Imagining the Bosnian War Through Comics: Joe Sacco's Safe Area

CEU eTD Collection Second Reader: Vlad Naumescu Supervisor: Tolga Esmer Imagining the Bosnian War through Comics: Comics: Warthrough Bosnian the Imagining In requirement for of the fulfillment the partial of degree

Joe Sacco’s Sacco’s Joe

Central European University DepartmentHistory of Budapest, Hungary Master ofArts Submitted to Submitted LaraBell Safe Area Gorazde Area Safe 2015 By

CEU eTD Collection be permission made ofthe thewritten Author. without partmade. of copiesinaccordanceinstructionsmay any Further copiesmade such withsuch not the CentralLibrary. from Europeanmay Details the obtained be part, may accordance be only made and withthe instructionsgiven in lodgedin Author by the C opyright rests thesis ofthis withthe Author. by Copies thetext any in process, either or infull Statement of Copyright of Statement ii

librarian. This page alibrarian. This form must CEU eTD Collection of the graphic a sop as narrative this War, events. journalistic and academic both in lacking is that dimension and depth By blending history and memory, the past and the present, new add to way different dimens a in them use and figures, public and academics, journalists, by Srebrenica. and Sarajevo in transpired that events by account of the plight of Gorazde comprehensive theismost it BosnianWar, the of representationoverallits to Inaddition writing. academic in found War Bosnian the of depictions rivals narrative, graphic of genre the in written Bosnia Eastern in War The Gorazde: to used been has “low be to understood typically medium a comics, which in way the explores thesis This

ions and levels of understanding to the conflict in Bosnia and the safe haven of Gorazde. Gorazde. of haven safe the and Bosnia in conflict the to understanding of levels and ions By comparing traditional academic works as well as popular representations of the Bosnian thesis

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eiu rpeettos f ofcin y sn Je Sacco’s Joe using by nonfiction of representations serious histicated, yethisticated, sourceofknowledge. mainstream , one of six UN

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Safe Area Area Safe , although although , - brow,” CEU eTD Collection Conclusion Chapter 4: Representations of Violence, Suffering, and Life”“Real Chapter 3: Using Memory Create to a Narrative Chapter 2: Use, Misuse, and Representations of History Chapter 1: Background Information Introduction Contents Conclusion Regaining aSense of Normalcy after the Suffering Steering Away from Voyeuristic Depictions Profiting from Suffering the Others of Conclusion Countering “Yugo Yugo The Ble Conclus Visualizing History “Never again” Happeningis Again The Worst thing Happen to onEuropean Soil Since World War II Gorazde of Coverage and Yugoslavia of Breakup The Narrative Graphic Sacco Joe - nostalgia andnostalgia Longing the Past for nding Memory and History ion

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CEU eTD Collection Figure15: Sacco, 74. Figure14: Sacco, 10. Figure13: Sacco, 49. Figure Figure11: Sacco, 131. Figure10: Sacco, 130. Figure9: Sacco, 77. Figure8: Sacco, 18. Figure7: Sacco, 20. Figure6: Sacco, 118. Figure5: Sacco, 165. Figure4: Sacco, 167. Figure3: Sacco, 22 Figure2: Sacco, 162. Figure Sacco,1 21.

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CEU eTD Collection also is it but 1990s, the in Bosnia in conflict the with dealing of way scholarly one argue work;can that therefore, expla is Gorazde of history and conflict the subject, the on works literary in gap this to Due 1990’s. the in country the consumed that conflict the regarding specifically Bosnia, of historiography “keepin in Nations United the of unknown and unrepresented. Aside from being used as an example of the failure and incompetence relatively is Gorazde Srebrenica, and Sarajevo as such zones” “safe as UN the by deemed cities Moreover, style. and content its of because unmatched is and Sacco’s book is the exception, rather than the rule regarding the depiction of the conflict in Bosnia lesser works: placesIraq, like Palestine, Bosnia, Chechnyaand more. will Thisthesis examine one just of those car and journalistic, literary, in known well is Sacco Sacco. Joe notably most events, actual depict to comics using by Spiegelman of footsteps the in followed have cartoonists Many events. actual or has generally not observed been as th a form medium a as Comics Holocaust. the during father Spiegelman’s of plight the depict to comics of depic to way increasingly the subject of academic legitimate inquiry. a as credibility gain to continued has narrative Spiegelman’s Art of publication the Since scholarship. academic of attention the received infrequently has comics of medium the recently, very Until Introduction tooning circles alike for his impressive works of illustrated nonfiction that depict conflicts in in conflicts depict that nonfiction illustrated of works impressive his for alike circles tooning nd ot opeesvl i te rpi nraie y o Sco ad o a traditional a not and Sacco, Joe by narrative graphic the in comprehensively most ined - known enclave of Gorazde War.enclave Bosnian of known during the Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992 :

g” peace, Gorazde and its history is sorely lacking in the the in lacking sorely is history its and Gorazde peace, g” at to lends itself Maus Safe Area GorazdeSafe 1

was a revolutionary work that used the medium Maus

- representing 19 compared to the coverage of other other of coverage the to compared 95 represents not only a fascinating anot only fascinating represents n 96 hwvr te graphic the however, 1986, in , which depicts the plight of the

one of the most definitive most the of one the complexities of real complexities the nnito ad is and nonfiction t CEU eTD Collection this conflict, this discussing when used commonly are that suffering and memory, history, of themes main three the exploring By on theBosnian War. works scholarly in interest or to access have necessarily not may that audiences reaches work his conflict. the of forming are Additionally, because Sacc impressions when account into taken is therefore and hidden, constantly is reader The own. his including perspectives, layered and multiple with story a show, rather or tell, to able is hand presenceof first and testimonies, oral WWII, in beginning context historical of comprised is Area Safe parties. external by it onto projected or into read in of “clash a of arguments Huntingtonian civilizations” between Islam and Christianity, Sacco uses a mixture or of genres to give a concis hatreds” “ancient of framework fashionable readers allows that end the at page reference small a is there that so much so book; the of accuracy the ensure to order in figures and facts with interlocutors his of stories the bolsters and corroborates Sacco the at Gorazde in living those of testimonies the of apocalyptic and less speculative approach to the conflict. Although much of and politicians, journalists, way What is more impressive than the medium of this work by Sacco is how it contrasts itself fr mainstreamacademic media and writing. to distinction in focus of area legitimate a as it recognizes it because simply Gorazde on works - depth coverage of Gorazde as it was experienced by the inhabitants, as opposed to what was what to opposed as inhabitants, the by experienced was it as Gorazde of coverage depth

