Joe Sacco has been called the heir to Art Spiegelman (Maus) and his award shelf creaks under the weight of trophies (Eisner Award for Best Original Graphic Novel, Ridenhour Book Prize, American Book Award, etc.). But the scale of achievements casts no shadow on the man himself. When hordes of fans turned up at his brief appearances in two Delhi bookstores last month, the response surprised the 64-year-old Maltese-American graphic novelist. Wearing an unfaltering smile under a black fedora, he gracefully shook hands, signed copies and obliged selfie requests. Sacco is known around the world for his comics journalism, a genre unique enough even without his choice of subjects—the Bosnian War, indigenous North America, Israel-Palestine relations. For many Indians, his two graphic novels on Palestine—released in the 1990s and the aughts—were the first accessible and immersive reports from the region that did not conform to the existing media narrative. In the wake of the current violence, Palestine and Footnotes in Gaza have acquired another lease of life, informing a whole new generation about the history of a besieged people. Sacco speaks to Lounge about the current situation. Edited excerpts:
Amnesty International recently concluded that Israel is committing a genocide in Palestine. You spent a lot of time in Gaza to report your stories. Did you ever think that violence would take such a shape against the Palestinians?
I can't say I thought there'd be a genocide. I thought what they (Israel) euphemistically call a "population transfer" might take place at some point. I thought the long-term goals of Israel might be to remove the Palestinians from various areas—whether it was Gaza or parts of the West Bank…. Though if you look back, you see the impunity with which Israel has behaved over decades, the people they have killed in their various assaults in Gaza, even my own research into the massacres of Palestinians in 1956, the logic of it was there.
Denne historien er fra December 21, 2024-utgaven av Mint Kolkata.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 21, 2024-utgaven av Mint Kolkata.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Smart gnomes, evil penguins and stop-motion
Wallace & Gromit are back for a full-length adventure with a familiar foe
5 Contemporary Artists on the Books That Inspire Them
Leading Indian artists such as Shilpa Gupta, Anju Dodiya and Thukral & Tagra share their favourite recent reads
Indian Art May Be Poised for a Global Breakthrough
After a strong 2024, with major works, discoveries and acquisitions on the international stage, the future looks bright for Indian art
Abandon Myopic Policies for the Common Global Good
Policies of the US, China and India Should Prioritize Long-Term Gains and Their People Must Push for It
Let's act now to create a resilient, adaptable and skilled workforce
Our demographic dividend, coupled with skills adapted for new opportunities, can give us a competitive advantage globally
Our consumption study doesn't feed policy well
India's latest survey of household spending on consumption picks up significant trends but offers an unclear snapshot of upper-end expenses. Policy cues should be taken selectively
Manmohan's understated leadership set a fine example
His self-assured openness to all views was an inspiration for decision makers keen to resist groupthink
The Union Budget Should Focus on Lifting Consumption Growth
That is key, since investments haven't picked up, but there may be little fiscal space for big tax cuts
Are diamonds forever? Insights from 22 years of zero-return saga
Diamonds, synonymous with luxury, captivate investors, but their investment potential tells a different story
Markets rebound in first session of '25 on buying in blue-chips
Benchmark Sensex and Nifty started the New Year on a high note with the key indices closing higher in a see-saw trade on Wednesday on buying in blue-chip stocks.
