Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, is a graphic narrative – a hybrid, verbal-visual form. It is also a memoir; Marji, the narrative’s speaker and protagonist is constructed from Satrapi’s memories of her own childhood. Thus, like all memoirs, Persepolis is a personal record of self-interpretation, as well as a documentary record bearing witness to the Iran of Satrapi’s childhood. Persepolis, however, complicates the gesture of self-interpretation as documentation by rendering it both visually and verbally. While in some sense, a verbal-visual hybrid is more authentic to experience, the reader is offered a view of Satrapi from behind the fourth wall, rather than from Marji’s own eyes. Experience and narrative are highly stylized, and there is ironic distance between the knowing narrator and Marji, the child. Why do you think Satrapi made these choices? Why write a graphic narrative rather than a purely verbal memoir? What can she represent through visual imagery that she cannot verbally? In Persepolis‘ introduction, Satrapi writes that Iran “has been discussed mostly in connection with fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism. As an Iranian who has lived more than half of my life in Iran, I know that this image is far from the truth.” And then finally, “One can forgive but one should never forget.” What relationship do you see between Satrapi’s choice to write a graphic novel, knowing that the commonly held image of events is “far from the truth,” and not forgetting? I realize that these are complicated questions requiring lengthy answers. Please write at least three paragraphs, and please take until next Tuesday.
reznick110
English 110 - Seeing and Writing 
A graphic narrative is not something that just evolved or that was simply doodled. Marjane Satrapi chose to create Persepolis in the hybrid narrative form for a specific purpose. Satrapi’s technique is known as “re-inscription”; the story is told in the double form of verbal and visual language. This form of storytelling creates a more permanent impression and models “…one should never forget”.
Marjane desperately wants to share the story that the world has not been told. Her goal is so challenging because she needs to shout over the competing narrative of the Iranian revolution that is already out there. The story that is dominating in the public is that of “fundamentalism, fanaticism and terrorism” erasing humanity from the Iranian revolution era. Satrapi’s purpose is to spread the idea that humanity still existed. She wants to unveil everything that masks history from what it really was.
Through the comic panels Marji is able to accomplish a lot. The images allow for personal interpretation. Pictures are also a useful aid to memory. Satrapi connected to her uncle Anoosh through his stories. Perhaps Satrapi chooses to allow her readers to enjoy and connect through the means of storytelling in the same way she connected to her uncles’ stories. Throughout Satrapi’s childhood she experienced loneliness and isolation. With the use of hybrid narration it is more likely readers will find a way to connect to the story. Marji doesn’t want her readers to suffer in isolation as she did. As a child Marji really saw and was open to a lot more than a child should see. Her childhood was incredibly graphic. Perhaps to create a sense of what she grew up with, Satrapi chooses to write a graphic novel (although not as tragic as what she witnessed).
Even the panels that are just pictures with no words have a specific purpose of their own. Sometimes pictures alone are to allow for free interpretation. Often these pictures appear at moments of confusion, allowing the reader to join the confusion of the moment. Pictures without words demonstrate that the characters are speechless. Sometimes language would simply be inadequate to capture the characters’ emotions. When Marji is lonely the picture panels that lack verbal interpretation are able to perform isolation for the readers. Sometimes loneliness is performed as well in the construct of the tri-part narration.
Satrapi’s goal is to humanize people who have become dehumanized. In order to fulfill Satrapi’s purpose she uses lots of techniques for us to begin to uncover any misconceptions of history. Marji is an adored character. Almost every reader at some point connects with Marji. Marji is not perfect, but she is very strong, intelligent, brave and really just normal. She suffers a lot, but Satrapi has really created a bond between Marji and the readers so that almost every reader really wants to root for Marji. Every time readers are so enveloped in Satrapi’s book that they don’t want to put the book down, or that they begin to admire “Marji” Satrapi is accomplishing her dream.
Satrapi made these choices because she wanted to immerse the reader into the story a little more. She could have told it from her own eyes, but that would get boring. I think that the visual narrative that is told from a distance creates more of a adventure story kind of feel, making it more appealing to a wide range of audiences. She might not have wanted to follow the norm when it comes to retelling a story about ones self. She might have wanted to do something with a creative twist to make it more of a attractive read.