verify the information and further explore the topic. Rather than using the the using than Rather topic. the explore further and information the verify - drawn comics. By using a thoughtful interplay between word and image, Sacco image, andword betweeninterplay thoughtful a using Bycomics. drawn

aware of filters that the information is flowing through. His bias is not not is bias His through. flowing is information the that filters of aware o presents his findings in the traditionally low scholars thesis will compare Sacco’s depiction of the Bosnian War to to War Bosnian the of depiction Sacco’s compare will thesis

represent the same conflict. Sacco’s book takes a less a takes book Sacco’s conflict. same the represent - hand account hand 2

time, it is not based on rumor and hearsay. hearsay. and rumor on based not is it time, s that are bolstered by the consistent consistent the by bolstered are that s - brow Safe Area

medium of

is comprised comics, om the e and CEU eTD Collection Sacco’s useJoe to is intention Myrepresentations. popular in traditionallyfound is than War Bosnian the of image complete and sophisticated more a presents and academia in presented those as themes comparisons to demonstrate how Sacco’s work, although a graphic narr these use to intend I knowledge. of source mainstream yet sophisticated, a as narrative graphic this paper s War, Bosnian the of representations popular as well as works academic traditional comparing By will Thesethesis that this literature? are exploreand answer. questions other to popular compare or mainstream work Sacco’s does How sources? traditional than differently conflict the of Gorazde and Bosnia in general? How does the medium of comics or graphic narrative represent what than differentSacco’swork is How Bosnia? in conflict the about conversation and historiography the to add work Sacco’s Joe does What to bookstores next u yet functions Gorazde, via War Bosnian the vocabulary, and theory heavy its to due readers picture with mass appeal. As opposed to traditional academic writing, which can be dry and deter contribute to proves it scholarship, traditional to compared when and knowledge, of foundation accessible easily an as serves work Sacco’s faults, its without not While media. Goraz of enclave the on emphasis special with War, Bosnian the a of overview provides comprehensive work and sophisticated Sacco’s that argue will thesis This depictions. academic and popular both Safe area Gorazde Safe area eeks to contribute to a larger body of work that discusses the utility and function of the de and is above the level typically presented in traditional journalism and mass mass and journalism traditional in presented typically level the above is and de popular representations of the conflict in Bosnia, such as films, journalism, and journalism, films, as such Bosnia, in conflict the of representations

works such asworks such as a case study in order to illustrate these inorder study points. Batman nder the guise of entertainment as it is often sold in in sold often is it as entertainment guiseof the nder 3 Safe Area Safe

and has been previously written about the safe area area safe the about written previouslybeen has Sin City

offers a rival depiction and critique of critique and depiction rival a offers .

ative, ative, touches on the same

to a complete complete a to CEU eTD Collection voyeurism ordenying thehighly which within artificial stylizedmedium and they are created. in images the reality, representing or “real” as understood be to meant are that images producing than Rather events. traumatic film as such depictions, popular from comparisons and examples bring will chapter This War. Bosnian the of and final chapter will interrogate the way in which violence was accentuated in the representations common these of depiction its with par on be very a emphasizes Yugo conflict, the during emerged and that memory of kind particular account given any to brings memory that challenges the highlights t of representations in and conflict the in played memory that role the referencing the Holocaust which proves to be a major point of deviation. Chapter three will explore Unlike so m conflicts.previous of continuation a was war Bosnian the that implyingwithout so does but past, not distinction important are there past, the of references be will It discussion. that into demonstrated that while for part themost Sacco is able toillustrate the same fits important contextual work Sacco’s how and Yugoslavia, of dismembering Bosnia the discussing for framework a as used is history which in way the with and explain where Gorazde fits into the conversation about so m briefly I that, Safe Area Gorazde of author the on information background to devoted chapter a is introduction this follows What

illustrate. any academics, however, Sacco rightly avoids problematic pleas for legitimization by

in order to highlight the ethical way in which Sacco deals with graphic imagery and and imagerygraphic with deals Sacco which in way ethical the highlight to order in Safe Area ention the breakup of Yugoslavia and give context to the UN the to context give and Yugoslavia of breakup the ention , Joe Sacco, as well as the genre in which he writes, the graphic narrative. After

is is tactful in its contextual references to things such as Yugoslavia’s recent ae Area Safe themes in relation to the Bosnian War. The fourth The War. Bosnian the to relation in themes

4 eit reoe vns ihu ve without events gruesome depict

s to be made, for example, what Sacco does Sacco what example, for made, be to s - called safe areas. Chapter two deals - nostalgia. nostalgia. hat conflict. This chapter This conflict. hat Safe Area Safe - ordered safe areas safe ordered n War and the the and War n nturing into into nturing

proves to proves

CEU eTD Collection 2 1 1992 End: Profiles from Bosnia war: the of aspects different highlighting each threebook Saccopublished experiencesto Bosnia his people andabout andhe write the along encountered theway. “facts,” a clear pictu trained.” been had [he] which in journalism of style American the and journalists, American at furious “was he because was it about write expla Sacco Mitchell, W.J.T. with interview an In Soldiers. Israeli by killed were Palestinians 100 over where Rafah of city the in 1956 in incident of publication the with Palestine on work add eventually Sacco Award. Book American an received Said, Edward scholar literary late the by written introduction an with book, His Territories. Occupied the in life chronicles needed to create his large material the him gave also which Bosnia, then and East, Middle the in beginning assignment, on mid earlyand the In Oregon. Universityof Saccochild. graduatedaw still washe when States United the familyto his came and Sacco Malta,Originally journalism.”in born “comics calls he whatcreate to comics of medium the with craft his mix to learned has but trade by journalist a is Sacco Joe Information Background 1: Chapter

Joe Sacco Joe Ibid. Conversation,” “Public Mitchell, and Sacco -

1995

(2000). (2000). For his book

re re was still not visible.

st and most acclaimed works.

