A FLAS Fellow's Semester Abroad in Amman

Audrey Dombro, an agricultural and consumer economics student and 2019-20 FLAS fellow, reflects upon her experience studying in Jordan.

Master of Arts in European Union Studies

The European Union Center at the University of Illinois offers the only Master of Arts in European Union Studies (MAEUS) program in the Western Hemisphere. Learn more here.

Nuclear Energy and Its Environmental, Policy, and Security Implications

On Earth Day 2022, the EU Center organized a symposium on the future of technology, energy, and security in Europe, featuring prominent scholars and policy makers from France, Germany, and the U.S.

Conversations on Europe

Watch the collection of online roundtable discussions on different EU issues sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh.

Accelerating Climate Change Mitigation: Policy Statements on the Road to Sharm-El-Sheikh and Beyond

Bruce Murray, Resident Director of the Illinois Program in Vienna, presents a series of student-written policy statements for accelerating climate change mitigation.

Videos of Previous Lectures

Missed an EUC-hosted lecture? Our blog's video tag has archived previous EUC-sponsored lectures.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Going Graphic with the European Union: Interiorae by Gabriella Giandelli

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Over the past few decades, graphic novels have become a respected form of literature. Europe, in particular, has published a wide variety of graphic novels, and these works have become available to wider audiences due to the growth in popularity. In this summer series presented by the EUC, graphic novels from a wide variety of EU members will be reviewed and discussed. 

By Rachel Johannigmeier

In this final entry in "Going Graphic with the European Union" for the time being, I read the graphic novel, Interiorae by Gabriella Giandelli.  Originally published in four individual issues, this translated collection was made available in the US in 2012 by Fantagraphics.  As I read through the story, I entered a world of reality and many dreams, and the line between these two worlds began to blur.  While not a straightforward narrative, it is still a delightful and melancholic story.

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Story Information

Title: Interiorae

Creator: Gabriella Giandelli

Translator: Kim Thompson

Publisher: Fantagraphics

Audience: 16 and older

Interiorae is a story that shows two worlds.  One story is the exploration of the lives of the various tenants in an apartment building.  The other story is about the dark being living in the basement of the apartment who feeds on dreams and is assisted by a small bunny who can walk freely throughout the apartment.  The two worlds do not sound as if they really relate to each other, but as the story goes on, the narratives begin to clearly blend together.  The main conflict comes from the dwindling amount of the tenants dreams, and it appears that this lack of dreams spells doom for the apartment building itself.  As the story continues, the narrative takes on a dreamy atmosphere as it draws to its conclusion.

Interiorae is a story that does not necessarily have a deep and complex plot, but reading through it is a pleasant experience.  It is not an engrossing story, but as a reader I was able to simply enjoy the story.  There are no surprises, and for this type of story it works. 

It is also a piece that is stronger in its visuals than in its plot.  Giandelli's art is filled with a great deal of emotion, and the use of colors and shading is impressive.  She shines in the strange moments, such as the dream sequences, and she also shines in the quiet, normal moments of the story.  If the story did not have words in it, it would still be a fine story. 

I would recommend this graphic novel for readers who appreciate fantastic realism and compelling art.  It is truly an enjoyable visual novel. 
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Saturday, August 6, 2016

Going Graphic with the European Union: Dungeon: Zenith-Volume 1: Duck Heart by Joann Sfar and Lewis Trondheim

Image from Amazon
Over the past few decades, graphic novels have become a respected form of literature. Europe, in particular, has published a wide variety of graphic novels, and these works have become available to wider audiences due to the growth in popularity. In this summer series presented by the EUC, graphic novels from a wide variety of EU members will be reviewed and discussed. 

By Rachel Johannigmeier

Swords, monsters, heroes, and ducks make up the world of Dungeon, a very popular comic tale in its native France.  According to Time, the series by Joann Sfar and Lewis Trondheim, started in 1998, and the volume I read, Duck Heart, is a collection of the first two tales in the "Zenith" story of Dungeon.  I did not know what I was going to be reading before going in, but as I read, I found myself laughing and enjoying the humor, both subtle and outrageous.

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Story Information:

Title: Dungeon: Zenith-Volume 1: Duck Heart

Creators: Joann Sfar (writer) and Lewis Trondheim (artist)

Publisher: NBM Publishing

Audience: Teenagers and older

The world of Dungeon starts in...what else but a dungeon?  It is not as much a dungeon as it is a gauntlet of monsters, magic, and other horrors for adventurers and heroes to face (though none have succeeded in getting out alive).  However, the Dungeon soon finds itself under siege, and it is the power of a barbarian that they need. What they get is a less than effective duke (and duck), Herbert, who miraculously manages to stop the siege.  In the next tale, which is told in a series of vignettes, Herbert and one of the Dungeon's guards, a dragon named Marvin, go on a quest to teach Herbert how to actually be a hero.  What results is a journey that is both comedic and slightly poignant.

Duck Heart is never afraid to poke fun at its characters, but it is also not afraid to consider the more serious feelings of these characters.  Herbert seems like a hapless loser, and for the most part, he is one, but when you learn about his banishment due to a duel to his father, I felt invested in the character.  It is farce, but it is farce with heart behind it.

The art is also fun and cartoonish, and one could read the story multiple times and find something new to notice in the background of the panel.  It is to the story's strength that it's characters are bizarre creatures and not humans, since this allows the artist to be creative.  While locations can look simple, it is an art style that works for the type of story that it is trying to tell.

One area that could have worked better would be the pacing of the second half of the story.  It felt as if it was over too soon, and it also jumped around at a pace that sometimes made a confusing read.  It ends on a note that leaves the reader wanting more.  This is a good sign though, that I want to continue the story.

I would recommend this graphic novel for people who love a well-done spoof and comedy with a hint of fantasy.
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