The complete Persepolis, a novel of Marjane Satrapi which is internationally acclaimed has not won over the hearts of all. Why the author is telling her truth to what the Iranian revolution became to be through her eyes some found this offensive and accused her of Islamophobia. In Iran this novel was denounced and although Satrapi was not exiled she has concerns of being arrested if she were to ever return to her home country.
Iran has not been the only country Satrapi has had conflicts with her novel. In America this has been seen as a controversial graphic novel. Specifically in the public-school systems. Some school officials declared it to be inappropriate for students, more so in Chicago public schools, where it was ordered to be removed from classrooms. It became a protest which turned this ban into a “book that was just unsuitable for seventh graders because of its graphic language and images”. Marjane Satrapi has never been a stranger to conflict.
References:
Billet, A. (2013, March 26). Banning Persepolis? SocialistWorker.Org. https://socialistworker.org/2013/03/26/banning-persepolis
Esfandiari, G. (2010, August 7). Interview: Marjane Satrapi. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/07/08/interview-marjane-satrapi/
Satrapi, M. (2007). The Complete Persepolis (Media tie-in ed.). Pantheon.
I found the part about the protest interesting because it really is hard to tell what the intentions of the ban were. Though it could have been just an issue with the language and images in the novel, it easily could have been a more political issue too. Though I guess thinking in terms of systemic injustice, the intentions are not the important part.
I think it is very interesting that there has been so much conflict surrounding this book. I will now look out for parts of the novel that people could interpret as offensive. In high school, some students in my English class read this book, and although I didn’t read it, I never heard about the controversy. Your post makes me eager to read to know more about the conflicts surrounding the novel.
I am also interested and a bit surprised by the conflict surrounding this novel in the US. Based on what I have read thus far, I personally have not read or seen anything making it inappropriate for seventh graders. As I continue reading, it is something I will also definitely be on the lookout for.
This post told me how people treat the book and their attitudes. It’s really interesting that many peopple have two opposite attitudes toward this book. I really want to know why some people don’t allow students to read. Is it a political problem or something else? Also, why some people think it’s offensive? Are they the people also experienced the author’s experience? I would like to know more about these.
Thank you for some context surrounding this novel! I think it’s interesting that this novel has received so much controversy. I think Satrapi’s narrative sheds so much light for American readers who have only heard a singular narrative on Iran. I have found the novel very honest and very thought provoking, and I think it’s a vital read. I don’t think it should be banned at all.
A lot of the times I think books being banned makes them even more the main topic than before. People are now wanting to know why this book is banned to begin with. I have read this book a few times and each time i see some parts can be controversial but needs to be said. To add to the ban people don’t like that the book is told by one who lived there, as a telling “secrets” other people shouldn’t know. I think some of this may play into why satrapi thinks shell be exiled if she returned. Great job on the information.
I think that a school banning any book is puzzling. If school is a place for learning shouldn’t they allow all material that can widen a students view or anything that intrigues them. Plus if I know anything about 7th graders its that when you tell them not to do something that will make them want to do it more, so banning that book just made it that more interesting.