I have replied to the question you gave us in the email about the blog for week 6. The question was, “Please blog about your response to the novel – what is the argument? how effective is the graphic format and why?” Hope this is okay!
This graphic novel conveys its argument through its use of pictures and text, but more importantly through the combination of both. The story discusses the desire for shorter hours and more pay in the working class of the 1880’s. I comprehended the argument however as the author’s persuading their readers to reclaim May Day and keep its memory alive by supporting and becoming aware of the struggles that many people were faced with. Using the graphics allowed for these struggles to come alive. Folvik and his fellow authors presented a number of events, which with the pictures, remain vivid in my mind. For example, on page fourteen, the novel tells us of an event that happened in Montreal in the year 1907. A number of students and socialists who were prevented the right to protest in the streets, decided to stop all means of transportation from proceeding. The authors also mention that this event was known as the “Monster Demonstration.” The image next to this text displays a number of people who are holding signs while trying to tie a cobblestone street in half with a large rope. While I am aware that this did not actually take place and that the protesters simply stood in the way of traffic, this image completely exhibits the meaning of the “Monster Demonstration” and will keep it fresh in my mind. While the argument is definitely present, I felt that the number of graphics on each page was overwhelming. While trying to read the text, I was often distracted by the images and large bold words on each page. Had the amount of images been reduced and the significant ones kept, I feel as if the novel could have conveyed much more than it currently does. Another critique I feel worth mentioning is the way in which the text drifts from one area of the page to another. As a reader, I was often unsure of where or which box to read next, causing confusion for the over all plot. Taken as a whole however, the graphic novel is memorable and its argument thoroughly conveyed.
In 1919, and before, Canada was divided across lines of class struggle. The struggle was that of a social class of workers against industrial capitalist elites. May Day was an effective method in which workers could voice their displeasure regarding their lack of rights as employees. May Day protests worldwide were important for the advancement of worker rights, but at the same time defined strict social class lines. These class lines created a feeling of solidarity amongst the population of workers, and subsequently pitted them against the elites in society. It was a way in which people from all over Canada could unite through the identification of a common struggle as workers searching for rights. The year, 1919 was a time in which General Strikes were arising throughout Canada, making it the record year for number of days lost to strike activity in Canada. The strikes and class lines united those oppressed as workers during the World Wars, the Great Depression, and even into the post-boom era of the late twentieth-century. However, these class lines that have united the population for over a century have had limitations. Those identifying themselves as a working class, especially those who participated in protests, were subject to fierce opposition: sometimes violent. The Haymarket protests were an early example of violent resistance towards a growing class of unsatisfied workers. The protests symbolized the spirit that identifying as an oppressed class could create, but at the same time showed the limitations of workers attempting to obtain rights. This trend continued with the quelling of the On-to-Ottawa-Trek and the accusations of Communist activity during the Cold War. The working class has united across Canada with a strong voice for fair treatment, but they have also distinguished themselves from the elite society and made enemies out of them.
The May Day protests have long been a symbol of resistance against poor working conditions and oppression of the working class. The movement has continued into the twenty-first century as a method to unite those in the population who identify as workers and who seek fundamental workers’ rights, better conditions, and justice.
My personal feelings towards the book are positive. I believe that the information I have talked about above was well conveyed in the graphic style novel, and I also found it quite compelling. The pictures brought a bit of excitement to the history of May Day protests and allowed one to follow a comic style progression of events. I believe the graphics were a rather unorthodox method of presenting history but at the same time I found the change from a typical article somewhat refreshing. Overall I liked the story that this book told, and I think it does a fantastic job of bringing attention to the struggles associated with the May Day protests.
In 1919, and before, Canada was divided across lines of class struggle. The struggle was that of a social class of workers against industrial capitalist elites. May Day was an effective method in which workers could voice their displeasure regarding their lack of rights as employees. May Day protests worldwide were important for the advancement of worker rights, but at the same time defined strict social class lines. These class lines created a feeling of solidarity amongst the population of workers, and subsequently pitted them against the elites in society. It was a way in which people from all over Canada could unite through the identification of a common struggle as workers searching for rights. The year, 1919 was a time in which General Strikes were arising throughout Canada, making it the record year for number of days lost to strike activity in Canada. The strikes and class lines united those oppressed as workers during the World Wars, the Great Depression, and even into the post-boom era of the late twentieth-century. However, these class lines that have united the population for over a century have had limitations. Those identifying themselves as a working class, especially those who participated in protests, were subject to fierce opposition: sometimes violent. The Haymarket protests were an early example of violent resistance towards a growing class of unsatisfied workers. The protests symbolized the spirit that identifying as an oppressed class could create, but at the same time showed the limitations of workers attempting to obtain rights. This trend continued with the quelling of the On-to-Ottawa-Trek and the accusations of Communist activity during the Cold War. The working class has united across Canada with a strong voice for fair treatment, but they have also distinguished themselves from the elite society and made enemies out of them.
The May Day protests have long been a symbol of resistance against poor working conditions and oppression of the working class. The movement has continued into the twenty-first century as a method to unite those in the population who identify as workers and who seek fundamental workers’ rights, better conditions, and justice.
My personal feelings towards the book are positive. I believe that the information I have talked about above was well conveyed in the graphic style novel, and I also found it quite compelling. The pictures brought a bit of excitement to the history of May Day protests and allowed one to follow a comic style progression of events. I believe the graphics were a rather unorthodox method of presenting history but at the same time I found the change from a typical article somewhat refreshing. Overall I liked the story that this book told, and I think it does a fantastic job of bringing attention to the struggles associated with the May Day protests.
Through telling the story of the evolution of May Day, May Day: A Graphic History of Protest argues that the struggles historically faced by workers are ongoing. The writers call these struggles both “our history and our future” (28). They go on to say the “history of May Day is, and will continue to be, the story of celebration, struggle, and protest by and for workers in Canada and around the world” (27). Themes of change are present throughout the comic book. With the growth of May Day, workers across different sectors joined together in support of better working conditions. They wanted to change anything from the hours in a work day, to wages, to the amount of jobs available for citizens. May Day has become a symbol used to unite those who are part of the working class, not just in history, but in present day as well.