1995 - length comics about his experience in Bosnia during the mid Bosniaduringthe experience in his aboutlength comics

- Safe Area Gorazde 1996 (2005); and Critical Inquiry Inquiry Critical Footnotes in Gaza in Footnotes 2 -

1990’s, Sacco decided to take his journalistic training journalistic his take Saccodecidedto 1990’s, It was a similar compulsion that drove Sacco to travel 1

Sacco explained that even when people gave the the gave people when even that explained Sacco The Fixer: A Story from Sarajevo from Story A Fixer: The 5

Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia ined that his compulsion to go to Palestine and and Palestine to go to compulsion his that ined , Sacco rec 40, no.3 (Spring 2014): 54. no.3 (Spring2014): 40, Palestine

in 2009, in eived eived the Will Eisner Award. In ith a degree in journalism from thefrom journalism in degreea ith , one of his first graphic narratives, in whichin

he investigates an an investigates he

(2003);

ed to his his to ed - 1990’s, 1990’s, War’s The The CEU eTD Collection others he believes tospeakabout place.asked When who inhis often interviews who figure public very a is Sacco Fortunately, far a is narrative graphic the of genre the While therefore solely focus on will and them of all address to thesis this of scope the beyond is it and length in sizable is book While these works in combination undoubtedly offer a multifaceted view of the Bosnian War, each “eyewit an relaying still while discussed being events the contextualize to order tension orconflict. graphic inhis He then, blends narratives, history and memory thestory into in o goes Sacco similar. is of life in Bosnia during the war. In all of the mentioned works by Sacco, the process of production war the and PTSD be to appears what with struggles Soba soldier. follows a man ( s hometown. their protect to groups paramilitary formed they as Sarajevo in Muslims by perpetrated violence Muslim the joined Serb, a as who, anomaly an is Neven Sarajevo. hometown his of siege the specifically Fixer eparate stories, each published prior to being compiled into book form. The first story, “Soba,” “Soba,” story, first The form. book into compiled being to prior published each stories, eparate fare. All of Sacco’s work blend work Sacco’s of All fare. Sco olw a self a follows Sacco , Chomsky. That's part of it… My goal is to make those topics interesting. I want people to be interested like like interested be to people want I interesting. topics those make to is goal My it… of part That's Chomsky. top some inside getting of way a or it, telling of way a as medium the by intrigued of kind just they're and bit, little a know to want of sort but topic, the about anything know don't who people it's think I cases some In - oiae Gen ees i Berets Green dominated ic: Oh, it's a comic book about that, OK, I'll read that. They don't want to read Edward Said or Noam or Said Edward read to want don't They that. read I'll OK, that, about book comic a it's Oh, ic: War’s End named

Soba) Soba) in Sarajevo who is a local celebrity of sorts, championed as an artist is a bit different than Sacco’s other works on Bosnia. It is comprised of two n location and interviews people during or just after times of heightened of times after just or during people interviews and location n Safe Area Gorazde - rcamd eb ainls nmd ee a h rcut hs life, his recounts he as Neven named nationalist Serb proclaimed odr o eed i city. his defend to order n

word and image to give a robust portrayal of various aspects various of portrayal robust a give to image and word .

- 6 reaching one, its audience can only be surmised. be only can audience its one, reaching

slow transition away from a life of life a from away transition slow

his audience is, Sacco answered:his audience is,Sacco h Fixer The which

minimizes gives insight into the the into insight gives ness” account. ness”

the need for need the -

CEU eTD Collection 6 170. 2011): (May 5 http://www.stripovi.com/recenzije/null eighties. the late in nationalism of the vampireawakening to all Yugoslavia, in nationalities individual of consciousness national of suppression of and dictatorship Tito’s through side, Muslim and Croatian world second in thathappened crimes war,he cited of the clarifybackground to the needed 4 http://januaryma 3 a have which “graphic and novels,” histories.”’ “graphic art,” “sequential “pamphlets,” “periodicals,” ‘“floppies,” ty multiple and for names multiple are stories. tell to hieroglyphics and images between interplay an used who Egyptians, ancient the of writing me this of traces that suggested have Some segments. strip comic weekly and broadsheet the of advent the before even back reaches that history rich a have comics one: discussed. be can work beforehis defined and identified clearlybe must Saccoworkswhich in medium The Narrative Graphic Gorazde”great isa comic.” wri other byfledged criticisms negative some counter to attempt an in evidently author, online One Yugoslavia. former the in especially as a special edition on its 10 telling gauge isdifficult is to it thisbook,it that While thepopularity of

Sean Carleton, “Drawn to Change: Comics and Critical Consciousness,” Consciousness,” Critical and Comics Change: to “Drawn SeanCarleton, Genre,” Iconoclastic Evolution ofan The Graphics?: Novel or “GraphicNovels ElaineMartin, saying: continues by He Tuhus Rebecca 5 So, that's kind of the idea: I don't want to be boring. be want to don't I idea: kind that'sof the So, n their by comics think I and interested, I'm

As Sean Carleton notes in “Drawn to Change: Comics and Critical Consciousness,” there

The medium of comics, as well as the social critique that they often offer, is not a new new a not offer,is theyoften that critique social the as well as comics, of medium The 6

In “Graphic Novels or Novel Graphics?” Elaine Martin notes that “[c]omic books, “[c]omic that notes Martin Elaine Graphics?” Novel or Novels “Graphic In gazine.com/profiles/jsacco.html - seventy Dubrow, Joe Sacco, Sacco, Joe Dubrow,

“ - Sacco has invested a tremendous effort in researching historical materials that werematerials that historical researching effort in tremendous hasa invested Sacco year history in the US, introduced a new subgenre in the late 1970s: the 1970s: late the in subgenre new a introduced US, the in history year 4 th

The review and overall isthorough positive. anniversary. International acceptance is even more difficult to grasp,

January Interview Magazine Interview January - n - a - safe pes of comics. These types include but are not limited to: to: limited not are but include types These comics. of pes - ters, stated: “Let’s make it clear immediately, “Safe Area Area “Safe immediately, clear it “Let’smake stated: ters,

area - ature are entertaining, or they can be, or they should be, really. be, should they or be, can they or entertaining, are ature gorazde/191/ 7

, 2004 , , June , . 2003, 2003, Translated by Lana Krvopic Lanaby Translated Labour - Le Travail Le Safe Area Safe

dium are present in the the in present are dium

” war from the Serbian, wartheSerbian, from

Markos, Markos, 73 (n.d.): 51. (n.d.): 51. 73 The Comparatist The

was rereleased rereleased was .

