Fun Home Annotated Bibliography
Written by: Jaymee Fuczuk, Yussef Attia, Sarah Hood
LITT27733GD Class: 1199_9297
Fun Home Graphic Memoir Group
Dr. Nabeela Sheikh
November 24, 2019
Bechdel, A. (2006). Fun home: a family tragicomic. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
As the primary source for our graphic memoir assignment, this text is our most essential resource. Fun Home is Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir, which depicts her childhood and adolescence up until the age of 20 when her father died. This poignant memoir is a coming-of-age story of young Alison, told through the medium of a graphic comics, which is a genre of autobiographical storytelling that informs and entertains the audience through comic art panels, and the written word. Alison both wrote and illustrated her memoir. Alison’s artist style utilized black line art and blue ink-wash. Bechdel employs numerous references to English and American Literature in her storytelling.
Bechdel tells the story of her complicated relationship with her father, Bruce, whom she discovers is a closeted homosexual. Fun Home is also a story of Alison’s discovery and acceptance of her homosexuality and explores her first lesbian relationship. The story also explores the circumstances surrounding her father’s death; Bechdel believes that her father died by suicide, rather than by accident. The story is told non-sequentially through seven chapters.
Cooke, R. (2017, November 5). Fun Home creator Alison Bechdel on turning a tragic childhood into a hit musical. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/05/alison-bechdel-interview-cartoonist-fun-home
This interview between The Guardian’s Rachel Cooke and Fun Home’s Alison Bechdel examines the reception of the Bechdel family after the memoir’s publication and the musical’s opening night. Bechdel’s success and recognition after Fun Home are referenced. Bechdel depicts the thought process during the development from a graphic memoir to a musical and praises the entire creative team involved in its success. Bechdel speaks about knowing much more now than she did at the time of the memoir’s conception but doesn’t reference returning to the piece for editing. Alison discusses the purpose of the memoir as a type of release from her father, saying she would take writing the memoir and her personal view of the world over a “happy childhood” any day. Bechdel’s present-day life is referenced including her home in Vermont with her partner, Holly Taylor. Bechdel talks about the influences and inspiration for her graphic memoir, including Howard Cruse’s Gay Comix of the 70s. She acknowledges her success with Fun Home is a result of our living in a different time. Bechdel’s current project, The Secret to Superhuman Strength, is still a work in progress and is behind schedule. Politics of gay marriage are discussed; Bechdel never thought she’d live to see the legalization of gay marriage. Bechdel refers to Trump’s election as “the political horror,” explaining that when Obama arrived, she had been allowed a political break. The Bechdel test’s conception is discussed, and its necessity in today’s society. Al concludes the interview with a discussion on current comics she’s enjoyed, including Delisle’s Hostage and Wertz’s Tenements, Towers, and Trash. This interview was useful, as it provided an overview of Alison Bechdel herself. It covered a lot of Fun Home history, including how the memoir came to be, the outcome of the post-Broadway musical, and Bechdel’s present-day life.
McCloud, S. (1993). Understanding comics the invisible art. NY: HarperCollins Publishers. Retrieved from: http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0vKqkt0q-bNTk1MzlhMmYtMmMyNS00Yzc3LTgzMDEtMjzNDI3ZmZjMzAx/view?pli=1
Understanding Comics, written by Scott McCloud, was first published in 1993 and is an in-depth examination of the comic genre, which has been misunderstood, and little-respected. McCloud describes his work, which took 15 months to complete, as an “examination of the art-form of comics, what it’s capable of, how it works” (Introduction). His book is presented in comic book form, thereby simultaneously showing and telling the material contained within.
The book is told in 9 chapters and 222 pages. It is a comprehensive history of the comic book genre, as well as an informative explanation of the mechanics involved in the creation of comics. It includes chapters on The Vocabulary of Comics, Time Frames, Show and Tell, and A Word About Color. This is an invaluable resource for those who are either wanting to learn more about creating their comics or for those who are analyzing the mechanics and technical aspects of the comic genre. It is particularly useful in the context of this assignment to examine the technical aspects of Fun Home.
StuckinVermont. (2008, December 17). Alison Bechdel [SIV 109] [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/nWBFYTmpC54
An in-person interview between Alison Bechdel and Eva Sollberger is conducted at Bechdel’s home residence in Vermont. Bechdel’s first comic strip, Dykes to Watch Out For, which she’s been producing for twenty years, is discussed. Eva talks about the success of Fun Home, some of its awards, and how it’s currently being turned into a Broadway musical. Bechdel speaks about the politics behind her works and discusses the work's purpose. We are shown various drawings done by Alison as a child, referencing her adoration for masculinity. Bechdel talks about the gay cultural movement currently occurring, and about her role in the movement through her art. How Dykes to Watch Out For’s title came to be is referenced. Fun Home allowed for Bechdel’s success, fame, and recognition. Bechdel shares insight on her current project and her image of strength. Alison’s personal life is discussed, including why Vermont was selected as the escape from Beech Creek. Various shots of Bechdel’s illustrations are included. I found the interview useful because it is informative and gives direct information from Bechdel herself. The interview allows for a more personal connection to Bechdel than would be possible through writing or an article. A possible weakness could be considered in the shot scenes being displayed out of order and via a sequence of choppy shots overlapping one another.
