Elearning institute for iranian civil society, and iranwire. Click to read more about an iranian metamorphosis by mana neyestani. In the aftermath, neyestani and his editor were jailed and later, both fled the country. For several years, he worked for the government magazine iran. It begins with a blank space, and an urgent call to fill it.
Neyestani exposes the complex interplay between art. An iranian metamorphosis by mana neyestani, paperback. He has published several fictional comic books in the past 15 years around a character named mr ka, but in this book mana tells his own story, which amazingly has a lot in common with the story of mr ka. An iranian metamorphosis by mana neyestani, translated by ghazal mosadeq one unintentionally wrong word uttered in a childrens cartoon lost mana neyestani his job, his freedom, and nearly his life. An iranian metamorphosis by mana neyestani goodreads. Mana neyestani born 1973 in tehran is an iranian cartoonist, illustrator, and comic book creator. In 2006, iranian newspaper cartoonist mana neyestani made a cartoon for children in which a cockroach spoke in the language of the. An iranian metamorphosis graphic novel the seattle.
Although iranian cartoonist and illustrator mana neyestani titles his autobiographical graphic novel with an explicit reference to franz kafkas the metamorphosis. An iranian metamorphosis by neyestani, mana and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. An iranian metamorphosis by mana neyestani, translated by. Like gregor samsa before him, mana neyestani found himself plunged into a. He is the 2010 recipient of the cartoonists rights netwo. Mana neyestani reflects in an iranian metamorphosis columbia. Mana neyestani iranian cartoonist mana neyestani was born in tehran. An iranian metamorphosis is executed in a dense, crosshatch style, which gives his images the feeling of being caught in a shadow the ideal aesthetic for a book that is about authoritarianism, free speech and escape. Mana neyestani story, which can only be described as kafkaesque, is vividly brought to life in an iranian metamophosis. Although the drawing and arrangement of the graphic elements in the book are gorgeous and make it a very enjoyable read, an iranian metamorphosis ultimately feels incomplete. Really, i have to say that if an iranian metamorphosis gets translated into other languages and cultures, it is because of satrapis work and success in the 1990s.
The work reads like that of a cartoonist unsure which tools to use in the reconstruction of his story but willing to try all sorts of things. Now, the 39yearold cartoonist has recounted his time in prison in a graphic novel titled an iranian metamorphosis, which was recently published in france. Mana neyestani s autobiographical graphic novel opens with the metamorphosis of gregor samsa, kafkas famous hero that suddenly transformed into a cockroach. An iranian metamorphosis is a graphic novel by mana neyestani, a very talented iranian cartoonist. A cockroach landed iranian cartoonist mana neyestani in jail and turned his life upside down. Elearning institute for iranian civil society, and. The novel is a combination of his own story and kafkas classic tale, depicting neyestanis time in prison including the psychological torture he faced all depicted in powerful blackandwhite illustrations with his signature dark humor and, of course, many cockroaches.
Neyestanis autobiographical comic book an iranian metamorphosis, a kafkaesque story recounting his jailing in iran over a cartoon depicting a cockroach that sparked riots in. Now living in france, neyestani contributes cartoons to iranian opposition websites and he has written and drawn the graphic memoir an iranian metamorphosis, which has just been published in the united states by uncivilized books. The most interesting comics of the week spx 2014 edition. After her book, persepolis, received so much international attention, publishers began to pay attention to other work by iranian and arab cartoonists. Next, read an excerpt from his memoir of the events that forced him to leave iran, an iranian metamorphosis, in the magazine wwb. An iranian metamorphosis une metamorphose iranienne in its original. Le monde neyestani the illustrator breaks free of the square boxes on the pages and often draws his scenes outside of. He is particularly known for his work for reformist papers in iran and persian language websites radio zamaneh, tavaana.
