The stubborn Post that wouldn't Post

Given that in the last month I've bruised the elbow joint (muscle and bone) and fell and created a hematoma on my skull, still doesn't excuse the fact that I've fallen behind. So I thought I'd write about what we are doing and come back at a later date to catch up.
We have just finished Safe Area in Gorazde. This is not the first time I have heard of Bosnia. In 1992 a young girl by the name of Zlata Filipovic gave permission for her diary to be published. In 1994 I read this book, who told the world what was going on in Sarajevo and in Bosnia from a child's perspective.

It is interesting I'm currently writing an essay about perspective for this class. And adults perspective is very different than a child's perspective. I have to wonder as adults do we over run ourselves to the point that we fail to see what is truly important. I'm implied to say yes adults tend to complicate their lives. My suitemate Kaylette says "Life isn't hard, people make it hard." I guess for me it is the link to all survivors of war, they survive.

I don't mean survival in the heart is still beating sort of way but rather that that person's life still thrives, they continue. Maybe that is what made Gorazde so unique, these people were still there.

So to you dear reader, I encourage you to go out and read both Safe Area and Zlata's Diary.

Maus

Art Spiegelman wrote Maus as a way to tell his father's survival of the Holocaust Memorial. While presented in a comic form the story is serious, sad, and poignant. Each animal that represents a nationality was carefully chosen. For instance The Americans are dogs, French are Frogs, Germans are Cats, Polish are pigs and the Jews were mice. Part of that was a play on the propaganda the Germans had against the Jews by saying they were rodents. Mickey Mouse was even dismissed because of the fact it was a mouse and Jewish. I think all should read Maus and read about the Holocaust so that history does not repeat itself.

www.ushmm.org Is the link to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Time To Say Goodbye!

Well my dear Odd One Out groupmates, it's time to say goodbye for Miss Roseknight! This blogging project has definitely been an experience! I'm really not used to blogging, so I obviously wasn't very consistent about doing them, but I did try and get 10 full blogs in (one for each graphic novel we read). Anyway, thanks for all the awesome posts, and for the great ideas about each graphic novel! It's always great to meet and know others who have a love for manga/graphic novels as much as I do, and I love to read whatever has to say about them. I especially love to see how our opinions match up or completely differ with everyone else's. While I will drop in for the next few weeks to see how this blog turned out, I think I've blogged all I can on our novels. Anyway, thank you again for a great, and thanks to Doc Clemente for his "interesting!" (lols) discussions in class. Have a great finals week, and have a Blessed Christmas Break everyone!!!

P.S. So one last graphic novely thing for me to do! I

've included the names/pictures of some of

my favorite manga/graphic novels/comics. I hop

e that you guys might become interested to check them out!

Return to Labyrinth:

Fruits Basket:

Bleach:

Vampire Kisses:

DragonBall Z:

Fall Out Toy Works:

Batman: Death and the City

"Prisoner on the Hell Planet" by Art Spiegelman

So this never occurred to me until after I read over a section in Maus, but at the age of 20 Spiegelman suffered a nervous breakdown. It's mentioned in Maus (pages 100-103) in the comic-within-a-comic section entitled "Prisoner on the Hell Planet." It's very possible that Dr. Clemente mentioned something about this in class, but I was very surprised to read all of that... not to mention I was surprised to see his comic incarnation of himself look that old, although that was just a personal thing. Well I did the research, and Art Spiegelman went to Harpur College (now The University of New York) where he actually suffered from severe sleep deprivation and malnutrition (although his apparent trials of LSD could have had something to do with it) due to the free atmosphere of college versus his incredibly structured life at home (this is pretty dang evident just by reading Maus). Because of this he checked himself into a psychiatric hospital where he would often horde different items in his room. He later learned that this mentality was actually very common in Holocaust survivor children; the need to get as much as you can at that moment was almost genetic. So when he checked himself out, he was shocked to find that his father had found his mother dead in their bathroom; she had slit her wrists (supposedly) because her brother had just died. Anyway, in dealing with all that happened he wrote the very expressive "Prisoner on the Hell Planet," and moved on with his life. At the end of this blog I included the links to the various interviews, autobiographies, and general links I used to find all of this information. Feel free to take a look at the various information within each website. Well, I hope that this puts a little bit more in perspective!

http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/+10050

http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/holocaust/spiegelman.html

http://www.answers.com/topic/art-spiegelman

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article5205520.ece

Blog of the Fireflies

I haven't written in a little while. Two weeks ago I had to attend my grandmothers funeral, and then last weekend I was just very busy and didnt get to it. Now Im sick wouldn't you know. lol

Anyway lets get down to buissness.

Grave of the fireflies was the most moving film I have ever seen. It hit me especially hard because I am an older brother, and I have a very young sister that lives with my father. Katherine is about 11 now. The odds of something happening to my step family are fairly high because they are both older and don't live very healthy lifestyles. I felt connected to the character in the film Saita. The film blew me away. Im still awestruck with it.

