An urn is a vessel or receptacle generally used to hold the ashes of a cremated person. As cremations are consistent with the size and tactile features of dust, the title of Kalamity J's graphic novel, Mother's Urn: Memoir in Dust, implies that the bound, physical graphic memoir symbolizes an urn and the contents symbolize dust, or ashes of the dead.
Mother's Urn retains content within the pages with an all- encompassing true black backdrop. The black backdrop seems simultaneously contained while suggesting a limitless repetition of patterns. Blackness leads to more blackness. This reminds me very much of my conception of space; a most vast and minimally diverse expanse.
The physical qualities of the memoir such as the consistent black back drop and hectic multi-faceted illustrations coerce the writing onto the page and parallel a snow ball effect theme. The drawings are comprised of many components with variable colors. There is a certain urgency present in the gesture of the illustrations that mirrors the complex emotional narration. The combination convey the gravity of text and subtext well.
I too felt that the memoir was replicating the receptacle which is considered an urn. I'm curious about your consideration of the contents as dust and ashes--the written points of the content are so fragmented, and so are the drawings, that they become pieces that don't necessarily fit into a whole.
ReplyDeleteLucille, i like your observations on Anna's brief submission. I was thinking about the dust in an urn, the little bits of bone and collection of flesh ash and what memory was contained there. The snowball effect that you refer to is an enlarging and a deepening. Yes.
ReplyDeletee