Thursday, July 9, 2009

Persepolis, Cuban Style

I suppose this is more a follow-up to the last post than a new post proper, but in the midst of the Iran crisis, it has struck me more than once that Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis critique of Iran and Yoani Sanchez's Generation Y dissenting blog from within Cuba are sisters under the skin. Turns out Yoani thinks much the same thing. Check both out if you haven't yet.
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6 comments:

  1. Peter RozovskyJuly 10, 2009 at 12:51 AM

    Nice title on this post. I have only the most fleeting acquaintance with Generation Y and Persepolis, but I often enjoy noting which writers writers like. Sometimes, like here, the affinity may be expected (and this one is a revealing affinity). Other times it's a surprise, as when an author of "cozy" crime fiction enjoys another writer whose books move in harsher territory.
    ==============
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  2. seana grahamJuly 10, 2009 at 7:12 AM

    Yes, though I suppose I'd be more surprised by the writer of really hard edged crime fiction who liked to settle down after a long day of mayhem with a nice cozy about cat detectives...Could happen, I suppose.

    As to Yoani and Marjane, it's interesting that a 'godless' regime and a 'godful' one end up amounting to so much the same thing in the minds of its questioning citizens.

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  3. Peter RozovskyJuly 10, 2009 at 10:33 AM

    I have never heard of noir writers liking cat mysteries. I do suspect, however, that some like P.G. Wodehouse, because everybody does.

    From our perspective, the two regimes would seem not to have much in common except for a noisty dislike of the U.S. -- a distraction from the situation in their own countries, perhaps.
    ==============
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  4. seana grahamJuly 10, 2009 at 11:27 PM

    Yes, P.G Wodehouse is probably a better example of reading outside one's own style.

    If you look at Marjane and Yoani's perspectives and anecdotes, it's pretty striking how much the ideology seems secondary to the will to impose its doctrines by force on it's own citizenry. I think what adds insult to injury is the idea that people are also supposed to say they believe what they're told and are happy with it. That's the part that would drive me crazy.

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  5. Peter RozovskyJuly 10, 2009 at 11:31 PM

    One likes to think one would behave in a heroic fashion. I don't know if I would, though.
    ==============
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  6. seana grahamJuly 11, 2009 at 7:10 AM

    I'm pretty sure I wouldn't. Interestingly, Yoani has a recent post on this very subject, the recurring theme of courage.

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