Period Pieces in Comics- A Light Reflection on Maus and Pop Culture

When my two colleagues and I were discussing time period pieces, I was skeptical. I didn’t know what to write mine on, since I tend to dislike period pieces. I admit I like things with a history, but not history in general. There are some exceptions of course, in my case they are graphic novels.

Graphic novels and comics don’t always get the respect they deserve as a storytelling medium. However, they often present us with a semi-accurate portrayal of pop culture relevant issues.


Think about it. Didn’t Captain America defeat the Nazis before our soldiers did? Wasn’t Harry Osbourne, Spiderman’s best friend, addicted to drugs in an age where it was taboo to talk about it? In more recent years, we’ve had sidekicks with AIDS, heroes with drinking problems and Riverdale accepting Archie’s gay friend with open arms and raving reviews. Thinking back, don’t we point these out as historical moments in pop culture?

Kevin Keller, poster boy of scandals apparently.

The point is that as a society all these events were important to us at the time. While not always addressed properly, comics put controversy in the spotlight. The fact remained that they represented a generation.

Going by the definition that a period piece is pretty much any story set within a certain time period (as best defined here), it stands that comics are period pieces. But are there comics of a more serious nature that are good period pieces?  

There are. Although it’s been extensively discussed both casually and academically, I decided to spotlight this one on the mere grounds that it’s of my favorite pieces of literature ever. It is Maus by Art Spiegelman, the first graphic novel ever to win a Pulitzer Prize.

Holocaust stories are everywhere but rarely do we see a piece written with heart and skill. It presents us a gateway into life in the mid 1930’s, through the Holocaust itself and even a little after the war. To make it more amusing, keep in mind that it is a story within a story. This is Art Spiegelman’s story, set in 1978-79, who in turn is narrating his father’s story, about his life between the 1930’s to 1945.   

As with any great period piece, it provides room for discussion. It gives a raw perspective on Auschwitz, provides an engrossing narrative and relatable characters. Spiegelman also reminds you the book is based on his father’s memories, which gives it a layer of intimacy between the characters and the reader. It’s a book that by all definitions should’ve been outdated by now yet remains surprisingly current.

History is never forgotten in the graphic novel medium. More current books, such as Persepolis also by Marjane Satrapi, also give us an insight into another time, but that’s another topic for another day.

While evil things like war and racism still live, our history remains. Whether it’s a personified ideal such as Captain America defeating Hitler or a memoir honoring a regular man and his inhuman ordeal, the graphic novel medium is always there, ready to illustrate what was important to that generation.

And at the end of the day, isn’t that what history is all about?

Show us how it's done, Cap.!

Currently Listening To: If I lose Myself - One Republic

Book on My Nightstand: The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

On my TV: Being Human- Season 2 (U.S.)

Currently Retro gaming: Final Fantasy VI

Random Pop Culture Thought of the Day: "I don't think Square-Enix has been able to create a character in a Final Fantasy more awesome than Edgar Roni Figaro. Who in the Final Fantasy universe has a cooler ride than a desert-riding castle and just randomly pulls out a chainsaw in battle?"