Graphic Storytelling

Hello friends.


Graphic Storytelling is a literary medium in which illustrations, or graphics, are used to tell the story along with the text. Most likely, comic books will come to mind.


It is debatable whether or not this is a valid form of literature. Think about it, in a book store the graphic novels are in a whole different section (if there even is a section). Mystery books have a whole section to themselves too. Why can't these novels be mixed in with the others? Why isn't Persepolis in the autobiographies?


Personally, I think this is a very valid medium. It is very creative, not to mention useful.


Useful? How so?


Let's use Persepolis as an example. Persepolis is a French-language autobiographical graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi depicting her childhood in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution. These were rather gruesome times, one could imagine. You could also imagine it to be difficult for someone to read about or even watch (it was made into an animated film).


Actually, using the graphic novel medium makes it easier for such hard topics to be expressed and learned about. I, for one, do not want to see someone executed. I also do not want to see bodies blown to bits by bombs. With using graphics and animation though, I can understand that these things are happening without all of the horrific details and without being a minimalist. Persepolis adds to this detachment by being in black and white.


Detachment. Graphic storytelling detaches the reader from the characters a little but because the reader doesn't see the characters as real people. That sounds a little harsh, but it is true. It is the only way that I can watch something so gruesome.


There isn't much more to say I don't think, and I also think this isn't a well organized blog entry... but I am too lazy to fix it up and make it pretty for you.


Keep Turning The Page, Love Megan