Coming out of the Fun House: Interextuality of Watergate

The graphic novel Fun House, written by Alison Bechdel, is an interesting memoir on the tale of a homosexual and her attempts to relate with the rest of her family, specifically her father. Throughout the story, she discusses how she became aware of her identity as a homosexual and how her father was at first a closet homosexual but later marries her mother. And with this she points to frequent references to famous literary and media sources. But perhaps the most interesting example is her use of intertextuality with the events of the Watergate Scandal and her identifying herself as a lesbian.

Throughout the novel, Alison finds herself conflicted on her identity and whether or not to present it to her parents. Rather, the information seems sensitive, similar to the cover-up made by Nixon and his aides. In fact, Alison sometimes acts as if she's done something wrong, handling her situation carefully and trying to say little on it, similar to how a cover-up was attempted on the break-in of the hotel and then the attempts to release only enough information to keep matters at ease, rather than release the full details. In fact, similar to how the author is hesitant to reveal her sexual identity, her father acts similarly as well, not revealing anything about his previous sexual matters until later on in the story.


Since both Alison and her father don't say much about each other's sexual lives, it takes some time for them to tell each other, the eventually this build-up leads to them confessing to each other some information on their sexualities, similar to the pressure that Nixon was feeling leading to his forced handover of the infamous tapes used to record conversations he made with his staff. Eventually, both revelations lead to a downfall that is felt at personal levels. Two weaks after when Alison reveals to her father that she is a lesbian, her father dies when he is hit by a truck, something she thinks may have been a suicide attempt. When Nixon is forced to tell details over the Watergate scandal, he resigns himself from the presidency. Similar to how Nixon resigns, Alison's father "resigns" himself when he learns about her sexuality and even comments on his.


When examines the similarities between the events of the Watergate scandal and Alison's confession of her sexuality, one can see a trend in these events. One could argue that this takes a new meaning to "coming out of the closet." While the details are different, the similarities are striking and make the events easier to understand for most people. And for that, Bechdel has put a good use to intertextuality.

Of Animals and Maus

Perhaps one of the most books I've read during the past few weeks is the graphic novel The Complete Maus. The story is about the attempts of Art Spiegelman to chronicle his father's story of how he survived the events of the Nazi rise to power in Germany, the start of World War II, and ultimately the disturbing and sad events of the Holocaust. The unique thing about the story however may be the use of animal imagery.

As mentioned previously, Maus is a graphic novel. However, how the characters are portrayed as is an interesting twist to the story. In the graphic novel, those of a certain nation, religion or heritage may be portrayed as a certain animals. For instance, Jews are portrayed as mice, Germans are portrayed as cats, Americans are portrayed as dogs, and Poles are portrayed as pigs. Even some minor countries such as the French are portrayed in their own animals, in this case being frogs.

While it is not abnormal to have animals as characters in comics and graphic novels, the animals he selects for each nationality is perhaps what stands out more, as they can be considered a visual message. The use of mice as the Jews and cats as Germans may represent the iconic cat chasing mice image, one that is commonly seen in books, comics, and cartoons. And like such, it shows that the Jews are literally being chased after by the Germans, as if they were on the hunt. In addition, it goes a step further with the Americans as being represented by dogs going after the Germans, showing the age-old chase between cats and dogs.

In addition the types of animals also represent some of the characteristics of the ethnic groups. For instance, Jews may be represented as mice due to the fact that they are forced to hide in places such as hidden rooms in walls, or attics to escape the Germans, who like cats, can be quite cunning and fast when hunting their victims. Even the Poles fall under this as well, as their representation as pigs may show how easy-going the Poles may have been to the problem with Jewish persecution and also represents the agricultural lifestyle they live.

Personally, I find this graphic novel very interesting for this use, as it makes an easier understanding for the events that took place. Although the events of the Holocaust shall remain an important part of humanity, it's interesting to show the events in the manner Spiegelman has shown us. It may even make it easier for future generations to understand the shocking events that took place.

