Weeks 1 & 2 The Blue Lotus
Questions. Chose one or two questions to answer rather than all of them. Some questions might be combined in your answer. Remember to respond to other bloggers. Please answer in the comment section - do not create a new blog!
1) Are comics just a children's medium. What does Blue Lotus show us?
2) How does Farr (1991) justify Tintin's appeal to adults?
3) How does The Blue Lotus relate to what Said (1997) terms 'Orientalism' ?
4) Is The Blue lotus a racist text? Give your reasons.
5) Herge used the expression 'the wind and bone' to refer to his art work. What do you think he meant.
Farr (1991) justifies Tin Tin’s appeal to adults through the use of the levels of appreciation and appeal in different age groups, by Herger’s ability to devise characters and adventures which speak to both adults and children. Although Herger claimed the piece spoke to ‘all young people aged from seven to seventy-seven’ Farr (1991) argues the demographic interests spreads much wider than Herger’s initial target audience. Farr (1991) claims this this is due to the comic’s ability to create and maintain relationships with young audiences who continue to appreciate the literature into adulthood. An adult interpretation enables a contextual appreciation, such as political aspects, parody and puns integrated within the text. For example, in the rickshaw scene where Mr Gibbons causes a collision with Chinese rickshaw driver, the scene to young readers is appreciated as a form of slapstick physical humour. A young audience may interpret this scene as a humorous due to Mr Gibbons’ clumsy and hysterical behaviour, which creates an engaging and busy scene. As suggested by Farr (1991) an adult audience would learn to appreciate scenes such as this due to the context of the events depicted. The scene rather mimics Herger’s historic attitudes toward the Western intervention in Chinese matters. The Western Mr Gibbons is portrayed as an arrogant self-important character with feelings of superiority over the Chinese, leading him to make aggressive and demeaning comments to generate inferiority in the Chinese rickshaw driver. This scene to the adult reader reveals deeper societal issues such as politics and race relations which transfer into the text from events at the time, allowing an extended interpretation to the hysterical scene. Furthermore, this depiction reveals aim to discourage readers from sympathising with Westerners throughout the text by introducing this portrayal early in the narrative. Therefore this extension – from appreciation of the storyboard to contextual meaning – is ultimately what Farr (1991) uses to justify Tintin’s appeal to adult readers.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you, Neda! While the excitement, adventure, and humour, alongside vivid illustrations, have captured children’s attention, Farr (1991) has listed some essential qualities of Tintin that justifies its appeal to adults, which include: 1) political aspects, parody, and puns; 2) accuracy of drawings and historical contexts correspondent to reality; 3) compelling narrative; 4) extraordinary prescience; and 4) a self-generating appeal. As emphasised by Farr (1991), Tintin’s appeal has eventually extended beyond the intended range “from seven to seventy-seven”. Tintin’s global popularity is also evident in sales figures of Tintin books, and its multiple translations –of over fifty languages.
DeleteThe painstaking efforts Herge has put into his drawings have contributed hugely to his success. As mentioned by Farr (1991), Herge has amassed an extensive archive of information and images to ensure the accuracy of drawings. For instance, in The Blue Lotus, adults are able to appreciate the realistic details of the drawings – of vehicles, rickshaw, buildings, and clothing – which were relevant to the historical context.
Reference:
Farr, M. (1991). The Global Lessons TinTin Taught Us. Geographical Magazine, 6-9.
Great work, could be improved by a clearer introductory sentence and reference to a secondary source other than Farr.
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ReplyDelete1) Are comics just a children's medium? What does Blue Lotus show us?
While comics appeal hugely to children due to its visual content and the ease of reading and understanding, they are not just a children’s medium. Comics can be defined as “pictorial narrative[s]” (Hayman and Pratt, as cited by Meskin, 2007) that usually combines images, texts, word and thought balloons, sound effects, and panels (Brenner, 2011). According to McCloud (as cited by Brenner, 2011), they are also a form of sequential art intended to convey information. These definitions demonstrate that comics are defined not by its intended audience, but by its structure. Eisner (as cited by Brenner, 2011) asserts that comics should not be limited to any particular genre or age range.
Evidently, comics can include mature content that appeal to adults. While comics – especially superhero themes – were intended for the younger audience, this medium gained immense popularity amongst adults when political, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and crime comics were introduced (Brenner, 2011).
The Blue Lotus striking example of a comic that possesses sophisticated and political depth adults can appreciate, while simultaneously exhibiting amusement amidst enticing images that children enjoy. Rooted in “political accuracy and forthrightness” (Farr, 1991, p. 52), The Blue Lotus particularly draws attention to the oppression suffered by the Chinese under the Japanese occupation, as well as the presence of cultural stereotypes, as illustrated in the initial conversation between Chang and Tintin.
Rerences:
Brenner, R. (2011). Comics and graphic novels. Handbook of research on children’s and young adult literature, 255-267.
Farr, M. (1991). The Global Lessons TinTin Taught Us. Geographical Magazine, 6-9.
Meskin, A. (2007). Defining comics?. The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 65(4), 369-379.
well referenced clear answer, great work.
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ReplyDeleteGood point, but you need reference your work by referring to secondary sources. Also your work would be improved by breaking it into paragraphs. Steer clear of using ellipses "..." unless you are omitting text from a direct quote.
Delete2) How does Farr (1991) justify Tintin's appeal to adults? And racism in the blue lotus?
