When one typically thinks of comic books or graphic novels such as Archie's or Marvel and D.C. superhero series come to mind. However, it is a common misconception that graphic novel only have the power to convey silly scenarios or fantasy action stories. In reality, there is more to graphic novels than just fiction. Meaning that they can also be of the nonfictional genre and one example of being Maus by American comic book artist, Art Spiegelman. Maus is a two volume-set story of Spiegelman's father, Vladek Spiegelman, and how he survived the holocaust. The graphic novel became famous for Spiegelman's use for representing different animals as different races. Mice portrayed as the Jews and Cats portrayed as the Nazi Germans. This essay will
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The story, being a Japanese graphic novel, involves the elements of comedy, love, despair and loyalty. Another example being, Persepolis is a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi depicting her childhood up to her early adulthood in Iran during and after the Islamic revolution. One of the many famous graphic novels that relate to the non-fictional genre is Art Spiegelman's Maus: A Survivor's Tale and Maus: And Here My Troubles Began. Maus: A Survivor's Tale is the autobiographical work of Art Spiegelman. It tells the story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Polish Jew, living and surviving in and after Hitler's Germany. Holocaust literature, especially in the graphic novel medium, serve to tell stories of survival in order to demonstrate an understanding of the historical events in human history. Essentially, analyzing the complexity of relationships in Spiegelman’s Maus, helps to define how he was able to connect with his family whether they were dead or …show more content…
Although it may seem that Spiegelman resented his brother in type of way, he quietly demonstrated his respect he had for Richieu’s memory. The dedication can be seen in the figure below. Hirsch’s essay does sheds light unto how being a part of the second generation of a postmemory can lead to not being included in an event that had involved the first generation and affected them in a effective fashion. She states that, “when we look at photographic images from a lost past world, especially one that has been annihilated by force, we look not only for information or confirmation, but also for an intimate material and affective connection”(116). The discussion of postmemory and how Spiegelman translates this theory to graphic novels is in fact addressing the larger matter of the importance of connection with a family who has gone through a horrendous event in human history. In addition, he also addresses not being able to understand how his family functioned. Especially when Spiegelman's mother had committed suicide due to still living with the memory of the past and with Vladek's harsh personality which led to him and Art's distant relationship. Spiegelman's only connection to Richieu exists in the few photographs that are the only proof left of his brother's existence. Despite that, Art Spiegelman had left his brother a big legacy that has severed to honored him by
The story, being a Japanese graphic novel, involves the elements of comedy, love, despair and loyalty. Another example being, Persepolis is a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi depicting her childhood up to her early adulthood in Iran during and after the Islamic revolution. One of the many famous graphic novels that relate to the non-fictional genre is Art Spiegelman's Maus: A Survivor's Tale and Maus: And Here My Troubles Began. Maus: A Survivor's Tale is the autobiographical work of Art Spiegelman. It tells the story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Polish Jew, living and surviving in and after Hitler's Germany. Holocaust literature, especially in the graphic novel medium, serve to tell stories of survival in order to demonstrate an understanding of the historical events in human history. Essentially, analyzing the complexity of relationships in Spiegelman’s Maus, helps to define how he was able to connect with his family whether they were dead or …show more content…
Although it may seem that Spiegelman resented his brother in type of way, he quietly demonstrated his respect he had for Richieu’s memory. The dedication can be seen in the figure below. Hirsch’s essay does sheds light unto how being a part of the second generation of a postmemory can lead to not being included in an event that had involved the first generation and affected them in a effective fashion. She states that, “when we look at photographic images from a lost past world, especially one that has been annihilated by force, we look not only for information or confirmation, but also for an intimate material and affective connection”(116). The discussion of postmemory and how Spiegelman translates this theory to graphic novels is in fact addressing the larger matter of the importance of connection with a family who has gone through a horrendous event in human history. In addition, he also addresses not being able to understand how his family functioned. Especially when Spiegelman's mother had committed suicide due to still living with the memory of the past and with Vladek's harsh personality which led to him and Art's distant relationship. Spiegelman's only connection to Richieu exists in the few photographs that are the only proof left of his brother's existence. Despite that, Art Spiegelman had left his brother a big legacy that has severed to honored him by