Hey bloggers,
It has been a while for all of us since our last individual blog posts and this week it is my turn to be the class blogger! Throughout this past week, our class did not just focus on one specific reading, but two! We jumped back and forth between Joe Sacco’s Safe Area Goražde and Joy Kogawa’s Obasan. Since there were so many interesting blogs to read and discuss about, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the different components of Safe Area Goražde.
To start off, Mia talked about Joe Sacco’s decision on making Safe Area Goražde a graphic narrative a good thing and would allow the pages to be brought to life. She argued that the graphic narrative “would not have produced the effects that it did if it was written in a more formal, traditional style”, which I totally agree with since individuals would have a very difficult time visualizing what is going on if the illustrations were just in text. Graphic narratives highlight certain moments and memories and make the images more vivid and real for the reader which would, in turn, “tell a deeper story”. Alex also adds to Mia’s argument by saying that the illustrations in Safe Area Goražde “encompasses graphic detail in to his illustration in order to further emphasize the dramatic violence that occurred”.
Also, Mia brings up the idea that with Sacco interviewing the people of Goražde, he is able to “take a small war torn town that had been largely invisible to the world, and give it a face”.The message that she is trying to convey here is that Goražde will not become another war zone with faceless victims, as we have seen in Persepolis where the drawings that Alex had said are “iconographic style[s] that emphasizes the conformity that was brought to Iranian society during it’s revolution”. For example, Satrapi depicts countless crowds of girls in the hijab throughout the book.
Isiah discusses about the type of setting that Joe Sacco is in during his time in Bosnia. He talks about the prevalent issues of choice for the population of Goražde. For Goraždans, all of their choices are limited and Isiah adds that “The act of leaving is not within their reach”. Isiah also talks about Joe Sacco’s representation to the citizens, he represents “America, the English language, journalism, and most of all, he represents the idea of escape”. In the graphic narrative, Sacco freely comes in and out Goražde by flashing his Blue Card. The idea of escape emphasizes on the idea of a better life out there that is modern and filled with “wonderful material items like Levi jeans”. The idea of escape for the people of Goražde ties in with the aspect of choice, something that the Goraždans do not have or are very limited to.
Melissa, adds on to Isiah’s conversation about “wonderful items” and relates it to his idea of choice and escape while incorporating it with strength within the people of Goražde. From pages 50-56 titled “Silly Girls”, the ladies in the house are very limited to “luxury” resources since they are not allowed out of the city (no choice/escape). Despite their limitations, Melissa argues that they are still able to have “smiles on their faces [which] show how strong they are as human beings”. They are not going to allow their surroundings affect their happiness and interests, which shows a lot of strength and spirit in them. Personally, if I was in their shoes I would definitely not be able to keep up with the same attitude. Would you guys be able to keep the same attitude?
Until next time,
– Martin
Wow! What an interesting topic that you chose to discuss about in your individual blog post Melissa. I like how you started off with a general definition on what strength means and applied it towards Joe Sacco’s Safe Area Gorazde The War In Eastern Bosnia and Joy Kogawa’s Obasan. With the chaotic situation that was happening in Gorazde, I myself found it shocking how they had the strength and spirit to be able to laugh and have smiles on their faces and not allow what is around them to affect their happiness! In relation to your disagreement with the title, I had my own inference on why Sacco labeled it “Silly Girls”. With the current situation that those ladies were in, it would have been “silly” of them to the outside world to ask for a luxury item (ex. Levi jeans). Then again, this relates back to your idea of the amount of strength these ladies possess and the fact that they too are individuals with specific wants and needs, not just faceless victims of war.
– Martin
Hi Martin!
I’m really glad you enjoyed my blog post topic! After reading Joe Sacco’s Safe Area Gorzade: The War in Eastern Bosnia and Joy Kogawa’s Obasan, it truly showed me as to what strength really means. It’s without a doubt, that what they had to go through was horrific in the sense that no one should ever be put through those series of events ever in their life. However, going back to the term on Sacco labelling the chapter “Silly Girls” and you arguing that with the “current situation [they] were in, it would’ve been “silly” of them to the outside world to ask for a luxury item”. I totally understand where you are coming from, nonetheless after knowing what they have been through would I by no means call someone “silly”. Especially Joe shouldn’t have titled that chapter that way because coming from America, he had nothing to worry about and to him Levi Jeans were not a luxury. In other words, in my opinion, if Joe was placed in that position, I’m sure he would have craved other things as people do have needs (like you said) and a distraction from reality is always a great way in allowing the traumatic events not get to you.
Anyways, great discussion! Have a great winter break! 🙂
-Mel