphic memoir, Persepolis, recounts Satrapi's experiences as a woman living in Tehran, Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution under the extremist, Muslim regime. What began with the requirement of wearing a veil to school soon became a total suppression of individuality. In the second section of Satrapi's memoir, Satrapi and her friends are presented with a veiled model to sketch. This woman exemplifies the regime's depiction of the ideal Muslim woman. She stands in front of them as a symbol of suppressed individuality that they should not only appreciate and sketch, but also model themselves after. Satrapi notes on page 301 that "from every direction and from every angle, not a single part of her body was visible" (Satrapi Persepolis 2). However,in response to the regime, Satrapi and her friends find ways to express their individuality in "more discrete ways" such as a "showing your wrist, a loud laugh, or having a walkman" (Satrapi 302). Satrapi continues on the same page to highlight the regime's motivation for suppressing individualism. A person who leaves her house asking questions such as "Are my trousers long enough?, Is my veil in place?, Can my make-up be seen?, [and] Are they going to whip me?" no longer worries about her own individual rights or even the political situation which surrounds her. Therefore, the Muslim regime chooses to suppress individuality in order to further its dominance and political power.

Thesis: The Muslim regime chooses to suppress individuality in order to further its dominance and political power.

First paragraph:

As a child growing up in Tehran, Iran, Marjane Satrapi along with her friends and family members were radically affected by the extremist, Muslim take-over of Iran both during and after the Islamic Revolution. As a result, individuality, among the people of Iran (most notably of women) was extremely suppressed. As Satrapi shows in her graphic memoir, Persepolis, the Muslim regime chooses to suppress individuality in order to further its dominance and political power.

Maus I and II- Multicultural Lit

Reflection: See graphic novels post: Maus I and II- Graphic Novels

Questions: 1) Why does Vladek seem more attached to objects rather than people? 2) How does Spiegelman’s style of drawing impact the graphic memoir as a whole?

Developed question #1: In Art Spiegelman’s Maus, Spiegelman’s father, Vladek, tends to appear more attached to material objects rather than people. The most obvious reason for his attachment comes as a result of his experiences during the Holocaust. For instance, while he was in Auschwitz, Vladek was able to exchange objects, most often food, for services which would help keep himself alive or move him or people he loves to a better situation. On page 64 of Maus II for example, Vladek learns that in order to "arrange" that Anja be moved into the new barracks at Birkenau, he must trade "100 cigarettes and a bottle of vodka" which was a "fortune" to him because one days' bread was worth three cigarettes and it took 200 cigarettes to acquire a bottle of vodka (Spiegelman 64). Due to Vladek's constant need to rely on material objects for further gain during his time at Auschwitz, he tends to become more attached to objects in his later life rather than people. Another cause of this is also a result of the Holocaust. While attempting to keep both himself and his family safe, Vladek learns quickly not to rely on other people, but to arrange things for himself. An example of this can be found on page 150 of Maus I when Vladek arranges smugglers to take him and Anja to Hungary. Unfortunately for Vladek, the smugglers turn him and Anja over to the Gestapo while they are on the way to Hungary. In reaction to this, Vladek's ability to trust others is affected. Objects, to him, appear a more reliable force than the word of others. Therefore, in his later life, Vladek seems to have a greater attachment to objects rather than people.

First Paragraph:

In Art Spiegelman's Maus I and II, his father, Vladek Speigelman, appears to suffer long-term psychological affects of the Holocaust. As a result of his experience as a Jewish man in the concentration camp at Auschwitz, Vladek tends to see material objects as a more reliable force than that of the word of others. This is shown to affect Vladek later in life as he tends to form a closer attachment to objects rather than people.

Maus I and II- Graphic Novels

Reflections:

Spiegelman's Maus I and II were, admittedly, a difficult read; as are most books based on the accounts of Holocaust survivors. However, Spiegelman uses an inventive style and medium to convey his father's memories to the reader. Unlike other books which present the sufferings of individuals during the Holocaust, Spiegelman presents his father's story as an interview which he conducted with his father while writing the novels. His father's memories are then told as flashbacks so that the reader learns about events in the same way as Spiegelman as the novel progresses. Also, Spiegelman's decision to write a graphic novel as opposed to a standard memoir was contemporary. By choosing this medium to present his story, Spiegelman sets his father's story apart from the wealth of information surrounding the Holocaust and it's survivors while reaching out to an entirely different audience of comic book readers.

