The theory-practice interplay in creating a graphic memoir about the trauma of forced migration. Issue 5 (3rd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Appleton, Catherine
• Is Part Of: Journal of graphic novels & comics. Volume 12:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 535
• Page End: 556
• Publication Date: 2021-09-03
• Subjects: Graphic memoir -- creative practice -- trauma theory -- postmemory -- graphic representation; Graphic novels -- Periodicals; Comic books, strips, etc -- Periodicals; Popular culture -- Periodicals; Art, Modern -- 21st century -- Periodicals; Art, Modern; Comic books, strips, etc; Graphic novels; Popular culture; Comicroman; Comic; Periodicals; 741.5
• DOI: 10.1080/21504857.2019.1701510
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-4857

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In my graphic memoir The Wounds of Separation I combined personal memory and historical fact incorporating conceptual insights to tell a story about the way traumas are remembered. The story describes the forced migration of a child and how, in order to survive the devastation of WWII a young girl is separated from her parents and home causing lasting impacts on her life. The narrative content was enriched by a research process that involved understandings gained from trauma theories. In this paper I explore how these theoretical understandings shaped the creation of my graphic memoir and how representational theories helped direct the narrative choices to communicate the experience of trauma. I show how the conceptual underpinnings have been realised in my multimodal narrative identifying the text/image options that make the graphic memoir an appropriate representational choice. In my analysis of pages I describe the intended meanings I aim to communicate and explain the creative expression of those ideas.