The likening of his work to propaganda hadn't occurred to me explicitly until I read a review of his latest work in the recent issue of The Comics Journal. He uses overt propaganda imagery, as activists would use in posters and whatnot, which makes since as he designs such things, does he not?
I knew this would be something of a minefield to bring up, since as you point out, more subtle forms of manipulation and propagranda are rampant. But I was speaking purely about his artistic style more than anything else, which can as bluntly unsubtle as it is powerful. But then there are things like drawing devil's horns on Koch, which strikes me as unnecessary when the villainy of his actions in those pieces is apparent enough. What I like about Tobocman's work is how complex and human he makes his characters, for the most part. They feel like real people, rather than flat symbols like many of the oppressors who sometimes feel like oppressors and nothing else. But then, it's not their story, I know.
Again, Laura, all I can say is that it has made me think, it still does, and it still will over the years. Because I do know that I don't know, but I'm trying to keep an open mind and work on my own self-awareness (and awareness of the world around me) one day at a time.
Heh, maybe I should have just said, "eh, it's pretty good." ;)
Rock, then I'll get the mini at least, plus maybe the first ten issues or something. They don't have a full set after that. Ooh, I should try to find some Suicide Squad issues too, to really get a full Ostrander experience. People like Warren Eliis have been spreading awareness of Ostrander's glaucoma, so hopefully he'll get the help for treatment he needs. What a horrible prospect for a writer, to lose your vision.
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Date: 2009-07-25 05:23 am (UTC)I knew this would be something of a minefield to bring up, since as you point out, more subtle forms of manipulation and propagranda are rampant. But I was speaking purely about his artistic style more than anything else, which can as bluntly unsubtle as it is powerful. But then there are things like drawing devil's horns on Koch, which strikes me as unnecessary when the villainy of his actions in those pieces is apparent enough. What I like about Tobocman's work is how complex and human he makes his characters, for the most part. They feel like real people, rather than flat symbols like many of the oppressors who sometimes feel like oppressors and nothing else. But then, it's not their story, I know.
Again, Laura, all I can say is that it has made me think, it still does, and it still will over the years. Because I do know that I don't know, but I'm trying to keep an open mind and work on my own self-awareness (and awareness of the world around me) one day at a time.
Heh, maybe I should have just said, "eh, it's pretty good." ;)
Rock, then I'll get the mini at least, plus maybe the first ten issues or something. They don't have a full set after that. Ooh, I should try to find some Suicide Squad issues too, to really get a full Ostrander experience. People like Warren Eliis have been spreading awareness of Ostrander's glaucoma, so hopefully he'll get the help for treatment he needs. What a horrible prospect for a writer, to lose your vision.