McCloud, Persepolis, and El Rassi

In "The vocabulary of Comics", McCloud gives us the idea that "an icon is an image used to represent a person, place, thing, or idea" (McCloud, 27). He goes on to say that symbols are a subcategory off icons that are more complex. He uses the example of a cartoon to tell about how icons and symbols are simplified. The idea that cartoons are simplified down to their basic core appearance allows the audience to identify with the character and become one with the cartoon. He claims that by the cartoon being striped down and simple, the audience is able to identify more with the cartoon and, in a way, see ourselves in it. It is surprising how this idea is supported and contrasted in many different types of comics. It is clear in our class case studies that McCloud's theory about basic comics is not always used to get the audience to identify with the story or character.

In Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, the idea seems to be supported. The cartoon is drawn simple to allow the audience to identify with the character. By having the image very basic, we are able to connect with the story and the feelings that the characters are going through. we are allowed to identify with the story because we can picture ourselves there and are able to see story through the eyes of a little girl.

The idea that we are able to identify with a character if it is drawn simply enough is contrasted in "Arab in America." El Rassi draws in characters in a more realistic style. He  shows his characters and scenes in such detail that the viewers are not able to see themselves in the image. The audience is made to sympathize and feel empathy for him and what he has been through. El Rassi uses the fact that most of the people who will be reading his text can identify with 9/11 and the after effects. While everyone would have been affected differently and most to a lesser extent than Toufic, we are able to understand what he is going through.