35 CEU eTD Collection 456 2008): (March 9 8 7 nonfiction facilitated the emergence the of list” seller getting of task daunting the with struggled Pulit special a received Spiegelman work, his For meaning. of pigs, and Nazis as cats. Comics allowed Spiegelman to use fictitious depictions to add extra layers as Poles mice, as drawn were Jews book, the Throughout involved. groups various the represent of features notable most the of One used. be could comics of medium the which in ways diverse the demonstrated work his as followed, that cartoonists Auschwit at interned was who Jew Polish a was Vladek Vladek. father his and Spiegelman between conversation dimension. new a into comics opus, magnum Spiegelman’s Art lackluster performance peacekeepers, as arbitrary and qualities theofUS allows Sacco to be meaning that is found as the layers are exposed. The subversive capabilities of this genre profound hold but surface the on simple deceptively often are they as subversive, be to able is this layering and critical content that comics as a me serious topics or are aimed at an adult audience and present a socio narrative, “treat typically they multilayered and elements,” auto/biographical or include [auto]biography format… black/white characteristics common but widely, vary “[d]efinitions novel.” graphic

Hillary Chute, “Comics as Literature? Reading Graphic Narrative,” Narrative,” Reading Graphic Literature? as “Comics HillaryChute, 171. Ibid, No “Graphic Martin,

- 7 457.

vels or Novel Graphics?,” 170. Graphics?,” Novel or vels e Yr Times York New visibly critical of things like the exploitative tendencies of journalists, the UN’s s il e icse, h tr “rpi nvl cn e rbeai, and problematic, be can novel” “graphic term the discussed, be will As

z during the Holocaust. Holocaust. the during z

Maus Maus

. of comics as a medium to depict factual events as it improved 9

was originally a two a originally was hs ucsfl tuge o ae i wr rcgie as recognized work his have to struggle successful This (1986) is generally heralded as the work that launched launched that work the as heralded generally is (1986) Maus

Maus 8

“moved from the fiction to the nonfiction best nonfiction the to fiction the from “moved dium

a be a isiain o eeain of generations to inspiration an been has — Modern Language Association Language Modern - Maus and the graphic narrative as a genre part book that illustrated a long a illustrated that book part

- is the way Spiegelman chose to chose Spiegelman way the is e Pie n 1992, in Prize zer political critique.” - brokered deals.

123, no.2 123, 8

It is through but are

e also he

- what what term

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CEU eTD Collection war.Iraq 2003 untilup the fromcolonization endeavors empirical States post inup growing woman young 12 11 10 capabilities. create toits work such aspeaks well a That narratives. graphic their create to Oth skillsets. personal their medium to illustrate fiction. the use who cartoonists of that from Zinn Howard even and Spiegelman, Art Satrapi, Marjane comics.” of medium book “a is and fiction” than other modes “accommodate[s] it as accurate Watchmen is real very on touch to ability the have not do novels graphic that however, fiction. is work the that implies novel term the as misnomer” a often “is term “gra term the times Often Sacco. of work the categorize to use I what is narrative graphic the of definition Chute’s experiences in the medium of comics in order to give viewers/readers a nontraditional perspective. is narrative graphic of genre The narratives. those in transmitted to readers of graphic narratives as well as the way memory and trauma are is represented history way the interrogate to narratives graphic uses Chute Chute. Hillary scholar literary the by explored been primarily has academia in narrative graphic the of function The in 2000. the credibility of the genre. It is in the shadow of Spiegelman that Sacco wrote

Marjane Satrapi is the author of the popular graphic narrat graphic ofthe popular istheauthor Satrapi Marjane Ibid. 453. Ibid,

was adapted into a graphic narrative entitled entitled narrative graphic intoa wasadapted

or or fr Vendetta for V phic novel” is used to describe these kinds of works, but as Chute notes, this this notes, Chute as but works, of kinds these describe to used is novel” phic

t s hs itnto ta separat that distinction this is It ers like Howard Zinn, however, collaborated with illustrators in order in illustrators with collaborated however,Zinn, Howard like ers 12 - revolutionary Iran; in 2010 Howard Zinn’s in2010 Iran; revolutionary

. Instead, Chute argues that the term “graphic narrative” is more more is narrative” “graphic term the that argues Chute Instead, .

To be sure, many authors use the medium of comics because it suits A People’s History of American Empire American of History People’s A

- established historian such as Zinn would elect to to elect would Zinn as such historian established 9

ive - turned film turned

increasingly employed to recreate lived lived recreate to employed increasingly s h wrs f ac ad tes like others and Sacco of works the es Persepolis A People’s History of the United United the of History People’s A , which details her lifeher as a details which , , wh , - 10 egh ok n the in work length Safe Area Gorazde

sues, for example for sues, This is not to say, to not is This ich chronicles ichchronicles work of of work CEU eTD Collection 47. 1996), Press, Chicago of University (Chicago: 15 14 50. 2011): (October 13 like murder, rape, and genital mutilation. What Sacco must decide is how to portray such acts For example, Sacco interviews people who have witnessed horrific acts of violence and aggression what is portrayed in graphic narrative is tr of Much nature. in sensitive is content the when especially shown, be can what and said be can telling.” and showing discourse, and display sayable, t between relation the division this call might We representations, symbols. and presentations, of experience human the in division basic “a is relationship this that argues W.J.T. of w Mitchell, work the referencing without discussed be cannot narrative graphic of genre The circulated, then wereconsumed, and reproduced. illustrations His Bosnia. affected Yugoslavia of breakup the that way use Tomsky that example the is Sacco trauma. and memory with original an from historical andgeographical andpropelled context across place and time” uprooted are they as ideas of reformulation and reception the “describe[s] framework.” material a within occur always must memory of movement “the as economy” “trauma a creating decrease or increase can events traumatic of representations how discusses Tomsky Terri academic scholarship. traditional against work Sacco’s of historicity the tests that work little is there but Several authors have used Sacco’s work