As for making it a graphic memoir rather than just purely verbal, there are several advantages to that choice. Words will only tell the reader so much, but pictures can tell a thousand words. It also exercises the readers brain and interest, by making them think about whats exactly happening, instead of just reading whats hapening. In all, it adds to the effect of pulling in the readers emotions into the story, making it all the more appealing.
The graphic novel also allows Satrapi to show the reader the image of events from her perspective. This is important because she beleives that the rest of the world has a distorted view on Iran, associating it with fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism. One can forgive but never forget means that she will never forgot the trials and tribulations that she faced growing up. That what made her who she is today, and and she remains a proud Iranian, regardless of what distortion the public eye has on Iran.
Satrapi chooses to write her story in a way that is unique. The reason for this is to allow the readers to actually know what happened during that time. It was a very difficult time for her to live through, and it would be even more difficult to try and engrain the story into the future generations’ heads. “One should never forget.” Satrapi wants to share her story so that no one can forget the horrible things that she witnessed with her own eyes. The public in Iran was believing that there was “fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism” erasing all of humanity. But Satrapi wants to erase that image and show that there was, in fact, humanity that existed.
Satrapi uses a hybrid, verbal-visual form to tell her story. She did not just do it randomly to give readers a break from reading. Rather, she did it as a way to allow her readers to connect with the story on a different level. The imagery in the story allows the readers to be able to get a different feel to the story. Readers are able to connect with something they enjoy reading. Especially when it comes to telling over a story that could come off as long and boring. The Iranian Revolution was a crazy time, and none of it was a “joke.” However, an event that harsh and serious may be too dramatic or boring for one to sit and read all in words. A visual story may be easier to read, and cause the reader to understand what happened, and connect with it in a deeper way. It allows the readers to, not only read what is being said and done, but he/she can see the images; he can see what is happening. There are even some panels that do not have any language whatsoever- just pictures. The purpose of that is to tell the story without using unnecessary words. A picture is worth a thousand words; pictures can sometimes tell over the story better than words can. In some panels, words would just destroy the feelings one has for the story- silence is golden. Sometimes, little words tell the biggest story.
Satrapi decides to tell her story through a child’s eyes. This, too, is to allow the readers to connect on a deeper level. Marji is the character that everybody loves. She is a real, normal girl; she makes mistakes and is not perfect, however she is strong and stands up for what she believes. Readers can understand the harsh reality, because they are reading about it through a young child’s perspective. Satrapi has reasons for her techniques; they are not random.
“One can forgive, but one must never forget.” Marjane is telling the readers that they can forgive people for causing them harm and damage, however they can never forget what was done. Forgetting events like this can cause history to repeat itself. Satrapi wants her readers to understand the reality in places other than one’s own. That is why a verbal-visual form of story-telling was used. It allows the readers to connect in a way that they can remember what happened, and tell it over to future generations.
Marjane Satrapi chose to write Persepolis as a graphic narrative because it is written to lighten the mood of a truly tragic story. Satrapi takes the Persian Gulf War and turns it into more than just the facts. She builds the novel around her own personal experiences. A graphic narrative is the most efficient way to intrigue the reader. Not only does Satrapi captivate the reader with the captions she writes, but the pictures she draws.
Satrapi creates a story that is interesting for the reader as well as educates them about the Persian Gulf War. The images she draws compliment the captions she writes. Not only is the reader engaged in the story she tells, but also the story they see. The pictures clarify the story, as well as allow the reader to make their own interpretations of what is going on. Rather than Satrapi solely telling the reader what has happened, she enables the reader to see for themselves. This allows the reader to connect to the story physically and emotionally.
Satrapi allows the reader to connect with Marji, the reader can relate to her and understand her. Marji loved hearing the stories of her family members, she always wanted to read and educate herself about the history of the world. She took it upon herself to become educated of the past. The same way the reader is taking it upon themselves to become educated of the past. If the past is not recorded, it will be forgotten. Satrapi’s goal is to ensure the past is not forgotten and she effectively accomplishes this through her graphic novel of Persepolis.
