Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

s11's impact shown through graphic novels

By Darlene Taylor - posted Tuesday, 3 October 2006


Incidentally, Spiegleman’s most inflammatory moment in Towers is a cartoon of Bush and Dick Cheney perched upon an eagle in flight (the eagle had already been dubbed an albatross, and shares the same shaped beak as the bird whose name also denotes a millstone or an impediment).

The eagle wonders, “Why do they hate us, Why???”, Bush yells, “Let’s roll!” and Cheney cuts the eagle’s throat. To say the least, the use of a phrase associated with those who fought back on 9/11 is reprehensible; however, the ability of the artist to combine a number of metaphors in one image is undoubtedly one of the strengths of the medium.       

Given Spiegelman’s politics, it is unsurprising that he subjects radical Islam to far less venom than the United States.

Advertisement

Spiegelman, like a lot of young Muslim woman living in the West who are inclined to wear the hijab as if it were a fashion statement, would benefit from reading Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novels about growing up in Iran: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return.

The constant threat of censure suffered in a totalitarian state due to supposedly inappropriate dress or imprisonment and even death for holding dissenting views is a long way from the policies of the Bush Administration.

By the way, with the release this year of Will Eisner’s The Contract with God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue publishers are now showing that they appreciate the popularity of graphic novels.

Exhibiting as much passion and anger as Spiegelman, although possessing a gentler style than In the Shadow of No Towers, the three books that make up Eisner’s classic trilogy form an extraordinary insight into the Depression, the changing nature of communities, poverty, slum life, racism and anti-Semitism.

In an article for The Age in 2002, James Norman argued that, “The conventional comic strip has evolved to become the “graphic novel'', a formidable new genre, breaking out of specialised comic shops into mainstream bookstores and the international literary spotlight.”

Spiegelman’s effort certainly deserves the attention.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

5 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Darlene Taylor writes for the popular group blog, Larvatus Prodeo.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Darlene Taylor

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Darlene Taylor
Article Tools
Comment 5 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy