Just Fantastic: <I>Fun Home,</I> a watercolor memoir

Just Fantastic: Fun Home, a watercolor memoir

Posted on April 8th, 2009 by Steve Mazzeo

Photo essays are nothing new. Neither are the fine arts. However, both are being used to tell a complete story in this graphic novel: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel.

Bechdel uses watercolor to give her characters shape and action, which eliminates large portions of exposition and narrative action. This is a tricky maneuver. Most readers aren’t accustomed to graphic novels and most graphic novel/comic book readers aren’t accustomed to poignant memoirs about a lesbian’s coming-of-age story and her relationship with her father. Her bravado pays off. Readers are allowed to focus, almost obsessively, on the relationships between the characters.

The story covers Bechdel through her childhood and adolescence based upon two significant events in her life: her family moving into a funeral home and the death of her father. The initial conflict centers on the move, which only pleases the father. He spends his free time renovating the house, removing vestiges of the funeral home and restoring it to a period style.

Additionally, the author is also the artist. While not unique in the world of graphic novels, it is a rarity. The combination of a single person in both roles adds perspective to everyone and everything. Unlike regular graphic works that use overpowering colors to give a visual spin on the adventure, the understatement of watercolor gives the reader a natural highlight. The impression of the scene is given and important aspects, such as a flesh tone to the author’s first lesbian relationship, are reinforced.

Watercolor also seems appropriate to memory. It has reflective, Spartan, and translucent qualities that gave me an immediate sense of what a memory is and how it functions in present time. Each cell has a ghostly nature. Each sub-plot the benefit of hindsight and kindness of age. Even the rawer gritty scenes glow with a sort of acceptance and contentment. This tone is echoed in her words and minimalist style.

This is a great read, especially for first time graphic readers. Bechdel does a fantastic job with the ordinary, making it transcend into art while displaying the benefits the medium offers storytellers.

Just Fantastic appears the second and fourth Wednesday every month.