The graphic format isn’t really my cup of tea, but I found it to be very effective and interesting in this comic book. It allows the reader not only to read about underlying themes, but lets them visualize them. It also includes the reader as part of the history and as a character of the story being told. In addition, it was neat to see the symbolism used, and allowed me, as the reader, to glue more pieces of information together; I could think about why the artists chose to draw certain images and then reflect on the meanings behind them. The graphics were definitely a nice change from the all-text articles we have been reading, and allowed this week’s work to be told as more of a story than the rest; however, sometimes I did find it hard to read because I didn’t know which part of the text to read next.
blog about your response to the novel – what is the argument? how effective is the graphic format and why?
Throughout the 20th century, social reform took the world by storm. Starting in the late 1800s, with the rise of the Industrial Revolution, came the rise of the working class. Poor working class conditions caused the beginning of the rights movement which was spurred on by the workers who were fighting for change. May 1st or May Day marks the anniversary of when the workers began their fight. In Canadian history one of the most well known May Day workers movement was the Winnipeg General Strike. However, the graphic novel depicts how reform movements come in waves and therefore were not consistent generation to generation. As the children of the generation, who began the reform movement, grew up and replaced their parent’s generation, the reform movement began to die, therefore action had to be taken to make the new generation continue the fight. In my opinion, the argument made by the novel is one of remembrance: to continue the fight for workers rights and be involved in the surrounding politics in order to create a better future.
When reading graphic novels, such as Persepolis, what usually is a big influencing factor for me are the graphics and the way in which the words are drawn or written (big bold letters or small letters, etc.). Graphics compliment what is being told by the words, by putting an image in the readers head in order to better convey the message. The depiction of the workers in the novel gives off a sense of determination and will, whereas often those in high positions, the elite, political figures, etc., tend to give off an aura of corruption. For example on page 19, the government figures are shown in a negative light as seen by the facial expressions, the skull and dollar sign. Bolded lettering also captures the attention of the reader more than the finer printing, thus putting more emphasis on certain aspects over others.
Broken up into its bits a parts, the graphic novel is giving the readers an overview of the history of protest, such as the title says. However, put all the pieces together, with the combination of words and graphics, and a clear message is made. Together the knowledge of historical events helps one learn and build a better future. This is the purpose of the graphic novel with a particular attention on the workers. Overall, I find the graphic novel very effective in portraying messages because one can combine imagery with words in order to come to a better and fuller understanding of a particular issue.
“Please blog about your response to the novel — what is the argument? How effective is the graphic format and why?”
The argument that is put forth in “Mayday: A Graphic History of Protest” is that Mayday—a day that is historically marked by a workers’ protest and their struggle for independent worker power—should be celebrated and remembered as a day when workers joined in solidarity to collectively protest for better working conditions and justice through “well-directed political action” (28). The argument speaks directly to the reader in that it emphasizes the history of workers’ protest—nationally and globally—and further maintains that we must exercise our political rights as Canadian citizenry and be politically active “in the streets and at the ballot” as we are “all apart of [this] historical struggle.” Essentially, we must never forget our social roots, and must continue to uphold the legacy of worker power and independence that was established time and time again on May 1st, Mayday.
As far as the effectiveness of the graphic format, I must say that I thought it was rather refreshing in comparison to the lengthy essays that we’re used to reading as students. The cheeky images and dynamic composition of each page makes for a rather exciting read, and really helps translate the novel’s messages into a visual display. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and though that the graphic format itself was brilliant and a provided a great reading experience.
The graphic novel argued that the May Day revolutions were constantly changing, and evolved over the years to mean different things for the workers, but most importantly that all the revolutions were fighting for something worthwhile, and should be commemorated. The workers united in demonstrations that fought for better working conditions, since the ones they had at the time were abysmal. Throughout the years, the first of May saw a lot of protests, which were different every time, from strikes to marches to public demonstrations. Some years were better than others, and there was no need to protest. Other years, especially leading up to the Great Depression saw wage cuts and widespread unemployment, and the people had lots to protest over. The novel talks about the changes and the different revolts, and how all of them were a significant part of history, and that their efforts need to be recognized.
Society was deeply divided along class lines in 1919, but this division also served to unite them within their classes. The working classmen were united in demanding shorter workdays and higher wages. Upper and middle classes were united in denying the working class what they wanted. The limitations to uniting around class lines were that they were still very different within the classes. The middle class, most noticeably consisted of a wide variety of professions, with very little in common.
The graphic format is a very refreshing change of pace from a traditional article, and is easy to read with images that help me, as a very distractible person, stay focus and interested. I personally find that having pictures to follow along with the text makes the reading go much faster, as it draws attention to the most important points in the article, and I do not have to re-read large portions of the text to understand the text in depth.
Had I been able to obtain the graphic novel May Day, I’m sure that I might have been interested in the different form the information of workers’ history has been presented. I understand that the argument in the novel was based on workers who protested their working conditions, including the hours and wages. The protests occurred during the Great Depression and every May there were strikes, demonstrations and protests to create changes in the system. Thus, May Day refers to the day workers come together to let their voices be heard so that they could have shorter work days and higher wages. Generally, I dislike graphic novels because of the imagery; I prefer to imagine situations from the written word and having images in novels crowds my mind.
Q: What is the argument? How effective is the graphic format and why?
The graphic novel, May Day: A Graphic History of Protest, sets forth to bring May Day to the attention of many of us who do not even know it exists, and even if we do, do not know the historical basis behind it. The novel depicts the change of the worker’s revolutions over time, and that these worker-lead protests for change occurred, are currently occurring, and will occur again. The novel argues that the celebration of May Day – in essence, celebrating the independence of workers and collaboration to fight for better working conditions – is something that all should remember and be proud of! The novel also goes on to explain how current political climates, such as the Cold War threats of communism and economic factors, such as the depression, fueled workers towards fighting for their rights, banding unions together and supporting each other towards a common cause. The issue of social status – working class versus elite – is also highlighted in the text, and the overall poor conditions was a push factor for the workers to band together against the elitist upper class – yet another example of widespread collaboration. For me, the idea of striking and layoffs on the job hits close to home. My Dad is pulp and paper worker and my Mum a school district secretary (part of CUPE), and I can distinctly remember times in my childhood and adolescence when they both were on strike. My mum was lucky – her contract was renegotiated and the workers were given a very fair compromise. My Dad on the other hand, was laid off and in order to return to work, had to sign a contract (along with the rest of the workers) to take a large pay cut and vacation time cut in order to get their jobs back. He still attends his local Union meetings, and so the reality of my Dad going back on strike is always a possibility, and I’ve grown up supported by union work.