Something in class came up, where we didn't know if Saita had died at the beginning or not, but upon doing some research I can confirm that sadly, he doesn't make it. The ghosts dancing when the credits roll are actually still part of the story. It shows Saita and his sister being reunited as spirits. Just wanted to clear that up.

The Devil's Arithmetic: A Tale of the Holocaust

So today in class (12-02-09) Doc Clemente mentioned the book The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolan. The story itself revolves around a young girl named Hannah who, while celebrating Passover, decides that her family is too traditional, and can't understand why they are so fervent in their beliefs. However, as she is performing a ritualistic task, Hannah is transported back in time to just before the Nazis enter and empty out her new village. From this point on, she must live the life of Chaya, a young Jewish girl who is taken to a concentration camp. This directly correlates to the graphic novel Maus that we have been talking about in class. Just as Art tried to determine what his father's part in the whole war, and subsequently the concentration camps was, whereas Hannah must learn about why her family celebrates their faith so fervently. I've attached a search link for the movie that came out about The Devil's Arithmetic starring Kirsten Dunst. I haven't actually seen this version myself, but I suggest to you all that you either read the book, or view the videos as a way to see an alternate version of the Holocaust.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&source=hp&q=The%20Devil's%20Arithmetic&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#

Tetsuo: A Mini-Vegeta???

So this is probably one of the most random things I have put out there, but for those of you who know, I am a HUGE! DragonBall Z fan! and the whole time we were watching Akira, all I could think of was how Tetsuo looks like Vegeta! So the following are clips of each of the famous anime characters either fighting, interacting with others, etc., and I ask if you guys see the similarities too! And I challenge you all to do the same! Pick a character from one of the graphic novels/manga we have read thus far, and provide a link with pics or videos of who you feel could be their twin! Trust me, it'll be harder than you think!

Basically, when I look at Tetsuo, I see Vegeta's widow's peak, and even the way his face is set reminds me of the Saiyan. However, it's not just the physical characters that remind me of Vegeta: Tetsuo's attitude of refusing to let Kaneda help him, is just like Vegeta! The Saiyan Prince is so proud that it took forever for him to finally allow Goku to even help him in battle. Both characters also had a love-hate relationship with their girlfriends at the start, but that's only a minor connection.

The beginning images are SOOO similar to Tetsuo's bad dream in Akira.. oh! and ignore the music, it's lame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u5hK6ZnaVs&feature=PlayList&p=8ED8C12C659E5616&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5

Tetsuo's montage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vK0iThYlWY

Huck Finn as a Manga?

Thanks to our friends at Cliffsnotes, classic literature is now being offered in Manga format:

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/Section/CliffsNotes-The-Manga-Editions.id-310791.html

A lot of them are Shakespeare, but other offerings include "The Scarlet Letter" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

Unlike the other offerings that have made cliffsnotes a college student staple (much like the hoodie), these aren't free. You have to buy 'em for $9.99, but sample panels appear on the site.

I admit to scrambling around cliffsnotes to survive some of the challenges in my high school lit classes -- now my younger brother faced with the same literary conundrums has Manga versions available. I'm not sure whether I'm saddened... or jealous.

Misperceptions of Manga: The Push Man

The first thing I honestly thought of when Doc Clemente said we would be reading a classic manga, my heart leaped for joy! I was thinking something along the lines of Inuyasha, DragonBall Z, or Bleach! Then I stopped and realized that those weren't classics yet, as they hadn't been out that long! So my mind turned then to Astroboy and Speed Racer. Whatever manga we read would of course have to be something completely amazing! It was after all a manga! In my naiveté I was very unprepared for the intensity and non-fanciful Pushman.

Tatsumi's The Push Man and Other Stories is a anime that was intended to show life as it really was.... well, not quite anyway. But it's intention was to bring up real issues that occurred everyday in the Japanese culture, as well as ours. It's graphic images of intimacy (explicit and perverted), ideas of murder and mayhem, and it's subject matter of cheating relationships challenge the reader to acknowledge the existence of those very

things. It also gives insight into the minds of the people who deal with these situations day after day.

As far as the art goes, The Push Man is not what I would consider a typical manga. Yes, this manga is definitely in a league of its own, and certainly has fathered many manga-esque stories, but for a girl who grew up with DBZ, this is just not what I think of. All the characters are simply dra

wn with fairly proportionate features, albeit a great deal of eye make-up for the woman. No one seems to have that characteristic large gem colored eyes that constantly sparkle; the terribly long feathery lashes, nor do they have the funky hairstyles anime has become known for. However, both versions are true manga... just

generations apart. While The Push Man represents the classical style, and all those others the more modern style, then it's not that hard

as a reader to simply look at it that way. Thinking deeper, Tatsumi wanted us to not only identify with the characters but perceive life through their eyes, so maybe it was just his choice to draw them more "realistic."

Whatever the psychological depth or superficial nature of Push Man, it certainly encompasses very adult themes, and certainly makes the reader look closer at their own lives.

In Responce to PVB Waltz post.