15 Ibid. Economy,” the and Trauma 9/11: Memory to Travelling Sarajevo “From Tomsky,Terri

W.J.T. Mitchell, “Word and Image” in Image” and in “Word Mitchell, W.J.T.

n hi worth their in ho has written extensively about the relationship between word and image. Mitchell image. and word between relationship the about extensively written has ho 13

In order to frame this argument, Tomsky uses Said’s “travelling theory” “travelling Said’s uses Tomsky argument, this frame to order In

— oeay r otherwise or monetary

Crit ical Terms for Art History for Terms ical as an example of what the graphic narrative is capable of, aumatic aumatic and can easily cross the line of appropriateness.

— s hy irt fo pae o lc, thus place, to place from migrate they as 15

Indeed, there is a fine line between what between line fine a is there Indeed, , Robert S. Nelson and Richard Shiff, Richard and Nelson S. Robert , s, as he illustrated the traumatic traumatic the illustrated he as s, 14

bysubstituting “ideas” Parallax he seeable and the the and seeable he

17, no. no. 4 17, which — in CEU eTD Collection 18 17 16 introducing complex ideas and individuals, such as the highly revered but difficult to comprehend U.S. of history the from ranging books becomingfarandmoreexpanding graphicis the of genreCurrently, the unanswer addresses as well as academia, of world the in Sacco receptionof the to insight givestremendous which work, his about Sacco interviewed recently Mitchell War. Bosnian the of representation the page and through isa time major cont acrossreader the move that images and words of presentation The spectacle. and betweenspeech relationship this of off thrives it because dynamic, so narrative graphic of genre the make what complimentary or contradictory and free to change at any given moment. The another.” to level conceptual one from itself “a really is image and t dialectical word that argues Mitchell images. and words between relationship the theorized extensively has he as narratives, graphic of studies in referenced often is work it use and Mitchell W.J.T. of work the upon draw will I image, and word between relationship the of understanding better a get To it. submerge his readers into Gorazde, as it was when he and his characters/interviewees experienced listener the making enables the authors to “[show] while [they] tell, illustrating [their] claims with powerful examples, word

Mitchell and Sacco, “Public Conversation,” 54. Conversation,” “Public Sacco, Mitchelland 53. Ibid, 49 Ibid

, image, or both. Graphic narrative allows for a blending of speech and spectacle which which spectacle and speech of blending a for allows narrative Graphic both. or image, , - 50.

ed questionsregarding methods and approaches Sacco’s work. tohis

rope because it resists stabilization as a binary opposition, shifting and transforming and shifting opposition, binary a as stabilization resists it because rope see

n nt merely not and

to analyze the visual component of Sacco’s work. Mitchell’s work. Sacco’s of component visual the analyze to ributing factor as towhy Sacco’swork isan exceptional - hear ide at eain, o sre o bos ie at aimed books of series a to relations, East Middle 17

The relationship between word and image can be can image and word between relationship The h oao’ point. orator’s the 11

T ruh ois Sco can Sacco comics, hrough - reaching than ever.With than reaching se characteristics are 18

CEU eTD Collection Intervention, International and Conflict Ethnic Bosnia: 21 Post a Claimsin 20 Cobley,Paul 2004); Ltd., ChrisHorrocks, 2014); Hero, Made (London: Self FiliuB., David and Pierre 1773 Part One: Relations, East Middle and US of History A Enemies: 19 peacekeepers 34,000 of total a that estimated was It intervention. international in effectiveness b has areas safe these of implementation The grabs.land for targets prime as seenwere enclaves these as majoritypopulation, Muslim the western region,border the near of Croatia. Thewas hope thathaving safe areas wouldkeep intact Tuz of exception the with Serbia, of border the to close relatively Bosnia Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Foca, Tuzla, Bihac, and Gorazde. All of the safe areas were located in eastern under the prot placed be would that havens safe or areas safe six of total a declared Nations United the 1993 In of whichto conflict“safe ledtothecreation areas.” andexpulsions, to their territorial ambitions. Milošević independence from the federation. During this time “the Serbian and Croatian presidents, Slobodan of Yugoslav nations began to break apart. In 1991 Slovenia federation the figure unifying and strong a of absence the With ensued. vacuum power a 1980 in Wh The B aids. visualof abundance an of help with the semiotics, of concept the waythe to all FoucaultMichael

For a thorough analysis of the breakup of Yugoslavia as it pertains to Bosnia, see Burg and Burg see Bosnia, to as itpertains ofYugoslavia breakup ofthe thorougha analysis For The Duijzings, Ger and Helms Elissa Bougarel, Xavier moreinfor For speak. to so iceberg, ofthe is the just tip This en Josep “Tito” Broz, the leader of Communist Partisans during WWII and of Yugoslavia, died 19

reakup of Yugoslavia and C and Yugoslavia of reakup

and Franjo Tu ection of the United Nations Protection Force, or UNPROFOR. These areas included - WarSociety

Introducing Semiotics: A Graphic Guide Graphic A Semiotics: Introducing Best of Enemies: A History of US and Middle East Relations, Part Tw East Relations, Middle and US of History A Enemies: of Best ᵭ , (Surrey: Ashgate, 2007), 4. 2007), Ashgate, (Surrey: , man repectively, were contemplating the partition of Bosnia as a solution ” 20

These ambitions of division left some areas particularly vulnerable overage of Gorazde of overage Introducing Foucault: A Graphic Guide A Graphic Foucault: Introducing een the cause of heavy critique of the UN and its its and UN the of critique heavy of cause the een (London: M.E. Sharpe, 1999). Sharpe, (London: M.E. 12 New Bosnian Mosaic: Identities, Memories and Moral Moral and Memories Identities, Mosaic: Bosnian New

mation,Jean see , (London: Icon Books Ltd., 2010). Ltd., Books (London: Icon , - , 1953

