Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi - Essay Example

Analyzing one aspect of the visual presentation of Persepolis Book by Marjane Satrapi Changing society has swept all the sectors of the global economy including literature. Literature has taken a drastic turn in respect to development of graphic novels also known as comics. One of the examples of graphic or comic novels so far developed is Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. In this graphic novel, Satrapi attempts to tell real stories through a combination or words and images. In most cases, graphic novels contain sophisticated and challenging or intriguing topics. Various visual elements have been employed by Satrapi in a bit to narrative her story through images and words. All these visual elements enable readers to have a deeper understanding, perception and grasp of the story. Some of the visual elements that Satrapi uses in narrating her story include shading, contrasts, framing effects, abstract images, real images, and sizes or shapes of images. Nevertheless, the use of shading or contrast has been effectively used in showing the complexity of situations in the author’s life as well as her personal life. Satrapi in her narration has indicated that she is a foreigner in Iran hence facing so many difficulties. The narrator explains her point of alienation throughout the work while using different shades or contrasts or her drawings or images. Most of the images are shaded in such away that they depict complexity of the situation she is experiencing in a foreign land as well as her personal life. Satrapi (283, image 3) draws an image of “the martyrs”. In this image, Satrapi provides various shades on the “Michelangelo’s La Pieta” image, which she practiced for a very long time. There are images of a person in white carried by Mary. Satrapi reproduced the exact image with changes on the shading of the Mary’s image. This image indicates the personal life of the narrator. During this period it was difficult to qualify to study fine arts. The only way that an individual would study fine arts was to provide a drawing that qualifies one to be admitted to a fine art school. Even though she wanted to study art it was difficult given that she was in a foreign land. The only way of fulfilling her dream was to make a drawing. Unfortunately, the only drawing she could make was that or “Michelangelo’s La Pieta”. Since this image had already been drawn, Satrapi decided to shade it differently thereby making it look original. After all, one of the drawing tests to qualify to study art was that of martyrs since during this time the Iran-Iraq war had caused overwhelming propaganda and more of the places within arts institutions were reserved specifically for martyrs and handicapped persons. In this perspective, the narrator (author) has used shads or contrasts to indicate that it was the only way to make existing image look original hence get admission to study art. What’s more, this image provides a good interpretation of both Muslim and Christian religious lives so that no one could take offense of her during the process of auditions. This is an indication of the suffering the narrator was undergoing as a result of being in a foreign land. Another panel where Satrapi uses contrast to bring out the concept of complexity of situation within Iran as well as her personal suffering is where she drew how individuals from the west dehumanized veiled women within the country in question (Satrapi, 301, images 3-7). In this panel, Satrapi uses shading and contrast between her and her friends. She indicates how the women from west looked at veiled women in Iran as mere statues and undistinguished figures. Despite the model being a stereotype of a Muslim woman, the narrator used shades to create the difference between her and the friends who were looking on. Satrapi indicates while describing the image that “we looked from every direction and from every angle, but not a single part of her body was visible. We nevertheless, learned to draw drapes” (Satrapi, 301, images 3-7). The indication in this image is how the Muslim women had difficulties especially in their dress code. Hence, Satrapi has used shading and contrast to show the readers how the Muslim women faced difficulties within Iran in respect to her dressing. To qualify the complexity and difficulties experienced by the narrator and other women, there are projections of the future eastern women after revolution. In her image, Satrapi (304, images 3-4 and 6-7) attempts to project how the eastern women will resemble once they have obtained revolution. From this image, an image of an eastern woman who is seen as a paradigm or modern femininity as well as a liberated and educated woman provides a clear indication that eastern women are not yet liberated hence the complexity and difficulties experienced by Satrapi and her fellow women. Shading or contrast has been effectively and efficiently used to bring out the difference between a Muslim woman and an educated, liberated eastern woman seen as the paradigm or modern femininity. This confirms the concept in the discussion that Satrapi has extensively used shades or contrasts to indicate the different kinds of women within the society. No doubt therefore, shades or contrast has been used to give an indication of complexity of life in Iran as well as various difficulties the narrator faced while in the foreign land. In conclusion, it is worth noting that Satrapi has used various visual elements in passing her messages to various readers. However, these visual elements are applied for different purposes. For instance, the use of shades or contrasts has been used extensively in creating perceptions on different kinds of women. In addition, the image projecting an eastern women who is liberated, educated, and forms the paradigm of modern femininity is a clear indication that unlike the west, eastern women have suffered and experienced numerous difficulties. It is therefore true to restate the thesis statement that, the use of shading or contrast has been effectively used in showing the complexity of situations in the author’s life as well as her personal life. Work Cited Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. London: Jonathan Cape, 2006. Print. Read More