On this note, the art which Spiegelman uses in his graphic novels suits the subject matter perfectly. While portraying the intense amount of death and suffering associated with the Holocaust is difficult, Spiegelman's decision to represent his characters as animals as opposed to people makes the events a little easier to digest. This does not mean that the "human" element of Spiegelman's story is removed from the graphic novel. On the contrary, Speigelmen's characters, while portrayed as animals, exhibit human behavior and emotion. Spiegelman even adds in real pictures of his father, mother, and Richieu to remind the reader that, despite the way they are depicted, his characters are, primarily, human.

While Maus was a difficult read due mainly to all the suffering Spiegelman's father witnessed and endured, the way in which Spiegelman chose to present his father's story made all the difference and kept me engaged in the story.

Questions:

1) Consider the theme of memory in Maus I and II. How do Vladek's memories affect Art both as a child and as an adult?

2) Throughout Maus, Vladek seems to have a closer attachment to objects rather than people. Why is this?

Developed question #1

Art's relationship with his father, as a child of a Holocaust survivor, differs from that of his peers. Even though he did not experience the same things as his father, he grew up in the constant presence of his memories. Soon, these memories became so powerful that they became Art's memories as well. Thus, Art's proximity to his father creates a deep personal connection to his father's experiences through memory even though Art is separated from these events by a large expanse of space and time. For example, in Maus II, Art is riding in a car with Francoise on the way to visit his father, Vladek. While they travel, Art talks about his childhood. First, he wonders aloud he and his "ghost brother", Richieu would have gotten along if he were still alive. He tells Francoise that his father always kept a picture of Richieu in his bedroom and, while he never spoke about Richieu, Art feels that he was never able to compare to his father's image of him. "The photo never threw tantrums or got in any kind of trouble... It was an ideal kid, and I was a pain in the ass. I couldn't compete" (Siegelman 15). Art feels that he will never be able to compare to Richieu, because he will always be the image of an ideal, innocent child in his father's memory. Art continues to recount parts of his childhood which were heavily influenced by his father's memories. He states would often "have nightmares about s.s. men coming into [his] class and dragging all [the] Jewish kids away" and "fantasize Zyklon B coming out of [the] shower instead of water" (Spiegelman 16). Art's behavior as a child shows how strongly his father's memories affected him while he was growing up. His father's memories caused him to feel personally connected to the Holocaust even though he did not share his father's experiences.

As an adult, Art finds it difficult to deal with his success as a comic book author because he feels guilty for having a comparatively easier life than his father. He writes, "I wish I had been in Auschwitz with my parents so I could really know what they lived through!...I guess it's some kind of guilt about having had an easier life than they did" (Spiegelman 16).Ultimately, Art is unable to come to terms with his success because of his memories of his father's suffering.

Thesis: Art Spiegelman's childhood and later adult life is affected because he feels personally connected to his father's memories of the Holocaust.

First Paragraph:

Marianne Hirch writes in her article, "Spiegalman's life is dominated by memories which are not his own". Thus, Art's relationship with his father, as a child of a Holocaust survivor, differs from that of his peers. Even though he did not experience the same things as his father, he grew up in the constant presence of his memories. Soon, these memories became so powerful that they became Art's memories as well. Thus, Art's proximity to his father creates a deep personal connection to his father's experiences through memory even though Art is separated from these events by a large expanse of space and time. Therefore, Art Spiegelman's childhood and later, adult life are negatively affected because he feels personally connected to his father's memories of the Holocaust.

Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen- Multicultural Lit

Reflections:

When reading Chin’s, Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen, I was appreciative of the author’s unconventional writing style. Chin’s “novel” incorporates forty-one separate tales into a collection of short stories written in different voices and styles. By choosing to organize her book into a series of short parables which span the time period between adolescence and adulthood, Chin challenges the traditional linear style of novel writing. While I do find Chin’s writing style unique and contemporary, I think the “novel” itself could have been better executed. Maybe, more connections between short clips of plot would have helped the reader better interpret the author’s message.Either way I was able to understand Chin's appreciation for her Asian heritage. Some of the short stories are modeled after Chinese and Japanese parables and show characteristics of Asian traditions

Questions:

1) How does Chin describe and appreciate her Asian heritage by modeling some of the short stories after Chinese and Japanese parables? How does this show the reader parts of Asian culture and tradition?

2) How does the first short chapter in Chin's novel prepare the reader for the rest of the "novel"?