Croatia,

, (London: Self Made Hero, 2012); Jean 2012); Hero, Made (London: Self , - Pierre Filiu and David B., B., David and Filiu Pierre 21 and Macedonia asserted their

(Royston: Icon Books Books Icon (Royston: la, which was in the in was which la,

Shoup, o: 1953 o: The War in in War The

- 1984 Best of of Best

- CEU eTD Collection 23 86. 22 use diff Gorazde is also mentioned in the works of Danielle Sremac, Steven Burg and Paul Shoup, as they present Sacco’swork. in observe framing thetrend of their“clash ofcivilizations”attitude, work ina something not thatis Bosnia the of nature controversial the of representative also are Ahmed and Khan of works The points. their argue to tool a as it use merely but city the on focus not zones.” as an example of the incompetence and “utter failure” of the United Nations and their alleged “safe of indif the rest of Europe and the “West” because of their religion and that there has long been an attitude by ignored or forgotten been have Muslims Bosnian that argument his up build to only Gorazde Bosnian the duringintercede to “West” the failureof overall the but Gorazde discuss to not goalis main whose articles larger or conflict, the about report that articles newspaper short are Gorazde mention that writings the of Most areas, safe other resulting ofliterature amount about inaminimal written the over shadow long a cast events significant very two These Srebrenica. ethno various between coexistence Sarajevo and Srebrenica. The siege of Sarajevo was seen an unravelling of lon enclaves. numbe that would be needed to protect all six areas successfully. The UN secretary general, however, lowered

Ibid, 83. Ibid, ACritique,” Crisis: Bosnian in Role the UN’s “The Ahmed, Zulfiqar Sheila

ference directed at Muslims in the Balkans. Similarly, Sheila Zulfiqar Ahmed uses Gorazde 23 erent interpretations of the same events to explain what transpired in Bosnia in the 1990’s.

22 Like ofthe most publications that mention theenclave ofGorazde, these twoarticles do

r to 17,000. But in reality only a mere 1,200 peacekeepers were sent to protect the the protect to sent were peacekeepers 1,200 mere a only reality in But 17,000. to r While each safe area was significant, attention and coverage was primarily given to given primarily was coverage and attention significant, was area safe each While

- eiiu gop, hl gncd ws eptae in perpetrated was genocide while groups, religious War. For example, Mujeeb R. Khan briefly touches upon upon touchesbriefly Khan R. Mujeeb example, For War. 13

these other areas. theseareas. other Pakistan Horizon Pakistan n conflict, as they both they as conflict, n

gtime tolerance and

51 (April 1998): (April 1998): 51 CEU eTD Collection what hehas done. breakup and the Bosnian War. However, it will be made clear that intentions aside, this is precisely bibliography, that hedidnotintend Saccocomments tocreatecomplete a history ofYugoslavia’s accu and detail to attention meticulous with War Bosnian the with general. He devotes over 200 pages to showing his readers the history, conflict, and ways of coping in War Bosnian the to window a be to proves Gorazde of area safe the on microscope Sacco’s war. the of duration the throughout haven safe the of analysis complete and thorough a produce to fail even more opposite, almost different, with but there, such as the NATO airstrikes and what led to them. Burg and Shoup place use the took same that information, events the of some recounts and example an as Gorazde uses briefly she point, th of support the win to information manipulated had who Muslims, In

War of Words

- handed account of what happened in Gorazde from March to April of 1994, but still but 1994, of April to March from Gorazde in happened what of account handed , , Sremac argues that the US was overly eager to intercede on behalf of the Bosnian

interpretations in interpretations 14

The War in Bosnia in War The racy. In the introduction to the to introduction the In racy. e US and UN. To argue this this argue To UN. and US e . They attempt to give a a give to attempt They . CEU eTD Collection 27 26 25 24 anddeepergivecontext meaning. hischaracters to history on heavily relies Sacco War, Bosnian the represent to attempt who authors other Like ye accurate historically the this genre, Sacco has taken notice of this potential of comics and has used the medium to strive for engagement.” ethical to aspires comics that circumstance historical of framed, self its through representation… of limits the of awareness “an possesses narrative graphic asserts, picture. complete a build to order in together seamlessly future and present past, present to ability the invention.” creative of opposite the not is accuracy mass to appeal an with experimentation formal combine that history writing for possibilities new to led has image and word between compounding the that “suggest[s] Chute Hillary scholar literary relationship, this and Mitchell listener the making have the ability to show and tell simultaneously by “illustrating its claims with powerful examples, “relatio textual is a “division in the human experience of representations, presentations and symbols,” or a the and visual the between relationship the that remarks Mitchell W.J.T. Image” and “Word In C

Ibid, 457. Ibid, 459. Narrative,” Reading Graphic Literature? “Comics as Chute, 49 ibid, original, in Emphasis Imag and “Word Mitchell, hapter 2: Use, Misuse, and Representations of History of Representations and Misuse, Use, 2: hapter n between the seeable and the sayable.” This ability stems from the interplay between word and image. Additionally, as Chute Chute as Additionally, image. and word between interplay the from stems ability This

- conscious, bimodal form; yet it is precisely this insistent, a see

e,” 47. 47. e,” and not merely not and - 50. t creative representation of difficult events in contemporary history. history. contemporary in events difficult of representation creative t

hear readerships. Graphic narrative suggests that historical historical that suggests narrative Graphic readerships.

the orator’s point.” orator’s the 24 15

When placed together, visual and textual content

Comics, more than any other medium, has medium, other any than more Comics,

Building off of the work of work the of off Building 27 ffective, ffective, urgent visualizing

