When I saw the chance to read the graphic novel Persepolis, I was extremely excited, as I had seen a select few short clips from the film version in a high school class and had always wanted to read the original graphic novels. The stories presented within offer a very unique voice, in the face of a very serious subject. When it comes to learning about serious events such as revolutions or wars, it is extremely easy to believe in the "correct" side of history after the fact. By telling this story, not only from a firsthand perspective but also that of a child, Persepolis really demonstrates how difficult it is to know the "truth" in the face of terror and violence. Young Marji is faced with a series of conflicting narratives, from her parents, her school, and also literature that she happens to own. At her age it is easy to place your full conviction in whatever opinions are presented to you, which is not only present in her actions but those of her peers. On the one hand, Marji's youth makes her a biased narrator, but on the other, it gives her the ability to explore multiple opinions constantly, even grappling with religion at a very young age. While Persepolis contains a lot of thought provoking topics, the voice of the piece, coming from a child, creates a sense of whimsy at different points in the story. When we see Marji and her friends goofing off about torture or being martyrs, we understand the war as it appears to the children, who process and use information in the only ways they know how. This, I feel, keeps the story from being consumed by how dark these times truly are, as throughout the comic we see examples of death and oppression.
The visual voice throughout Persepolis also contributes to the unique feeling of a child's thoughts. The style allows for interesting designs, such as the portrayal of God throughout the comic, but it also adds a very real sense of darkness to the serious scenes, portrayed in a stark contrast. The use of harsh black and white shading works to make a very simple style of drawing (which in my opinion fits the imaginings of a child) fit the extremely heavy tones of the time the story takes place in. The unique voice of this graphic novel definitely makes it a captivating story to read.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Goose Father
GOOSE FATHER SHORT
FILM
VISUAL CUES PRIORITIES
1.
Introduction to Gilho
being lonely in his apartment
a.
Establishing shot
of apartment
b.
Camera focuses on
family photos
c.
Gilho going about
his lonely life.
d.
Advertises his
need of an assistant.
2.
Wuesong is introduced with the goose in front of
Gilho’s apartment.
a.
Cut to Wuesong
making breakfast for Gilho.
b.
Scene dedicated
to conversation between the two men
c.
Reveal Wuesong’s
past and the reason as to why he has a goose.
3.
Gilho and Wuesong
go out on a Kareoke night
a.
Show friendship
between the two men.
b.
They both get
tipsy with the alcohol intake.
c.
Gilho and Wuesong
almost kiss, but Gilho slaps him.
d.
Wuesong runs away crying.
4.
Gilho returns to
his sad apartment and skips work because of sad events
a.
Parallel editing
between Gilho and Wuesong
b.
Gilho stares at
the sunset outside his balcony
c.
Wuesong walks
around the city with his goose with no destination in mind
d.
They both miss
each other.
5.
Gilho goes out
with friends at a Korean bar
a.
Show Gilho having fun with friends, but clearly still
has wuesong in his thoughts.
b.
Gilho returns to
the apartment with one drunk friend (Taeyeong)
6.
Gilho and
taeyeong surprisingly finds Wuesong inside the apartment cooking a meal.
a.
Taeyeong screws
with the goose until the goose bites him
b.
Wuesong panics
and patches him up.
c.
They decide to go
to sleep.
7.
Wuesong wakes up
in the middle of Daeboreum (full moon night)
a.
He finds his
mother on the balcony
b.
Intimate moment between boy and mother.
c.
Gilho wakes up as
well and is surprised to see the goose was really his mother all along.
d.
Gilho and Wuesong decide to kiss in this magical
moment and the screen fades to black.
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