Answered Question #2:

The first short chapter in Chin's "novel" Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen prepares the reader for the rest of Chin's novel by exhibiting not only language and style, but also Moonie's tenacious spirit after she is the victim of racism. Upon reading the first chapter, the reader is immediately aware that Chin uses a very in-your-face writing style to convey her ideas throughout the book. In every chapter, Chin does not censor herself in either language or content. Contrary to popular opinion, lack of censorship does mean that the stories aren't laughably funny in some parts. Even though some of the short stories are not serious, or even true at some points, Chin's message of experiencing racism and assimilating to American culture within a time span between adolescence and adulthood is not lost in translation. The message of Moonie's character overcoming racism and becoming successful later in life is evident in the first chapter of Chin's book. Moonie's resilience throughout the rest of the "novel" is exhibited when she gets back on her bike and and goes home even though those boys humiliated her. This story foreshadows Moonie's willingness to overcome racism and achieve success.

Thesis:

First Paragraph:

In Marilyn Chin's "novel" entitled, Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen, Chin uses a contemporary writing style to convey to the reader a story about assimilating to American culture and overcoming racism as a young adult in order to achievie success in adulthood. The first short chapter in Chin's "novel" Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen prepares the reader for the rest of Chin's novel by exhibiting not only language and style, but also Moonie's tenacious spirit to achieve success after she is the victim of racism.

Watchmen - Graphic Novels

Reflections:

I enjoyed reading Alan Moore's, Watchmen. It was the first graphic novel I have read all the way through. On that note, I did not find Moore's writing innately confusing, because it did not take me long to get used to all the different plot lines running through the graphic novel at once. I thought it was very creative for Moore to lay out a story in which so many things are happening at the same time. Also, his character development was very good. I perticularly enjoyed reading about the character of Dr. Manhattan mainly because of the way in which he perceives the past, present, and future all in one moment.

Questions

1) Why is Dr. Manhattan portrayed in the graphic novel as the only "true" super hero in contrast with the rest of the Watchmen?

2) What is the significance of the way Dr. Manhattan experiences time? Does this attribute to his inability to connect with and have empathy for other people?

Developed Question #2

Answer- In Alan Moore's graphic novel, Watchmen, Dr. Manhattan experiences time in a way unlike any other character in the novel. Prior to his accident, Jon Osterman is described to the reader just a normal, human being with an above average intellect. In Chapter IV of Moore's graphic novel, major turning points in Osterman's life leading up to his accident are explained. In these events, Osterman appears to connect easily with other people and is able to empathize with their situations, because he experiences events within the same time-frame. For example, he meets and falls in love with a woman named Janey Slater while he is working at a research lab in Gila Flats, Arizona. The relationship between the two proceeds normally up until Osterman is disintegrated after being locked inside the test vault during an intrinsic field removal experiment. A month later, Osterman returns as a "godlike" being with blue skin and super-human abilities. Even though he remembers his experiences leading up to the accident, he becomes disconnected and apathetic to those around him. This is due in part to the way in which he experiences time. After Dr. Manhattan exiles himself to Mars, the reader is given unique insight into the way he perceives time and connects events. In Dr. Manhattan's mind, the past, present, and future are a series of jumbled vignettes all taking place in one moment. Time, for him, is infinite and dates really serve no purpose other than as a means to order events and connect them to each other. He sees his father throwing the watch pieces off the balcony when he was sixteen, himself meeting Janey Slater, the picture of them both falling from his hand, and the meteor shower yet to come all at the same time. Due to this outlook on events, Dr. Manhattan is less able to connect with and have empathy for other people because he is outside the typical realm of human experience and therefore is unable to perceive events and relate them in the same way others do. Thus, he feels disconnected from and apathetic towards others leading to the end of his relationship with Janey.

Thesis: Because Dr. Manhattan experiences past, present, and future events all at once in his mind, he is further removed from the typical realm of human experience and is thus less able to connect with or have empathy for other characters within the novel.

First Paragraph: In Alan Moore's, Watchmen, the way in which a person perceives the human experience is a major factor in his/her ability to feel connected to society and empathize with others. Tine perception provides a common factor from witch one can perceive the human experience in a way similar to those in society around them. Thus, those who share a common experience are more likely to empathize with one another. The character of Dr. Manhattan exemplifies this line of thinking in the way that he perceives time. An effect of his accident causes him to have only one weakness: he is unable to feel connected to society because he is so far removed from the human experience.Because Dr. Manhattan experiences past, present, and future events all at once in his mind, he is further removed from the typical realm of human experience and is thus less able to connect with or have empathy for other characters within the novel.

