After a few weeks with no blog posts and the addition of the class reading Joe Sacco’s “Safe Area Gorazde,” I thought it would be interesting to look back on some of the questions raised in previous class blogs to see if Sacco’s account may contribute or answer these questions. A blog that I stumbled upon was Devon’s, “Where can I find some authority..?” in which she questions not only who has authority to tell their story, but who has the authority to give “value judgement.” Devon also says that the way we judge and determine value of a culture “depends largely on how the public accepts the information that is being presented by said person with authority.”

I think the question Devon is raising is very interesting, especially when applying what we now know of Sacco’s account of “Safe Area Gorazde.” We know from interviews and through the way Sacco decides to portray himself in his graphic novel, that he is aware of his authority and that he is going to have some responsibility in how many readers interpret the value of Bosnian people and cultures. However, is he giving value judgement to Bosnia? If so, is aware of this, as he is of his authority? 

Have an excellent rainy weekend!

Jen Paxton