The use of the graphic novel was very interesting. I found myself very drawn into the material, with the different texts, pictures, and quotes throughout the novel. I’m one who usually has a tough time sitting through articles, but I found quite the opposite true with the graphic novel. I think that this format is very effective as it draws in the reader, and you have options of what to read in a semi-constructed order (versus a paper or article). Overall, it was an excellent read!
In Mayday: A Graphic History of Protest by Robin Folvik, Sean Carleton, Mark Leier, they argue that most people see Mayday as the first day of spring instead of seeing it as a day to protest working continues. They state that May first is suppose to be the day to celebrate and protest working conditions such as working wages, and hours. The graphic novel continues on to give examples from all the important Mayday protests and strikes throughout history. By choosing to present this information in the form of a graphic novel, the authors are capable to show the readers the situation these people are in. Folvik, Carleton, Leier are able to illustrate the exactly what it was like for people working at this time, and what their protests would look like. By using images it allows the audience to easier see what the authors is trying to portray instead of the audience creating their own mental image based on the authors description. A graphic novel is very effective in presenting this information because seeing images of the workers gives the reader a more complete sense of the situation than just reading about it.
In recent years, May Day is more of a childrens festival to celebrate the arrival of spring. As an immigrant to this country, I have only recently learned of the origins of this holiday. A day to remember the sacrifice and work done for the rights of the working class. In the graphical novel May Day, the origins of this international holiday is explained. As for its effectiveness, I is more to the point and ensure that the information portrait does not deviate from the author’s intentions. The Artist’s artwork can help emphasize certain points that the overall argument is presenting. With limited words and description maining saturated within the artwork, there is little room for personal interpretation and distributed weight of the situation.
The Argument of the graphic novel is that the celebration of May Day is in actuality about worker protest and not of the arrival of spring. It is a celebration of the martyrs and the violence that occurred in the protests. it is a celebration of the struggles the working class. it is also a reminder of the hardships the working class had to endure, and the resistance to change the government held.
For Expository Pieces about this topic, it is more effective if only information and history is presented. if this was written as a book, it leaves room for interpretation, also leaves room for sceptics to place certain less weight on certain facts.
The main argument that the graphic novel is portraying is that the spirit of May Day, in terms of the celebration of labor and workers, must be kept alive. A graphic novel is definitely a good way to attack this goal, as its pictures help the reader to get more involved emotionally, not just rationally, in the topic.
I think, though, that in a lot of ways the graphic novel uses too much data, i.e. too many facts, and not enough emotion to connect with its readers. Also, its simplification of the emotion behind May Day makes the history of killing and imprisonment and state violence against its workers fighting for their rights seem childlike, and makes out as if the reason we should keep the spirit of May Day alive is so that we remember how, in the past, our ancestors fought for workers rights. Of course he says we have to continue to fight, but he doesn’t focus on it and he doesn’t make a good case for it.
I don’t think the author believes that. I think the author knew too much about the factual history, and didn’t know what to take out and what to leave in. I also think he probably wants to continue to see workers struggle for their rights and unionize – otherwise he wouldn’t have written a book about May Day and its history. Summarily, I think that a graphic novel that told more of a story, and matched its pictures with its emotions, would have been a great way to represent May Day – I don’t think the medium is inherently childish (Maus, for example, does a good job at this) – but I don’t think it was done correctly in terms of what the author was trying to convey and what he actually conveyed.
Thank-you all for your passionate & thoughtful responses to the “May Day” graphic novel we read for tutorial this week.
It sounds like there’s a decent division between those who enjoyed and appreciated the visual elements of the book (as a “break” from reading long, purely textual articles…!) and those who felt distracted by the lettering or disappointed in the way the graphic medium was used (less of a distinct narrative). At least two of you mentioned reading other graphic novels (Sartrapi’s “Persepolis” triology & Spielgelman’s “Maus” trilogy), and I’m curious if others have read these books–or other novels–with distinct politics behind them? If yes, have your experiences with those other novels affected your opinion and expectations for this one? What are the differences between the goals of memoirs (as “Persepolis” and “Maus” are) and social histories like “May Day”?
Rather, do you think you would have liked “May Day” more if it were LESS overtly political?
What does the rest of L1A think? We’re still waiting to hear from 7 of you!
“Please blog about your response to the novel – what is the argument? how effective is the graphic format and why?”
The main argument of this graphic novel is that “we” ought to “reclaim May Day … and keep its fighting tradition alive” (4). The direction of the argument towards “us” (as opposed to simply presenting the information generally), May Day intends to build a connection between its readers and the subjects of the story – namely, the workers who have struggled over the years. Suggesting that it is “our” responsibility to keep the struggle and spirit of May Day alive is supposed is an effective way to gain support for the argument, because most people (by nature) are more interested and invested in issues that pertain to them (somewhat) directly. Making a connection achieves this.
The graphic format of the text is also effective, as it communicates the “essence” of the argument. Bolded and/or creatively-drawn words draw attention to the most important terms and phrases; an example of this occurs on page 9 in the words “trade union.” Achievements and causes for celebration in the story are also greatly emphasized, as on page 25 with the words “100 years of resistance” placed inside a decorative banner. Techniques such as these cause the support for and good aspects of the argument to stand out most in the reader’s mind.
In terms of the illustrations, there are both positives and negatives to be argued. One positive is that incorporating drawings in with the text allows the author to clarify or represent concepts in abstract ways, which can actually be more effective than directly stating these concepts with words. It is encouraging for the reader to make their own connections based on interpretations of the drawings. For example, on page 13 a man is depicted with metal arms; when I saw this I immediately made the connection that workers were not treated like human beings so much as machines with a sole purpose of producing. The choice to use black and white paired with the sketch-style images (leading to non-identifying features in the characters and settings) makes the story easily relatable – it could be “us” shown here.