LITT27733GD Class: 1199_9297
Fun Home Graphic Memoir Group
Dr. Nabeela Sheikh
November 24, 2019
Annotated Bibliography
Bechdel, A. (2006). Fun home: a family tragicomic. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
As the primary source for our graphic memoir assignment, this text is our most essential resource. Fun Home is Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir, which depicts her childhood and adolescence up until the age of 20 when her father died. This poignant memoir is a coming-of-age story of young Alison, told through the medium of a graphic comics, which is a genre of autobiographical storytelling that informs and entertains the audience through comic art panels, and the written word. Alison both wrote and illustrated her memoir. Alison’s artist style utilized black line art and blue ink-wash. Bechdel employs numerous references to English and American Literature in her storytelling.
Bechdel tells the story of her complicated relationship with her father, Bruce, whom she discovers is a closeted homosexual. Fun Home is also a story of Alison’s discovery and acceptance of her homosexuality and explores her first lesbian relationship. The story also explores the circumstances surrounding her father’s death; Bechdel believes that her father died by suicide, rather than by accident. The story is told non-sequentially through seven chapters.
Cooke, R. (2017, November 5). Fun Home creator Alison Bechdel on turning a tragic childhood into a hit musical. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/05/alison-bechdel-interview-cartoonist-fun-home
This interview between The Guardian’s Rachel Cooke and Fun Home’s Alison Bechdel examines the reception of the Bechdel family after the memoir’s publication and the musical’s opening night. Bechdel’s success and recognition after Fun Home are referenced. Bechdel depicts the thought process during the development from a graphic memoir to a musical and praises the entire creative team involved in its success. Bechdel speaks about knowing much more now than she did at the time of the memoir’s conception but doesn’t reference returning to the piece for editing. Alison discusses the purpose of the memoir as a type of release from her father, saying she would take writing the memoir and her personal view of the world over a “happy childhood” any day. Bechdel’s present-day life is referenced including her home in Vermont with her partner, Holly Taylor. Bechdel talks about the influences and inspiration for her graphic memoir, including Howard Cruse’s Gay Comix of the 70s. She acknowledges her success with Fun Home is a result of our living in a different time. Bechdel’s current project, The Secret to Superhuman Strength, is still a work in progress and is behind schedule. Politics of gay marriage are discussed; Bechdel never thought she’d live to see the legalization of gay marriage. Bechdel refers to Trump’s election as “the political horror,” explaining that when Obama arrived, she had been allowed a political break. The Bechdel test’s conception is discussed, and its necessity in today’s society. Al concludes the interview with a discussion on current comics she’s enjoyed, including Delisle’s Hostage and Wertz’s Tenements, Towers, and Trash. This interview was useful, as it provided an overview of Alison Bechdel herself. It covered a lot of Fun Home history, including how the memoir came to be, the outcome of the post-Broadway musical, and Bechdel’s present-day life.
Encyclopedia of World Biography. (2007). Alison Bechdel Biography. Retrieved from https://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2007-A-Co/Bechdel-Alison.htm
This source is a biography about the famous American cartoonist Alison Bechdel that talks about her confusing upbringing during her youth, her struggles after graduating from college, her work as a cartoonist along with the success it has brought her, and her current life. The only downside to this source is that it only shows Alison Bechdel's life up to 2007. However, this source is very helpful for anyone who wants to know a good amount of Alison Bechdel's life up to 2007 in good detail and that's exactly what it has provided me with. This source helped me find most of the information needed to write about her Adult Life and Career Highs and Lows.
McCloud, S. (1993). Understanding comics the invisible art. NY: HarperCollins Publishers. Retrieved from: http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0vKqkt0q-bNTk1MzlhMmYtMmMyNS00Yzc3LTgzMDEtMjzNDI3ZmZjMzAx/view?pli=1
Understanding Comics, written by Scott McCloud, was first published in 1993 and is an in-depth examination of the comic genre, which has been misunderstood, and little-respected. McCloud describes his work, which took 15 months to complete, as an “examination of the art-form of comics, what it’s capable of, how it works” (Introduction). His book is presented in comic book form, thereby simultaneously showing and telling the material contained within.
The book is told in 9 chapters and 222 pages. It is a comprehensive history of the comic book genre, as well as an informative explanation of the mechanics involved in the creation of comics. It includes chapters on The Vocabulary of Comics, Time Frames, Show and Tell, and A Word About Color. This is an invaluable resource for those who are either wanting to learn more about creating their comics or for those who are analyzing the mechanics and technical aspects of the comic genre. It is particularly useful in the context of this assignment to examine the technical aspects of Fun Home.
StuckinVermont. (2008, December 17). Alison Bechdel [SIV 109] [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/nWBFYTmpC54
An in-person interview between Alison Bechdel and Eva Sollberger is conducted at Bechdel’s home residence in Vermont. Bechdel’s first comic strip, Dykes to Watch Out For, which she’s been producing for twenty years, is discussed. Eva talks about the success of Fun Home, some of its awards, and how it’s currently being turned into a Broadway musical. Bechdel speaks about the politics behind her works and discusses the work's purpose. We are shown various drawings done by Alison as a child, referencing her adoration for masculinity. Bechdel talks about the gay cultural movement currently occurring, and about her role in the movement through her art. How Dykes to Watch Out For’s title came to be is referenced. Fun Home allowed for Bechdel’s success, fame, and recognition. Bechdel shares insight on her current project and her image of strength. Alison’s personal life is discussed, including why Vermont was selected as the escape from Beech Creek. Various shots of Bechdel’s illustrations are included. I found the interview useful because it is informative and gives direct information from Bechdel herself. The interview allows for a more personal connection to Bechdel than would be possible through writing or an article. A possible weakness could be considered in the shot scenes being displayed out of order and via a sequence of choppy shots overlapping one another.
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