Literature Circle

Overall, it wasn’t the best read. If this were my first graphic novel, it wouldn’t promote me to read more. (But luckily, I’m not the beginner to this genre.) But I think this read was intended more for an older audience. If I were older, I might have enjoyed the read more. But, the politics side was enjoyable to read. 

Page 121 is a splash page. From top to bottom, we see Rina dreaming, followed by her running and falling. The only test on this page is "I start to dream..." We had stated that dreaming is Rina's distraction from reality. But Rina running away and falling could symbolize her trying to forget about the memories painful to remember. Then at the bottom of the page, we can see black enveloping all of her body and the only thing that can be see are her hands and face. Which is like she is struggling to get back up. The whole page screams a tense feeling from the choice of colours that are black and white, and the black on the page has a jagged opening that give a rough feel to the image. The splash page here is trying to convey the struggle of Rina trying to piece everything together. Page 127 is a moment to moment transition. Rina has come to the realization that she isn't the same person she used to be. And she doesn't want to lose that part of her, but she feels she already had lost the old her. And feel as though she had 'died'. The wavering lines of the first three panels indicate that this is metaphorically happening while the last two are of how Rina feels about losing herself. Time is struggling with accepting the fact that the old her has 'died'. This transition was to convey the emotion the main character is feeling at that point (which is loss and sadness) to the reader

On page 109, Rina can be seen biking in The Philippines during her last summer there before she left for Canada. In the last two panels, she wrote, "All the while, I felt like I was looking at everything through some kind of strange lens, as though I were the only thing real and all around was just and movie... ... as though I was trying to separate myself from this world so it wouldn't to leave it." Even though this is a flashback, I think present day Rina was relating back to this memory. She was connecting to this moment that invoked the same emotions as she is feeling because of her dad's passing. We can also tell she is in discomfort from her facial expression. On page 114, Rina can be seen leaving the Philippines. On the last panel of the page, the monologue says, "I can forget everything." while she is sleeping on her flight. As I've mentioned before, I think Rina's way of escaping reality is by dreaming. And I suspect that her falling asleep on the flight is Rina's way of finding a distraction to forget her father 's death. She knows he's passed, but she just doesn't want to accept it. This is understandable since she had such a special bond with her father and losing someone like that can be hard on a person. On page 116, the third to last panel had her monologue saying, " Love? Or freedom?" with her family holding a welcome back sign. In the next panel, it says, "One cannot have both." Then in the last, it's written, "But long ago, I chose love, and have done so ever since." Now, you may be wondering what Rona meant by love and freedom. Obviously, love symbolizes the family she current has with her husband. But, I think freedom was meant to be the opposite of love. No responsibilities and free to do as she wished since she's have the time to do. But, the author hadn't done that and has a big family.

- Why do you think the title of this graphic novel is "Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me?" - Why are politics of the Philippines included in the graphic novel important for the reader?

My favourite character form this graphic novel has to be Rina’s father. Throughout the book, the father is very supportive of Rina, whether it be her tomboy personality or any of her quirks. For example, in the last paragraph of page 49, it says, “(...) But not only did my dad call me “Princess”, he treated me like one.” That line alone shows how much the main character (aka the author) loves her dad. Thought it’s a pretty cheesy line, I found it sweet.  Also, the fact that Rina’s dad stood up fro his beliefs just added to the quality of the person. For instance, during the candidacy, her father would put self-made posters and stickers everywhere to promote the Dory Coy group. He even went to the extent of traveling to different regions to promote Marco’s opposition. His dedication is just another reason for the reader to like the character. It’s kind of a pity that this character will only be mentioned in past memories.

  Money is a recurring topic that appears within the graphic novel multiple times. So the theme I had interpreted from this was : “ We are more fortunate than we realize.” For example, on the bottom panels of page 18, Rina’s children are complaining at the smaller things and making them seem like victims. I feel like this could go for children in first world countries (i.e. USA). Most of these children are luckier than they believe to be. They complain that they don’t have the latest tech or that they ‘need’ black Nikes. These kids have such a lavish life compared to some people around the world. For instance, in the book, Rina came from a well off family while there was many children that could be found living in the slums. Yet the only difference between Rina and children from first world countries is that Rina (for the most part) appreciated what was given to her while us kids from places like Canada will complain that we don’t have enough.

Page 63 is a splash page. We can see Rina laying down on her bed and musics notes can be seen swirling around the room. In previous panels, it’s shown has a passion for music and old movies. I think this panel shows that our passions can envelop us. At the bottom, it says, “(…) Just the music and the feeling that I was everything and I was also nothing. Really… who needs drugs?” This could show how power our passions can be. In Rina’s case, it could make her feel like everything and nothing all at once.  

How would you describe Imelda from the following quote: “I have to look beautiful so that the poor Filipinos will have a star to look from their slums.”

