I suppose this is a place for last and final thoughts on Judaism and Comic Books. Here goes..... I have to admit before the class I did not care for comics or even read them at all. Even though we have read and referrenced them extensively I have to say I prefer graphic novels. That said Contract with God was my favorite graphic novel in the course.
It has been an amazing journey to see how artwork and words come together to form memories, opinions, and lost sentiments. Learning to take an in depth look at every angle and the nuances made by authors I think will have an impact on my close reading overall. There is truly so much to say that I do not even know where to begin. I suppose the readings as well as the blog exceeded my expectations. I have not had a course with blog assignments before and I enjoyed hearing thoughts on the reading materials (and their concepts) from peers.
I can't help but find myself wandering into the graphic novel section at the bookstores and library. I can say honestly I would have never given such mediums another thought. After the story of Maus and Contract with God I have gained a new respect for graphic novels and the rich artwork they present. For all of the ways I am familiar with studying the holocaust I have to say through the artwork and storytelling it was one of the most shocking. I think we have all been so de-sensitized to the holocaust that few things really hit us anymore or shock us even. I have to say that I was once again shocked and intrigued by the question of memory once more. After so much having been said, what more could there possibly be? A lot more than I thought possible!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Megillat Part 2-Questions
For me there were more questions than anything in the second part of Megillat Esther. If anyone can answer please do. First what is going on with the string on the fingers on pg 120? On the same page is the nudity necessary on the left side of the page? Perhaps this is where knowing the hebrew may be of help.
More questions on pg 134, what is the importance of the symbol with the babies in the right corner? Is this perhaps a symbol of ancestry or hint at future lineage? Again on page 135, the statue breaking with the female figuring emerging, perhaps the revealing of Esther in her true form as Judean?
Finally pg 146 and 147, the animal like characters at their feet are made of several different animals with multiple cultural significances. I can't help but feel that if I knew what the Hebrew on them both said perhaps it would give a clue. Any thoughts on these creatures? Dragons (even in part) have no real place in Biblical literature that I know of. Just a bit perplexed!
More questions on pg 134, what is the importance of the symbol with the babies in the right corner? Is this perhaps a symbol of ancestry or hint at future lineage? Again on page 135, the statue breaking with the female figuring emerging, perhaps the revealing of Esther in her true form as Judean?
Finally pg 146 and 147, the animal like characters at their feet are made of several different animals with multiple cultural significances. I can't help but feel that if I knew what the Hebrew on them both said perhaps it would give a clue. Any thoughts on these creatures? Dragons (even in part) have no real place in Biblical literature that I know of. Just a bit perplexed!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Megillat Esther
I enjoyed this graphic novel possibly more than any of the others (with the exception of Maus). I have seen quite a few of adaptations/interpretations of the book of Esther especially in graphic novels and even in a movie. Even though the script kind of threw me I have to say after I got used to it and read past the first portion of the book it didn't bother me quite so much. If anything I think it adds to the story and provides a certain authenticity not possible with other books done only in english.
Particular to this book I found the depiction of Esther to be interesting and very realistic. She was curvacious and closer to what a female of the time period and location would have looked like. I find it interesting that most other books and even movies depict her as dainty and even kind of short (in childrens stories). Another graphic novel I am reading she is closer to pictures of Roman women. I have noticed though that the type of story or way the author is telling it makes a large impact on the form of her character. It is interesting to spend time comparing her drawings in several adaptations as they give way to the authors interpretation and message he/she is trying to convey.
I am very interested to see how the next portion of the story plays out (even though I know the story well). I would be very interested to know the Hebrew which is alongside the english given that sometimes subtle hints are lost in translations and interpretations. It would be very interesting to see what the author is not puting in the novel (as far as the Hebrew goes) and examine why this may be. Overall, great read!