Writing beyond iran, interview by world literature today. He has published several fictional comic books in the past. True, it is a pesky vermin in the body of a tiny cartoon cockroach that gets both. Elearning institute for iranian civil society, iranwire. Titles by iranian cartoonist mana neyestani, cousins jillian and mariko tamaki, and the new yorkers roz chast, were among the five graphic novels nominated in the graphic novel category for the. But couple the talking cockroach with neyestanis kafka reference, and an iranian metamorphosis suffers from a thematic muddle. The book, whose title is a reference to franz kafkas famous story about a man who turns into a giant insect and is ostracized by his family, is also due to be. Neyestani connects an iranian metamorphosis to an earlier story, the czechgerman writer franz kafkas metamorphosis. Page 29 of the book introduces neyestanis chief tormentor, maleki. In his memoir an iranian metamorphosis, he tells the surreal tale of his detention and eventual exile from his native country an extreme example of the difficulties faced by cartoonists all over the world.
Shop amongst our popular books, including 6, tout va bien. Its an apt homage given the quintessentially kafkaesque situation facing the iranian author. An iranian metamorphosis by mana neyestani, 9780988901445, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. An iranian metamorphosis by mana neyestani 20141202 mana neyestani on. Neyestanis storytelling falls short as it accounts for only his experience within a. Books an iranian metamorphosis by bhakti shringarpure 19 oct 2012 21. In other words, this choice works fine in isolation. Mana neyestani is the author of an iranian metamorphosis 3. That could be taken as a metaphor for any writer or artist, but in mana neyestanis graphic novel, an iranian metamorphosis, its also. One of his cartoons sparked riots, shuttered the newspaper neyestani worked for, and landed the cartoonist his editor in solitary confinement inside of irans notorious prison system.
Exiled iranian cartoonist vows to fight regime with drawings. In the tradition of comicbook artists, mana neyestani signs the inside cover of an iranian metamorphosis not just with an autograph, but with a sketch. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Manas first graphic novel, an iranian metamorphosis, on the other hand, has just been released in english. Mana neyestani is an iranian cartoonist, illustrator, and comic book creator. Irans cartoonist mana neyestani poses with his album entitled an iranian metamorphosis at the 39th edition of angouleme world comic strip festival headed by american art spiegelman, on. One of mana neyestanis cartoons sparked riots, shuttered the newspaper he worked for, and landed the cartoonist and his editor in solitary confinement inside of irans notorious prison system. In 2006, iranian cartoonist mana neyestani was arrested and imprisoned for three months for drawing a childrens cartoon. This week, we feature an extract from mana neyestanis graphic novel an iranian metamophosis. An iranian metamorphosis words without borders campus. An iranian metamorphosis by mana neyestani librarything. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders.
In 2006, the iranian artist mana neyestani sat down to draw a childrens cartoon for a weekly magazine called iran jome. Iranian cartoonists memoir recounts detention and exile. A short guide to being the perfect political refugee. Exiled iranian cartoonist vows to fight regime with. His work appears internationally in economic, intellectual, political and cultural magazines. Mostafa heravi cartoonist mana neyestani was well aware of the risks artists face in iran. Although iranian cartoonist and illustrator mana neyestani titles his autobiographical graphic novel with an explicit reference to franz kafkas the metamorphosis, it is really the trial against which neyestanis an iranian metamorphosis astutely draws parallels. Iranian cartoonist mana neyestani was born in tehran. Mana neyestani is an iranian cartoonist and comic book creator. He is also wellknown because of his cartoons about iranian presidential election, 2009. Poetic and dreamlike an iranian metamorphosis reflects his emotions, the love for his wife, the feeling of falling into a trap, and his dream of freedom. Mana neyestani story, which can only be described as kafkaesque. I first met exiled iranian cartoonist mana neyestani at etonnants voyageurs, an annual literary festival of grand scale set in st. We often feature the commentary through images of iranian political cartoonist mana neyestani.
Originally published in french in 2012, the book has. Panels from an iranian metamorphosis, showing a blindfolded prisoner walking, and a man telling him, good morning, mr. For several years, he worked for the government magazine iran his use of an azeri word for cockroach in a childrens cartoon published in may 2006 triggered riots among the azeri minority, already persecuted by the iranian government. Excerpt from an iranian metamorphosis mana neyestani arte editions azeri minority of turkish origin living in northern iran and has been oppressed for a long time by the central government. The overgrown roach that taunts neyestani embodies this controversy, taking a form that also captures the persistence of neyestanis tormentors.