One negative is that some of the representations are not fully clear. For example, on page 19 a man is depicted as a skeleton, but based on the content of the story in this particular panel, I am unable to interpret why this was done.
Overall I considered May Day to be an efficient and creative way to relay this information and I enjoyed reading it.
First of all this book tells us that (May Day) the development of International Workers’ Day, May 1st, against the ever-changing economic and political backdrop in Canada’s history in 1880s. It is recognizing the importance of work and the historical struggles of workers to improve their lives, with a particular focus on the struggles of May 1st, the comic includes the reader as part of this history, and the story concludes that “We are all part of this historical struggle; it’s our history and our future.” His argument suggests that in the graphic novel is that many of the things now considered commonplace in the workplace are in fact things that were hard won by workers of the past through things like strikes, protests, and other direct actions. Things like the eight-hour workday and the five-day work week were won at the cost of lives. It suggests us to not forget those who fought and died for workplace rights that all of us expect to have today. The graphic novel illustrates the significant event which took place in Montreal in 1907. Students and socialists who were prevented the right to protest in the streets, decided to stop all means of transportation from proceeding. The authors also mention that this event was known as the “Monster Demonstration.” Further, the next image presents that a number of people who are holding signs while trying to tie a cobblestone street in half with a large rope. I felt that it was a positive impression while reading. The images have strong illustration of the event. Images tell more than it could be expressed in words. I am glad I read it, and educated myself regarding May Day protest. In fact the holidays that we have now it is all because of those brave women, and men. They paved the way for us.
“May Day” is made so that the true spirit of Labour Day is not forgotten. It does not help that Labour Day is in September rather than May. May Day brings to focus its main and integral information in its history. This goes back farther then what it would suggest, that it does travel back to the Industrial era in Europe. Also, its message would be that the people are the ones who chose their leaders, with that, they should be out their voting as well as fighting for our rights.
The saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”(something like that), perfectly describes a handful illustrations in this graphic novel. For example, page 8 – top half, shows people constantly working throughout the year, throughout the seasons, in all industries. It shows people’s body language – heads held low, body slouching forward – which reflects their working conditions and how much time they had to put in for work. Another example, page 17 – top half, shows a three panel illustration of what happened overall. Panel one shows the laborers needing food for survival, panel two shows them going to work for the giant guy whose purpose is to make money, and panel three shows the workers leaving work, disgruntled and not happy with their working conditions.
As for the lettering, it looks to be hand written and drawn, which shows me that it would be the laborers who created this booklet as they used what they would’ve had – paper and pen. Also, the reading was simple and straight forward, which means it would be made for the grade 10 level student, or the level of the average laborer.
The focus of “May Day” is to reemphasise Labor Day’s importance in Canada’s history. The graphic novel works to reignite the spirit of those striking workers in the readers, so that the memory of what they fought for, benefits largely unvalued in todays work force, are not forgotten. I also believe that “May Day” encourages the reader to be inspired by the strikers and rise to fight injustices still ongoing. Young readers of today should look at these past events and see that change can be made by those not just in positions of influence or power, but also by those determined enough to fight for it.
The artistic expression of the historical information was effective in engaging the modern day reader, especially those of younger age, familiar and drawn to this type of medium. It works well to not only to provide a concrete sense of the lives and feelings of the workers in the 1880’s but challenges the reader to do more than just absorb the information but to draw from the images their own interpretation. Whilst the drawings and form can at times result in the simplification of the important events, it still allows a balance of creative and intellectual stimulation, little found in educational books these days. This said I feel that the form would put off more mature readers that are looking in this area, not because the perspective or content is poor but because the label ‘graphic novel’ comes with certain connotations and attachments, e.g. fiction writing.
The book depicts a strong unity between labourers of very different sectors, who allowed us to enjoy the legislation we have today in Canada, which protects us.
The book is quite effective in my opinion; it allows an overview of how the legislation surrounding labour came to be what it is today in Canada, and most importantly, that unity is necessarity. However, the short format of the book might have to do with the fact that it considers many events without ever going much into it. Unfortunately, this dulls the emotional potential of the book,which in turn dulls the impact it has on the readers.
I think the point of this book is to make us aware that we (in Canada, but in may other countries as well) lost this unity between citizens/labourers. It also highlights that progress is not a goal we achieve, but one we work towards, because there is no reaching an ideal. This mean that it should be constant, as it had been in the past. It also suggests that regression can and will happen if this “battle” is not constant.
The Mayday text retells the true story of the working underclass verses their corporate bosses; and yes it paints a disturbing view. They marched for recognition and fair bargaining rights that would eventually end in the death of two innocent marchers at the hands of the Police. The divide between the ruling upper class elite (factory owners) and the immigrant (working class) was further thrown into a frenzy when thousands of WW1 solders returned to Winnipeg hoping for jobs only to find nothing waiting for them. Some 12 thousand unionized workers walked off their job on May 15th, not surprisingly they were joined by 20 thousand others who wanted their voices heard; the great majority were WW1 veterans. The story in pictures become clouded at this point, who do you believe? the silent masses or the group of 1000(rumored to be the corporate elite). Many in the group of 1000 harkened to the past uprising (Riel) and viewed the protest as the beginnings of revolution. The power welded by the Union leaders over was thought to be the start a new provisional government process that had to be stopped at all cost. When the Winnipeg Police were fired by Mayor, the Civic/Provincial leadership called upon the Dominion Police(RNWMP) too intervene.
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jpellegrino 5:51 pm on February 10, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I have replied to the question you gave us in the email about the blog for week 6. The question was, “Please blog about your response to the novel – what is the argument? how effective is the graphic format and why?” Hope this is okay!