I too know what its like when pop culture ruins something deep for you. I had just begun playing guitar at the time Guitar Hero 3 was released, and I remember the constant barrage of "Play Through Fire and Flames, and Play Freebird" long very difficult songs no one actually wants to hear the duration of.
It is a bummer but you cant let a few people ruin things for you. Pyongyang is a brilliant novel that manages to explain the isolation of North Korea while keeping it humorous enough for a comfortable and enjoyable read.
Secondly Team America is a pretty funny movie and its not supposed to be taken seriously at all. It uses puppets and intentionally terrible acting for goodness sake. So don't let people ruin Pyongyang or The Team America movie for you.
What I learned from my experience is that even if people who play guitar hero are a bit lame about the real thing, they have at least been exposed to music. Likewise realize that before seeing that movie most people in our generation had no idea what was happening in North Korea, at the very least they now know who the leader of the country is, a small few may have looked further into the situation over there. Some may have even picked up Pyongyang or other literature from seeing the movie. Its a long-shot, but it is a possibility you might find comfort in. After all I still like my Skynyrd CD's.

PVB's take on Pyongyang by Guy Delisle

After reading Pyongyang, I was saddened, angered and a bit bewildered about the isolated culture of North Korea. When I tried to discuss it with anyone else in my age group, I received the typical response:
OMG KIM JONG-IL, TEAM AMERICA, F*CK, YEAH! LOLBBQ!

Well, maybe not with the Barbeque part.

So, if you haven’t already guessed, I hold great disdain for the movie “Team America World Police.” A staple in dorm rooms across the nation, the movie came straight from the masterminds behind South Park and parodies America’s role in world affairs and terrorism using lifelike marionettes. A particularly squat puppet imitating Kim Jong Il is cast as the villain and obscenities and merriment ensues.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I actually like South Park. I think the satire is done very well, and the show and characters and quotes are all pretty much inlayed in the collegiate culture. I take a lot of heat for the fact that I watch South Park with my friends but refuse to watch Team America ever again.

During the time I carried Pyonyang around with me to read it, people asked what it was about. When I answered it was an animator’s graphic memoir about his time spent in North Korea, I had to endure a barrage of Team America quotes. This made me angry. Is the only reason anyone knows anything about North Korea was because of that stupid movie?

Then I remembered that the only reason I knew anything about North Korea was from a comic book.

Which brings me finally to what I want to talk about in this entry. No, I don’t think Pyongyang, like the other graphic memoirs we have read in class, deserves to be called a “comic book.” Or at least, the stigma attached to the term “comic book.”

However, the media and the work itself I think is avant-garde.

Because it is very humorous. It was entertaining to read. The comedic voice percolated through the background of the plot. But at the same time it was edifying, insightful and a good read.

It’s a delicate balance in art and literature to inform, entertain and reach individuals on a universal scale. Art for the mind, the heart and the funny bone. But Pyongyang did all of that for me, in a rather bittersweet, outsider-looking-in way. And like film, I think it's a great way to communicate to a wider audience, if that audience takes the time to find it and appreciate it.

Non-fiction, isolated culture, South Park, art, literature, comic books. Discuss my fellow odd ones out. Discuss.

In Living Color: Photorealism within Waltz

The purpose of graphic novels is to tell a graphic/pictorial representation of a story while riveting dialogue expresses what can't be interpreted visually. According to McCloud a universal truth within the comic world is the more cartoony the face looks, the more people can see themselves within that character, can empathize with that character (pg. 31). However, there are many graphic novelists who do just the opposite to that truth: they illustrate their stories with the intent to give the character its own unique personality, separate from the reader. A great representation of this is Waltz with Bashir. Ari Folman, along with David Polansky, wanted to tell the true story of Ari's days as a soldier, and wanted to have the reader see it from his perspective. To do this they utilized a technique much like rotoscoping (animating over live filmed action) where Adobe Flash cutouts and true animation are put onto transparencies, cut up, and then moved in relation to each to give the visual appearance of movement (wikipedia). The effect that this causes is one that could be described as "photorealistic," or creating an accurate artistic rendition of something. The beauty that lies within the gorgeous hues of the graphic novel are truly mesmerizing, and cause the reader to not only walk along side the soldiers, but then actually distance themselves from Ari and his men. It was a genius way to tell his story, and the photoesque illustrations give his story a documentary feel that simply is perfection.

The following are illustrations from the book, and

their (near) counterpoint photo:

Inside Memory: Waltz with Bashir

So it's been a really loooooooong time since I've blogged, but I'm back! And am technically procrastinating our paper for this class by doing this, but hey! It's all homework, right?

Well I've been thinking a great deal about Waltz with Bashir and how the consequences of a fatal memory can take away a part of ourselves. So often when soldiers come back from war, whether they themselves saw action, or simply clean up after it, the emotional, mental, and psychological scars are immediately apparent. These incredibly strong men and women come back as shells of who they once were, and often with either incredibly vivid memories, or none at all. The ones who can remember everything in absolute detail have the pain of reliving hell every time they close their eyes, while the ones who have forgotten simply can't feel whole anymore. It's hard to even imagine what situation would be worse: to know what is slowly eating you away, or simply realizing that something is eating you away while you remain in the dark as to why.

