In my ASTU 100 class, we’re currently working on the graphic memoir called ‘Persepolis’ by the Iranian-French writer, Marjane Satrapi. In which Satrapi presents her childhood growing up during the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the war with Iraq. I read this graphic memoir about four years ago as a part of my leisurely reading, and now coming back to it for my ASTU course, I realize that as I went along reading it, I’ve grown a new perspective on this graphic memoir. I probably even started reading it this time with a different perspective; this time with a more academic and analytical approach.

From my memory of reading this graphic memoir from last time, I remember it was the first time I was learning about the Islamic revolution in Iran, and that this memoir helped me create broad knowledge and judgment about the Iranian Islamic revolution and what Islamic fundamentalism is like. However, I also remember how parts of the memoir didn’t make sense to me because I didn’t know about scholars like Karl Marx, who’s ideas are mentioned quite a few times and understand politics that well (not that I do now). But now because of my CAP stream, where I have Sociology and Political Science, I feel as though I can comprehend better what Satrapi is saying in her memoir. For example, when I read it for the first time, I didn’t know that Marxism is about communism and against capitalism, and that he believed there shouldn’t be any social classes. When I came across Karl Marx in ‘Persepolis’ this time, I feel as though I can draw more lines between what Satrapi is telling and what I learnt in my classes. When Satrapi makes comparisons between Marx and how she imagined God to be like, I interpreted that as that Satrapi as a child saw Marx as someone superior in knowledge and someone she looks up to and therefore, she imagined God to look a lot like Marx. Also, when I looked at the panels while reading it this time, I paid a lot closer attention to the drawings and noticed how they can be both dark and amusing because of the characters’ facial expression and the composition in each panel, whereas for my first time I never looked deeper into how it was done and the effect it creates for the readers.

On the whole, I have a clearer understanding of the political situation of Iran that Satrapi paints through her memoir and how the complications that took place relates to what I’ve been learning in my other courses. But I also realize that my reading approach has changed over the years because I look deeper into the meanings of novels and memoirs I read now, instead of quickly scanning through parts that I don’t understand. And adding to memory and learning, I think that the more I learn and add to my memory, the more curiosity and self-enthusiasm I grow.

Sania S.