This graphic novel conveys its argument through its use of pictures and text, but more importantly through the combination of both. The story discusses the desire for shorter hours and more pay in the working class of the 1880’s. I comprehended the argument however as the author’s persuading their readers to reclaim May Day and keep its memory alive by supporting and becoming aware of the struggles that many people were faced with. Using the graphics allowed for these struggles to come alive. Folvik and his fellow authors presented a number of events, which with the pictures, remain vivid in my mind. For example, on page fourteen, the novel tells us of an event that happened in Montreal in the year 1907. A number of students and socialists who were prevented the right to protest in the streets, decided to stop all means of transportation from proceeding. The authors also mention that this event was known as the “Monster Demonstration.” The image next to this text displays a number of people who are holding signs while trying to tie a cobblestone street in half with a large rope. While I am aware that this did not actually take place and that the protesters simply stood in the way of traffic, this image completely exhibits the meaning of the “Monster Demonstration” and will keep it fresh in my mind. While the argument is definitely present, I felt that the number of graphics on each page was overwhelming. While trying to read the text, I was often distracted by the images and large bold words on each page. Had the amount of images been reduced and the significant ones kept, I feel as if the novel could have conveyed much more than it currently does. Another critique I feel worth mentioning is the way in which the text drifts from one area of the page to another. As a reader, I was often unsure of where or which box to read next, causing confusion for the over all plot. Taken as a whole however, the graphic novel is memorable and its argument thoroughly conveyed.
tyler5 6:20 pm on February 10, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
In 1919, and before, Canada was divided across lines of class struggle. The struggle was that of a social class of workers against industrial capitalist elites. May Day was an effective method in which workers could voice their displeasure regarding their lack of rights as employees. May Day protests worldwide were important for the advancement of worker rights, but at the same time defined strict social class lines. These class lines created a feeling of solidarity amongst the population of workers, and subsequently pitted them against the elites in society. It was a way in which people from all over Canada could unite through the identification of a common struggle as workers searching for rights. The year, 1919 was a time in which General Strikes were arising throughout Canada, making it the record year for number of days lost to strike activity in Canada. The strikes and class lines united those oppressed as workers during the World Wars, the Great Depression, and even into the post-boom era of the late twentieth-century. However, these class lines that have united the population for over a century have had limitations. Those identifying themselves as a working class, especially those who participated in protests, were subject to fierce opposition: sometimes violent. The Haymarket protests were an early example of violent resistance towards a growing class of unsatisfied workers. The protests symbolized the spirit that identifying as an oppressed class could create, but at the same time showed the limitations of workers attempting to obtain rights. This trend continued with the quelling of the On-to-Ottawa-Trek and the accusations of Communist activity during the Cold War. The working class has united across Canada with a strong voice for fair treatment, but they have also distinguished themselves from the elite society and made enemies out of them.
The May Day protests have long been a symbol of resistance against poor working conditions and oppression of the working class. The movement has continued into the twenty-first century as a method to unite those in the population who identify as workers and who seek fundamental workers’ rights, better conditions, and justice.
My personal feelings towards the book are positive. I believe that the information I have talked about above was well conveyed in the graphic style novel, and I also found it quite compelling. The pictures brought a bit of excitement to the history of May Day protests and allowed one to follow a comic style progression of events. I believe the graphics were a rather unorthodox method of presenting history but at the same time I found the change from a typical article somewhat refreshing. Overall I liked the story that this book told, and I think it does a fantastic job of bringing attention to the struggles associated with the May Day protests.
tyler5 6:23 pm on February 10, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
In 1919, and before, Canada was divided across lines of class struggle. The struggle was that of a social class of workers against industrial capitalist elites. May Day was an effective method in which workers could voice their displeasure regarding their lack of rights as employees. May Day protests worldwide were important for the advancement of worker rights, but at the same time defined strict social class lines. These class lines created a feeling of solidarity amongst the population of workers, and subsequently pitted them against the elites in society. It was a way in which people from all over Canada could unite through the identification of a common struggle as workers searching for rights. The year, 1919 was a time in which General Strikes were arising throughout Canada, making it the record year for number of days lost to strike activity in Canada. The strikes and class lines united those oppressed as workers during the World Wars, the Great Depression, and even into the post-boom era of the late twentieth-century. However, these class lines that have united the population for over a century have had limitations. Those identifying themselves as a working class, especially those who participated in protests, were subject to fierce opposition: sometimes violent. The Haymarket protests were an early example of violent resistance towards a growing class of unsatisfied workers. The protests symbolized the spirit that identifying as an oppressed class could create, but at the same time showed the limitations of workers attempting to obtain rights. This trend continued with the quelling of the On-to-Ottawa-Trek and the accusations of Communist activity during the Cold War. The working class has united across Canada with a strong voice for fair treatment, but they have also distinguished themselves from the elite society and made enemies out of them.
The May Day protests have long been a symbol of resistance against poor working conditions and oppression of the working class. The movement has continued into the twenty-first century as a method to unite those in the population who identify as workers and who seek fundamental workers’ rights, better conditions, and justice.
My personal feelings towards the book are positive. I believe that the information I have talked about above was well conveyed in the graphic style novel, and I also found it quite compelling. The pictures brought a bit of excitement to the history of May Day protests and allowed one to follow a comic style progression of events. I believe the graphics were a rather unorthodox method of presenting history but at the same time I found the change from a typical article somewhat refreshing. Overall I liked the story that this book told, and I think it does a fantastic job of bringing attention to the struggles associated with the May Day protests.
tazizi 9:00 pm on February 10, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Through telling the story of the evolution of May Day, May Day: A Graphic History of Protest argues that the struggles historically faced by workers are ongoing. The writers call these struggles both “our history and our future” (28). They go on to say the “history of May Day is, and will continue to be, the story of celebration, struggle, and protest by and for workers in Canada and around the world” (27). Themes of change are present throughout the comic book. With the growth of May Day, workers across different sectors joined together in support of better working conditions. They wanted to change anything from the hours in a work day, to wages, to the amount of jobs available for citizens. May Day has become a symbol used to unite those who are part of the working class, not just in history, but in present day as well.
