WK1 Comics

How might Herge’s The Blue Lotus address or relate to the issue of what Said (1977) terms ‘orientalism’?

Herge’s The Blue Lotus appears to correct the European stereotypes that existed during the time of its publication in 1934/1935, trying specifically to target the ideas held by “stupid Europeans” (Herge, 1935, p43).  These stereotypes were held in the West about the culture and traditions of the people in the East as a result of Orientalism - an idea constructed to give reality and presence to the eastern half of the world (Said, 1997).

Orientalism has a deep reoccurring image of ‘us’ and ‘them’ or ‘the other’ (Said, 1997). There is evidence of this divide on page 6 of The Blue Lotus when the English character Gibbons physically assaults a Chinese cart runner saying “You dirty little Chinaman…to barge into a white man”.

The term orientalism has given way for numerous pieces of literature to create intricate plots based on the disunion between the Orient (East) and the Occident (West) (Said, 197).

REFERENCE

Said, E. (1997) Oreintalisim, In Ashcroft, B. Griffiths, G. & Tiffin, H. (ed.), The Post-colonial Studies Reader (pp.87-91). London: Routledge.

Herge. (2005; 1935). The Adventures of Tintin: The Blue Lotus. London: Methuen.

Weekly Blog 2 – Comics As Graphic Novels II

According to Horricks (2004), how have perceptions of comics as media changed?

During the 1950s New Zealand conservatives, and liberals alike, were concerned by the ‘new’ popular genre of comics - they believed the new form of literature to have an adverse effect on young readers (Horricks, 2004). Having lived through a moral panic of a popular genre in 1999 - Marilyn Manson’s music being linked to the Columbine Shootings -  I can easily comprehend how a society can jump on the band wagon when it comes to fearing and framing the unknown.

Over time, it would seem that the panic of the comic genre has moved from new popular genre to new popular genre, and will continue to do so as long as technology advances and genres continue to be created.  Today, comics and graphic novels are being accepted more and more in the world of classical literature and can be found reviewed in the newspaper and online, studied at colleges and universities, and referred to in academic journals (Horricks, 2004).

As society shifted their perception of comics from negative to positive, authors such as Herge gained freedom to push topic boundaries. For example, in the story of Tintin and The Blue Lotus, Herge included political reference by adding a poster in the background of frames on pages 6 and 7 that read (in Chinese) ‘abolish unequal treaties’ and ‘down with imperialism’. I think the ability for comic authors to be able to discuss and introduce ideas from the outside world, and their own utopian world, gives this popular genre an edge that other classical and new genres might struggle to achieve.

Horricks, D. (2004). The Perfect Planet Comics, games and world-building. In Williams, M, (Ed.), Writing at the Edge of The Universe. Christchurch: U of Canterbury Press. 

Hergé. (2005; 1935). The Adventures of Tintin: The Blue Lotus. London: Methuen.