Like other cartoonists in cartoonists other Like

CEU eTD Collection ( state” national power greater 29 28 wereandeasily preyed manipulated upon. creat was religion or ethnicity. After Tito passed away, and begancommunism to crumble, a power vacuum on based one not and one Yugoslav a was pushed he that identity the since situation, better awas book his in interviews Sacco that Bosnians the including agree,Manyfriends neighbors. andwith relationships of formation the irrelevantto Gorazde was purposefully “mobilized [through] identity groups”. it rather, but events, past from progression natural a nor unique neither was 1990’s the in conflict neighbors showing attempting toprot By hatreds.” “ancient of history a imply not does depiction this history, its and Bosnia about written been has what of most unlike However, rapes. and deportations this from Scenes Chetniks. the and groups began to form based on ethnic and nationalistic sentiments, primarily the Ustasha, how Partisans and WWII during occurred that violence the of some of overview an gives briefly Sacco weremadeevident way factorsconflict, including: that for thorough account of the events that transpired in Bosnia during the break Like most countries, Bosnia’s history do

Burg and Shoup argue that “The essence of ethnic conflict is the struggle be the struggle is conflict ofethnic essence “The argue that Shoup Burgand Shoup, Burgand pattern of settlement that lends itself only too easily to secession or partition; and the existence of outside su outside or sponsorship of existence the and partition; or secession a to easily territory; too only over itself lends authority that settlement to arrangements of pattern claims political exclusivist competing, existing of existence of the behaviors; inadequacy their the constraining and power, to forces nationalists zero a as competition intergroup contemporary antagonism; intergroup of history a

ed in Yugoslavia that provided an environment where the fears of the Yugoslav people people Yugoslav the of fears the where environment an provided that Yugoslavia in ed that recount memories from before conflict broke out, and markers of identity were were identity of markers and out, broke conflict before from memories recount that — The WarBosnia in The whether it be for equality within an existing state, or the establishment of a fully independent fullya independent of the establishment or state, existing withinan equalityfor whetherit be The War in Bosnia in War The ect other, and each their confusion them,Sacco over turnagainst showsthatthe

pport for extremist for politics. pport - Herzegovina

- Herzegovina a pattern of ethnic domination and/or inequality; the perception of of perception the inequality; and/or domination ethnic of pattern a chapter include the slitting of throats, mass murders, murders, mass throats, of slitting the include chapter es not lack conflict. According to Burg and Shoup in their , 4). ,

, that living under the communist leader Marshall Tito leader Marshall communist the under living that , , 4 28 -

5. - sum game; an game; sum 16

This is evident i

electoral triumph or other change that brings brings that change other or triumph electoral tween mobilized identity groupsfor identity mobilized tween -

up up of Yugoslavia, there n panels from

for moderating or or moderating for Safe Area CEU eTD Collection life under Yugoslavia Tito incommunist theconflict 1990s,which are tocontextualize ofthe Early onin Figure 1

Sacco, 21. Safe Area Gorazde

, Sacco makes a point to review the events of World War II War review to World , Saccoand athe events of makes point 17

CEU eTD Collection 30 played people by onthefearsrecallinggenocide of of the images andcleansing ethnic form called thepast justify outto to their action andtheBill UnitedStates. Groups Clinton within BosniaYugoslav former also and other nations history“ancient hatreds.”was ofviolence orThisargument non usedtojustify lookbackSome Balkan tothe first their Wars as argument for proof thatt onlyauthors,as however, SaccoWWII. reaches asback far mainstreamrepresenting trends theBosnianand ofWar for arguing importance. its Unlikeother popular work: theBy Holocaust. Holo notreferencing the reference thatevent hasseemingly toamajorthenotable most trope inscholarly become and causedvictimhood aggression.Interestingly, by Serb islacking however, Sacco’s work version of that thewar readers Saccoillustratestohis (and istold therefore all sideswereguilty.equally was enclave, Givena predominantly thatGorazde the Muslim these refe character at victimhood emphasizes Muslim the hands aggressors. Edin ofChetnik(Serb) What suggestillustrations thatallsideswereguilty ofatrocious actsalthough WWII, during main his second world istoreadfrom war t Bosnian war[the] sort wasof ofspontaneous theinter continuation some allegedcan continuity athat “to dangerousas be assumption, suppose Noelthat Malcolmwarns establish a line ofcontinuity and between thatconflict theone t Safe Area a topics heavilyreferenced inthe wealth about the ofliteraturebreakup thatexists of Yugoslavia s well as the Bosnians well as thespecifically. War Sacco’sreferences toWWII,as as thecharacters well in

Noel Malcolm, Malcolm, Noel rences toWWIIsuggest thatthe donotis samewas thing again happening that in

through Sacco’smediation, acommon divergetrend inliterature from to thatseeks Bosnia: A Short A History Bosnia:

he script prepared by prepared andKaradzic he script Milosevic.” , (Washington Squa (Washington , s ortogainForexample, Serb support. nationals 18

re: New York University Press, 1996), 252. 1996), Press, NewUniversity York re: caust Sacco breaks fromcaust the breaks Sacco

hat erupted in the 1990’s. This hat erupted - he Balkanshe havea ethnic fightingethnic ofthe ) focuses onMuslim - intervention by 30

Sacco’s

CEU eTD Collection 32 717. 2008): 31 appealgraphicthe genre that characterizes of narrative. mass the retaining still while war the of nuances simplifi subtle the represents successfully work Sacco’s apparent the despite However, digestible. and accessible more therefore and simplifiedsurfacethe on image,are andthey interplayword the between yetof because scholars, Gorazde. It will be demonst in life and War Bosnian the contextualize to order in work his in references historical certain using from refrains and uses Sacco which in ways the compare and explore will chapter This andparticularly mixed well enjoyed a rich Saccoopposite. of “[s]ome statesBosnia’s that cities, likethe larger capitalSarajevo, were argument been infact, thatBosniaviolence riddledwithand a hatred, hedoes history has of the other Balkan were peoplesallegedly theland. that “native” to ‘alien and‘Muslims’, ‘Ottomans’ Turks’, incontrast” as categories synonymous to thatstood escalating Croatia,and Bosnia, Kosovoinvariably images tensionsacross combined Serbia of arguesLegacy“The Ottoman article inhis inSouth the Ottoman what resul WWII Croats andMuslims. todemonize Probably inorder the

