A lot of graphic novels work with Intertextuality, because as a visual medium they can represent or quote another text even better than a normal novel. Alison Bechdel’s "Fun Home" is a prime example of those graphic novels that use intertextuality. Her memoir is full of pop culture and book references. My thesis is that the literary works and stories she has woven into her story mirror her own story and exist to further illustrate her struggles coming of age.
The structure of the paper is going to be the following: first comes a short introduction on Intertextuality assisted by Graham Allen’s "Introduction to Intertextuality" and Roland Barthes’ "Death of the Author". The next part, which is going to be the main part, focuses of course on Intertextuality in "Fun Home". Starting off, the first subchapter is going to be about the repeated usage of the myth of Daedalus and Icarus as a display of the relationship between Alison and her father Bruce Bechdel. I would like to search for the connection between this analogy, especially how it was used and why.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Introduction to Intertextuality
3. Intertextuality in Fun Home
3.1 Daedalus and Icarus – Bruce and Alison
3.2 An Ideal Husband?
3.3 Realization through Books
3.4 Revelations from the Dictionary
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper explores the role of intertextuality in Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir Fun Home, specifically examining how literary and cultural references mirror the author’s personal development, her navigation of sexual identity, and the complex, often strained power dynamics within her relationship with her father, Bruce Bechdel.
- The usage of Greek mythology (Daedalus and Icarus) to frame the father-daughter relationship.
- The influence of Oscar Wilde’s dramatic works on the depiction of familial distance.
- The role of literature and educational texts in the author's coming-of-age journey.
- The integration of dictionary definitions to provide context for personal revelations and struggles.
- The application of intertextual theory, specifically drawing on Graham Allen and Roland Barthes.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Daedalus and Icarus – Bruce and Alison
The first chapter “Old Father, old Artificer” of Fun Home contains so many references to the Daedalus myth that it is fairly easy to lose track of them or overread them. I am sure that most of the readers of this paper are familiar with the myth of Daedalus and Icarus but I’m still going to take the liberty of summarizing it shortly: Daedalus was supposedly a brilliant creator and inventor who created the famous labyrinth around the minotaur in Greek mythology. He was later captured and incarcerated in said labyrinth together with his son Icarus. The two tried to flee their prison and built wings made from wax and feathers. Daedalus told Icarus not to fly too close to the sun, but Icarus didn’t listen to him and the wax from his wings melted off, which lead to him falling to his death.
One important remark about Bechdel’s use of the myth is that she doesn’t consistently use the image of Daedalus for her father and Icarus for herself – she reverses those roles as well. It’s an important change that is going to be talked about in depth later.
The first time Daedalus is mentioned is already on the first page of the whole novel, which is the third numbered page. The layout of the page is divided into three panels which each have their own captions. The first panel shows a young Alison playing “Airplane” with her dad, which is a game kids very often play with their parents. It is called Airplane because the kid is “flying” on the feet of the parent while their legs support the kid “flying” in the air. In the second panel this scene is drawn from a different angle which shows the point of view of Alison’s dad. Alison has a speech bubble drawn over her head that says “Oof!”. Alison from above is shown in the last panel.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the thesis that intertextuality in Fun Home serves to illustrate Bechdel's coming-of-age struggles and defines the methodological approach using literary theory.
2. Introduction to Intertextuality: This section explores theoretical concepts of intertextuality, particularly focusing on Graham Allen's perspectives and Roland Barthes' "Death of the Author."
3. Intertextuality in Fun Home: This chapter analyzes how Bechdel employs various literary and textual references to externalize the internal power dynamics and personal growth within her family.
3.1 Daedalus and Icarus – Bruce and Alison: This section details the recurring use of the Daedalus myth as a lens through which Bechdel portrays the shifting and complex power dynamic with her father.
3.2 An Ideal Husband?: This analysis examines how Oscar Wilde’s plays are utilized to depict the distance and alienation between Bechdel and her mother.
3.3 Realization through Books: This chapter discusses how various literary works, from Camus to Tolkien, function as tools for the author to navigate her self-discovery and sexual awakening.
3.4 Revelations from the Dictionary: This segment explores the strategic use of dictionary entries to define personal milestones and contextualize difficult life events.
4. Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that intertextual elements are essential to the structural integrity and emotional depth of the memoir.
Keywords
Intertextuality, Alison Bechdel, Fun Home, Graphic Memoir, Daedalus and Icarus, Oscar Wilde, Literary Analysis, Queer Identity, Coming-of-Age, Autobiographical Narrative, Roland Barthes, Graham Allen, Family Dynamics, Mythology, Dictionary Entries
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines how Alison Bechdel uses intertextuality in her graphic memoir Fun Home to articulate her personal history, her relationship with her parents, and her journey toward understanding her own sexual identity.
Which central themes are explored throughout the work?
Key themes include the complexity of father-daughter relationships, the search for identity, the alienation of the queer experience, and the use of literature as a tool for interpreting reality.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The objective is to prove that the literary and cultural references embedded in Fun Home are not merely decorative but are integral to illustrating Bechdel's struggles coming of age.
Which methodologies are employed in the study?
The paper utilizes a literary studies approach, applying theories of intertextuality from Graham Allen and Roland Barthes to interpret the visual and textual elements of the graphic memoir.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body breaks down the specific intertextual mediums Bechdel uses: the Daedalus/Icarus myth, Oscar Wilde’s plays, classic novels, and dictionary snippets, analyzing each to explain different aspects of Bechdel's life.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Primary keywords include Intertextuality, Graphic Memoir, Fun Home, Queer Identity, and Literary Analysis.
How does Bechdel use the myth of Daedalus and Icarus specifically?
She uses it to define the father-daughter bond, often reversing the roles to foreshadow her father’s death and to represent the dynamics of control and resentment.
What is the significance of the "Ideal Husband" chapter?
It highlights the author’s mother and the distance within their relationship, drawing a parallel between the mother’s role in an Oscar Wilde play and her domestic reality.
Why does the author focus on dictionary entries?
Bechdel uses these as educational tools to define terms related to her sexuality and personal experiences when she lacks a traditional narrative scene to explain them.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2018, Intertextuality in Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/513223
