For your next posting assignment (by the end of the week!), please watch the film version of Persepolis and then write a _longer_ post about the differences between reading a comic and watching a film version of the comic. What are the differences and continuities you see between the two forms of media?
The film was made in French and has English subtitles. How does that affect your experience? How does the music the creators used alter the viewer's experience of the film?
See Persepolis here
The captioning of the film places more pressure on the viewer to stay alert than films without subtitles. Each scene introduced new content for viewing and also new lines for reading. This is similar to reading a comic, but is more difficult because the movie treks on without viewer consent. That being said, I didn’t have particular trouble keeping up with the film.
ReplyDeleteI made a note to think about music in the film and when I encountered music I tried to make some meaningful connections but faltered. The film’s music strikes me as appropriate and effective.
One way of getting at the difference in reading a comic and watching a film might be comparing a scene from the film that struck me as different from the comic. Marjane is stopped by Guardians of the Revolution, a group organized to arrest women “who were improperly veiled” (I, 132). In the comic the Guardians are depicted as heavily shrouded, their severe dress suits their strict morality, and physically abusive. They outnumber Marjane, one of the Guardians shakes Marjane, pokes her, pulls on her veil, grabs her leg and hurls insults at her. In the film the Guardians float up to Marjane (28:21), a type of movement comics might have a hard time conveying. The film matches the comics sentiment by cutting to perhaps Marjane’s point of view. Whatever the nature of the shot, the Guardians loom over the viewer, as they loom over Marjane in the comic. Aha! A difference. Film cuts make it much easier for the camera’s eye to stand in for the viewer’s eye. There is very little of that in comics. The reader of Persepolis the comic never inhabits Marjanes viewpoint, I’m sure of that for this scene, and it’s perhaps true for the whole comic. Why should that change have been made? I think perhaps a filmmaker feels the pressure to conform to the conventions of cinematography (I hope that term applies to animation), which makes heavier use of these devices. The logic and actions of the Guardians and the many of the cuts (focus on shoes, focus on button) are the same across mediums but the film contains no gutters and conveys motion more easily. The time spent between shots of the offending objects imbue the Guardians with snake-like qualities. This move begins triggering significations the comic did not and possibly cannot. The difference summed into a concise thought would be this: films have an easier time conveying physical momentum than comics. There was an energy to the Spielberg scene I mentioned in a previous post, and in this scene, and I think all film - viewing a film is more like being strapped into a roller coaster or carried along by a wave. Reading a comic is like the work of entomologists. A specimen comes to focus, signifies, leaves, and a new specimen appears.
I loved the film! The thing I found most different was the summarizing of events. I feel like we lose a lot of character development when we don't get the specifics of her smaller obstacles. However, since it is a movie it is understandable to leave out some details in the name of the human attention span. They did do a good job making those decisions on what to leave out, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe art style stayed true to the comic. The animation was able to even take it to another level. I especially liked the scenes where the figures were silhouettes against the lighter backgrounds. And in particular, the scene where the Guardians of the Revolution have stopped her. The movements created in their fully covering veils become more like ominous creatures than actual people, which just add to their dark impression on Marjane.
The subtitles made it a little difficult to fully appreciate the animation and visuals when you have to read all the dialogue. The music does add to the atmosphere and drama of the film.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, but would recommend people read the comic before watching, in order to gather the more detailed chain of events.
From the art perspective, I prefer the film version of Persepolis to the comic. The art styles are almost identical and the animation in the film really brings the characters to life. From the story perspective, I preferred the comic.
ReplyDeleteI think the striking difference between the film and the book is that they seemed to have somewhat different focuses. The book has quite a bit more detail concerning Marji's personal life and seems focused on how the situation in Iran affected her. The film on the other hand seemed to show more of a macro-picture of the events in Iran and much of the personal connection with Marji was lost.
The subtitles did not bother me at all. Probably 50% of my programming is subbed already. They are just something that you end up getting used to.
I really enjoyed the film. It took me a little bit longer to get into it then I thought it would. The version linked I had trouble following at first due to it being in French with Russian dubbed over it.
ReplyDeleteAfter I got into it, it was really enjoyable. I feel like this comic improved being a film. The biggest difference with the film compared to the comic is the fact that it is easier for the viewer to understand what is on compared to the reader. The benefit the film has is it is more easily able to allow the watcher to convey all of the emotions the director wants you to feel. Through animation, character voices, and through the music. It allows the viewer to more easily interpret what the writer is trying to convey.
The film was still able to capture all of what the comic did while expanding further and making it easier to understand what Marjane and her family were going through.
My biggest issue was trying to keep up with the film at some parts and appreciate what was happening in the film. Keeping up with reading the subtitles and still being able to fully grasp what was going on is a bit tough.
The music in the film is what made it stand out most over the comic. It made it possible for the viewer to truly appreciate the mood of the film.
I enjoyed the film and it was tough at times to follow between the russian dub on top of the french while reading the subtitles. If the film were dubbed in english I feel like it would have been much easier to follow and I probably would have appreciated the film that much more. The art style was unique and very well done.
The film definitely helped me understand more of what was going on as I am a visual learner! It also helps when you can hear character voices in my opinion. I think the two stayed very closely related, with just a few slight differences, but I was impressed by how the film stayed true to the novel.
ReplyDeleteI felt like the film was able to go in depth more and be more visual, as it should. However, I never enjoy when illustrations are put into motion; for me, it ruins the artistic aspect, and in that regard I preferred the novel.
I enjoyed the film, I think the comic was better, but let’s be honest, the book is always better. obviously they cut a lot out of the comic to convert it into a film, but I think over all it was successful. converting things into different mediums is difficult, and I applaud them for trying to make it into its own thing and not just taking one hundred percent from the books. The film had me dying with laughter at times. The Eye of the Tiger scene was pure gold. Overall the film seemed more comedy and entertainment focused, while the comics really delved more into the violence, and the horror of the revolution and war.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t mind the subtitles at all, probably because I listen to a ton of subtitled shows. Unlike the comic, there is sound and music which I think helps draw in the viewer and give another dimension to the experience.