Gianni Ramirez
"The Graphic Novel and Its Reimagining of Complex Personal Narratives"
Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Kate Polak
Abstract: The graphic novel, specifically the graphic memoir, connects to its audiences differently than other mediums. The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui and Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi are graphic memoirs that illustrate how political and personal histories influenced by the hands of empire affect an individual's identity, memory, and create family conflict and separation. The indescribable atrocities created by empire are present in these graphic memoirs. The prose, drawings, and colors help portray such important messages in distinct methods. The pairing of text with powerful visual images in graphic novels provides readers with a cognitive and affective intimate look at real-world issues (Juneau and Sucharov).
Bio: Gianni Ramirez is a senior at Florida Atlantic University, where he studies English and is a student in the English Honors Program. His research interest is in fiction and non-fiction graphic novels. His current project focuses on two graphic memoirs and the compelling combination of prose and illustration to speak in profound ways to readers.