Under the Feet of Jesus and Mexican American Treament

A recent story I was able to read about was Helena Maria Viramontes Under the Feet of Jesus, a story about a young Mexican girl who is trying to live a life in the United states, but is presented with multiple challenges that others families, mainly white families, do not have to face. The girl, Estrella, must work on a grape farm with other migrant workers and does not have the luxury of being raised like most other kids of her age. She is even held back from being taught to read unlike how her peers are able to, and must struggle with the process of learning it.

It's actions like these Viramontes talks about that show the struggle that Mexican Americans were facing in the late 1960's leading up to civil rights movements, similar to the African American movement. Estrella, like a lot of Mexican American children in her time, had different conditions for education than her whites counterparts, as they were segregated into poorer schools and inadequate teaching conditions.

Even the teachers pay little regard to her, so much so that they were "never giving her the information she wanted." (24) Instead she is taught more to work in the grape fields and other laborious jobs than being taught to read and write. In fact, one could argue that when she begins to learn how to read, her work on the farm effects how she see's the letters in a word, as she pictures them as tools and work objects, and the "curves and tails of the tools made no sense and the shapes were as foreign and meaningless to her.." (25) In a sense, Viramontes uses imagery to explain the conditions that Mexican American kids may faced, mainly a lack teaching Mexican Americans the same way as whites.

In addition, she goes to describe the laboring conditions on the farm, being very intense and tiring to Estrella and the other workers, even showing bi-planes crop-dusting when the farm-hands where working. And the jobs made them so tired and thirsty that "their throats were dry and sore and swallowing meant a painful raking." (32) It is these conditions that Viramontes hints at being the case for many, many Mexican American individuals. Even though civil rights leaders such as Cesar Chavez would begin to lead the movement in pushing for equal rights for Mexican Americans, Viramontes gives us a glimpse into what it was like for Mexican Americans and their unfair treatment from others.

Slaughterhouse V and Humanity

Just recently I have had the chance to read the Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughter House V. The story is a sci-fi story about a young war veteran named Billy becoming unstuck from time and as he relives certain moments in his life. Billy is unstuck thanks to the help of an alien race known as the Tralfamadorians. I will admit that at times in the story it was hard to follow but there were moments of interest in the story. I found however the questioning of humanities actions particularly interesting.

Billy particularly uses his new time-traveling to do things such as escape from events that he considered to particularly distressing, whether it be a war scenario such as escaping a bombing raid when he was in a P.O.W. camp to go to a peaceful day with his family. It is particular interesting in seeing these powers be used as it makes the plot nonlinear. The big detail however is that he can't change the events, as they happened already. For example, since the Tralfamadorians have these powers as well, they see the end of universe over and over and not only do they know how it ends but they also try to prevent it, but it is unavoidable they figure out. This does not mean however that the feelings he has from these events can change his mood, it's just the results will be the same. This make Billy more and more resigned to fate but stills question on whether or not if free will can still change these events.

In fact, one quote mentioned by the Tralfamadorians is that "Only on Earth is there talk of free will." This is particularly interesting as it implies that free will is hard to find, or even a concept. Billy however ponders if this means though that war can be prevented. To the Tralfamadorians though, they feel that war is unavoidable, as well as fate. They can’t ignore it because they just do it. It’s interesting as it seems Vonnegut is commenting on the concept of fate and free will together. He seems to suggest that war like most other things is unavoidable but if we have free will, can we not do anything to avoid this? It’s interesting because Vonnegut seems to leave this question open ended and leaves little to go on. When one reads this story, I think they will find that this raises several new questions to people’s philosophies.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Over the past few days, I got to examine the novel Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. This story was fairly interesting, as it was about the events relating to several members of an African American community. Although it is not as big of a theme in the story, I found Hurtson's views and symbolism on presumably the history of African Americans an interesting theme in the story.