The graphic format isn’t really my cup of tea, but I found it to be very effective and interesting in this comic book. It allows the reader not only to read about underlying themes, but lets them visualize them. It also includes the reader as part of the history and as a character of the story being told. In addition, it was neat to see the symbolism used, and allowed me, as the reader, to glue more pieces of information together; I could think about why the artists chose to draw certain images and then reflect on the meanings behind them. The graphics were definitely a nice change from the all-text articles we have been reading, and allowed this week’s work to be told as more of a story than the rest; however, sometimes I did find it hard to read because I didn’t know which part of the text to read next.
lindswong 9:59 pm on February 10, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
blog about your response to the novel – what is the argument? how effective is the graphic format and why?
Throughout the 20th century, social reform took the world by storm. Starting in the late 1800s, with the rise of the Industrial Revolution, came the rise of the working class. Poor working class conditions caused the beginning of the rights movement which was spurred on by the workers who were fighting for change. May 1st or May Day marks the anniversary of when the workers began their fight. In Canadian history one of the most well known May Day workers movement was the Winnipeg General Strike. However, the graphic novel depicts how reform movements come in waves and therefore were not consistent generation to generation. As the children of the generation, who began the reform movement, grew up and replaced their parent’s generation, the reform movement began to die, therefore action had to be taken to make the new generation continue the fight. In my opinion, the argument made by the novel is one of remembrance: to continue the fight for workers rights and be involved in the surrounding politics in order to create a better future.
When reading graphic novels, such as Persepolis, what usually is a big influencing factor for me are the graphics and the way in which the words are drawn or written (big bold letters or small letters, etc.). Graphics compliment what is being told by the words, by putting an image in the readers head in order to better convey the message. The depiction of the workers in the novel gives off a sense of determination and will, whereas often those in high positions, the elite, political figures, etc., tend to give off an aura of corruption. For example on page 19, the government figures are shown in a negative light as seen by the facial expressions, the skull and dollar sign. Bolded lettering also captures the attention of the reader more than the finer printing, thus putting more emphasis on certain aspects over others.
Broken up into its bits a parts, the graphic novel is giving the readers an overview of the history of protest, such as the title says. However, put all the pieces together, with the combination of words and graphics, and a clear message is made. Together the knowledge of historical events helps one learn and build a better future. This is the purpose of the graphic novel with a particular attention on the workers. Overall, I find the graphic novel very effective in portraying messages because one can combine imagery with words in order to come to a better and fuller understanding of a particular issue.
aviaah 2:03 am on February 11, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
“Please blog about your response to the novel — what is the argument? How effective is the graphic format and why?”
The argument that is put forth in “Mayday: A Graphic History of Protest” is that Mayday—a day that is historically marked by a workers’ protest and their struggle for independent worker power—should be celebrated and remembered as a day when workers joined in solidarity to collectively protest for better working conditions and justice through “well-directed political action” (28). The argument speaks directly to the reader in that it emphasizes the history of workers’ protest—nationally and globally—and further maintains that we must exercise our political rights as Canadian citizenry and be politically active “in the streets and at the ballot” as we are “all apart of [this] historical struggle.” Essentially, we must never forget our social roots, and must continue to uphold the legacy of worker power and independence that was established time and time again on May 1st, Mayday.
As far as the effectiveness of the graphic format, I must say that I thought it was rather refreshing in comparison to the lengthy essays that we’re used to reading as students. The cheeky images and dynamic composition of each page makes for a rather exciting read, and really helps translate the novel’s messages into a visual display. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and though that the graphic format itself was brilliant and a provided a great reading experience.
chliane 1:39 pm on February 11, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The graphic novel argued that the May Day revolutions were constantly changing, and evolved over the years to mean different things for the workers, but most importantly that all the revolutions were fighting for something worthwhile, and should be commemorated. The workers united in demonstrations that fought for better working conditions, since the ones they had at the time were abysmal. Throughout the years, the first of May saw a lot of protests, which were different every time, from strikes to marches to public demonstrations. Some years were better than others, and there was no need to protest. Other years, especially leading up to the Great Depression saw wage cuts and widespread unemployment, and the people had lots to protest over. The novel talks about the changes and the different revolts, and how all of them were a significant part of history, and that their efforts need to be recognized.
Society was deeply divided along class lines in 1919, but this division also served to unite them within their classes. The working classmen were united in demanding shorter workdays and higher wages. Upper and middle classes were united in denying the working class what they wanted. The limitations to uniting around class lines were that they were still very different within the classes. The middle class, most noticeably consisted of a wide variety of professions, with very little in common.
The graphic format is a very refreshing change of pace from a traditional article, and is easy to read with images that help me, as a very distractible person, stay focus and interested. I personally find that having pictures to follow along with the text makes the reading go much faster, as it draws attention to the most important points in the article, and I do not have to re-read large portions of the text to understand the text in depth.
amrita 5:34 pm on February 11, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Had I been able to obtain the graphic novel May Day, I’m sure that I might have been interested in the different form the information of workers’ history has been presented. I understand that the argument in the novel was based on workers who protested their working conditions, including the hours and wages. The protests occurred during the Great Depression and every May there were strikes, demonstrations and protests to create changes in the system. Thus, May Day refers to the day workers come together to let their voices be heard so that they could have shorter work days and higher wages. Generally, I dislike graphic novels because of the imagery; I prefer to imagine situations from the written word and having images in novels crowds my mind.
Marissa Waldron 6:28 pm on February 11, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Q: What is the argument? How effective is the graphic format and why?
The graphic novel, May Day: A Graphic History of Protest, sets forth to bring May Day to the attention of many of us who do not even know it exists, and even if we do, do not know the historical basis behind it. The novel depicts the change of the worker’s revolutions over time, and that these worker-lead protests for change occurred, are currently occurring, and will occur again. The novel argues that the celebration of May Day – in essence, celebrating the independence of workers and collaboration to fight for better working conditions – is something that all should remember and be proud of! The novel also goes on to explain how current political climates, such as the Cold War threats of communism and economic factors, such as the depression, fueled workers towards fighting for their rights, banding unions together and supporting each other towards a common cause. The issue of social status – working class versus elite – is also highlighted in the text, and the overall poor conditions was a push factor for the workers to band together against the elitist upper class – yet another example of widespread collaboration. For me, the idea of striking and layoffs on the job hits close to home. My Dad is pulp and paper worker and my Mum a school district secretary (part of CUPE), and I can distinctly remember times in my childhood and adolescence when they both were on strike. My mum was lucky – her contract was renegotiated and the workers were given a very fair compromise. My Dad on the other hand, was laid off and in order to return to work, had to sign a contract (along with the rest of the workers) to take a large pay cut and vacation time cut in order to get their jobs back. He still attends his local Union meetings, and so the reality of my Dad going back on strike is always a possibility, and I’ve grown up supported by union work.