Marjane Strapi’s Persepolis is told as a graphic novel to uniquely tell the story of a girl during Iranian revolution. While reading the book the reader watches Marji grow up. The reader sees what life is like for an Iranian child to grow up during the Revolution. The graphics in the book lighten up the subject of the book and also give the reader a real insight into Marji’s life. When writing with just words readers imagine the characters and the situations in the way that they imagine. In a graphic novel Strapi shows the reader the image of Marji and the reader is able to see what life is like for Marji instead of just imagining. With seeing what Marji’s life is like the reader becomes closer with the character. Strapi choose to show Marji’s life from an outside/insider perspective. She would say what Marji would say, what she would think, and everything that would go on around her. Also a narrator would often be present as well. This tool was crucial to always be keeping up with Marji’s life. This helped the reader really truly get the most out of the novel as possible.
Writing the Graphic novel about the situation that many people don’t know the real concept behind really helps the reader. Watching Marji learn about the revolution teaches the reader about it as well.
When Strapi says, “One can forgive but one should never forget.” She means that Iranians are able to forgive but they will never forget what has happened during the revolution. When Strapi writes her novel she wants her readers to remember what has happened. With all her techniques she is able to get her point across the best way possible.
Persepolis is written differently then many other books. Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic narrative. She writes her story like this to catch the reader’s eyes. The story she is telling about the Persian Gulf War is intense and sad. In order for her readers to be eager to continue the book, images are inserted. The images take Satrapi’s story that could have just been a history book and turn it into an attracting story. The images help the readers really understand Satrapi’s life and the story she tells.
In the introduction of Persepolis Satrapi says, “one can forgive but one should never forget.” Satrapi wants her readers to never forget what happened during the war in Iran. With images in the book, it helps the readers to remember what they are reading. The verbal and visual aspect, not only intrigues the reader’s attention, but gives them an image in their mind. With both features it is easier to remember, which is Satrapi’s goal.
Together the verbal and graphic appearances open Persepolis to a wider audience. I think several individuals are more likely to read Persepolis because of its images in the book. Involving both characteristics of the book, it connects the audience to their author. Through seeing and reading what the author is dealing with, the readers get to know the author and comprehend what she is trying to say. Persepolis as a graphic narrative involves the reader in the story and keeps the audience fascinated.
Marijane Satrapi could have written her book as a verbal memoir, but chose to write it as a graphic narrative instead. She does this because she wants to attract the reader. By giving a visual one can see it for how Satrapi wants us to see it, instead of us making our own pictures in our head. Some panels in the book do not have any words because sometimes less is more, and sometimes you don’t need words to relay a message. If Satrapi was to write a novel she would not be able to just leave lines blank like she can with the panels.
Pictures also make the read more enjoyable because you can see whats going on and feel like your there. She wants the reader to be there with her. Marji does this so her readers can identify with her.
“One can forgive but one should never forget.” She says this because she doesn’t want to forget what she lived through. She wants others to know what she went through and what it was like growing up in Iran during the war.
Satrapi’s Persepolis is graphic memoir that I characterized in a comic format. She chooses to write about her life growing up in Tehran during the revolution in a comic format. She does this because she wants everyone to read he rbook. She believes that by constructing a book in a friendlier format will bring about more audiences to read the book. Not everyone would necessarily read a book that discusses the Iranian Revolution.
One of the main themes in the book is remembering. Satrapi was told by many people in her life, especially her uncle, to never forget and about what happened to her relatives during the revolution years in Tehran. These stories that are she told by her family members are stories that will not be written in history books and will not be shared in the news. If it wasn’t for the fact that Marjane was listening to the stories about her relatives, these stories would otherwise die and be forgotten. These stories shouldn’t be forgotten because it is an important for the actual history of Iran. It play a crucial role in telling the truth of what really happened in those revolutionary years. These stories as well signify so many other stories that haven’t been passed on. Satrapi chooses to uses pictures in the book may be because it can help one to remember things. Looking at pictures can help one to remember. It is a method of encoding memory. Satrapi wants us to remember what happened.
Satrapi also uses visual configurations to tell her story because sometimes words may not be enough to tell the story. Pictures have the ability to say more than words sometimes. There are some moments in life where words will only cheapen the value of the incident that has happened. Sometimes things should be left speechless. Satrappis uses a mixture between picture and words to tel
Persepolis is written much later than the events which are recorded in it. Because memoir is the interpretation of the past experience, there is necessarily a gap between a narrator and a character. The gap becomes rather big here because the events in her memoir are mostly her childhood experience. The stylized experience and narratives show Marji’s limited understanding of the situation as a child.
