Have you ever wondered how it is to live in a modern-day “1984″ society?
Canadian-French cartoonist Guy Delisle tells you all about it in this wonderful little book, Pyongyang about the sad and fucked-up country North Korea, what he calls a “hermit country”. I gave it to my husband this Christmas, and ended up reading it myself as well. Delisle’s work for different Asian animation studios are basis for this book, as well as his other book, Shenzhen, in addition to a book he has animated about Burma.
As Delisle says, George Orwell’s “1984″ is “the book that comes to mind for a stay in North Korea”. He stayed there for two months, and has drawn his everyday experiences with neat details, such as this observation: “In the 1990s, at the height of a famine that claimed some 2 million lives, North Korea was the world’s biggest client for Henessy Cognag”. Here’s another quote:
“Burried 90 meters underground, the Pyongyang subway can double as a bomb shelter in case of a nuclear attack. What better way to cultivate a constant sense of threat?”
Here are some other of my political cartoon favorites:
- Everything by Marjane Satrapi, author of Persepolis.
- Joe Sacco , especially Safe area Gorazde
- Alan Moore/David Lloyd, V for Vendetta
- Art Spiegelman, Maus
Do you have any other political cartoons to recommend?
What about Waltz with Bashir? Have you read it?
No, Antonella, I haven’t read it, thanks for the suggestion! Maybe I should watch the movie as well? http://waltzwithbashir.com/
I haven’t watched the movie but my brother did and he liked it. I guess it’s good as well, let me know.