In the Spotlight: Persepolis

Our Spotlight series features a well-known work or author and offers you a wealth of ideas for your next assignment or research topic.

Below are ideas for the EE, IOP, FOA or WT1 or WT2. If you need more help with developing your own topic, contact us.

Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

WT1

• Radio transcript – Write a transcript for a radio Book-Club interview/brodcast, with Satrapi or literary critic as guest. What explains the overwhelming success of this work? Be sure to use an appropriate model for this genre.

• Manifesto – an excellent way to expose the values, beliefs and attitudes of the young Marjane and/or her family members which are implied in the novel. See the defining characteristics of manifestos here.

• Diary – A mother or father writes an entry revealing concern for his/her daughter’s safety as she increasingly defies the regime through her outspoken manner. The diary can show knowledge and understanding of Marjane’s character, her upbringing, the political/social/cultural context which Satrapi brings out through her work.

• Pastiche -- Mimic Satrapi’s simple drawing style to address similar themes and issues (injustice, freedom and confinement, religion) from another context. Or insert a missing chapter or section.

WT2

• Q. 3 ”Which social groups are marginalized, excluded or silenced within the text?”You could demonstrate how the Marjane Satrapi uses various conventions of the graphic novel to show how children, secularists, nationalists and even Muslims were silenced in Iran during the 1980 Islamic revolution.

IOP / FOA

• Interview/roundtable/seminar/lecture: Focus: ”What accounts for the success and immense popularity of this memoir?” Respond as cultural or literary critic in a seminar/roundtable or book-show. Similarly, this question could be the focus for an Oprah Winfrey interview with the author. Either way, the question invites an exploration of context (or reception and production).

• Presentation / Discussion: Persepolis is, essentially, a comic book. But what (if it at all — there is still some debate) makes it literature? Are all comic books potentially literature? This is an excellent way to explore questions of genre and cultural context. You can easily turn this into a live debate.

Resources

• Podcast - Book Talk - reactions (23 min)
• Podcast - Interview with author npr (20 min)

• Article -

• Site - Discussion of genre & stylistics + offers links. The Graphic Novel. 

• Video - Satrapi interviewed
• Video - "How to read a graphic novel" TEDx
• Video - overview of stylistic choices in Persepolis