Even on the first page, I found what would presumably be imagery of the pursuit of African American, as Zora talks about Ships on the horizon that hold the dreams and wishes of people. Some of these ships "for some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out sight..." Although she may have meant for a different interpretation, one could see this as the history of the formers slaves before the American Civil War. The ships could be interpreted as freedom heading for some, specifically whites, while the others that see the ships on the horizon that never come to the shore are the slaves that desired their freedom, as it is in sight but so far away.

This however would not be the only image. Hurtson also uses mules doing labor on the farm as a reoccurring symbol throughout the story. She even at one points dedicates a chapter just on the story about a mule owned by of some of the characters. The mule, owned by Sam and Joe, is commented by them as being worked so hard and thin that the ribs could be used as a washboard. Eventually the mule escapes and is captured again by the characters but it puts up a stubborn fight even though it is not as strong as the people. Eventually after being captured the mule dies and the characters, out of sympathy, decide to give the mule a funeral.

The mule in this chapter can be interpreted as slaves being almost worked to their death, as it is so weak and undernourished. The escape of the mule could symbolize the freeing of the slaves after the Civil War, as the slaves experience a brief period of freedom. But when the mule is recaptured by the characters, one could interpret this as the period of segregation in most areas. When the mule dies and the characters decide to give it a funeral, one interpret this as the future, as African American's gain the feelings of some of their oppressors, even perhaps ending segregation.

Hurston's imagery on race can be seen in multiple ways in this novel. I found it particularly interesting in how she does such, especially in the chapter relating to the mule. And although she may have had other intentions in mind, she does a good job in my opinion.

Manhood of the Sun also Rises

Recently, I had the chance to read Ernest Hemingway's The Sun also Rises. The book was particularly interesting and I enjoyed reading about the tales of Jake and his relationship with friends and loved ones. One of the central themes of the book however I found particularly interesting was the theme of Jake and his "manhood."

Jake is a World War I veteran and when he returned from the front, he was both physically and mentally scarred from the war, so much so that it affected his personality. Such can even be seen in simple conversations such as when he goes to get a drink in Paris and the waiter questions if he should be doing such. Jake's reaction is that "he's sick" which prompts the waiter to say that everyone is sick. However, when you take into account what Jake has been through, one can say that he's "sicker than most people." Seeing fellow soldiers being lost in the war, or going through the devastation of the attack may have impacted Jake's mentality, traumatizing him and actually making him lose manhood. War is typically portrayed as a man's thing to do, when Jake however returns with negatives thoughts on it, in a sense he's lost some of the manliness that he started out with.

In addition to the mental effects from the events of the war, there are also the mental effects Jake suffered from the physical damage he sustained. Although it is not that clearly explained, Jake is wounded during battle and he is unable to properly have sex again. Not only would damage one's pride as a man, but it would also other negative effects, in which Hemingway goes into. During the course of the story, Jake has romantic feelings for a woman, Brett, who helped recover from his physical wounds. However, this relationship is strained because wants to be in a relationship with Jake and perform sexual acts with him. Jake however knows he is unable to do such and some points in the story has moments where he just lies in bed crying to himself, because he is unable to have a full relationship with Brett. Because he is also unable to have a full relationship with Brett, Jake feels depressed and even saddened that he cannot reach a full relationship with one he loves.

In the end however, it is implied through the events of the story that Jake comes to terms with who he is now. He begins to continue living life as did as Brett moves on to find another lover, who she eventually breaks up with. Jake however meets up with Brett again, as friends, and they discuss how things might have turned out if Jake could have fulfilled a relationship with her.

It is these kinds of thoughts that Hemingway builds on that makes a person question their gender role. As Hemingway shows, there is clearly more than just physical attributes that make up one's gender.

September 11, Birth By Sleep, and College Life

Well this is really my first post, but I can deal with it. I haven't really updated this thing because I've been busy working over the summer for my job. That and I've return down to college. Gonna be a long semester.

Today almost marks the 9th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks. I'll never forget that day. God be with the victims of that day.

Finally, I got Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep. I haven't gotten through much of it, but so far it seems good. I'll write more on it later.