Can a comic, such as The Blue Lotus by Herge (Georges Remi) be considered serious literature? Sales of Tintin books, audio visual cartoons, memorabilia, and the latest box office hit The Secret of the Unicorn, could prove that the comic strip is certainly a profitable genre, and a popular canon of literature. Using Tintin as an example, it could even be suggested that the global public are voting yes to comics as an accepted and viable form of literature. As proof, Tintin has been translated from French into numerous languages and sells all over the world.
Farr (1991) cites Herge as saying “Tintin was aimed at all young people aged from seven to seventy-seven” and suggests that the appeal is “self-generating”. There appears to be an almost transitional slide from childhood appreciation to adult appreciation as the child “will be gripped by the excitement of Tintin” but the adult will appreciate the greater depth of the storyline and “will additionally find political satire and parody, puns and prescience”. Hence the appeal to such a range of ages.
From an adult reader’s point of view, The Blue Lotus storyline reveals some of Herge’s interests in politics particularly those of 1930’s China. At a time of the impending World War II, Herge’s astute portrayal of China at that time hints at the global doom and gloom to come. The storyline follows the blowing up of the Nanking Railway and his characters portray his distaste of the threat of a Japanese invasion of China. (Herge, 2002). “and once again Japan has fulfilled her mission as guardian of law and civilization in the Far East! If we have been forced, to our utmost regret, to send troops into China, it is for the good of China herself!”
According to Farr (1991), "a lifelong fascination with China was awakened by Chang". Herge's bias towards China was mainly owing to his great friend Chang Chong-chen from whom he gleaned much advice and inspiration. Chang Chong-chen even appears as a character in The Blue Lotus and is rescued from drowning by Tintin. Herge uses this as an opportunity to convey his point of view “but Chang, all white men aren’t wicked. You see different peoples don’t know enough about each other” (Herge, 2002).
Varnum & Gibbons (2001) cite “comics is one of the most popular and pervasive media forms of our increasingly visual age” and that “pictures seem more transparent than words, but often their transparency is illusory. They convey ideas and values, and reading them requires sophistication and skill”. That is to say that the storyline may on the surface appear superficial but, upon reading, deeper meaning, subtext and point of view can be revealed. The difference between a cartoon, comics and a graphic novel is that “none of the members of the family shares one feature in common with all the others, but any two share common features.”
Walne (2011) cites that Tintin’s “adventures were originally intended for children, but the incredible art and stories offer a timeless appeal for all ages”.
According to Makarechi (2012) of the online newspaper, The Huffington Post, “Tintin hysteria has never really died down since the series debuted in 1929”.
References:
Farr, Michael. (1991). Tintin: the complete companion. London: John Murray.
Herge. (2002). The Blue Lotus. London, England: Egmont Books Limited.
Varnum, R. & Gibbons, C. (Ed.). (2001). The Language of Comics: word and image. Jackson: U Press of Mississippi.
Walne, T. (2011). How Tintin comics became a rich investment. Retrieved on August 1, 2012, from http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/investing/article-1717174/How-Tintin-comics-became-a-rich-investment.html
Makarechi, K. (2012). Tintin covers sells for $1.6 million at auction. Retrieved August 1, 2012, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/02/tintin-cover-sells-16-million_n_1565416.html
Your post actually helped shape my post. It doesn't stray too far off from the question I chose to answer. I definitely agree with your post. I, too, think that the chosen comic could be taken as serious literature. Herge's time and effort into researching and putting the comic together is pretty much proof of that.
ReplyDeleteHi Sam,
ReplyDeleteYour blog has provided much insight into Tintin and the blue Lotus. Even though I did not grow up with this 'likeable lad' I think that you have really shown some depth as to why Tintin should be considered as serious literature, and it shows that you have developed your argument with a good support from the secondary texts.