September 11, 2001 was incredibly devastating nationally, as well as internationally but one can only imagine the intensity of horror the local New Yorkers were confronted with, resulting in a long-lasting trauma for most. One of those individuals who has spent most of his life in NY and was very present when the planes struck the towers is Art Spiegelman. Like most Americans, the events that day left him traumatized leading him to attempt to deal with 9/11 by portraying his emotions in the autobiographic post-traumatic comic book titled In the Shadow of No Towers. In an interview with The Progressive shortly after the release he stated "This book is fragment of diary. In making the book, I'm trying to work my way out."
This research paper will deal with his attempt to cope with personal and national Trauma and if depicting it in a comic can be justified as an appropriate medium. The issues when portraying Trauma as a comic and Spiegelman’s technique will be discussed. It will also provide a structural analysis and show themes and specific events concerning his 9/11 experience. It will also give an insight and an analysis of the many segments in which the U.S. Government’s actions following 9/11 are heavily criticized. Lastly the undeniable similarities as well as the differences between In the Shadow of No Towers and his most famous work Maus will be examined.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Difficulties when depicting Trauma in a Comic
- 3. Recurring Parts of his Trauma
- 4. Criticism of the U.S. Government
- 5. Comparison to Maus - A Survivor's Tale
- 6. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This research paper examines Art Spiegelman's graphic novel, "In the Shadow of No Towers," analyzing his attempt to cope with personal and national trauma following the September 11th attacks. It explores the challenges of depicting trauma in a comic book format, specifically Spiegelman's techniques and the effectiveness of his chosen medium. The paper also investigates the book's structural analysis, thematic elements, and criticisms of the U.S. government's response to 9/11. Finally, it compares and contrasts "In the Shadow of No Towers" with Spiegelman's previous work, "Maus."
- The challenges and complexities of representing trauma, particularly national trauma, in a visual medium.
- Spiegelman's artistic choices and techniques in depicting his personal experience of 9/11.
- The critical portrayal of the U.S. government's actions and policies in the aftermath of the attacks.
- A comparative analysis between "In the Shadow of No Towers" and "Maus."
- The use of comics as a tool for processing and conveying personal and collective trauma.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Art Spiegelman's "In the Shadow of No Towers," contextualizing the events of September 11th, 2001, and their impact, particularly on New Yorkers. It introduces Spiegelman as a key figure, highlighting his personal experience and the graphic novel as his attempt to process this trauma. The chapter establishes the paper's objectives: to examine the challenges of depicting trauma in a comic, analyze Spiegelman's techniques, and explore the novel's themes, including criticism of the U.S. government's response. The introduction lays the groundwork for a deeper examination of the complexities of representing such a significant and emotionally charged event.
2. Difficulties when depicting Trauma in a Comic: This chapter delves into the inherent difficulties of representing traumatic events like the Holocaust or 9/11 in any medium, particularly the limitations and controversies associated with comics. The discussion includes the concept of "unrepresentable" trauma, the moral implications of portraying others' experiences, and the challenges of conveying the "soundlessness" of trauma through visual narrative. The chapter highlights existing debates regarding the appropriateness of comics as a medium for such serious subject matter, given their often lighter associations. It also considers Spiegelman's previous experience with "Maus" and his conscious decision to use comics again despite these challenges, driven by a sense of obligation to the victims and a desire to address the U.S. government's response.
3. Recurring Parts of his Trauma: This chapter analyzes the structure and presentation of Spiegelman's "In the Shadow of No Towers," emphasizing its unique visual and narrative layout. The division of the book into two parts, mirroring the Twin Towers, is explored alongside the non-linear reading experience. The chapter examines the collage-like nature of the pages and the intentional ambiguity in the sequencing of panels, arguing that this structure reflects the chaotic and surreal nature of the post-9/11 world. The deliberate use of a non-linear narrative, though potentially confusing initially, is presented as a stylistic choice meant to emulate the disorienting experience of trauma itself.
Keywords
9/11, trauma, graphic novel, Art Spiegelman, national trauma, comics, representation, U.S. government, Maus, post-traumatic stress, memory, historical event, visual narrative, political commentary.
Frequently Asked Questions: In the Shadow of No Towers - A Research Paper Preview
What is the focus of this research paper?
This research paper analyzes Art Spiegelman's graphic novel, "In the Shadow of No Towers," focusing on his portrayal of personal and national trauma following the September 11th attacks. It examines the challenges of depicting trauma in a comic book format, Spiegelman's artistic techniques, the novel's structural analysis, thematic elements, criticisms of the U.S. government's response to 9/11, and comparisons with Spiegelman's "Maus."
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes including the difficulties of representing trauma visually, especially national trauma; Spiegelman's artistic choices in depicting his 9/11 experience; the critical portrayal of the U.S. government's response; a comparative analysis between "In the Shadow of No Towers" and "Maus"; and the use of comics as a tool for processing and conveying trauma.
What are the main chapters and their summaries?
The paper is structured into six chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction and sets the context. Chapter 2 delves into the difficulties of depicting trauma in comics, specifically addressing the limitations and controversies associated with the medium. Chapter 3 analyzes the structure and presentation of Spiegelman's work, focusing on its unique visual and narrative layout. Further chapters (not fully summarized here) continue the in-depth analysis of the graphic novel. Chapter 6 offers concluding remarks.
What are the objectives of this research?
The objectives are to examine the challenges of depicting trauma in comics, analyze Spiegelman's artistic techniques, explore the novel's themes (including criticism of the U.S. government's response), and compare "In the Shadow of No Towers" to "Maus." The overall goal is to understand how Spiegelman uses the comic book medium to process and convey the trauma of 9/11.
What keywords are associated with this research?
Keywords include: 9/11, trauma, graphic novel, Art Spiegelman, national trauma, comics, representation, U.S. government, Maus, post-traumatic stress, memory, historical event, visual narrative, and political commentary.
What is the overall structure of the graphic novel "In the Shadow of No Towers" as discussed in the paper?
The paper highlights the book's unique structure, noting its division into two parts mirroring the Twin Towers and its non-linear reading experience. The collage-like pages and ambiguous panel sequencing are analyzed as stylistic choices reflecting the chaotic and disorienting nature of the post-9/11 experience.
What are some of the challenges in depicting trauma, particularly in a comic book format, as discussed in the paper?
The paper discusses the inherent difficulties of representing traumatic events like the Holocaust or 9/11, particularly the limitations and controversies associated with comics. It addresses the concept of "unrepresentable" trauma, moral implications of portraying others' experiences, and challenges in conveying the "soundlessness" of trauma through a visual narrative. The appropriateness of comics for such serious subject matter is also considered.
How does this paper compare "In the Shadow of No Towers" to Spiegelman's "Maus"?
The paper includes a comparative analysis of "In the Shadow of No Towers" and Spiegelman's previous work, "Maus." This comparison likely explores how Spiegelman utilizes the comic medium to convey trauma in different contexts and across different scales of experience (personal vs. national).
- Quote paper
- Henry Quevedo (Author), 2015, "In the Shadow of No Towers". Coping with National Trauma through a Comic, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/425380