Satrapi could have described events and characters with many words. We already have certain concepts of things in our mind and it is hard to change them. So when one tries to describe a certain event or person, people can have very different images in their mind. Satrapi wanted to convey the exact images of the people and the events as much as possible. I found that visual imagery is effective especially in communicating the character’s strong emotion.
People have very limited knowledge about a certain geographic area. The image of Iran is not only limited but also distorted by some incidents related to the country such as the hostage incident in the U.S. embassy and her president’s recent remarks about the Middle East situation. Satrapi wants to show that there live people who have emotions and personal problems in her country even if there the environment became more complicated by a specific political situation.
Satrapi writes her book, Persepolis, as a graphic novel in order to attract a wider audience.The book has many powerful events that can only be understood through pictures. Satrapi wanted the reader to actually see what is going on so one can actually feel as if they were there or have experienced it. By using pictures, it draws more attention to her story and can present emotions to the reader. Rather than Satrapi telling the history of what happened, she allows the reader to see for themselves.
Drawings are able to communicate so much more than words ,as the saying goes, “ a picture can speak a thousand words.” Satrapi also tells the story through a childs perspective which allows the reader to relate to and understand Marji and can connect on a deeper level. The story gives us a glimpse into a world that few of us knew nothing about.
When Satrapi says “ one can forgive but one should never forget” , she wants her readers to never forget what happened . It is very important that everyone knows and will remember the history of Iran and therefore Satrapi created a story that is both interesting and educational for the reader.
“Persepolis” is a book by Marjan Satrapi in which she describes her life and experience during the Iranian revolution from her childhood up to her early adult years. The book is written as a comic book. One of Satrapi’s main goals of writing this book is that she wants people not to forget the history and she wants to make sure that the history is not erased.
She uses graphic pictures because in her book she is reviewing the history of Iran mostly for people from other countries who don’t know much about Iran and Iranian culture. Since image is a universal language, it would be more effective to transfer the emotions to the reader and it would be easier for the reader to relate to the characters and understand them. Sometimes language is inadequate to describe what is going on and it would be easier to see the emotions other than describing them. Since the writer wants the reader to be able to experience the situation with her during reading the book, using graphic pictures would be helpful for her to achieve her goal.
In her book, Satrapi shares her own experience during the Iranian revolution with other people and tells things that haven’t been told before. She wants people from other countries to read her book and read about Iran and Iranian culture. She uses graphic pictures to make her book more interesting and more enjoyable. She uses simple pictures because she wants to make the story more attractive and at the same time not to get distanced from the main goal and content of the book.
In my opinion, one of the reasons that Satrapi has written her book as a comic book could be that writing a book with a historical theme as a comic book is unexpected; therefore, it would make the book controversial and brings up the question that if there is a specific reason for writing the book in this way; thus, it would attract more audience.
In the introduction of Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi says, “One can forgive but one should never forget.” This is the thesis for her graphic narrative. Satrapi chooses to write a graphic narrative instead of a verbal memoir to make the readers never forget about the traumatic events, as in the Iranian Revolution and the War with Iraq. Satrapi gives the readers two ways of telling the story, one way is with words and the other is with pictures. Once the book ends, the readers have read each chapter, each page, twice, one reading with the words and the other with the drawings. Readers cannot forget the meaning behind Persepolis because of the addition of the drawings, which reinforce the information back to the readers.
Choosing to write this memoir as a graphic narrative also catches the attention of more readers. Knowing that many people enjoy reading graphic narratives instead of verbal memoirs, Satrapi was smart and turned her memoir into a graphic narrative. Satrapi wants more people to know the truth of Iran and having more people read her story leads to her objective. Satrapi wants those images and assumptions held about Iran to be erased with the truth and she achieves her goal by attracting more readers to her graphic narrative.
Throughout Persepolis, there are some instances where visual imagery is sufficient enough to tell the story. Sometimes words cannot fully express the meaning behind a panel. Panels of traumatic events or nervousness cannot be told with words, so drawings are the best thing to use because paintings itself can tell the story. The readers can look at a facial expression or a bodily movement and can fully understand the basis of the situation. A clear example is in “The Soup.” Marji meets her roommate and there is no way for them to communicate because they each speak different languages. Just like words between Marji and her roommate are useless, words are also useless from the author to the reader because the drawing can tell the story by itself.