"Lighthead"- Multicultural Lit

Reflections:

In Terrance Hayes’ modern poetry collection, “Lighthead”, Hayes describes modern day situations while suspending traditional, poetic style, form, meter, and rhyme scheme. Before I even opened Hayes’ book, I had already formed a negative opinion toward modern poetry. Like any other English major, I have mostly studied traditional poetry which adheres greatly to formal style, form, meter, and rhyme scheme. These things combined with multiple allusions to classic epics and other works of literature have always helped me to interpret the words the author has written. When it comes to modern poetic works, the conventional style is no longer there and without even a rhyme scheme to rely on, I feel as though I’m able to gain less insight into the actual meaning of the poem itself. After reading Hayes’ poetry, I have noticed he has a particular style of his own. While that style is not similar to traditional poetic works, I feel it helps to get Hayes’ point across in a different way. Hayes’ relies heavily on the use of imagery throughout many of his lyrical poems in order to bring the reader into the situation he is describing. For example, In Hayes’ “A Plate of Bones”, Hayes describes riding to church with his uncle with “a school of fish corpses” in the back of the car. Hayes writes:

The sick-eyed gap-mouthed bass, the kingfish without

kingdom, the silver-thin silver fish- each dead and

seperate in a cool bucket. Gilded and shapely as a

necktied Sunday morning, the fish. Sit upright, he said,

and I sat right up, riding shotgun looking hard at the

road(13).

From what Hayes has written in these lines, it is easy for the reader to imagine being in the same situation as Hayes. As a reader, one brings his/her own experiences into the poem. In my case, I have ridden to church with my grandparents numerous times (all be it not with a bucket of fish in the car). I think being able to personally identify with certain aspects of the poem by drawing from past experiences aides more in interpretation as opposed to sifting through multitudes of allusions and their subsequent footnotes.

Also, I have found, through reading Hayes’ poems, it is not so much the meaning of every individual word which is important, but rather how those words are placed in order to create a certain image or bring a particular emotion or sound to the poem. After reading countless, traditional poems over my last 4 years as an English major, my brain is wired to read the poem only in order to understand the message which the author has creatively hidden within the words he has chosen. This is why I struggled so much with reading Hayes’ poetry at first. Surely every word must have some sort of crucial, symbolic meaning which will help me understand the author’s message. UNTRUE! Terrance Hayes’ poetry has taught me that it is not necessary to understand every word in order to appreciate or enjoy the poem. Rather, it is more important to pay attention to the flow of those words along with the images they create and the feelings/ memories they inspire.

Questions:

Is it necessary to understand every word of a poem in order to appreciate or interpret the author’s writing?

How does Hayes’ use of the pecha kucha style affect the interpretation of some of his poems?

Developed Question: # 1

Answer: No, it is not necessary to understand every word a poet has decided to include in a passage of lyrical poetry.A reader can appreciate or interpret a given poem without fully understanding what every weird means. I believe this is due in part to the poet's writing style. Take Hayes for example, he employs a different writing style meant to engage the reader in a given, relatable situation. In his collection of poetry entitled, " Lighthead", Hayes draws the reader to the poetry by combining words solely for the rhythm they create or the emotion they inspire. Therefore, it is not necessary to understand every word in a poem, but rather focus on the reason those words where grouped together and how the reader can relate them.

Thesis: Readers are able to interpret and appreciate a given poem without entirely understanding every word. This is due to the writer's style by inspiring a relatable situation or inspiring a certain emotion by grouping words in a line.

First Paragraph:

In Terrance Hayes', "Lighthead", the way in which words are grouped within a certain poem can be a very important tool in interpreting and appreciating a chosen poem. Certain groupings of words will always inspire a certain emotion or remind the reader of a situation he/she has experienced. Due to the writer's style, it is not necessary for the reader to understand every word Hayes' has grouped in a certain line. Instead, Readers are able to interpret and appreciate a given poem without entirely understanding every word. This is due to the writer's style by inspiring a relatable situation or inspiring a certain emotion by grouping words in a line.

#terrance #hayes #modern #lyrical #multicultural lit #pecha kucha #poetry #lighthead

Developed Question #2 Crazy Brave

Why are Native American women most often the victims of domestic violence? Is it a result of a woman’s status in society within Native American culture?

Thesis: The status of a women within Native American culture is a contributing factor to the statistics which Name Native American women victims of abuse "at more than double the rate of other racial groups" (American Bar Association).

Research Statistics on Domestic Violence within Native American Culture

Research the status of women among different tribes

Connect the status of women in a given tribe to cases of domestic abuse.

Domestic violence is a part of many women's lives in the United States. Shockingly, Native American women make up the majority of these statistics. According to the American Bar Association, Native American women are victims of abuse "at more than double the rate of other racial groups" (American Bar Association).Why is this so? Interestingly, Joy Harjo chooses to address this usually under discussed issue in her memoir entitled, Crazy Brave by describing her experiences with her father and step-father. The staggering amount of female Native American abuse victims can be attributed to the status of women according to the cultural practices of different tribes.

