Is this a graphic novel or a comic book? Being a comic book geek while growing up, I was really excited when I realized that we had to read one for the class. Though once I started reading it, it didn’t exactly feel like a comic, but more like a graphic novel. Comics for the most part do not make you think too much, and pretty much spoon feeds the entire book for the reader without having to strain the brain. Graphic novels such as Fun Home clearly do not qualify for such a description of a comic book, as the reader is forced to read between the lines to be able to figure the theme and story of the book. Additionally this book does not follow a chronological order. That combined with a difficult structure of the character’s conversations, makes this more of a novel than a comic book.
A major theme in the book is sexuality, especially around the concept of homosexuality. Sometimes it is difficult to see why the author illustrates very graphic sexual ideas and images which might be offensive to many readers. Is this really needed or what is Bechdel exactly trying to portray with these images? It almost seems like she is taking a risk by putting the readers outside of their comfort zone by utilizing these images, while the purpose may not be exactly clear.
Through sexuality, Bechdel does question and show how people discover their own sexual preferences. For example, the father is a closeted homosexual, as Bechdel found out later in her life, and the examples from his army and school days clearly portrays his homosexuality early. On a similar note, at a comparatively young age the narrator tries to figure out her sexuality, especially by reading books. It seems to show that it is during adolescence that most people figure or try to figure out their sexuality, but only some might be ready to openly accept theirs. Though in this case, the time period the father grew up in, was far more conservative than the narrator’s time. Also, Bechdel shows that discovering one’s sexuality can be very complex and is a mixture of many other things which might surprise readers. In this novel we see that loving art and literature, the way a home is made, and even the history of the family all can play into one’s discovery of their sexuality.
Another major theme of the book is the concept of death and irony. The readers are introduced to the “fun home” which is short for funeral home, a bit ironic type of statement. Funeral home is obviously related to death, but it is made into fun home. Also, the father works at the funeral home, and when he dies, the narrator thinks it is ironic that he will be having a funeral there. She is also trying to find the reason of his death, was it suicide, why suicide, was it artistic, was it because she told him about her sexuality and found out his, or was it a complete accident.
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Well, the first question you brought up
ReplyDeleteis answered in the fact that the book IS considered a graphic novel, and not a comic book. That is why it seems like a graphic novel and has more depth (arguably) than most "comic books" in the traditional sense----simply because that is what it is: a graphic novel.
The presentation of the theme of sexuality was fundamental to the book, and I feel that your questioning of whether she should have included many parts of it on the basis of whether it would offend anyone doesn't really make very much sense to me.
I'm pretty sure ANYTHING will offend SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, and I feel like when Bechdel is just telling her story. The portions that include more blatant sexual content were not thrown at the reader excessively or played up for drama or shock value, they simply aided the author in expressing what she needed to.
The only references to this I can really recall
are a few instances where breasts are depicted,
a nude on the wall of their friends home, and the oral sex panel. The imagery in relation to this topic isn't exactly overwhelming throughout the piece. And I don't really think that as typical college students that any of these situations are beyond our realm of consciousness.
Appreciating the piece as a memoir and as something that is not done in a crude fashion means accepting that sexuality is a part of human nature.
This is especially the case when it is fundamental to a work's theme, therefore it is something that should be expected.
I don't feel that Bechdel needed to censor her work in any way out of a concern for public opinion or reaction.
I think that she feels the way most artists do in that people don't have to look at it if they don't want to, as the artist you are not forcing anyone. It is simply what she wants to say and how she wants to express herself and so she shouldn't feel the need to compromise that for something superficial.
I agree with Alex that the few graphic images in the book are simply part of Bechdel's artistic expression. I was certainly surprised when I first came across them, but they are consistent with the book's exploration of sexuality. One of the major reasons for producing art (in any form) in the first place is to explore. As an artist, Bechdel has the creative license to explore her subject in any way she sees fit. If it is too offensive, people just won't read it. Based on the ridiculous amount of "Book of the Year" awards on the back cover, I would say that "Fun Home" does not have this problem. Besides, censorship and artwork are a lot like oil and water - they just don't mix.
ReplyDeleteTo me the actual Funeral "Fun" Home was not really just about death (for other than the obvious). After reading through that section of the novel, I did a little bit of research on funeral homes, particularly embalming. It's a process used not only to help preserve the body, but make it look better for families and friends to see. I was really surprised at the depth of some of the cosmetic things that embalmers do to prepare the body for viewing.
