Sorry about those little rants...on to more serious topics.
The three most recent graphic novels we've read in (Persepolis, Pyongyang and Safe Area Gorazde) all have one thing in common: They introduce an audience who is unknowing of a culture to how it lives, works, etc. It reminds me of a Japanese manga called JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Granted they are fundamentally different as the first three books are practically documentaries while this manga series is purely a fictional trek between Japan and Egypt within 50 days, the series author and illustrator, Hirohiko Araki, has actually visited the other countries visited in the series which include Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Abu Dahbi, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Not only does this make the backgrounds richer for the experience, the story is also given brief little information for tourists and simaritans alike including the Tiger Balm Gardens is Hong Kong, how Singapore is one of the busiest shipping ports in the world, how haggling is vital in middle eastern market places, the construction of Egypt's Nubia dam and just how crowded and unsanitary Calcutta, India is.
1 comment:
I have to agree with you on that, Todd! Usually when someone is familiar with a particular area, they can use their experiences to paint a vivid picture than what their imaginations alone could not. If Guy DeLisle, Marjane Satrapi and Joe Sacco were not in their areas related to their graphic novels, the plots would not be as enthralling as they would have been.
- Kristopher
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