EngL1401W - Spring 2007: Introduction to "Third World" Literature

I think this is very similar to Palestine. The main difference that I noticed was that I understood more of the Iraqi graphics than the Palestine ones. The art seems to be the same and his image is the same, yet he isn’t present as much in this story as the other one. The dialogue and words are more organized as well but pretty much the same as in Palestine.

Reading graphic novels aren’t a very good way to read up on your current events. However, they are a good way to see someone else’s point of view on certain topics and to get an idea of what others think about them.

I think Sacco’s strategy is very similar to that of Palestine. The types of drawings are the same, the deep context of his stories seems to be the same. The only thing that may have changed a little is that he seems to use less shades of gray and more black and white. However, it’s still very distinct from a novel such as Persepolis which is purely black and white.

I think that it’s a good way to approach the current events we hear about on the news everyday differently. These graphic novels seem to have a different insight then our mainstream news. Although one can’t read these novels and expect to learn everything about current events and have it all be accurate. These are, after all, STORIES. But I do think that it is a good way to approach current events from a different mind frame.

I would say Sacco's presentation of the situation in Iraq is very life-like in your face style of conveying his message. I would say that his message is the real truth about the training of the Iraq police force. The style focuses on a different audience that would most likely not take the time to read conventional ways journalism. The crude tone delivers a strong message that pulls the reader in and keeps their attention.
I would say his style is similar to Palestine. The pictures are detailed and the emotion felt by the readers from the characters is depressing and gives a since of helplessness.

I think that this journalistic style in both Palestine and here make it more interesting to learn about what is happening around the world, however I think this is only to an extent. When I read these graphic novels I do not think that are “news”. When I am reading them I can get a feel for what is happening, however I still have the sense that things are changed/moved around for the readers sake and not for accuracy sake. However this happens also in news stories as well on tv. The fact that it is drawn takes away from the realism and I think these leads to less effect. However I believe that it is a creative way and informative way to give a sense of current events, it is just important to know its limits.

I found his style almost same in both the cases, especially his use of black and white and close drawings of the characters. I agree with Greg about graphical depiction somehow taking away the realism. Maybe its another way of reaching to a wider section of the society for i have seen a lot of people who just read the comic section of a newspaper and throw the rest of the paper away. Graphics are a good way to trap the attention span of these kind of people and i think Socco manages to do that One thing i found strikingly similar to both his works are the expressions of the people; very detailed expressions of depression and hostility. He uses his pictures to give us the real image and facts that only pictures can portray.

Personally, I did not find much difference between this piece of work and Palestine. It is stylistically the same and it uses the same format of storytelling, one that we described in class as journalistic.
As for the effectiveness of graphic novels as a way to learn about current events, i would say, is okay. Although one could argue that this is less realistic or skewed towards sides, the same can be said about news on television. However, I think that these sorts of works are important bookmarks in our history, because even though we can save a news clipping or a TV short, the thought put into the reactions that are portrayed in Sacco's work are pivotal things people, in the future need to realize.