ReplyDeleteThey wash them, apply makeups, sometimes perform cosmetic operations for victims of trauma, and also often dress them in formal clothing. It can be a very lengthy and meticulous process.
The narrator's father working in this profession is a perfect parallel for his obsession with fixing up old houses and making everything look more refined. He makes things to appear what they are not - an old worn down house into a rich man's home, and a dead body into a being with some life in it.
I had never thought of John's perspective, which is definitely interesting. I can see what you mean with the parallel between Bruce's profession and his passion for fixing up the house. In class we also talked about the parallels between Great Gatsby and Fun Home, and that is something that I would like to touch on.
ReplyDeleteAs we talked about today in class, a very heavy theme in Gatsby is the theme of the American Dream, and the disillusion that is felt with it- especially in Gatsby's case. The book displays the outer materialism, etc. while showing an inwardly disappointed and empty Gatsby. I think that this might serve as a parallel with Fun Home, and especially with Bruce.
Bruce was obsessed and maniacal about fixing up his house, and the bodies in his profession. But again- those are outward, superficial things. On the inside, Bruce experienced a torment and inner loathing. This was most likely due to hiding his sexuality, or the feeling that his life with his family was empty in comparison to what he really was. I feel that this was mainly displayed through the themes that have been discussed in this thread; i.e., sexuality and death.
I liked the comment we had in class last week that talked about how Alison Bechdel's writing this book was, in a way, her trying to control her childhood as she tells it. I think that it is significant that we don't know much about her siblings or mother. First, it helps to focus in on her relationship with her father. But it also is important to the book because it helps portray the disconnect between Bruce and his wife. We know so little about her that it is easy to see her as distant and disillusioned with her marriage.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that this book is a graphic novel also helps Alison "control" the story. Because we see pictures, we get a more accurate idea of what her childhood actually was like. Pictures help out so much too because she describes all the intricate details of the house and it's nice to be able to visualize them. Pictures also help show how she was OCD (like when they have the picture of a zoomed in view of the wooden floorboards and their lines).
When I first read the title of Fun Home, it made me think that’d we’d be reading about a circus or an amusement park. I suppose after reading the book the title, to me, signifies people masking their true personalities. As mentioned before, her father keeps the home immaculate and attempts to part-take in what would appear to be manly activities (the army and camping). I feel that the best depiction of Alison’s father’s façade is the funeral parlor and the significance that makeup can be applied and later washed away, as previously mentioned. His family, his home, his life are all applied to cover up his hardship. They are all ways to cover up what is truly underneath, such as makeup does when the deceased has gone through a horrible demise.
ReplyDeleteHe also tries to cover up Alison’s boyish mannerisms from a young age, as he does with the scene where he forces the bow into her hair. Obviously, the word “fun” in the title is sarcastic and may give the reader a wrong first impression about the storyline.
The images made the story more believable, to me, and certainly a much quicker read than anticipated. Being able to “hear” thoughts and see how a situation would progress from frame to frame, rather than just reading words on a page, connected the author’s story to the reader.
Good comments throughout this thread--I'm appreciative of the level of analysis here. The tension between the way Alison reveals herself and her story--and what she conceals, and what her family conceals--is very real and (to me) fascinating. I think the graphic nature of some of the panels can be tied in to that tension as well: showing so much, yet (as a writer always must) leaving so much unsaid...
ReplyDeleteAs far as the graphic nature of this novel, I thought that the graphic portions made the novel more genuine. It is almost as if Bechdel is trying to show that she isn't hiding anything. The graphic photographs are simply part of the story and I think their inclusion makes the story seem more autobiographical to me. A big part of this story is about disclosure. It says a lot that Bechdel isn't afraid to include graphic homosexual images in her novel. Her father lived in a time when this was essentially unheard of.
ReplyDeleteTouching on what Jonathan said, I agree that the graphic portions made the novel more genuine and unique. It's interesting because in her writing, Bechdel displays how she was careful in what she revealed and withheld with her family. However, she is very open with her images in the novel, so it seems like somewhat of a contrast. It is very interesting to be able to follow her personal stories through the artwork in the novel.
ReplyDeleteI also think that this book is interesting with regards to our discussion in class about movie interpretations of books versus our own- with Bechdel's graphic novel, we obviously don't create our own versions of the characters in our head, because we are able to see the author's interpretations upfront, which creates a completely different experience than the normal novel.