Ms. B: Exploring Graphic Novels

Xuan's Journey into Understanding Her Chinese Name Yang mentions that in Chinese culture parents choose their child’s name with deep consideration because names are used as a way to shape a child’s future. On the first page the reader is introduced to Xuan where she says "Baba named me Xuan. It means "Forget Sorrow"". Throughout the novel Xuan li stens to her father tell his captivating stories. The way Yang rewrites them she  makes a point to introduce her ancestors by their Chinese name and define what it means, then after she refers to them in their birth order. The characters Chinese names reflect their personality and how they attempt to meet their parents expectation.  I began to wonder about the connection of Yang’s ancestors Chinese names and their stories she rewrote from her father and how she later makes a connection from her father’s stories to her Chinese name. Yang mentions that Chinese names reflect what their parents expect for them to bec...

Kate Evans's graphic novel Threads  is a first hand report of what she experienced and witnessed when she volunteered in the Calais Jungle. Her novel introduces the reader to a variety of refugees, shares their stories, shows their living conditions, and explains the way they are treated. I feel that I have learned a lot from reading this novel, not only about the thousands of refugees and asylum seekers that were fleeing their homeland and hoping to somehow get to the UK, but also about the many different ways that volunteers and citizens can help to support and care for these people. Evans uses her novel to show readers how her volunteer work has made a difference and how others can make a difference. She inform readers of the little things they can do from their home, what supplies these people need, and how it is used to support people and make a difference.  Food items that are useful include chickpeas, rice, caned fish, long lasting milk, ginger, garlic, ...

Representing Mania in Illustrations Ellen Forney's Marbles is a memoir about her experience of coming to terms with her diagnoses of bipolar disorder and finding balance between the mania and depression states. Forney art allows The reader is able to get an inside understanding of how Ellen's outer life experiences while revealing her inner state of mind and how she feels during these two polar moods. Forney's illustrations can be sorted into two groups, Ellen in the state of depression, and Ellen in the state of mania. She uses dark contrast, doodles, empty space, and exaggerations in her art to translates her mood and perspective to the page. Below are a few examples of her she illustrated her manic episodes. An illustration of her extremely large and wild back tattoo. Big eyes, stars, and lines coming from her face and body. Big eyes, stars, lines, and the many ideas and thoughts going on in her mind. Different mood states, many that can be i...

Comic Based on Persepolis By Jessica Baron             https://Pixton.com/ic:4mnz69sd

Marjane Satrapi's Representation  of How the Child Understands War: One theme or idea that has stuck out to me the most while reading The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, is the affect of war on childhood growth and development. The beginning of this story follows Marji from a child at the age of ten to a young adult who is forced to flee her country. Throughout the first half of the book, traces of the effects of war and corrupt politics on her young development can be pointed out. Satrapi not only describes these childhood events from her personal memory, but she also uses dark contrasted ink to paint a visual image for the reader to engage and get an emotional insider view.  Examples: Talking to God and planning to become a Prophet. Pretending to be solders in the Revolution and demonstrating in the garden. Believing God chose the King. Trying to understand the tortures and imprisonment of her grandfather. She didn't under...

Comic Inspired by  The Mental Load https://Pixton.com/ic:bxt297ay