The use of the graphic novel was very interesting. I found myself very drawn into the material, with the different texts, pictures, and quotes throughout the novel. I’m one who usually has a tough time sitting through articles, but I found quite the opposite true with the graphic novel. I think that this format is very effective as it draws in the reader, and you have options of what to read in a semi-constructed order (versus a paper or article). Overall, it was an excellent read!
jenniferbishop 6:44 pm on February 11, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
In Mayday: A Graphic History of Protest by Robin Folvik, Sean Carleton, Mark Leier, they argue that most people see Mayday as the first day of spring instead of seeing it as a day to protest working continues. They state that May first is suppose to be the day to celebrate and protest working conditions such as working wages, and hours. The graphic novel continues on to give examples from all the important Mayday protests and strikes throughout history. By choosing to present this information in the form of a graphic novel, the authors are capable to show the readers the situation these people are in. Folvik, Carleton, Leier are able to illustrate the exactly what it was like for people working at this time, and what their protests would look like. By using images it allows the audience to easier see what the authors is trying to portray instead of the audience creating their own mental image based on the authors description. A graphic novel is very effective in presenting this information because seeing images of the workers gives the reader a more complete sense of the situation than just reading about it.
oftheawkwards 1:30 pm on February 12, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
In recent years, May Day is more of a childrens festival to celebrate the arrival of spring. As an immigrant to this country, I have only recently learned of the origins of this holiday. A day to remember the sacrifice and work done for the rights of the working class. In the graphical novel May Day, the origins of this international holiday is explained. As for its effectiveness, I is more to the point and ensure that the information portrait does not deviate from the author’s intentions. The Artist’s artwork can help emphasize certain points that the overall argument is presenting. With limited words and description maining saturated within the artwork, there is little room for personal interpretation and distributed weight of the situation.
The Argument of the graphic novel is that the celebration of May Day is in actuality about worker protest and not of the arrival of spring. It is a celebration of the martyrs and the violence that occurred in the protests. it is a celebration of the struggles the working class. it is also a reminder of the hardships the working class had to endure, and the resistance to change the government held.
For Expository Pieces about this topic, it is more effective if only information and history is presented. if this was written as a book, it leaves room for interpretation, also leaves room for sceptics to place certain less weight on certain facts.
liorbarel 11:10 pm on February 12, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The main argument that the graphic novel is portraying is that the spirit of May Day, in terms of the celebration of labor and workers, must be kept alive. A graphic novel is definitely a good way to attack this goal, as its pictures help the reader to get more involved emotionally, not just rationally, in the topic.
I think, though, that in a lot of ways the graphic novel uses too much data, i.e. too many facts, and not enough emotion to connect with its readers. Also, its simplification of the emotion behind May Day makes the history of killing and imprisonment and state violence against its workers fighting for their rights seem childlike, and makes out as if the reason we should keep the spirit of May Day alive is so that we remember how, in the past, our ancestors fought for workers rights. Of course he says we have to continue to fight, but he doesn’t focus on it and he doesn’t make a good case for it.
I don’t think the author believes that. I think the author knew too much about the factual history, and didn’t know what to take out and what to leave in. I also think he probably wants to continue to see workers struggle for their rights and unionize – otherwise he wouldn’t have written a book about May Day and its history. Summarily, I think that a graphic novel that told more of a story, and matched its pictures with its emotions, would have been a great way to represent May Day – I don’t think the medium is inherently childish (Maus, for example, does a good job at this) – but I don’t think it was done correctly in terms of what the author was trying to convey and what he actually conveyed.
Kaitlin 3:31 pm on February 13, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thank-you all for your passionate & thoughtful responses to the “May Day” graphic novel we read for tutorial this week.
It sounds like there’s a decent division between those who enjoyed and appreciated the visual elements of the book (as a “break” from reading long, purely textual articles…!) and those who felt distracted by the lettering or disappointed in the way the graphic medium was used (less of a distinct narrative). At least two of you mentioned reading other graphic novels (Sartrapi’s “Persepolis” triology & Spielgelman’s “Maus” trilogy), and I’m curious if others have read these books–or other novels–with distinct politics behind them? If yes, have your experiences with those other novels affected your opinion and expectations for this one? What are the differences between the goals of memoirs (as “Persepolis” and “Maus” are) and social histories like “May Day”?
Rather, do you think you would have liked “May Day” more if it were LESS overtly political?
What does the rest of L1A think? We’re still waiting to hear from 7 of you!
amandawoodland 1:46 pm on February 14, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
“Please blog about your response to the novel – what is the argument? how effective is the graphic format and why?”
The main argument of this graphic novel is that “we” ought to “reclaim May Day … and keep its fighting tradition alive” (4). The direction of the argument towards “us” (as opposed to simply presenting the information generally), May Day intends to build a connection between its readers and the subjects of the story – namely, the workers who have struggled over the years. Suggesting that it is “our” responsibility to keep the struggle and spirit of May Day alive is supposed is an effective way to gain support for the argument, because most people (by nature) are more interested and invested in issues that pertain to them (somewhat) directly. Making a connection achieves this.
The graphic format of the text is also effective, as it communicates the “essence” of the argument. Bolded and/or creatively-drawn words draw attention to the most important terms and phrases; an example of this occurs on page 9 in the words “trade union.” Achievements and causes for celebration in the story are also greatly emphasized, as on page 25 with the words “100 years of resistance” placed inside a decorative banner. Techniques such as these cause the support for and good aspects of the argument to stand out most in the reader’s mind.
