In Guy Delisle’s travelogue Pyongyang, in which Delisle takes readers into North Korea with him on a work assignment. The graphic novel is written as part memoir and part travelogue to give readers a look into how someone who isn’t from North Korea (a foreigner) would experience North Korea. Delisle shows readers the differences between North Korea and other countries by providing readers with some of the rules and regulations that he was provided with upon arriving. This list details what he could and could not have in his procession while visiting North Korea and also what he could and could not do. This is how Delisle shows us the difference between North Korea and other countries, when visiting other countries, you usually are not provided with a list of items that are prohibited, especially items such as mobile phones.
One of the things that he does have with him, is a copy of George Orwell’s 1984, which Delisle thinks is the perfect piece of literature to have when visiting a country that restricts individuals personal and political freedoms. This is Delisle’s not so subtle way of letting readers know what he and they are in for. There are certain places that people put on their bucket travel lists, and North Korea isn’t necessarily one of them, because as depicted by Delisle, there are many restrictions on visitors to the country. One of which is there are certain areas that off-limits to tourists without their Korean guides.
Delisle further coveys the difference between North Korea and other countries by unintentionally drawing on a concept talked about by Scott McCloud in Understanding Comics. This concept is the relationship between pictures and words, and how the more simplistic the picture is, the fewer words you need for the reader (or viewer) to understand. I think this is something that Delisle is trying to accomplish in Pyongyang, especially since the pictures are so simplistic and the text bubbles don’t include much text either, yet both of these things get the point across despite their simplicity.
We’ve talked a lot about the graphic novel medium (what a crazy thought for a class centered on graphic novels I know) and how they can be used as more than storytelling for entertainment purposes. The graphic novel medium can be used to tell a story that may be a tough topic for people to digest or to relate to. Which is why using the medium for a travelogue about a country such as North Korea is a good idea. It provides people with information, as well as pictures (despite their simplicity) so readers can experience aspects of the country. As McCloud points out in Understanding Comics though there will always be people who don’t consider comics and graphic novels real literature because they have pictures. McCloud says, “traditional thinking has long held that truly great works of art and literature are only possible when the two are kept at arm’s length” (McCloud, 140). As for myself, I’m going to read whatever I want, whether it has pictures or not, as long as you’re reading the format shouldn’t really matter.
One of the things that he does have with him, is a copy of George Orwell’s 1984, which Delisle thinks is the perfect piece of literature to have when visiting a country that restricts individuals personal and political freedoms. This is Delisle’s not so subtle way of letting readers know what he and they are in for. There are certain places that people put on their bucket travel lists, and North Korea isn’t necessarily one of them, because as depicted by Delisle, there are many restrictions on visitors to the country. One of which is there are certain areas that off-limits to tourists without their Korean guides.
Delisle further coveys the difference between North Korea and other countries by unintentionally drawing on a concept talked about by Scott McCloud in Understanding Comics. This concept is the relationship between pictures and words, and how the more simplistic the picture is, the fewer words you need for the reader (or viewer) to understand. I think this is something that Delisle is trying to accomplish in Pyongyang, especially since the pictures are so simplistic and the text bubbles don’t include much text either, yet both of these things get the point across despite their simplicity.
We’ve talked a lot about the graphic novel medium (what a crazy thought for a class centered on graphic novels I know) and how they can be used as more than storytelling for entertainment purposes. The graphic novel medium can be used to tell a story that may be a tough topic for people to digest or to relate to. Which is why using the medium for a travelogue about a country such as North Korea is a good idea. It provides people with information, as well as pictures (despite their simplicity) so readers can experience aspects of the country. As McCloud points out in Understanding Comics though there will always be people who don’t consider comics and graphic novels real literature because they have pictures. McCloud says, “traditional thinking has long held that truly great works of art and literature are only possible when the two are kept at arm’s length” (McCloud, 140). As for myself, I’m going to read whatever I want, whether it has pictures or not, as long as you’re reading the format shouldn’t really matter.
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