Persepolis (6? Points)

 This story was extremely insightful. It’s best to read as an American since we are so ill-informed of other countries, especially Middle Eastern destinations. It was fascinating to learn about Persian culture and how it evolved just throughout Marjane’s life alone. By the end of the war, I was still a little confused how some women could be all dolled up with their hair visible and makeup on, but majorly had to stick to the regime other times. I think when Marjane met them they were hanging out in private, but I’m unsure. Either way, learning about the mental toll it took on our protagonist to have to mold yourself to fit in with different cultures at just 14 is unimaginable. I wasn’t surprised to see her indulge herself in drugs and get caught in depression later, it was such a hard thing for her to have to go through. Additionally, there’s A TON of political talk that I wasn’t fully understanding but got the gist for the most part. And yes, there’s also a lot I did not agree with in that aspect.

 Reading these novels made me increasingly angry at the way they treated the civilians in their society. Originally, I thought that maybe I was misunderstanding and that the civilians fought for the regime, but as Marjane shows us, that was not the case for the most part. Like any political or religious talk, I personally feel like it will always lead to brainwashing. Marjane portrays it as though people were actively opposing this now foundation, but somehow were overruled and made to have even less rights than they initially had before. I am incredibly enamored with Marji. She is not afraid to speak her mind, even if it could cost her (like her uncle) her life. I abhor the fact that people will berate you when you have an opinion that opposes theirs. The part where Marjane is talking to her old friends when they’ve grown up and her one friends actively asks if she’s had sex before, and Marjane answers ‘yes, of course’ and then the same girl immediately compares her to her whore. I have no patience for people like that. The fact that this is a thing that happens in every culture really proves something about the world’s ideologies today. We are so ready to fight each other and forget what side effects come along with hatred. Like Marjane points out, what about the casualties of war? Those injured, or orphaned or widowed? What are they supposed to do, are they just supposed to do? When they want to leave their oppressive countries where are they allowed to seek asylum when everyone only wants to believe the bits and pieces we are allowed to hear? It is completely unfair.

I knew that our narrator was going to make silly decisions and get caught into unnecessary trouble, but it turned out to be necessary all along. She made these novels in hopes to educate those who read them. In hopes that someone would catch maybe a glimpse of the things she faced during her life and get something out of it. That’s incredibly commendable; at least to me. Even at her lowest, she still aspired to be someone and reach people and to never loose her conviction. That’s truly inspiring. I can only hope that people she’s touched with these novels follow in her footsteps. Fight for the things you love.

I actually remembered seeing this art somewhere before and I when I googled it I realized it was a movie! I haven’t watched it yet, but I plan to. I was explaining some of it to my boyfriend as I was reading and he likened it to The Breadwinner, which is another movie I have yet to see but is also animated and about the hardships in the middle-east. I was very inspired by this work, so I’m excited to delve into it and be able to enjoy animation along with it.