In terms of the illustrations, there are both positives and negatives to be argued. One positive is that incorporating drawings in with the text allows the author to clarify or represent concepts in abstract ways, which can actually be more effective than directly stating these concepts with words. It is encouraging for the reader to make their own connections based on interpretations of the drawings. For example, on page 13 a man is depicted with metal arms; when I saw this I immediately made the connection that workers were not treated like human beings so much as machines with a sole purpose of producing. The choice to use black and white paired with the sketch-style images (leading to non-identifying features in the characters and settings) makes the story easily relatable – it could be “us” shown here.
One negative is that some of the representations are not fully clear. For example, on page 19 a man is depicted as a skeleton, but based on the content of the story in this particular panel, I am unable to interpret why this was done.
Overall I considered May Day to be an efficient and creative way to relay this information and I enjoyed reading it.
FribaRezayee235 5:19 pm on February 14, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
First of all this book tells us that (May Day) the development of International Workers’ Day, May 1st, against the ever-changing economic and political backdrop in Canada’s history in 1880s. It is recognizing the importance of work and the historical struggles of workers to improve their lives, with a particular focus on the struggles of May 1st, the comic includes the reader as part of this history, and the story concludes that “We are all part of this historical struggle; it’s our history and our future.” His argument suggests that in the graphic novel is that many of the things now considered commonplace in the workplace are in fact things that were hard won by workers of the past through things like strikes, protests, and other direct actions. Things like the eight-hour workday and the five-day work week were won at the cost of lives. It suggests us to not forget those who fought and died for workplace rights that all of us expect to have today. The graphic novel illustrates the significant event which took place in Montreal in 1907. Students and socialists who were prevented the right to protest in the streets, decided to stop all means of transportation from proceeding. The authors also mention that this event was known as the “Monster Demonstration.” Further, the next image presents that a number of people who are holding signs while trying to tie a cobblestone street in half with a large rope. I felt that it was a positive impression while reading. The images have strong illustration of the event. Images tell more than it could be expressed in words. I am glad I read it, and educated myself regarding May Day protest. In fact the holidays that we have now it is all because of those brave women, and men. They paved the way for us.
lsmack 5:47 pm on February 14, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
“May Day” is made so that the true spirit of Labour Day is not forgotten. It does not help that Labour Day is in September rather than May. May Day brings to focus its main and integral information in its history. This goes back farther then what it would suggest, that it does travel back to the Industrial era in Europe. Also, its message would be that the people are the ones who chose their leaders, with that, they should be out their voting as well as fighting for our rights.
The saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”(something like that), perfectly describes a handful illustrations in this graphic novel. For example, page 8 – top half, shows people constantly working throughout the year, throughout the seasons, in all industries. It shows people’s body language – heads held low, body slouching forward – which reflects their working conditions and how much time they had to put in for work. Another example, page 17 – top half, shows a three panel illustration of what happened overall. Panel one shows the laborers needing food for survival, panel two shows them going to work for the giant guy whose purpose is to make money, and panel three shows the workers leaving work, disgruntled and not happy with their working conditions.
As for the lettering, it looks to be hand written and drawn, which shows me that it would be the laborers who created this booklet as they used what they would’ve had – paper and pen. Also, the reading was simple and straight forward, which means it would be made for the grade 10 level student, or the level of the average laborer.
ecopeland 6:44 pm on February 14, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The focus of “May Day” is to reemphasise Labor Day’s importance in Canada’s history. The graphic novel works to reignite the spirit of those striking workers in the readers, so that the memory of what they fought for, benefits largely unvalued in todays work force, are not forgotten. I also believe that “May Day” encourages the reader to be inspired by the strikers and rise to fight injustices still ongoing. Young readers of today should look at these past events and see that change can be made by those not just in positions of influence or power, but also by those determined enough to fight for it.
The artistic expression of the historical information was effective in engaging the modern day reader, especially those of younger age, familiar and drawn to this type of medium. It works well to not only to provide a concrete sense of the lives and feelings of the workers in the 1880’s but challenges the reader to do more than just absorb the information but to draw from the images their own interpretation. Whilst the drawings and form can at times result in the simplification of the important events, it still allows a balance of creative and intellectual stimulation, little found in educational books these days. This said I feel that the form would put off more mature readers that are looking in this area, not because the perspective or content is poor but because the label ‘graphic novel’ comes with certain connotations and attachments, e.g. fiction writing.
Vinciane Boisson 6:45 pm on February 14, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The book depicts a strong unity between labourers of very different sectors, who allowed us to enjoy the legislation we have today in Canada, which protects us.
The book is quite effective in my opinion; it allows an overview of how the legislation surrounding labour came to be what it is today in Canada, and most importantly, that unity is necessarity. However, the short format of the book might have to do with the fact that it considers many events without ever going much into it. Unfortunately, this dulls the emotional potential of the book,which in turn dulls the impact it has on the readers.
I think the point of this book is to make us aware that we (in Canada, but in may other countries as well) lost this unity between citizens/labourers. It also highlights that progress is not a goal we achieve, but one we work towards, because there is no reaching an ideal. This mean that it should be constant, as it had been in the past. It also suggests that regression can and will happen if this “battle” is not constant.
richardj 6:57 pm on February 15, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The Mayday text retells the true story of the working underclass verses their corporate bosses; and yes it paints a disturbing view. They marched for recognition and fair bargaining rights that would eventually end in the death of two innocent marchers at the hands of the Police. The divide between the ruling upper class elite (factory owners) and the immigrant (working class) was further thrown into a frenzy when thousands of WW1 solders returned to Winnipeg hoping for jobs only to find nothing waiting for them. Some 12 thousand unionized workers walked off their job on May 15th, not surprisingly they were joined by 20 thousand others who wanted their voices heard; the great majority were WW1 veterans. The story in pictures become clouded at this point, who do you believe? the silent masses or the group of 1000(rumored to be the corporate elite). Many in the group of 1000 harkened to the past uprising (Riel) and viewed the protest as the beginnings of revolution. The power welded by the Union leaders over was thought to be the start a new provisional government process that had to be stopped at all cost. When the Winnipeg Police were fired by Mayor, the Civic/Provincial leadership called upon the Dominion Police(RNWMP) too intervene.