Particular to this book I found the depiction of Esther to be interesting and very realistic. She was curvacious and closer to what a female of the time period and location would have looked like. I find it interesting that most other books and even movies depict her as dainty and even kind of short (in childrens stories). Another graphic novel I am reading she is closer to pictures of Roman women. I have noticed though that the type of story or way the author is telling it makes a large impact on the form of her character. It is interesting to spend time comparing her drawings in several adaptations as they give way to the authors interpretation and message he/she is trying to convey.
I am very interested to see how the next portion of the story plays out (even though I know the story well). I would be very interested to know the Hebrew which is alongside the english given that sometimes subtle hints are lost in translations and interpretations. It would be very interesting to see what the author is not puting in the novel (as far as the Hebrew goes) and examine why this may be. Overall, great read!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The burden of a generation
I found a particular idea when reading BOS that I found interesting. On pg 203 Kahn mentions that in the graphic novella "Speaking of the Devil" the child of the angel and demon are expected to bring about a great change. It is expected that the child which breaks the norm and chaalenges taboos will be the beginning of a new era. As I thought about this it occured that we do this a lot.
Placing all of our hopes and aspirations on the next generations is common place given taht we assume everything will be better in the next generation to make sure the child/children are successful. We place a great burden on the next generation that many times they cannot fill. I remember being in high school and graduating in the year 2000, it was such a big deal to be the new hope of the new millenium. The pressure was especially from families and communities and even society. I can recall newspapers interviewing me and my classmates and telling us that in ten years they would again interview us and measure our progress. While my next interview has yet to occur what about when it does? Why can't we take charge of the present instead of waiting for the next generation to make the world a better place?
What will be the end results of societal pressures on upcoming generations? What does this say for our faith, do we not have faith that we can change the world by also doing unto others as prescribed for Christians, Jews, Muslims, and all other faiths? How faithful are we if we do not have faith in ourselves?
Placing all of our hopes and aspirations on the next generations is common place given taht we assume everything will be better in the next generation to make sure the child/children are successful. We place a great burden on the next generation that many times they cannot fill. I remember being in high school and graduating in the year 2000, it was such a big deal to be the new hope of the new millenium. The pressure was especially from families and communities and even society. I can recall newspapers interviewing me and my classmates and telling us that in ten years they would again interview us and measure our progress. While my next interview has yet to occur what about when it does? Why can't we take charge of the present instead of waiting for the next generation to make the world a better place?
What will be the end results of societal pressures on upcoming generations? What does this say for our faith, do we not have faith that we can change the world by also doing unto others as prescribed for Christians, Jews, Muslims, and all other faiths? How faithful are we if we do not have faith in ourselves?
Friday, November 5, 2010
Gays in the Arab world
In Bos Raab speaks of gays in the Arab world and the tossing of previous notions but there is a lot to be said about this new coming out. Homosexuality happens in the Middle East as much as the U.S. (if not more) however it has shunned and hidden for quite sometime. Being homosexual is far less accepted than in the U.S. and it is most definitely not a regular topic of conversation. The drawings on page 228 really invoke a lot of thoughts.
I suppose at first I found the drawings offensive and then I thought about what the author was really trying to say. Even though it is prescribed in Leviticus for man not to lay with man, what if you are a believer? Can you believe in a merciful God and be homosexual? Why not?
Another topic that comes up is gays and the military. In this case it is the IDF but this is a hot topic for debate far and wide. It is interesting to see the same questions being raised regarding homosexuals and military service in the U.S. perspective and applied to Israel and the Middle East. In my opinion as much as the U.S. truly is not ready to handle this question the Arab world is even more so. The religious consequences and cultural conflict that could arise would be immense. Some things are left better unsaid and I think now this may be the case. Perhaps another year or even decade but I do not truly believe that the Middle East is ready to handle the questions regarding homosexuality.
I suppose at first I found the drawings offensive and then I thought about what the author was really trying to say. Even though it is prescribed in Leviticus for man not to lay with man, what if you are a believer? Can you believe in a merciful God and be homosexual? Why not?
