Maus

Maus By Art Spiegelman is an amazing accomplishment. It is able to present difficult material to in audience in a way that is easily translated to all humanity. It builds a bridge of communication that other forms like essay or straight up biography would not be able to accomplish. It uses cartoonish animals to draw you into its own world. Understand Comics by Scott McCloud states that, "By de-emphasizing the appearance of the pysical world in favor of the idea of the form, the cartoon places itself in the world of concepts." This idea struck me. If Maus is a world of concepts filled with icons and symbols then is it meant to be reality or only conceptulize reality. Hayden White's article on The Content of Form implies that narration naturally makes reality ideal. It makes the world whole and with meaning. However, in Maus, I think it has the opposite effect. The cartoonish quality absolutely draws us into this world. This world does has icons and concepts within this world. However, this world is not ideal. This world is not whole and nothing fits neatly into shelves. Art and his father do not get along at all nor do they even seem to relate to each other. His father is still left dealing with all the pain of his past. Art is left with all the pressure for not being his Richieu. Vladack is a racist. Art is fighting with the moral issue of turning this history into a commodity. Everywhere you look nothing is ideal. Especially the past parts of the story. I do not think anyone would find the holocaust ideal. So in my opinion Spiegelman is able to tell a narrative story with some quality of a whole and complete story without giving us a whole and complete story in White's terms. It is quite paradoxal.
Also reading Maus the use of masks was intriguing to me. I did not see while Spiegelman would do this. After a while I made the connection to identity. Spiegelman brings the complicated issue of identity/nationality to the forefront by not only each animal signifying a nationality but also with the use of masks. To wear of mask one hides one's true self. The characters do it often to hide they identity for their own safety. However, in part 2 Spiegelman himself wears a mask. The matter of his own (which makes it the reader's own) identity is up in the air at times. For many people who are second generation to a horrible event have a sense of survivor guilt for not going through what their parents went through. Art seems to have this self loathing at points and even on the cover of part 1 is seen to be smoking ciggerretes that are "crematorium" brand. He obviously is caught up with where he fits into the world. Vladack also seems to not be able to re-enter society in a normal fashion. The reader relates and can connect to this idea and that is why the use of masks is so great. This led me to ask why he used such standard paneling. Most of the panels are in a orderly fashion with no abstract paneling occuring. Then when I looked more closely I realized every once in a while he did break this form and throw in a giant frame. When I re-read these sections I started to understand that this makes the reader pause and really take in the view of the larger image. It's almost like a dramatic pause in movies. When they finally get to the camp it is a huge panel and you almost hold your breath as you take in this ominous image. Art Spiegelman did wonderful things in Maus that everyone can recognize. I think White would be proud and a little confused all at once.