From the point Ari realizes that he has in fact lost his memory, he becomes determined to get it back. However, as he travels to regain his memory, he forces others to relive the terrible things within their own memories. From Dayag's abandonment to Frenkel's waltz, Ari questions them all to find himself. While this seems like a rambled mess (and it very well could be!) I just can't myself fathom how unforgiveable a lost memory can be. Memories are what make us who we are, and they define who we will become. Seriously giving this some thought, I honestly don't know of anything in my past that was so horrible that I can either replay it out perfectly in my mind, let alone something so terrible that it would take away my memory. Then again, I've never seen war.

In the end, Ari is in fact able to regain the memory that he lost, but to what cost? Does he now live his life like those who remember every terrible detail whenever their eyes are closed? Was that the closure needed for him to truly move on with his life? How long did it take after his witness to the massacre before he blocked out that part of himself? I guess no matter what these questions are superficial to what the story was all about. Waltz with Bashir isn't just about one man reclaiming a lost memory (although that is part of the major story) so much as it's one man reclaiming a part of himself that horrendous circumstances took away.

I've included a link to an interview the Washington Post did with Ari Folman about the movie. The first few questions are the most pertinent as far as my blog (or rambling take your pic!) about his lost memory. Well ta for now! Blog later!!!!!!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012300838.html

Persepolis

Hey! Sorry it has been so long! My life is trying to run me over, I'm rebelling of course. So I love Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. My younger sister introduced it to me. Marjane reminds me of the women in my family, strong!

While I suggest that everyone goes out and reads both volumes I thought I'd add a link to an interview she did back in 2004. I found it interesting.

http://www.bookslut.com/features/2004_10_003261.php

Waltz With Bashir

I read this one in a couple of hours. I have to say that I was let down by it. I felt like through the whole book I was waiting for something to happen, and it never came. There were some violent scenes of course, but I know veterans. In fact both of my great grand fathers were in WW2 and my Grandfather was in Vietnam. Ive talked to them about the wars, so maybe the book didn't impact me the same way that it would impact people who didn't already hear war horror stories first hand. I also play a lot of War Based video games, such as the call of duty series. I know video games don't come close to the realities of war, but they are still violent enough to make an impression. I suppose what I'm getting at is this: If Waltz with Bashir is your introduction to the horrors of war, then its going to shock you, especially the photos toward the end. However if you've already spoken with veterans or acquainted yourself with warfare in some way, the novel doesn't offer any new information.

Reflection: Waltz With Bashir

I was having a hard time deciding what to write this week pertaining to graphic novel class. I decided to wait and read all of “Waltz With Bashir.” Now that I have, I am at a loss for words, not for lack of direction, but overwhelmed by the impact this work had on me.

I’ll try not to spoil too much for those in class, or those who have wandered in from the internet, who haven’t read the book.

The last four pages without dialogue, and particularly the last page where the graphic novel changes, was so emotionally sharp that in cut with the finest line art has to offer.

The way in which the story was told – weaving the experiences of so many around the central theme of regaining lost memory – was engaging and a very fresh way for me as a reader to piece together the plot. The use of photographic art made the panels seem almost haunted. The documentary-style narrative that offered just enough of a glimpse into each of the character’s thoughts made it feel all the more real, a concept that I’ve had a hard time deciphering thus far in the graphic novels we have looked at. As a writer, I was a bit disappointed to not have closer with some of the sub-plots in the book, but the details were enough to give me a personal feeling which each of the characters, and my speculations on what happened to them satisfied me as a reader.

But the juxtaposition of the last two pages was what really hit me. It wasn’t just the photos – it was the mood set by the rest of the work of art that stood with them that left such an amazing impression.

After all of my psych and lit classes – I never thought I’d have a life view-changing experience in a comic book class. But, I will be reflecting on “Waltz With Bashir” for a very long time.

Superman VS. Batman, my take on the situation.

This will be short and sweet. I think that Superman would beat Batman. Superman stops an atomic warhead with his bare hands. Then he proceeded to beat the crap out of Batman in Batman's novel. Yes he does have a weakness to kryptonite but I just dont see him losing this one. Could Batman beat Superman? In an IQ test yes, in a fight no. It doesnt matter how smart you are, if you get hit by a locomotive you will die. Superman is just too strong.

Batman Vs. Superman

It is the iconic comparison when pitting Batman vs. Superman. Many people who I have met would choose one or the other. Understandably, the leading argument in my dorm suite is that Superman represents brawn and Batman represents brains. My question to you is “Is that a fair assessment?”

