This term paper is devoted to the depiction of personal lives against the backdrop of the pivotal processes that take place on the national level. This problem will be analysed on the basis of two autobiographical comics ― Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and American Widow by Alissa Torres. Despite two chronologically and geographically different stories, they represent a similar compositional pattern: the portrayal of a female protagonist that faces a critical political event and deals with it, experiencing its repercussions as well as adjusting her life to the new circumstances.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Behind the Comics
- Autobiographical comics: Genre Specificities
- Background Information
- Authorial Background
- Historical and Political Background
- Inside the Comics
- Paratextual Elements
- Title
- Marjane Satrapi's Introduction
- Alissa Torres' Epigraph
- Persian Tulip
- Language of Colours
- Paratextual Elements
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper analyzes the portrayal of personal lives against the backdrop of significant national events, using Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis and Alissa Torres' American Widow as case studies. Despite their chronological and geographical differences, both comics share a compositional pattern: a female protagonist confronting a critical political event and adapting to its consequences. The paper aims to explore the interplay between personal experiences and national contexts within the framework of autobiographical comics.
- The intersection of personal narratives and national historical events.
- The genre-specific characteristics of autobiographical comics and their effectiveness in conveying complex themes.
- The role of paratextual elements (titles, introductions, epigraphs) in shaping the reader's understanding.
- The use of visual elements, such as color and symbolism, in conveying emotional and political contexts.
- Comparative analysis of two distinct autobiographical comics representing different cultural and historical contexts.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the paper's focus on examining the depiction of personal experiences within larger national and political contexts, using Persepolis and American Widow as comparative case studies. It highlights the shared structural element of a female protagonist navigating significant political events and their repercussions. The chapter outlines the paper's structure, with one chapter focusing on the background of the comics and authors, and a second chapter dedicated to analyzing their paratextual elements, symbols, and color choices.
Behind the Comics: This chapter provides background information crucial for understanding Persepolis and American Widow. It begins by defining autobiographical comics as a genre, exploring the interplay between factual accounts and subjective personal experiences. The chapter then delves into the authorial backgrounds of Satrapi and Torres, offering insights into their creative processes and perspectives. Finally, it establishes the relevant historical and political context of Iran and the USA, creating a framework for interpreting the narrative and thematic elements within each comic.
Keywords
Autobiographical comics, Persepolis, American Widow, Marjane Satrapi, Alissa Torres, personal narrative, national history, political events, genre specificities, paratextual elements, symbolism, color, comparative analysis, crisis comics, Iran, USA.
Frequently Asked Questions: Persepolis & American Widow Comparative Analysis
What is this document?
This document is a comprehensive language preview for an academic paper comparing the graphic novels Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and American Widow by Alissa Torres. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The analysis focuses on how personal narratives intersect with significant national historical events within the genre of autobiographical comics.
What are the main objectives of the paper?
The paper analyzes how personal lives are portrayed against the backdrop of major national events. It explores the genre-specific characteristics of autobiographical comics, the role of paratextual elements in shaping reader understanding, the use of visual elements (color and symbolism), and offers a comparative analysis of the two comics representing different cultural and historical contexts.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the intersection of personal narratives and national historical events; the effectiveness of autobiographical comics in conveying complex themes; the influence of paratextual elements (titles, introductions, epigraphs); the use of visual elements (color and symbolism) to convey emotional and political contexts; and a comparative analysis of two distinct autobiographical comics from different cultural and historical backgrounds.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into several chapters. An introduction sets the stage, followed by a chapter providing background information on the comics and their authors (including their creative processes and the historical/political contexts of Iran and the USA). A further chapter delves into the analysis of the comics themselves, focusing on paratextual elements, symbolism, and color choices. The paper concludes with a summarizing chapter.
What are the key chapters and their contents?
The Introduction establishes the paper's focus and outlines its structure. "Behind the Comics" provides background information on the authors and the historical contexts of the comics. "Inside the Comics" analyzes the paratextual elements, visual language (colors and symbols), and narrative specifics of the works. A final Conclusion summarizes the findings.
Which comics are analyzed, and what are their key similarities?
The paper analyzes Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and American Widow by Alissa Torres. Despite their chronological and geographical differences, both comics share a structural similarity: a female protagonist confronts a significant political event and adapts to its consequences. This shared structure allows for a comparative analysis.
What are the key keywords associated with this paper?
Key words include: Autobiographical comics, Persepolis, American Widow, Marjane Satrapi, Alissa Torres, personal narrative, national history, political events, genre specificities, paratextual elements, symbolism, color, comparative analysis, crisis comics, Iran, USA.
What kind of analysis does the paper employ?
The paper uses a comparative analysis approach, examining the similarities and differences between Persepolis and American Widow to highlight the interplay between personal experiences and national contexts within the framework of autobiographical comics.
- Quote paper
- Aleksandra Dediukina (Author), 2023, "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi and "American Widow" by Alissa Torres. An analysis of autobiographical comics, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1434287
