Persepolis

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.