Born on the planet Krypton an infant named Kal-El was shipped off to the planet Earth as his planet exploded. Found by farmer Jonathan Kent he and his wife Martha took him in as their own sun. That is the basic beginning of Superman. Over the years, exactly what happens after that has been rewritten many times. The few consistencies used is that eventually Clark Kent (Kal-El) moves to Metropolis, gets a job at the Daily Planet, falls in love with Lois Lane, and becomes the icon Superman. Superman’s two weaknesses are Kryptonite and that he cares for people. That’s about it.

Born to Martha and Thomas Wayne, Bruce Wayne had a life of luxury and security, until his parents were shot down in front him. What Bruce did to cope was incredibly different than what most people do in face of tragedy; Bruce took his anger and pain and turned it to a fight for justice. What makes Batman so different from the normal super hero is that he is human. Incredibly intelligent, Bruce uses his training in various martial arts and his extensive knowledge to fight the bad guy. Eventually he is joined by others. For a super hero that is portrayed as a loner Batman has an extensive team/family. Bruce is eventually joined by Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Barbara Gordon, and many others.

The difference between Batman and Superman goes beyond the obvious, Kryptonian and Human, but rather the Why to be a superhero. Why would anyone complicate their lives so much? Clark does it as a sense of duty; he has the powers he should help. Bruce does it in a sense to protect his parents. Obviously, they are dead; but he is trying to stop crime so it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

The fight in Dark Knight wasn’t unexpected. Here are two guys who are/were friends. It had to come down to them. It had been brewing for too long. I think it is interesting there really isn’t a “winner” in the novel. However, I think Bruce would have won in the end because a brain always outwits brawn.

I know I don’t really answer my question “Is it a fair assessment to compare Batman as the brain and Superman as the brawn. I think that is for an individual interpretation. I’ve presented what I know and MY OPINION is that Bruce should get more credit, because he chooses to help when he doesn’t have to, he could play all his life away and yet he chooses to stand up against evil.

Graphic Novel VS Written Novel: My Thoughts.

I very much prefer the Graphic Novel medium over the traditional literature, and I feel this way for two big reasons

The first reason is that, as anyone who has met me can tell you, I have ADHD or what is now called ADD-impulsive. Thus focusing on written novels is very very difficult for me. Even if I really enjoy what the novel is about, its just hard to sit still and digest a full written novel. The graphic novel on the other hand is much easier because things happen faster, and they have the added stimulation of illustrations. This means that even when I cant just pay attention to one panel, I can still read them because graphic novels encourage roving eyes.
The second reason for my opinion is more universal. I was born in Red Cloud, Nebraska the home of famed novelist Willa Cather. Since she is pretty much the only claim to fame in that town students at that school are introduced to her at a young age, and they read her novels to us a lot, at least one a year. I absolutely detest her works because Cather would spend pages upon pages just describing scenery. I always felt that her books failed to deliver much story or plot, especially when I could look outside the window at the rolling plains of Nebraska whenever I wanted. The Graphic novel forces the author to tell a story and make things happen, because descriptors are drawn.In fact I could do the complete works of Cather in one panel:

http://www.stolaf.edu/academics/naturallands/media/prairie/prairie3.jpg

The End.

Humanity and Art

As a writer, I am always exploring language to find new ways of describing emotion, perception, beauty, tragedy and more often than not, find the details of hope within the crevices of injustice that humans inflict on one another. Many written mediums from novels to poetry offer an unlimited realm of research, composition and enjoyment. And to strengthen my expression in writing, I look at other art forms to infuse passion and heartbreak into my work.

From film to theatre to visual art to music and now graphic novels.

From the visual art side of the graphic novel, one panel can strike a person much like a poem: leaving the reader with one taste, one idea, one feeling that connects to the overall concept. Art Spiegelman’s “Maus” did this to me on the first flip-through of the book. I have no idea what the story holds for me as a reader when we get to it at the end of the semester, but the imagery has already touched my emotions.

As for the language part of it, I believe graphic novels are more universal in the fact that as far as poetics go, the symbolism is etched into the storyline and the characters. There’s not as much sifting through seemingly isolated symbols or digging into meaning of a story that can only be unearthed in a comparative literature discussion. In my opinion, the language of comics comes directly from the characters and they tell it like it is. Or rather, they tell it and the reader relates to each character as a person talking, instead of sifting through superfluous “narrator” voice. (Not that I have anything against the narrator voice -- I'm a prose writer, after all!)

But do graphic novels really “tell it like it is”? Does any art form? Novels, poems, plays, songs, works of art? Certainly the violence, blood and guts in superhero graphic novels are taken with a grain of salt. And social awareness graphic novels have unique artistic licenses that seem to take harsh reality and make it no less harsh, but tint the edges with expression and universality.
I guess what I’m getting at is that all art begins from a very real, human place. Emotionally, psychologically, socially. But infused in these studies of the human condition is a little bit of human control – hope – that lets us show a piece of ourselves, a piece of beauty, a piece of proof that we work for something better.

I think Friedrich Nietzsche said it best: “We have art in order not to die of the truth.”

‘til next time,
-PVB

The Graphic and the Novel: What tells the better story?