Works Cited:

"Domestic Violence Statistics". American Bar Association Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence, 2005. 29 Jan 2013. Web.

Two Questions on Crazy Brave

1) What is the meaning behind compass symbolism used in Crazy Brave?

2) Why are Native American women most often the victims of domestic violence? Is it a result of a woman's status in society within Native American culture?

Developed Question for Understanding comics

Question #1

Thesis: The transitions between comic panels are as crucial to the reader's interpretation of a comic's message as the pictures within those panels. A comic artist's decision of which transitions to use while portraying a given scene in a comic is an important one. Time moves differently with each type of transition. Thus, a reader's perception of time will be changed depending on the type of transition used.

Moment-to-Moment- time within these panels would be interpreted by the reader as passing slowly since it takes more panels to convey a single action using this transition

Action-to-Action- Time moves faster in these panels than in the moment-to-moment. Since the story is told by moving from one significant action to another, the reader must assume that time has elapsed between the actions within each panel.

Subject-to-Subject- Each panel depicts a certain subject within the same idea. This transition requires greater reader participation then the those previous. Time moves according to how the panels are arranged. A short amount of time elapses because the panels show subjects within the same scene or idea.

Scene-to-Scene- This type of transition is used when significant amounts of time and space are crossed within a comic. Scene-to-Scene transitions rely on a high level of reader participation as well as deductive reasoning to connect the panels.

Comics rely heavily on the reader to draw meaning from and connect the panels found within a given graphic novel. In order to interpret a comic strip, the reader must form closure in the space between panels. Transitions between panels are one of the most important keys to interpretation and closure. Most often, comics which require more closure simulate more time passing in the comic. The transitions between comic panels are as crucial to the reader's interpretation of a comic's message as the pictures within those panels. A comic artist's decision of which transitions to use while portraying a given scene in a comic is an important one. Time moves differently with each type of transition. Thus, a reader's perception of time will be changed depending on the type of transition used. Neil Cohn explains the connection between panel arrangement and reader interpretation: "Temporal mapping is a more radical version of transitions, since instead of panels just making meaningful connections of various types, there is a presumed temporarily overarching across all meaning" (Cohn 130).Therefore, the arrangement of panels on the page in a given order will affect closure which in turn affects reader interpretation.

Works Cited:

Cohn, Neil. "The limits of time and transitions: challenges to theories of sequential image comprehension".Studies in Comics 1.1 (2010): 127-147. Web.

Two Questions for Understanding Comics

1) How do transitions between panels affect the reader's interpretation of time within a comic?

2) When it comes to varying levels of reader participation, how do comics differ from traditional works literature. How are they alike?

Reflections on Understanding Comics

In his graphic novel, Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud guides the reader into a new way of thinking about comics. McCloud “sets the record straight” from the beginning of his graphic novel by assuring the reader that comics are not just something reserved for the funny pages. Instead, McCloud offers that comics are more of an art form than most people realize because, in a comic, the author has the ability to use not only words, but pictures to convey his message. Before this class, I had seen comics/ graphic novels simply as a form of entertainment rather than a type of literature. Through reading McCloud’s book, I have learned some of the mechanics behind comics and now see that it is not only the story which is important, but how that story is presented to the reader. On this note, I found McCloud’s discussion on the role of transitions within comics interesting. Previously, I hadn’t stopped to consider how much of an affect transitions between panels have on the reader’s interpretation of the story.

Reflections on Crazy Brave

Before reading Crazy Brave by Joy Harjo, I had no idea that domestic abuse was such a prevalent part of many women’s lives within the Native American Community. I also did not know that, during this time, there were no domestic abuse shelters which would provide these women with a safe place to stay. Thus, many faced the same fate as Harjo’s mother and remained stuck in an abusive situation. While reading the memoir, I was amazed at how honest Harjo was in addressing these traumatic events in her life. She wastes no time describing the actions of her abusive father and stepfather as well as her home-life during her childhood to teenage years. Harjo describes these dramatic events vividly without leaving out any detail. Harjo’s willingness to intensely describe events that other authors might decide to gloss over is what drew me into the book. Her method of describing these events to the reader pays off in the end because it allows the reader to see exactly what past experiences lead her to make the decision to leave her alcoholic, abusive boyfriend after she finds herself facing the same trials her mother faced in dealing with her father. By fully describing the trials of her life, the reader is then better able to appreciate Harjo’s triumphs such as when she escapes her home situation to attend The Institute of American Indian Art. Through her unique style of writing, Harjo is able to show the reader just how much she has overcome in order to become the successful poet, mother, and musician she is today.

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Wasn’t the world suppose to end last month?? HAHAHA

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