Illustrated Revolution

[commonpeople1]

Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, 2004
Marjane Satrapi was ten-years-old when the Islamic revolution took away her freedom and rights, thrusting Iran back into the Dark Ages. Through simple but elegant illustrations, Satrapi tells the story of her childhood in Tehran during this time in her country's history. She shows the horrors and deprivations caused by the rise of religious extremists, as well as the bitter humour and courage that each ordinary citizen found to survive such a period.

The amazing thing about this graphic novel is how Satrapi can convey and stir emotions through illustrations. The themes she explores are universal - families torn apart, innocents persecuted, evil gaining power - but she makes them all the more powerful by injecting her young self's punk humour into the storytelling and making the reader care for her and her family. There's a sequel, which I can't wait to read, as well as a film, which is being touted as 2008's winner of the Best Foreign Language Oscar.

With Iran so often villified in the media, it's good to be reminded that the people in that country are just like you and I: not necessarily the choosers of their regime; and certainly not deserving of any bombs coming their way.

Comments

[geosh.livejournal.com]

sounds really interesting and worthwhile.

not unlike your NEW ICON!!! :p

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Thank you again for the icon!

[geosh.livejournal.com]

;)

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've really wanted to read this! Maybe I can find it in the library. Have you read Maus? That's really great.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I haven't yet. I'm waiting for the person who borrowed it from my local library to return it. Some reviewers have compared her work with Maus.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

I'm sure, they're similar stories, persecution and all.

Also, some of the illustrations in the webcomic american elf reminded me of the drawing style of the guy who did Maus.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I wish I had the money and space at home to buy graphic novels. Every time I read a good one, I'm left feeling like I want to own it and go back to its pages again and again.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. Sandman is also excellent. So wonderful. H and I might be putting art, massage and dance books in the living room on shelves, so I'd have room for some.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Look what I found...

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

waaaah! no podria mirarle!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It worked for me. Try re-freshing the page.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

I did, and that's after downloading and installing the plug-in. Also tried skipping to the next video. I'll try on H's computer later.

[evil-onna-stick.livejournal.com]

If you can't find it, I sent my extra copy (don't ask why I had two as I'm not sure--I also have 2 copies of the Burn Journals) to the weseal. He's read it so maybe he'd be willing to send it your way.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

Oh, I bought the Burn Journals. I'll ask the Weas & see what he has to say about sending it.

P.S. Should we start calling him Weasley?

[vyxle.livejournal.com]

This is one of my all time favorites. Her illustrations are so simple and at the same time incredibly innovative and powerful. She seems to have more of a graphic design background than your average graphic novelist. I can't wait for the movie!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It's deceptively simple, I think. Looking closely at some of the scenes, I think she put a lot of time and thought into it - she kinda distilled the images and packed a punch in most cases.

[vyxle.livejournal.com]

Oh, she obviously put a lot of time and thought into it--by simple I mean clean lines, flattened perspective, blocky coloring, etc. At first glance it seems almost like an immature or unskilled style, which was perhaps why it was in the end, so mind blowing (to me)--she would constantly surprise with really strong, powerful imagery. I read a lot of graphic novels, and it was a big stylistic departure from anything I've seen at a mainstream level.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Yes, I totally agree.

[rag-and-bone.livejournal.com]

peace-lovin', frog-licking liberalist wacko.

(my high school government teacher actually called me that once, when i said something similar to the last line of this entry re: war in general)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

You should have challenged him/her to a duel in the high school car park.

[evil-onna-stick.livejournal.com]

Oh, I loved this. I just sent out my extra copy for a friend to read. The sequel is just as good!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

My friend has a copy and is going to lend it to me. :-)

[evil-onna-stick.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Have you read a book called The Burn Journals? It's about a young teen who sets himself on fire. In a sort of suicide attempt. It's a bio so I won't be spoiling it by telling you he lives. If you haven't I can send my extra copy. I've been looking for someone who might like it to give it to.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't! I'll put it in my "must-read" list at GoodReads.com. ;-)

[theairwebreathe.livejournal.com]

oh, I love Marjane Satrapi! Have you ever read any of her interviews? She's fantastic, she says things like 'comic artists are the bisexuals of the publishing world; if you illustrate that's great, and if you write that's great, but if you do both it's much harder to get any respect.'

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

Dude, spot-fucking-on!

[belacane.livejournal.com]

my favorite book EVAR!!!

...one of my students was reading it (in class, but I had to give her a break, it's persepolis after all), and it made my heart glow.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I hope you gave her A+

[belacane.livejournal.com]

An A- will have to do =)

[psyfi.livejournal.com]

I love Satrapi. After this one, u should read The Story of a Return and Chicken with Plums. So far, my favourite is Chicken with Plums, in which she tells the story of her great-uncle, an Iranian musician Nasser Ali Khan who's been wanting to die since his beloved musical instrument was broken by his wife.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

She likes a bit of tragicomedy, doesn't she? ;-)

[gorecky22.livejournal.com]

I loved it... one of my comics of this year!! :D

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Same here.