Palestine Paperback – December 17, 2001
Author: Visit ‘s Joe Sacco Page ID: 156097432X
Review
“Sacco uses the comic book format to its fullest extent, creating bold perspectives that any photojournalist would envy.” (Utne Reader)
“Sacco is a pioneer.” (Journal of Palestinian Studies)
“Based on his research, interviews, and personal experiences in Palastinian Occupied Territories in 1991 and 92, [Palestine] takes you there and gives you a first-hand account of the atrocities and suffering in the conflict with Israel. He gives you a close up visual rendering of the physical and emotional conditions of the people, who struggle daily for survival… Sacco has rendered the terrible conditions of life into a compelling and sympathetic artistic documentary. It is sad, but most good stories are sad… What
About the Author
Joe Sacco lives in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of many acclaimed graphic novels, including Palestine, Safe Area Gorazde, But I Like It, Notes from a Defeatist, The Fixer, War’s End, and Footnotes in Gaza.
Edward W. Said was University Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of Literature and of Kings College Cambridge, his celebrated works include Orientalism, The End of the Peace Process, Power, Politics and Culture, and the memoir Out of Place. He is also the editor, with Christopher Hitchens, of Blaming the Victims, published by Verso. He died in September 2003.
Paperback: 288 pagesPublisher: Fantagraphics; 1st edition (December 17, 2001)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 156097432XISBN-13: 978-1560974321 Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.8 x 10.8 inches Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Best Sellers Rank: #26,621 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #8 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Publishers > Fantagraphics #25 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Specific Demographics > Ethnic Studies #27 in Books > History > Middle East > Israel & Palestine
You have to read Palestine carefully, especially if you are either strongly sympathetic or hostile to Israel. It would be easy to see the book as condemning Israel. It is not, but since Sacco’s intention was to get to know the community that we in the US don’t know well, the Palestinians, the book shows mainly their experiences and interpretations of them. (It would have been a good idea to include a timeline of the historical events related to the Israel/Palestine tragedy, so that people who do not know the facts could put into perspective the versions of history that Sacco’s Palestinian interviewees have.)
I emphasize that this is not the book to turn to in order to figure out whether to side with the Israelis or the Palestinians. It does not give that kind of information, and there are other books for that (Thomas Friedman’s From Beirut to Jerusalem is a good one). For the most part there are no terrorists or major political figures interviewed and there is no survey of the historical background, the mistakes and crimes that have left both peoples in this mess. What I saw in this brilliant piece of comic journalism is an on the ground look at what is going on with people caught in the storm.
Palestine is about the human spirit, often humorous and courageous. It is also about the tragedy that is what happens when people suffer at each other’s hands, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, as well as physically, and lose the ability to see the human face.
Victims turn into villains. The scenes of the settlers attacking the Arab villages at night reminded me chillingly of Kristalnacht. A 16 year old Palestinian terrorist-in-training is chilling as he describes his recruitment at 13, his loss of interest in anything but the violence, and the version of history that he believes in.
This new one volume edition of Joe Sacco’s Palestine comics evokes my first trip to the occupied Palestinian territories in 1989 a couple of years before Sacco’s first visit from 1991-1992. His book faithfully represents the contradictions and striking images of the conflict, and being a graphic novel/comic book renders them visually and powerfully.
I couldn’t think of a better medium to explain the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to someone than this book, which stands out as an honest account of one man’s attempt to make sense of it all, as well as a work of art in its own right.
Powerfully-told stories are laced with well-researched facts, all couched in Sacco’s humanity and disbelief at the people he meets and the events he sees. Particularly chilling is the account of a Palestinian father’s torture experience. The book covers a wide variety of other topics, including refugees, Israeli attitudes, life inside prison, and more, introducing these issues (along with the atmosphere of a visit to Palestine) through Sacco’s walk through the West Bank and Gaza, talking to people there.
The second half of Sacco’s book opens up more of the conflict, this time in the setting of Gaza, but should be considered as indivisible from the first half, as the two halves represent the complete collection of "Palestine" comics originally published as individual magazines, then as a two volume edition.
The visual imagery is almost photographically faithful to the actual landscapes and cityscapes of Palestine, and accounts such as Sacco’s taxi ride to Nablus will elicit delighted cries of recognition and wry laughter from those who have visited the country.
It may be the case that in the United States the issues of the Middle East are presented in a very subjective manner (pro-Israeli) through mainstream media. This is not the case where I live now, where there is a pro-Palestinian sentiment, expressed again in a subjective manner.
The value of this book is relative to the exposure one has already had on the subject. If you do not know much about it, and especially if you have lived in an environment which portrays Palestinians as bad and Israelis as good, then this is a good book for you, that will open your eyes to the other side of the story.
However, you should not then regard this book as the truth. It is subjective as well in its own manner. Its subjectivity lies not so much on the presentation of non-truths, or its certain exagerations, but rather on its omission of truths which support the other side. For example, when the name "Golda Meier" comes up, the book mentions statements she made about the Palestinians which are ridiculous and cruel: and she did make such statements. However, when the name Nasser comes up, he appears only as someone who "symbolises Arab nationalism and unity," which is a great injustice to history and to the reader. Moreover, the coverage of the Israeli side of the story is so superficial, that it would be better if it had been omitted altogether.
Therefore, you should follow up in quest for knowledge on the subject with more material, from both sides. (try not to spend time looking for something "objective!" It does not exist.
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