Are Graphic Novels Literature: MAUS: a Survivor’s Tale as a Model
Literature has an ever-broadening definition. Oxford advanced learner’s English dictionary defines literature as a piece of writing that is valued as a work of art. With such a broad definition who is to say that newspapers, graffiti, advertisement and even shopping lists are not literature. For many years graphic novels have been considered immature and lacking of literary qualities and the debate of whether or not they are a form of literature has been put on pause. After the winning of Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus: a Survivor’s Tale with Pulitzer’s literary prize, and Alan Moore’s graphic novel Watchmen being listed as one of all-time best novels by Time magazine, the subject has been opened for debate again.
This research aims to address the highly controversial topic of whether graphic novels are literature or not, and intends to answer the question by conducting a study on Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus: a Survivor’s Tale. The presented research will try to answer the main question Are Graphic Novels Literature?. The research will study Maus: a Survivor’s Tale by applying elements of literature such as plot, symbols, characters, themes, tone and setting.
Review of the literature:
Budick, Emily Miller. "SECTION II. Golems, Ghosts, Idols, and Messiahs: Complicated Mourning and the Intertextual Construction of a Jewish Symptom." Jewish Literature and Culture: The Subject of Holocaust Fiction. N.p.: Indiana UP, 2015. 121-83.
In section two Psychoanalytic Listening and Fictions of the Holocaust of this book, the writer provides an analytical review of Maus as one of the best works in Jewish literature. The book gives new information and details regarding Maus and its writer Art Spiegelman which will be of benefit to the research.
Chute, Hillary. “Comics as Literature? Reading Graphic Narrative.” PMLA, vol. 123, no. 2, 2008, pp. 452–465.
This article argues the case of graphic novels as a literary genre. The article views the debates surrounding graphic novels in general and the different critical opinions about them. The article also provides information on the history and background of graphic novels in general. This article will equip the research with the different views regarding the debate around graphic novels along with new information regarding its history.
Grimwood, Marita. Holocaust Literature of the Second Generation. Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
This book reveals a detailed analysis of literary works written by or about the second generation of Holocaust survivors and one of which is Maus: a Survivor’s Tale. The book discusses Maus from the historical and biographical perspective thus provides new information regarding Maus’ themes and characters.
Park, Hye S. "Art Spiegelman's Maus: A Survivor's Tale: A Bibliographic Essay." Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, vol. 29, no. 2, 2011., pp. 146.
A thematic criticism of Maus: a Survivor’s Tale, the article provides a useful summary of the studies currently available on Maus. Covering topics such as critics’ opinions and an analysis of Maus; thus the article will help provide critical views and discussions regarding this graphic novel.
Mullan, John. How Novels Work. Oxford UP, 2006.
This book establishes ground floor for evaluating novels in general through the demonstrating of literature elements. The book focuses mainly on the works done in the last ten years prior to its publishing. It doesn’t only feature traditional elements known by most novel readers such as plot and character but rather new not so known elements such as prolepsis and amplification. The book opens the reader eyes to new techniques used in modern day literature. This book will help the research analytical study on graphic novels.
Rothberg, Michael, and Art Spiegelman. ""We Were Talking Jewish": Art Spiegelman's "Maus" as "Holocaust" Production." Contemporary Literature, vol.35, no.4 (1994): 661-87. 20 Oct. 2016.
This article illustrates a detailed analysis and critical discussion of Art Spiegelman’s Maus: Survivor’s Tale and its relation to Holocaust and Jewish literature. Which is important information for the research.
Pagliaro, Michael. "Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words? Determining the Criteria for Graphic Novels with Literary Merit." English Journal, vol. 103, no. 4, 2014., pp. 31-45.
This journal details a principle and a method by which graphic novels can be evaluated for literary merit. The journal also highlights information regarding the rule of imagery in graphic novels in general. Thus the journal will help the research analysis of the graphic novel Maus: a Survivor’s Tale.
Pedri, Nancy, and Laurence Petit. Picturing the Language of Images. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2013.
This book is a collection of thirty-three previously unpublished essays discussing the interaction between words and images. The book covers a variety of media such as literature, painting, film and comics from the 18th century to the present time. The collection focuses on specific works one of which is Art Spiegelman’s Maus. The book will help the research by providing new information regarding Maus and the argument of graphic novels as a form of literature.
Weiner, Robert G. Marvel Graphic Novels and Related Publications: An Annotated Guide to Comics. Prose Novels, Children's Books, Articles, Criticism and Reference Works, 1965-2005. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2008. Print.
In addition to the book being aimed towards marvel’s own graphic novels and comics, the book also documents the history and evolution of the genre in clarity. Robert takes his reader step by step into the making of graphic novels. The book will be of great benefit to the research as it will provide the historical background of the graphic novel and establishes a better understanding of the genre.
Interview with Art Spiegelman - Talk to Al Jazeera. Perf. Art Spiegelman and John Seigenthaler. Aljazeera America, 2015. Art Spiegelman - Talk to Al Jazeera. Aljazeera America, 11 Sept. 2015. 19 Oct. 2016.
Aljazeera media network televised interview with Maus’ writer and artist Art Spiegelman. In the interview Spiegelman is asked questions not only concerning his novel and the holocaust but also his life. This interview will provide details of the writer’s biography and views which are needed for this research.
Methodology:
The research aims to answer the question “Are graphic novels literature?” and intends to do so by conducting an analytical study on the graphic novel Maus. In the research the elements of literature will be applied to the novel.
Outline of the paper:
Introduction:
In this section of the research graphic novels will be introduced with the biography of Art Spiegelman the writer of Maus: a survivor’s tale the model chosen for this research and a summary of Maus’ plot. The introduction will also include the definition the graphic novel genre and will explore the history and origins of graphic novels and its association with Maus the model chosen for this research. Along with critics’ opinions regarding graphic novels in general and Maus: a Survivor’s Tale in particular.
Chapter one: plot, symbols and setting.
Chapter one of the research will explore the plot, symbols and setting of Maus: a Survivor’s Tale. Maus takes its readers on the emotional heartbreaking journey of its main character Vladek. In Maus Vladek a polish Jew is interviewed by his son Art who aims to make a comic book about his father’s surviving story, the graphic novel doesn’t only cover the events of the holocaust its self but the years leading up to world war II and the years after surviving the hunting memories of the tragic war. Perhaps the most obvious and most striking Symbolism in Maus is portraying the Nazis as cats and the Jews as mice; but why did the author choose this symbolism, what does it represent, and what message does it carry?
Chapter two: Characters, themes and images.
Maus is the story of Art Spiegelman’s troubled relationship with his father a polish Jew and a holocaust survivor. In Maus Art interviews his father about his experiences prior and post to World War II. In the story Art is forced to live under the impact of the holocaust left in his parents. He learns about a brother he never met and has to deal with the painful memory of his mother’s suicide. In chapter two the research will view the characters and themes such as guilt and blame. What is Vladek’s guilt?, whose story is Maus?, who is the real survivor?. Chapter two will also address the matter of using images in the graphic novel Maus. To what extant can these images help carry the story?
Conclusion
The conclusion will restate the results of the research aiming to prove the presence of literary elements such as plot, symbols, characters and themes in the graphic novel Maus: a Survivor’s Tale; thus answering the main question are graphic novels literature?
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