So this blog posting is simply a rhetorical question, but the main reason I bring this question up is because of something that Dr. Clemente mentioned during class last week: graphic novels obviously tell a story through pictures, and thus many more sensory tools can be utilized over a written novel, but this is not without its flaws. So again my question is this: which of two forms of story-telling is the more efficient and more appealing to the public? (again, this is purely opinion and observation... feel free to debate, agree, or comment!!)





"Kovacs and Nite Owl entered the window of Kovacs' former residence in search of his extra clothing and of course, his face. Nite Owl simply reclined in the open window, and impatiently inquired as to why they were even there. 'Exactly what, uh, personal effect were you looking for?' Kovacs patiently began to relay the message, as his former landlady walked in with her frightened children in tow. Kovacs simply got up from his position on the floor, and methodically approached her to a chorus of 'Oh God!' She quickly took a step back from the approaching figure, but seemed unable to move more than a step or two; the most she could do to stop the inevitable fight was to beg for no more trouble. 'Mrs. Shairp, long time no see' Kovacs uttered cooly, 'told press I'd made sexual advances to you. Not true.' A look of complete horror took the place of the confused fear on her face, and once again all she could do was continue to clutch her children and shout that it was merely a misquote on the newspaper's part. Kovacs continued staring at her with a blank face full of contempt and righteousness, and asked her a question he knew would cut her to the quick: 'How much did they pay out to lie about me, whore?' One could nearly hear her heart crumple upon having her dirty secret uttered in front of her children, and by a man ask vicious as Rorshach. 'Please don't sy that. Not in front of my kids...please they... they don't know.' It was the plea of a broken woman, and with that Kovacs called to his partner, and stated that he had what he came for. The two left the same way they came, leaving Mrs. Shairp in a sobbing pile on the floor thankful that her plea reached his ears. However, it wasn't her pitiful statement that caused Kovacs heart to defrost, but the look upon her son's face at the mention of his mother's profession.... if the eyes are the window to the soul, the look that Kovacs had when seeing that young boy would have been one of pitiable sorrow." ('written' from page 6 of Chap. 10)





OR!!!!



(sorry the picture didn't come out that great.. but again, this is page 6 of Chap.10)

What took me numerous sentences to do, Moore and Gibbons accomplished in 9 panels. Of course these panels were intricately drawn and dialogued, but it still achieved what took a long time to write. So what this "proves" is that graphic novels offer not only a beautifully designed visual interpretation, but it also allows information to be presented in a very quick way. However, with the above paragraph (which I wrote based off this page) visual WORD imagery was incorporated to allow a person to create that same sad far-off look in Rorshach's eyes. In graphic novels the story quite literally unfolds in front of your eyes, and by seeing that imagery and reading the dialogue that follows one can nearly put themselves in that story, and live along side the characters. That is also possible in written novels. By reading and interpreting the character's appearances, the sound of their voice, their surroundings, even their pets, the reader can gain an intimate relationship with the story, and (once again) find themselves living alongside those characters.

In the end, this really was rhetorical question, but I did want to at least put it out there in Cyberland because it's a valid question to consider. Remember, graphic novels vie for the respect that literature boasts, but the reader gets the same destination, they just must make a slightly different journey to get there. And with that, Ta for now!

***so this was obviously a more morbid set of panels within this book, but there are two reasons why I chose this for my post: 1.) this was a really good section to rewrite as an example of the "novel form," and 2.) I really like Rorshach, and this little bit of humanity he shows just makes me love his character more!..nuff said.

Concepts in “comics:” Universality of cartoon imagery

For my first official blog post, I’d like to discuss a concept that Scott McCloud brings up in chapter two of his book “Understanding Comics.”
Universality in cartoon imagery.
The fact that cartoons and comics are used in many situations (advertising, step-by-step airplane evacuation brochures, maps at the zoo, etc.) show us that the simplification of human emotion and reaction is understood and “read” in a wide range of age, social and language groups. But it’s more than that.
As McCloud states, “When you look at a photo or realistic drawing of a face – you see the face of another. But when you enter the world of the cartoon – you see yourself.” (Page 36)
In other words, there are lots of “blank spaces” for you to fill in your own familiarities.
In my opinion, it is this concept that explains why that annoying guy that sits behind you in Literature Appreciation who spouts off politically incorrect dialogue is a jerk, but Cartman spouting off politically incorrect dialogue in South Park is a genius.
But here is the example that struck home with me.( It’s a rather depressing example, and I’m sorry to bring the mood down – but we’re a rather melancholy group so far, it seems, and so far there hasn’t been much hand-holding or guitar strumming in “The Watchmen” but I digress.)
I had a lot of surgeries when I was younger. Spine surgery, kidney surgery, tendon surgery. All that surgery equals a bit of pain and the medical practice world of gauging kid’s pain is to show them a chart like this:

Now… I don’t know about you, but those faces traumatized me for life. I held great aversion to any mention or sight of this pain scale well into my adult life. (The therapy helps, now I just see pretty butterflies in the Rorschach splotches… really.) The catch is: I wasn’t shown that scale when I was in a great amount of pain. I wasn’t in much pain at all the first time, but I remember having extreme empathy/sympathy for those sad faces. In fact, I saw everyone in the whole world, me, my parents, my neighbors, my grandparents, my peers and my dog, all bawling in the number 5 face.
The medical world offered an improvement to the original, that perhaps is better:

Or perhaps not. Still, I think the more realistic interpretation wouldn’t have made me so sad: It would have been “that guy’s in pain.” Not “me and all the good lord’s creatures in this world are in pain.” Perhaps I’m also biased and trying to make a point, but I’m throwing it out there.
Essentially, it’s the ability the human psyche has to assign identities and emotions into things that do not exist – the reader puts their own emotions and five senses into the interpretation of the drawing more so than in novels, movies, TV shows or other artistic medias.
We are the faces. We are super heroes. We feel pain, we seek adventure. We relate and we engage.
‘Til next time.
-PVB

In Responce to RoseKnight

Interesting blog... This is my take on it:

I was born into a very poor farming family, and my father was a violent alcoholic. To make things more interesting I also have ADHD and a couple other minor disorders. Needless to say my life has not been easy. Yet I don't complain, and don't wish to change what happened.

Do I wish things would have been different? The answer I have come to while pondering this very thing many a time, is no. My reason is very simple; I would not be who I am today if things had been different. Not that my childhood was exactly a fun time, but after going through it I have come to find out some things about myself that I value a great deal.

I am virtually fearless. After going through poverty, child abuse, and a few therapy sessions as a kid, what can life possibly through at me that I cant handle? Hence I do not worry about too much in my day to day. I also do not succumb to peer pressure very easily because after trying to please my father for several years, and not being able to no matter what I achieved, I have found it very easy to just do what makes me happy with myself. I don't feel much of a need to impress other people. I would be very diferent if I went through an easier time. Those are just a couple brief examples of how my past has effected me. It comes down to this; I like who I am now, and I wouldn't want to change my the experiences that made me the way I am.

Batman would not be batman if his parents had not been killed. I think he enjoys the way the angst and anger fuels him when he is out doing his vigilante work. I can relate to that 100%. I don't think anger is always a bad thing, its excellent fuel for determination.

Dr. Manhattan on the other hand, I don't really understand him. Yet isn't that the point of Doctor Manhattan? He is so far removed from humanity that he doesn't relate, or make since to humans. I think his isolationism was just a metaphor perhaps, for how humanity is lost in times of war. I don't know, you would have to ask Al lol.
(Proud of myself, got to say lol in a collegiate document)

I think the grand question to ask oneself when contemplating this question is this:
Would you change who you are to make life easier?
I would not, and I don't think many people would. There is probably even a term that describes this psychological phenomena. Ill ask Nevitt.

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda????

So over this past weekend I realized something.... even though comics, graphic novels, and animated cartoons are fiction... the characters in those stories still have some pretty disheartening lives. If I could make some sort of fictionalized version of my life I think I would, actually I know I would, make it 100% more interesting than my current life, but I don't think I would fix everything wrong with my life. I mean, yes, I would like it if I wasn't stressed out all the time over school and work, and it would be amazing if my boyfriend didn't live an hour and half a way, but thus is life, and we must just live it. The same goes for the aforementioned characters. The way their authors wrote them was meant to be a parallel to actual reality. For example, in Watchmen it's obvious that Sally Jupiter hates being the age she is (and as a personal theory, I think she also resents her daughter for being that golden age where "women are beautiful and sexy...." uh, that idea while physical is a mental perspective as well....), but while she cannot physically change that about herself, the question I wonder is if a person in "reality" were in that same position, would they change their age? their lives? their endings?

I've noticed in the few short weeks I've been in Graphic Novel class that anything and everything can and will occur in graphic novels. But, and again I say but! would those characters, if they could, go back and change their lives to make them easier or better? The answer to this question I think can actually be answered in two ways: Bruce Wayne and Dr. Manhattan.

In the case of Bruce Wayne, we see a middle-aged man who more than anything wants to change his past, right? Not quite... Bruce Wayne does in fact wish, as all of us would, that his parents never died, and mentions, if not indirectly, that he wishes he could have stopped that bullet.... but my question is this: if his author's made him to wish so heartily to change his past, why didn't they just let him? I mean, the man is a gazillionaire! he could've bought a time machine, or had that pansy Superman (sorry, personal feelings!!!) run around the earth and turn back time.. the point is that the authors utilize these impressive personages to imitate and embellish reality, not to alienate the readers by making them second-guess what their lives have been like.

In Dr. Manhattan's case, we have an entity (can't quite say person) that has the power to go back in time and change his past with nothing stopping him... or at least as far as I've read nothing is stopping him. However, because Dr. Manhattan is lacking in the "human empathy department," he does not actually go back to change anything (again, as far as I've read anyway). One can deduce that this is because he obviously doesn't care enough about his old human nature to actually want to change this, and (assumably) because as readers we are supposed to empathize with the desire to go back and change our pasts, and again make life so much better, but realize that while it is physically impossible for us, that decision is not meant to be up to us, let alone supernatural beings......

