Persepolis Book Club

1.)  What do we know and understand about the main character’s sociocultural background/ identities? Before our groups discussion I noticed how politically active her parents were, which probably influenced Marjane to want to participate in the revolutions. During our discussion in class we discussed the fact that Marjane's grandfather used to be royalty. 2.)  How does  your  own sociocultural background and identities and literacy or schooling experiences compare/contrast to the main character? Having grown up in the United States, I was never directly exposed to any sort of political revolutions. I was only 3 years old when 9/11 happened so I do not remember the day or any events that immediately followed. My schooling was also very different to Marjane's schooling. I went to a public school where speaking about any religion was discouraged. Our books did censor some parts of U.S. history, though we never had to physically rip out pages of our books when there were m

Before the group discussion: So far I have loved reading this book. The style of an autobiographical graphic novel is so interesting visually and tells a story in such a unique way. This story is told with such vulnerability and detail that I often find myself feeling the things that Marjane does as she travels throughout her life, even though I have never lived through conditions such as hers. I think that the experience of being human and vulnerable like this can always be shared, even if one's own life experiences don't mirror the character's experiences. I love how she talks through tough moments about her life in Iran and the pain of not knowing where she fits in is very visceral in her storytelling. Throughout these chapters, I can tell that Marjane is constantly evolving and that her identity will continue to evolve as the book continues.  After group discussion: 1.)  What do we know and understand about the main character’s sociocultural background/ identities

1.      What do we know and understand about the main character’s sociocultural background/ identities?     The main character in this book is Marjane, born, and grew up in Iran. She and her family went through the Islamic revolution and the Iran-Iraq war. These social conflicts have a significant impact on her political and religious view, and her identity formation when she lived in the Vienna and the time she returned to Iran.   At the beginning of the novel, Marjane was very passionate about her religion. She believed that she could be a prophet and often piously talked to God. With the Islamic revolution going on, there is no scene in the latter part of the book that she is talking with God like her childhood. Her view of her religion changed. Marjane’s family is modern and avant-garde, especially her parents. Marjane’s parents are both political activists, who play a critical role in her strong-willed personality and a strong se