My first encounter with Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi was an experience that seemed both foreign and familiar. It is interesting as a reader to encounter a text or in this case, a graphic novel, that has the essence of common or well-known elements and yet feels distant. The cross culture and historical foundations of Persepolis are essential in the storyline, but coming from a more Western Culture myself, took some adjusting. However, that is the beauty of departing from our own limited knowledge to gain a better understanding of the world around us. Marjane Satrapi takes the topic of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, a foreign concept for many who did not either live it or learn about it, and makes it more approachable. The style in which Satrapi’s memoir is written is in the voice of a reflective adult and illustrated in a simplistic recognizable manner. It almost makes the reader ask “Now where have I seen this before?” This is where the familiarity begins in Persepolis.
What is Familiar by Use of Images
The one-dimensional images in Persepolis seem recognizable because as children many of us watched a form of animation or cartoons that were drawn in a similar fashion. Often times the less complex something is such as an image, the easier it is to feel connected to it in some way, thus creating familiarity. This concept allows the reader to identify with what they are seeing even if it is just a little bit. In Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics, he points out that a picture can evoke an emotion and even a sensual response in the viewer, which is essential in the art of comics. Persepolis does exactly that through its black and white pictures and bold strokes. The background of each panel is also an element that evokes feeling and understanding. This is another perception that McCloud addresses as he recognizes that backgrounds can be another valuable tool for indicating unseen ideas, particularly when considering emotions. McCloud denotes how a reader will attribute feelings (depicted in elements like backgrounds) to the characters they identify with, rather than themselves. The blank and colorless backgrounds in Persepolis help create a sense of bleakness and isolation which pair well with the unfairly harsh circumstances that transpire in this graphic novel. Although the events and topic of Persepolis may not be well-known to many of its readers, the specific and intentional way in which they are presented help to get the meaning across.
What is Foreign and Why it is Important
Some things that were foreign to me in Persepolis mainly had to do with the history, spanning of time, and cultural customs. The fact that this graphic novel was published nearly twenty years ago and addressed a historical event that took place outside of my own country and lifetime was a distant concept for me. Nevertheless, that is one of the many reasons why exposing oneself to literature, art, or other matters other than our own is so important. One example from the text, that was foreign to me had to do with pop culture and how people dress, girls in particular. Common items like trendy or current music, clothing items, makeup, etc. were sold on the black market and were forbidden. Things that have always been easily accessible and advertised in my life were practically considered contraband. The two panels below show Marji passing men in trench coats trying to sell these kinds of items. Marji is then stopped by the Guardians of the Revolution for the way she is dressed because she has on Nike sneakers, jeans, a Michael Jackson button on her jacket, and her scarf is not pulled down far enough.
 |
| Marji getting stopped by Guardians |
 |
| Marji Purchasing Tapes off of the Black Market |
This is a totally foreign concept for me because in the United States, how people are dressed is often times seen as an opportunity for self-expression. I have never seen anyone stopped on the street because an article of clothing was a certain brand, style, or that it reflected things of personal interest. Reading Persepolis not only helped me learn about another time and culture, but it made me learn about myself as well. As much as I would like to believe that I am culturally aware, it made me see that there is always more to learn. Additionally, Satrapi’s work reflects the importance of allowing yourself to be subjected to a variety of arts, societies, and people that are different from ourselves.
Comments
Post a Comment