Culture Clash?

Given that both of the graphic novels we have read thus far this semester depict different cultures I thought it would be interesting to consider the ways in which Yang and Hernandez use the form to portray racial stereotypes.

In American Born Chinese, Yang explores racial stereotypes and a journey to self-acceptance. His novel confronts and overcomes stereotyping through his characters' self-discovery. The Monkey King, Jin, and Wei-Chen all struggle with accepting themselves because of rejection from the world around them. The graphic novel, as a form, allows Yang to illustrate the change that takes place when Jin denies his Chinese heritage and becomes Danny in a way that a traditional novel could not. The visuals provided reinforce the positive theme of the novel by syncing up the internal and emotional changes the characters experience with the external appearance of the characters.

In Heartbreak Soup, Hernandez introduces the character of Howard Miller in the chapter entitled "An American in Palomar" in order to explore the way in which Palomarians are seen by outsiders. Up until this chapter we are focused on the characters interactions with each other and are not concerned with the influence of people outside of Palomar, aside from brief references to the States scattered throughout. Palomar still remains isolated from the prejudice of outsiders. Upon Howard Miller's arrival the reader is forced to step outside of the bubble of daily life in Palomar and to see the characters through a foreigners eyes. Miller has come to Palomar merely to exploit the inhabitants in order to garner recognition and fame as a photographer. Being privy to Miller's true motives, the reader is placed in a position to immediately dislike him. Through the introduction of Howard Miller, Hernandez illustrates not only the various prejudices Miller brings in but also the prejudices held by some of the Palomarians against Americans.