Another topic that comes up is gays and the military. In this case it is the IDF but this is a hot topic for debate far and wide. It is interesting to see the same questions being raised regarding homosexuals and military service in the U.S. perspective and applied to Israel and the Middle East. In my opinion as much as the U.S. truly is not ready to handle this question the Arab world is even more so. The religious consequences and cultural conflict that could arise would be immense. Some things are left better unsaid and I think now this may be the case. Perhaps another year or even decade but I do not truly believe that the Middle East is ready to handle the questions regarding homosexuality.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Star light, Star bright....
For all that I did not care for Jobnik one page really hit me like no other. The picture with the stars and the jets envokes so many thoughts and feelings. When I first looked at the picture it was neat but the more I looked at it I couldn't help but feel the enormity of the situation. Being in the desert in the middle of the night (especially once you're away from camp and/or civilization) gives you a feeling of awe and yet a sudden pang of fear. You realize that you could get lost in the vast desert. Then again you feel at peace because you have never seen the stars so bright. Even for the unfaithful there is an overwhelming trust in the powers (or power) that be.
I think for Miriam it was probably much of the same feeling but I also think she was feeling small and lost among everything else. I think at times, and even most of the time, she felt insignificant. It seems that there was this great puzzle but yet she didn't fit anywhere in it. I believe Miriam also felt overwhelmed by the current events both in her life and globally. Everything for her became so real so fast and even though there was the everyday there was also the extraordinary fact of when (politically) that everyday was and where it was.
Given so much criticism for the IDF and Israel as a whole the novel brings to light that at the end of the day we are all under the same stars. Maybe in part that is what Miriam was saying. We may all come from different places and faiths but we all sleep under the same moon and wish on the same stars.
I think for Miriam it was probably much of the same feeling but I also think she was feeling small and lost among everything else. I think at times, and even most of the time, she felt insignificant. It seems that there was this great puzzle but yet she didn't fit anywhere in it. I believe Miriam also felt overwhelmed by the current events both in her life and globally. Everything for her became so real so fast and even though there was the everyday there was also the extraordinary fact of when (politically) that everyday was and where it was.
Given so much criticism for the IDF and Israel as a whole the novel brings to light that at the end of the day we are all under the same stars. Maybe in part that is what Miriam was saying. We may all come from different places and faiths but we all sleep under the same moon and wish on the same stars.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Jobnik!
I have to say I was dreading a blog about Jobnik. I really feel that I don't have much to say. The only thing I can say is that it was realistic in that soldier life is not all cool stuff and bombs going off. In fact the every day of it is often boring and mundane. I think the story could have said so much more. I didn't enjoy any real significant portions of the novel.
I did not like the art and I can usually find something about drawings to at least comment but the roundedness of all the characters (for me) just made the story seem so much less realistic. I think that the story did an excellent job of confusing the reader and even that on some level that was part of the point. I don't think the reader was meant to fully understand much of the story and was to some extent meant to come away with a feeling that would leave him or her wondering and wanting to know just a bit more.
For me the reading was hard to follow and largely unclear. I have to say I even feel like it was a waste of my time. I am not sure if I should read it again and look at it closer or whether to take my face opinion and just move on. I would be interested to read more of Miriams work, it could very well give me some incite to her style and perhaps help me to understand Jobnik better!
I did not like the art and I can usually find something about drawings to at least comment but the roundedness of all the characters (for me) just made the story seem so much less realistic. I think that the story did an excellent job of confusing the reader and even that on some level that was part of the point. I don't think the reader was meant to fully understand much of the story and was to some extent meant to come away with a feeling that would leave him or her wondering and wanting to know just a bit more.
For me the reading was hard to follow and largely unclear. I have to say I even feel like it was a waste of my time. I am not sure if I should read it again and look at it closer or whether to take my face opinion and just move on. I would be interested to read more of Miriams work, it could very well give me some incite to her style and perhaps help me to understand Jobnik better!
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