Symbolism
Maus was the first graphic novel that I have read since entering college. In the past, I have read numerous comics including X-Men, Calvin and Hobbs, Garfield, and other Sunday comics that appeared in the newspaper every week. Now that I think about it, the comics were very different from graphic novels. Comics comprised of many short episodes and so you could leave the book after finishing a five minute episode. Graphic novels are different. If the story is intriguing, chances are you wouldn’t be able to leave the book without feel curious about the next scene. Every strip is connected to another strip.
Not only is reading graphic novels interesting, I found many components that they used connected to war. One of the components that are used regularly in graphic novels is symbolisms.
Symbolism: something that stands for or suggests something else by reasons of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance; a visible sign of something invisible; the lion is a symbol of courage.
Source: Webster Dictionary
An example of symbolism is the swastika symbol on pg. 25 in the Maus book. The sign is a symbol of the group’s beliefs and ideologies. The swastika is only one of the many obvious symbols that surround us. There’s the M symbol that represents McDonald, the check symbol that represents Nike, the flag with red and white strips and stars at the top left corner that represents United States, and many others. There are also many not so obvious symbols. Language for example is all based on symbols. The sound that the word makes has a specific meaning. The word itself is a symbol because it ignites an idea, image, and emotion when we use it.
Why have I chosen to talk about symbolism? Symbolism is an important tool in war. When I think of the United States flag, ideas that ignite me are it is a represent of freedom and unity. I am reminded that the history of this country is based on the idea that all man is created equal and the people who live in this country enjoy great freedom such as freedom of religion, speech and to have a trial by jury. I am not a history major but if someone were to ask me, what is the meaning of the United States flag twenty years from now, I would still know the answer. And the reason being is the ideologies represented by that flag were ingrained in my memory after seeing it continuously time and time again.
Soldiers go through the same process during war time. They look at the symbol that represents their party and are constantly reminded of the association of that symbol. I was reading a news article on BBC news and I came across the Al Qaeda flag.
Al Qaeda Flag
Description: A gray globe is set against a black background. An open Koran, facing up, is superimposed on the globe; a rifle, fist (with index finger extended) and black flag rise from the book. Yellow lettering at bottom says “Monotheism and Jihad.”
Explanation: A black background (in flags and symbols) often represents the goal of restoring the Islamic caliphate – a united Muslim empire. It also evokes death and militancy. The globe evokes the organization’s worldwide ambitions, while the Koran signifies a foundation in Islam. The rifle, fist and flag, symbols of militancy, rise from that base. The lettering spells the group’s name (”Monotheism and Jihad” in English).
Source: Anti-Defamation League (http://www.adl.org/terrorism/symbols/al_qaeda_iraq.asp)
Another symbol that I came across in Michael Yoon’s blog is a picture (Click to view picture ) of a tent set up in a desert a night with the glowing sun in the distance that signals the location of Iran. The symbol is significant the title of his blog is Death or Glory. The picture is a representation of his theme. The glowing sun hovering over the picture can symbolize death or glory which depends on the outcome.
Symbolism is an important tool in graphic novels and in wars. It forces the reader to think about what they are reading and it motivates soldiers in times of war.
