Lynda Barry
Barry's graphic novel contains various stories within it, which by far makes it one of the more interesting graphic novels we've come across during this course. These different autobiographical accounts have different imagery, and I want to discuss how these different artistic strategies portrayed different tone and mood throughout the first half of the novel.
I also would like to discuss the significance of the 100 demons and Buddhism throughout the story, and how this theology plays into the novel.
ALSO: Who's story was your favorite and why?
Buddhists believe that you must overcome 100 demons in your lifetime, in One Hundred Demons Barry tells a series of stories each individual, however they all come together to create a cohesive whole. Each story takes the reader back to the past and tells a story of how Barry fought her 100 demons in a form that Barry her self calls "autobifictionalgraphy"
ReplyDeleteThe styling of this story is one of my favorites that Ive read. It seems to take on the theme of organized chaos. Each stories layout is very similar making it easy to follow despite the congestion that exists on the page. I think the styling of this graphic novel is especially important in portraying the themes in the story. The sort of disorganization that exists creates an emotional turmoil for the reader that is similar to that experienced in the novel
I love that the different stories have different artistic strategies!! As an artist, I find this to be my favorite part of the book. However, I very much enjoy that this is not just autobiographical with one inlining theme as we have read in the past books like Fun House, Alison struggling with her sexual identity or Persepolis, Satrapi was experiencing a typical middle eastern treatment towards her since she was a woman. In 100 Demons, Barry identifies with different perceptions, different artistic styles, and ultimately different stories.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story was Common Scents... Not only is the title the most witty to me, but I completely relate! I have always wondered why other peoples houses smell differently- EVEN if they use the same air freshener, or spray... It mind boggles me. It is as if, we as humans, have our own distinctive scent... But if we came from each other- considering all came from the same, why do we smell differently!? Is it what we eat?! I also thought the art of this story was fun and went along with the idea of a childlike aspect.
The succession of seemingly unconnected periods is similar to the structure of Bechdel's Fun Home. Bechdel, like Barry, tailors the imagery of a chapter to a certain system (a chapter where Joyce imagery characterizes the narrative, or the fun home as an inverted space). The primary metaphor of a particular chapter is I think easier to recognize in Barry's work, the chapter title, introduction, and conclusion frequently invoke the same image in explicit ways. That sort of order provides a framework for reading the stuff that isn't directly implicated in the primary metaphor. In that way it is very similar to Persepolis in the establishment of "The Veil" and then an exploration of that sign.
ReplyDeleteBarry depicts memory as a process which is highly creative. Memories are those stories triggered by objects. These objects often provide a glimpse of a different world. The chapter specific art participates in the characterization of memory as fabricated (most if not all of our texts this semester can speak to this point as well). And like those texts, Barry's text points to the fabrication of narratives as a useful and empowering process.
I prefer not to view One Hundred Demons as a book various stories within it but instead a single segmented story that forms a whole. It is all the story of Lynda Barry. Each chapter outlines one of the "demons" of her past. Lynda writing is her way of fighting off these demons.
ReplyDeleteI really liked her artistic style in the piece. Her art looked very juvenile and perfectly captured the childhood feel. I think the messy, child-like drawing was also indicative of her current feelings to her troubled past.