For the summative assessment of this unit, we are supposed to write two TIEAs, one based on the author’s choice, and the other based on the illustrator’s choice. We were in small groups of 3 or 4, and we discussed about a graphic novel. The book for our group was called Marzi: a memoir. Below are the two TIEAs I wrote based on this graphic novel. For the second part of the summative, we were required to create a digital story (video) about the change in culture through the generations. I interviewed my grandmother and mother for this project and learned a lot more about the culture of my family. We were supposed to put photos of our grandparents and parents in order to demonstrate their culture and identity. Towards the end of the video, I included my own answers and explained the changes in culture through the generations. 

Author’s Choice:

In the book Marzi: a memoir, Marzena Sowa used a range of hyperboles to describe the characters’ emotions in order to further enable the readers to have a picture of the scene and to realize the characters’ relationship. When Marzi’s mom caught Marzi and her friends acting out the Pope’s visit, she exaggerated her mom’s anger as she said her mom’s face turned into red and purple with sparks flying out from her eyes. (Sowa, 43) This is seen as a hyperbole since sparks don’t literally fly out from one’s eyes when one gets annoyed. The author used hyperbole to describe Marzi’s mom’s anger since it helps the readers to understand how irritated she was. From Marzi’s mom’s emotion, readers could also interpret how she was a devout and religious person, or else she wouldn’t be infuriated by her kid making fun of the Pope, who is considered as an authority in Christianity. The description also illustrates the relationship between Marzi and her mom. Marzi was a mischievous kid who was carefree and loved to have fun with her friends. She was at the stage where she was still curious yet uncertain about life. Marzi’s mom, unlike Marzi, was concerned about a lot of aspects in life and considered religion as something that should not be made fun of and should be wholeheartedly respected. Nonetheless, Marzi’s mom didn’t necessarily dislike Marzi. Instead, she was just disturbed by Marzi’s troublesome manner.  As Marzi was searching for her father after the communist protest, she panicked, “I just want to slide between the bars and bury my heads in his arms.” (Sowa, 189) If one really buries her head in another’s arms, she is likely going to suffocate. The author used embroidery to describe Marzi’s constant yearning towards her father, which helps the readers to further comprehend the relationship between Marzi and her dad.  Marzi had been looking for a sense of security as she had been longing for her father. The action of “burying” her head into her father’s arms implies her extreme insecurity, because it expresses how Marzi was searching for a shelter in her father’s arm, a shelter that is not necessarily physical, but a shelter where she could search for a sense of security spiritually. This passage not only showed how she missed her father during the communist protest, but also indicated how her father was an irreplaceable person in her life. With hyperboles, Sowa portrayed the actions of the characters vividly and enabled the readers to make connections within the characters.

Illustrator’s Choice:

Different colors represent different feelings; in the graphic novel Marzi: a memoir, Sylvain Savoia’s illustration is only associated with grayish and warm colors such as red and orange in order represent intensity to further portray the characters’ concerns or fears that are understated. When portraying Marzi’s fear and concerns towards warfare, the illustrator used a bright red background with silhouettes of guns. (Savoia, 50) Red is the color of blood, thus the background could be identified as a symbol for violence. The reddish background was not only used to emphasize the silhouette of guns, which represents war, but was also used to represent the extreme insecurity in Marzi’s heart. Marzi was insecure about wars since she yearned for the clarity of war while her parents were not willing to tell her anything about it. In addition to the fear towards warfare and its violence, the red background also represents Marzi’s desire to know more about the world and be secured. In the picture of Monika and Marzi fighting over Mosia, the background of the picture is red. (Savoia, 110) The tug-of-war between Monika and Marzi symbolizes how their relationship had deteriorated while they were competing for Mosia’s attention. Mosia had a higher social status compared to both of them. Even though it wasn’t explicitly stated in any dialogue, the illustration helps the readers to understand the change in character relationship. The reddish orange background suggests the intense and nervous atmosphere between Monika and Marzi. Monika and Marzi were best friends that used to stick with each other everyday. However, as Mosia joined in, the change in their friendship showed the readers how the two of them were still most concerned about oneself instead of each other. Both of them craved for attention from a person who seemed to be more valuable in the society. This not only implied how their friendship was toxic, but also indicated how their social status caused them to lack self-esteem. The reddish background implies how Marzi was concerned about getting Mosia’s attention and her friendship with Monika. In the book, Savoia uses colors to express the mood and creates a atmosphere.

Where Do I Belong? : Digital Story