Comics: Not Just for Kids
Hello faithful readers! I know it has been a good long while since the last post and for that I am sorry, but fear not because I am here to write you a glorious post about the world of comic books. Now most people when they hear the term "comic" usually think of things like the D.C. or Marvel Universes, some others may think of the Japanese comics known as "manga." Both of these subgenres have their own techniques that make them both unique. But the comics that I want to talk about in this post are the French versions of comics called "bande dessinée," these comics range just as much as their American counterparts everything from children's stories to graphic novels with more adult themes.
This quarter at Central I am taking part in a course that is studying several of these bande dessinée and their history within France. French comics have recently been receiving more and more attention as a real art form and are celebrated in France with schools and talks and even funding from the government.
Even if you are not a fan of comics, or you think that comics are just for kids I challenge you to read these. These are the few we have read so far and I think they are amazing reads, so here I go:
The first one we read:
Epileptic, David A. Bay
This comic is a biography of David's life, the majority of the book taking place during his childhood. David grew up with his mother, father, sister, and older brother, Jean-Christophe, who was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was about 8 years old. From that point on life for David's family changes dramatically, his parents visit doctor after doctor trying to figure out how to cure Jean-Christophe's illness but because epilepsy studies were still in their infancy no one knew what to do. But the family doesn't give up even when Jean-Christophe's epilepsy takes a turn for the worse and he reacts violently to his family members.
This was a comic with some real meat to it. There were dark and some very emotional moments throughout the book. You really get a feel for what this family goes through, and if you know someone who suffers from epilepsy you connect even more to the story. I thought this was such a great story and definitely one that should be read by everyone because it makes you think and gives you perspective on just how tough it was back then for people with mental illnesses.
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
This comic is a biography of Marjane's life. For most of her life Marjane lived in Tehran, Iran during a very tumultuous time. The story begins in 1979 before the Islamic regime led a revolution against the Shah (the ruler of Iran), but then the revolution happens and life becomes extremely difficult for Marjane and her fairly liberal family. Marjane is expelled from many of her schools and is finally sent out of the country by her parents to get her out of harm's way and to continue her education. But life isn't any easier for her in Europe, she is shunned, mistreated, and even cast out into the streets. Now Marjane must try and figure out who she really is, even if that means claiming a heritage that is filled with destruction and blood shed.
Persepolis is my favorite French comic! I love the realness of Satrapi's writing and I am glad that she doesn't pull any of the punches when it comes to what happened during the revolution. This comic would be good for anyone that likes modern history.
Photographer, Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frederic Lemercier
This comic is very interesting and in regards to the art of bande dessinée very avant garde (woah look at that French). The authors blend captions, drawings, and taken photographs to show what Lefèvre experienced on his trip through Afghanistan with Médecines Sans Frontières (MSF), the French doctors without borders. Throughout his trip he experiences everything from bullet wounds to home accidents, encounters with enemy Russians to smugglers. The trip is far from a vacation with Lefèvre almost dying from the elements after he strikes out on his own.
I thought this comic was really interesting. I loved the inclusion of the photographs because it makes the people that he meets seem more real and give you a real look at what their lives are like. The Photographer helps the readers feel like they are there with the team as they travel through the Middle East giving medical help to the people.
This quarter at Central I am taking part in a course that is studying several of these bande dessinée and their history within France. French comics have recently been receiving more and more attention as a real art form and are celebrated in France with schools and talks and even funding from the government.
Even if you are not a fan of comics, or you think that comics are just for kids I challenge you to read these. These are the few we have read so far and I think they are amazing reads, so here I go:
The first one we read:
Epileptic, David A. Bay
This comic is a biography of David's life, the majority of the book taking place during his childhood. David grew up with his mother, father, sister, and older brother, Jean-Christophe, who was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was about 8 years old. From that point on life for David's family changes dramatically, his parents visit doctor after doctor trying to figure out how to cure Jean-Christophe's illness but because epilepsy studies were still in their infancy no one knew what to do. But the family doesn't give up even when Jean-Christophe's epilepsy takes a turn for the worse and he reacts violently to his family members.
This was a comic with some real meat to it. There were dark and some very emotional moments throughout the book. You really get a feel for what this family goes through, and if you know someone who suffers from epilepsy you connect even more to the story. I thought this was such a great story and definitely one that should be read by everyone because it makes you think and gives you perspective on just how tough it was back then for people with mental illnesses.
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
This comic is a biography of Marjane's life. For most of her life Marjane lived in Tehran, Iran during a very tumultuous time. The story begins in 1979 before the Islamic regime led a revolution against the Shah (the ruler of Iran), but then the revolution happens and life becomes extremely difficult for Marjane and her fairly liberal family. Marjane is expelled from many of her schools and is finally sent out of the country by her parents to get her out of harm's way and to continue her education. But life isn't any easier for her in Europe, she is shunned, mistreated, and even cast out into the streets. Now Marjane must try and figure out who she really is, even if that means claiming a heritage that is filled with destruction and blood shed.
Persepolis is my favorite French comic! I love the realness of Satrapi's writing and I am glad that she doesn't pull any of the punches when it comes to what happened during the revolution. This comic would be good for anyone that likes modern history.
Photographer, Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frederic Lemercier
This comic is very interesting and in regards to the art of bande dessinée very avant garde (woah look at that French). The authors blend captions, drawings, and taken photographs to show what Lefèvre experienced on his trip through Afghanistan with Médecines Sans Frontières (MSF), the French doctors without borders. Throughout his trip he experiences everything from bullet wounds to home accidents, encounters with enemy Russians to smugglers. The trip is far from a vacation with Lefèvre almost dying from the elements after he strikes out on his own.
I thought this comic was really interesting. I loved the inclusion of the photographs because it makes the people that he meets seem more real and give you a real look at what their lives are like. The Photographer helps the readers feel like they are there with the team as they travel through the Middle East giving medical help to the people.
All of these comics I would recommend for people high school and up because the topics, ideas, and some of the graphics presented in these books can be harder to grasp for younger readers. That being said if you are younger and think you are up for the challenge I recommend reading them because they are very good and are worth the read.
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