Graphic Design and Satrapi Interview Summary

This article is in majority an interview with graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi, who is most known for her comic Persepolis with a brief introduction into the prevalance of comics and cartoons in everyday life. The author of the article and interviewer, Root questions Satrapi on her methods as a graphic novelist. Satrapi attempts to explain the difficulties in creating a comic which is largely autobiographical. In this sense, Root deems Persepolis a graphic memoir. Satrapi explains the search for truth in fictional stories with historical background. Root also inquires as to why Satrapi chooses to write in a graphic form instead of merely textual. Satrapi replies that not only is she horrible at writing but "there are so many things that you can say through images that you cannot say with the writing". For Satrapi, comics present convenience even though she is unclear on to how she actually creates a comic with text attached, she claims that it all happens at once for her. Satrapi believes that everything is a story even if it has a historical basis. The events in Persepolis are largely based upon her childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and other historical events, though she has changed the names of the characters and some of the dialogue. Satrapi states that her main limit in creating a comic is crossing other people's personaly boundaries. She openly admits to being "rather nasty" but also tries to learn from her mistakes and consequentially, does everything she can to protect rather than intentionally cross other's points of view. Satrapi also goes on to explain the creation of Persepolis the animated movie. She says that seeing her characters in motion for the first time made her feel like a god and though she is used to creating her comics by herself, with solely her vision, during the production of an animated movie many hands are required to draw all the sketches which brings in other peoples perspectives as well. Satrapi admits to liking the challenge that her work presents her with. She enjoys doing things that are difficult for the satisfaction found in their completion.