ReplyDeleteMichael Farr (1991) suggests that Tintin not only appeals to children but also appeals to adults. Herge himself said that Tintin was aimed at “all young people aged from seven to seventy-seven,” (Herge, 2005) keeping this in mind Farr discusses the appeal to both children and adults although this appreciation may be a different levels and for very different reasons. Each age group would find their own level of understanding and appreciation based on their level of interest and previous knowledge, Farr suggest that children will be gripped by the excitement and the comedy of Tintin, this may be due to the comic sense of Tintin and the influence of pictures. Along with the excitement and comedy of Tintin, adults additionally are gripped by the political sature and the parodies, puns and the prescience of Tintin (Farr,1991).
In order to explore this appeal of Tintin to adults the theme of racism can be explored in Tintin and the Blue Lotus. By exploring this theme of racism, a clearer picture of the appeal to adults can be demonstrated. Herge had fallen into the westerner stereotype of the rest of the world as can be seen in his previous works for example the Land of the Soviets. But then Herge met Chang, this led to long discussion resulting in Herge being given a true taste of china and the newspapers cuttings he had accumulated to be seen as a misrepresentation and Herge now strove to create an accurate picture of china, Herge admitted that he had “discovered a civilisation which I had completely ignored and, at the same time, I assumed a feeling of responsibility. It was from that time that I undertook research and really interested myself in the people and countries to which I sent Tintin, out of a sense of honesty to my readers” (Herge, 2005).
At the start of Tintin and the Blue Lotus a rickshaw driver can be seen having an accident with a westerner in the street, the westerner begins beating and shouting at the rickshaw driver, shouting “Dirty little Chinaman! To barge into a white man!” (Thanh, 2015) this right away begins the racism stigma that is held throughout. The White man later then complains to his friends “What’s the world coming to? Can’t we even teach that yellow rabble to mind their manners now? It’s up to us to civilise the savages!” (Thanh, 2015), this incident demonstrates the stereotypes that westerners already have about Chinese people.
Later on, Tintin befriends a Chinese boy named Chang and they discuss the misconceptions and the stereotypes that Westerners hold about China. This encounter takes place when Tintin desperately needed to evade the Japanese and he saw a boy drowning in a river, Tintin then jumps in to save him. The startled boy then says "I am Chang Chong-Chen.” "But why did you save my life? I thought all white devils were wicked, like those who killed my grandfather and grandmother long ago." Tintin then replies, "But Chang, all white men aren’t wicked. You see different people don’t know enough about each other. Lots of Europeans still believe that all Chinese are cunning and cruel and wear pigtails, are always inventing tortures and eating rotten eggs and swallow’s nests." Tintin and Chang then began to laugh together (Thanh, 2015).
2 continued)
ReplyDeleteIt is fair to say that adults would possess a much higher appreciation for the politics involved and the message that the Blue Lotus portrays about Racism, however it is also fair to say that children would also appreciate the message that is portrayed through the comedy and the excitement involved in the encounter between Tintin and Chang. Farr justifies Tintin’s appeal to adults however this can also be seen through the theme of racism in the Blue Lotus which can also be understood by adults in other Tintin adventures.
References
Farr, Michael. (1991). Tintin: the complete companion. London: John Murray.
Herge. (2005;1935). The adventures of Tintin: The Blue Lotus. London: Methuen.
Thanh Ha, T. (2015, March 20). Is Tintin racist? Uproar in Winnipeg opens new chapter in old argument. Retrieved from https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/is-tintin-racist-uproar-in-winnipeg-opens-new-chapter-in-old-argument/article23552666/?ref=www.theglobeandmail.com&
1) Are comics just a children's medium. What does Blue Lotus show us?
ReplyDeleteI think that comics are not just a children’s medium and that they can and should be read and enjoyed by anyone who wants to read them. I think that all forms of art and writing have different stories that are more directed toward an age category, for example there are certain books, television shows, cartoons and movies that are directed at adults. But there are also different forms of mediums aimed at children, that hold more appropriate genres. I think that the same can be said for comics, there are certain comics that may be more appropriate and directed towards a younger audience, and the same goes for an older audience.
However, there are comics that can be enjoyed by everyone of all age groups such as Marvel comics like Captain America, Thor, Spiderman… These comics have simple story lines that can be followed and understood by the younger audience, but also hold enough interest and humour that may appeal more to adults to entice the older ages too. Where Tin Tin is concerned, I think that the comics are possibly aimed toward a younger age group, with a younger character who younger people can relate to more. In saying this I don’t think that the comics should be restricted to certain ages or that it should be shameful or embarrassing for older people to read Tin Tin.
There are several elements in Tin Tin and the Blue Lotus, that may not appeal to children, because children will not understand these aspects. For example, a lot of the racial elements of the comic that addresses a lot of issues that the Chinese dealt with in relation to the Japanese. In particular, it focuses on the issues and oppression that Chinese people dealt with due to the Japanese, there are also many cultural stereotypes illustrated in this comic. That can be easily interpreted by adults reading the comic, yet will not register with most children.
In conclusion, I believe that comics are a form of art that should be able to be happily enjoyed by all people. Tin Tin and the Blue Lotus shows us that comics can be enjoyed by all ages. While it has a simple enough plot line that allows children and younger audiences to follow, it also has elements that will be better understood by older audiences, and that will keep adults interested throughout the comic.
http://theconversation.com/tintin-human-rights-and-politics-4874
https://them0vieblog.com/2011/10/05/tintin-the-blue-lotus-review/