Also, there are elements that are taken from both Act 1 and 2

- In this passage, we find out that a woman from underneath the ice is trying to convince Calvin to go underneath the ice. This passage deals with surrender and manipulation. We can all relate to this since these are very much all used-to teenager problems. Jenny is trying to get Calvin and Susie under the water while their goal is to ignore the ghost. This is very similar to the Adam and Eve story. Adam and Eve are persuaded to take a bite m of an apple from the snake which is the Satan. Except this time, the snake was Jenny and Adam and Eve were Calvin and Susie. Also, they boy don’t stay in their currently destinations. Adam and Eve have to leave the Garden of Eden. Calvin and Susie were brought back into Ontario from Lake Erie by a helicopter.

- It also deals with the issue of poverty since it describes people with nothing and people with everything. It shows that these type of people can be within huge gaps from each other. Instead of showing a mixture of grays, the author decided to make it to the characteristics of these things were in the spectrum of black and white.

"I know you didn't create me. You can't make me better and you don't control me destiny. I control me, and I can ask bigger questions than my brain can answer. It's scary to think about that, but it's also a part of the adventure." - Throughout the whole book, Calvin would mention that Bill Watterson created him because the people in the world needed a Calvin. He continued to accept that argument til the very end of the novel. This Aha Moment shows us that Calvin has realized as a main character cannot be controlled by some comic strip artist. He is his own person and nothing can change that. He wants to make the decisions that will shape his future and intends to do that. This shows the strength he has in himself.

- Is soldier guy real?

Noah: Girl, there’s some things you can’t prove. What would prove it? If I had his signature? I coulda bought it somewhere. If I had a picture? You could say I doctored it. Like I said, some things you can’t prove. I can tell you about it. Or not. Up to you. - Noah tells Susie that not everything in life has an explanation. Even though one may seek one to satisfy our need for closure, there may not be an answer. It also shows slight questioning of faith. Our faith to others may not be as strong which can hold us back. I found that the author wanted us as well to take this explanation to hear while also applying it to the character. This way, it helps us deepen our link with the character.

Susie: Ten hertz? Noah: Yup. Ten hertz. That’s what the schizophrenic brain vibrates at. Ten hertz. That’s what some say, anyway. Some say you’re accessing other times or places or dimensions or worlds, you’re seeing things in the dimension of ten hertz and it’s just as real as the seven-hertz world. - We understand that Noah is saying that Calvin's reality is just as real as everyone else's reality. But I feel as though in this passage that Noah was trying to express in his own words that it's okay to be different from everyone else. Maybe I'm reading it wrong or I'm just analyzing way too much, but I feel like the author was trying express a point to his or her readers. Mental illnesses are not something we can control like going on a diet. It isn't something to be taken lightly. Just because that person may be different form everyone else doesn't mean they aren't as good as you. It's just they have a different way of seeing things. Think of it like having people that can give you a different perspective on something you saw in your way. None of them are invalid but none of them are valid. It is like a shade of gray; not black not white. Noah: Art is the pinnacle of human achievement. Susie: Being a decent human being is the pinnacle of human achievement. - Through this passage, we see again the aspect of having two people with two different opinions. Both are entitled to their own opinions, but there is no right or wrong answer. Noah is a more dense character that thinks of his own needs while Susie is more of a character that would change herself to help others. Both of them have different views, therefore they will both have different opinions. It's like a pair of glasses. One pair may have a stronger or weaker prescription. But they all allow people to see the world. And everyone who wears glasses has their own prescription to see properly. Everyone sees the world differently. Susie: Do you know who Marcel Schob is? Me: No. Poor guy. Susie: Why poor? Me: Well, his name… Susie: He was a great writer – great. Nobody reads him anymore. How about Issac Babel? Edward Everett Hale? Theodor Fontane? Me: Susie: All great writers who nobody really reads anymore. - Our world is ever-changing. It is impossible to remember every single famous person in History. Or else, we wouldn't be able to cram in anymore information into our heads. But back to the subject, Susie was trying to tell Calvin that everyone is eventually forgotten. But, I think it's natural. In the circle of life, you live and the you die. You can't expect to live forever. Therefore, same goes for names. Once you have outlived your purpose, you are forgotten from everyone 's brain. But it's like most people in the world. Most people never have their names remembered by their society. Most of us don't really change the world, therefore we don't have a way to be remembered. Even most people in my school don't know my name. The same will go for when I die as well.

Privy: toilet located in a small shed outside a house or other building; an outhouse Pinnacle: the most successful point; the culmination Chauvinist: a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism Gouge: an indentation or groove made by gouging Defunct: no longer existing or functioning Snow goon: a hostile, living snowman

Calvin kisses Susie. But if we think about it, if  Susie isn’t real, does that mean the kiss never happened?