Now all of this may seem like ramblings, but I will admit that I'm tired, and thus it may not make complete sense, and plus as a blog it doesn't have to be anything but my thoughts about Graphic Novels! So for now, I bid adieu, and promise to blog again sometime soon!

I'm here... really!

Apologies for being the latest odd one out. Is it December yet? I mean... uh... Batman. Yes, Batman.

Hello, my name's Amanda, I'll beyour tour guide today. I'll also be posting as PVB on this blog. Don't ask, just nod. There you go.

I will be honest and say that I have never read a graphic novel unless you count the extra thick special issue of "Archie" I read when recovering from surgery in the hospital one time (the magazine selection in most hospital gift shops are sparse at best, so you grasp at treasure when you can). Thanks to media, I am a bit versed in the Marvel comics world, at least those that have made it to movie theatres and DVD. Reading "The Dark Night Returns" was my first real submersion in the graphic novel and I am thouroughly enjoying "Watchmen" as I acclimate to the storytelling dynamics of this medium.

As a Language Arts major and aspiring author (aren't we all?), the themes, presentation and quirky use of detail to the mind has been very fun to be exposed to. I hope to learn a lot from this class and, as with all my classes, infuse what I learn into my writing. (Except statistics. I didn't like statistics.)

I am very interested in the socially pertinant graphic novels we will be reading, especially Maus. (Not that Batman isn't, like, socially pertinent pleasedon'tkillmefellowblogmembers).

I do believe that wraps up my introduction. I look forward to being a timely and productive member of this group. Promise.

-PVB

Why yes I am a nerd!

Hi! I'm Alicia. I'm taking Graphic Novel at PSC. Yes, that is a real class and yes, I do know how lucky I am, so does the rest of my family. Why you ask? For one simple reason we get to read about Batman. Granted that isn't the original reason why I signed up for this class, but it is a perk.

I've been a fan of comics since I was 9-10 years old. However, before I met the wonderful world of comics I watched cartoons. I was more familiar Batman, because we owned the Tim Burton's interpretation. Superman has always been part of my life mainly because it was Christopher Reeves. Then I moved on to X-Men, followed by Spiderman, which lead to me reading comics. My brother mostly read X-MEN. So naturally being the nosy younger sister, I would read his. I own a couple Spiderman, Batman, X-MEN, and even one or two Superman comics. What I don't own I've done massive internet reading. Not just from Wikipedia but also from Marvel and DC's own website.

The funny thing is that my Mom, who majored in English Education, never had any qualms about me reading comic books. She encouraged it. To quote my mother, “Reading is reading.” While this is not the only type of reading I do I think it has helped create who I am, a nerd. My family is a group of nerds, which is something we are quite proud of if you ask.

Zach Intro

Hello all, I am Zach Strickland. This course is actually my introduction to graphic novels. However I do have a strong fantasy background as a movie watcher and as a video gamer. I am enjoying the class so far, even though I feel like sometimes I miss the fine points or the deeper meanings within the material.
I don't believe that you have to fully understand something to enjoy it. I'm told that Batman: Return of the Dark Night is very symbolic and that it also has strong political commentary and so forth. However I prefer to simply read it as a Superhero story.
I do recognize some of the deeper and more subtle points, the ambivalence of Batman's character for example. I understand that he is presented as a good character with a dark side. Yet rather than dissect the novel and try to find the deeper meaning I like to assume Batman is the definite good guy and that he beats up the bad guys. That is to say I read it more for the action and the beat em up sequences than the philosophy behind it and the symbolism.
The two scenes that stick out to me the most are the showdown with the Mutant leader, and then the battle with Superman. That to me is where the action is at. I do also like that Batman is presented with a bit of edge and I enjoy some of the dark humor in the story.

I think that Watchmen will have even more dark humor because I have seen the movie, so Im excited to read that one, and maybe I will get better catching some of its finer points.

I'm Only Complete When Reading a Comic!

Hello folks! Well, by day I go by super-serious student Riannon Jeffery, and by night I go by The Rose Knight: super-hero extraordinaire! At least that's what I'd like to believe! ; D In retrospect, I think all this fanciful thought comes from my love of manga/comics! To be completely honest, I heard about Japanese animes loooong before I knew what mangas were, and from my love of such animes as DragonBall Z, Case Closed, Sailor Moon, and Inuyasha came my eventually love of mangas! And ironically from there came my fascination with American (or Western) comic books/animated cartoons.... and all I have to say about that is Batman IS the Best Super-Hero ever!!!

Over the course of the next few months, myself and my Odd groupmates will be posting different blogs about what we are doing in our Graphic Novel class at PSC, our opinions on the graphic novels we are reading, or whatever pops into our heads that pertain to our comic love! Well anime fans, that's it for now! and thanks for reading!