Purpose of Lecture: Understand the value and themes in Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis."
Central Question: What is Satrapi trying to convey about various subjects in her work?
Key Themes and Subjects
Primary Themes: Repression, social control, revolution, Marxism, family, mental health, social class, history, imagination, cultural identity.
Additional Themes: Drug use and abuse, marriage, sexuality, memory, resistance, growing up, gender, religion, violence, war, justice, education, the Middle East, patriarchy, torture, tradition, forgiveness.
Understanding Themes: Literature offers insights into the human condition through these themes.
Authorial Choices
Graphic Memoir: Chosen format, providing true stories narrated by Satrapi herself.
Why Graphic Memoir?: Offers a unique reader experience and perspective.
Black and White Format: Lack of color impacts reader experience, emphasizing starkness and simplicity.
Verbal Narration: Panels contain dialogue or narration; voice reflects Satrapi’s retrospective view as a 30-year-old.
Satrapi's Background
Biographical Context:
Born in 1969, experienced the Islamic Revolution (1979) at age 10.
Lived through Iran-Iraq War, sent to Europe at 13 or 14.
Memoir written in 2002, reflecting on her childhood with an adult perspective.
Narrative Voice and Technique
Narrative Voice:
Offers insights unavailable to characters.
Uses irony, hyperbole, understatement, wit, personal commentary.
Structure and Layout:
Paneling choices, page layout, and image juxtaposition contribute to narrative impact.
Symmetry and Positioning:
Center positions indicate dominance or authority.
Juxtaposition: Implied comparisons based on placement and proximity of images.
Visual and Structural Analysis
Juxtaposition: Comparison of pre- and post-revolution through visual layout.
Montage Techniques: Combining images to create complex effects.
Panel Analysis:
Analysis of how characters and elements are framed.
Authority and Patriarchy: Visual representation of power dynamics.
Composition Terms:
Opposition, balance, contrast, symmetry, and division noted in imagery.
Conclusion
Reading and Interpretation: Engage with visual storytelling elements to derive meaning.
Future Topics: Further exploration into structural choices and their implications on narrative.
Note
The lecture is to be continued, promising further insights into Satrapi's work and literary techniques.