Joe Sacco, Joe inSouth Legacy Ottoman“The Hajdarpasic, Edin

ted inthebrea Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992 Bosnia War Eastern The in Gorazde: Area Safe - Turkish legacy, and were the last remnants of foreign oppression. Edin HajdarpasicTurkish offoreign legacy,and lastremnants were the oppression.

kup of Yugoslavia argument waswere the thatMuslims of theinheritors rated that Sacco’s references and use of history are on par with credible

and often touted spirit oftolerance.”and touted spirit often - eastern Europe,” Europe,” eastern 19

- easternEurope,” the1990 that“[s]ince -

1995 Middle Eastern Studies Eastern Middle , (Seattle: Fantagraphic (Seattle: , 31

most common use ofhistory common most in

Sac co does not make not co the does

44, no. 5 (September 5 no. 44, 32 s Books, 2000) 19. 2000) sBooks,

cation, ’s,

CEU eTD Collection 35 3. 1996), Press, University York (New New York: 34 33 by this does He Bosnians. of memories the in intact remained therefore and addressed properly not and traumatic were WWII of events the rather but WWII, of extension an was War Bosnian to meant be to seem WWII to references Sacco’s of purpose primary The II.” War in World “extraordinarybetweenbloodlettingthem the despite less peacefully or more He is Sacco that theconflictworst wasEurope thing the tohappen since to WWII. d he on, early WWII references Sacco Although WWII. from separate right, own its in important is building, post to related conflicts the of rest the as well as War, Bosnian The studies. seem important, and therefore, legitimate their War Bosnian the make to attempts scholar’s in heavily too on relied and overemphasized been have they century, twentieth the of half latter the during Europe in conflict substantial most the II.” War World Although these statements may be true, since as the conflict surrounding the breakup Europe in unmatched barbarism of form “a exuded conflict the that Si II.” War World since Europe in conflict deadly most “the was it that emphasizing by 1990’s Post a in Claims Moral and Memories Identities, Mosaic: Like so many authors who writ W The

Sacco, Sacco, Mestrovic, StjepanG. and Cushman Thomas al., et Bougarel milarly, the authors of of authors the milarly, states that it was somewhat of a miracle that Serbs, Muslims and Croats had lived together together lived had Croats and Muslims Serbs, that miracle a of somewhat was it that states or Safe Area Gorazde Area Safe too uses too st thing to Happen on European S onEuropean Happen to st thing oes not mimic the sentiments of those who wish to stress the severity by lamenting by severitythe stress to wish who those of sentiments the mimic not oes The New Bosnian Mosaic, Mosaic, New Bosnian The WWII as a starting point for the explanation and depiction of the Bosnian War. War. Bosnian the of depiction and explanation the for point starting a asWWII

,20. This Time We Knew: Western Responses to Genocide in Bosnia in Genocide to Responses Western Knew: We Time This

e about the breakup of Yugoslavia, the editors of 5.

This Time We Knew: Western Responses to Genocide in Bosnia in Genocide to WesternResponses Knew: WeTime This

own research interests in the obscure field of Balkan oil S oil 20

ince World WarWorld II ince - War Society War

discuss the conflict of the of conflict the discuss

emphasize not that the that not emphasize of Yugoslavia was - Yugoslav nation Yugoslav The New Bosnian

claim , 35 34 33 -

CEU eTD Collection 39 38 Duij Ger and Elissa Helms Bougarel, in Bosnia,” 37 36 narratives aDuijzingsfocusing historyargues“from on by below.” that author’s aim is to coun 1990’s the of war the during conflict facilitated memorialization and commemoration done” have from mythsstraight nationalist causation to of line a drawing “avoid to careful is He Turks. or Muslims, with conflicts past their “romanticized” war m and history of use the with deals Srebrenica,” “Commemorating entitled volume scholarly edited the In broad,generic,Edin and family.and his or scenes thatare specific to wa the of scenes between seamlessly alternate to able is Sacco Additionally, themselves. align always not do two the as happened, have to perceived was what and happened violence du of target main the were Muslims that asserts who Edin is it but sides, all on fighting found be who comments on the miracle of “tolerance” after WWII, making sure to note that Muslims could alternating narrative voices between his own, a

Ibid, 145. Ibid, 143. Ibid, Eastern in Memory of the and Politics ofViolence Histories Srebrenica: “Commemorating Duijzings, Ger 22. Ibid, - on ona Sm eape ta te uhr oce uo ae h wy i wih Serbs which in ways the are upon touches author the that examples Some Bosnia. torn ‘consumption’ in their own communities. own their in ‘consumption’ for politicians and journalists historians, by produced narratives by underpinned is which war the perceive post of characteristics the of One

The New Bosnian Mosaic: Identities, Memories, and Moral Claims in a Post a in Claims Moral and Memories, Identities, Mosaic: Bosnian New The

37 ring WWII. . This article deals heavily with the history and memory of WWII specifically, as itsas specifically, WWII of memory and history the with heavilydeals article This .

ter ter the oversimplification of WWII that is generally employed in nationalist 36

In this way there is a distinction in the flow of information between what

zings eds. (Surrey: Ashgate, 2007): 142. 2007): Ashgate, (Surrey: zingseds. The New Bosnian Mosaic Bosnian New The - war Bosnia is that there is a wide gap in terms of how Muslims and Serb and Muslims how of terms in gap wide a is there that is Bosnia war 39

nd nd that of Edin, his guide and translator. It is Sacco 21

ethnic violence and genocide, authors ethnic as violenceand some , the chapter by coeditor Ger Duijzings Ger coeditor by chapter the ,

- War Society War emory in pre in emory r (WWII) that are that (WWII) r , Xavier Xavier , - war and war 38 The . s CEU eTD Collection 40 equation an imply “to intend not did and Holocaust” one only was there “that clear it make they follow a trend of using references the to asHolocaust a tool of contextualization and legitimation, of tool a were it if as legitimization. reactions, and events both comparing Holocaust, the to refer repeatedly to quick are Mestrovic and Cushman War. Bosnian the contextualizing and discussing been also has Holocaust the WWII, from separately Appearing isH “Never again” 1990’s couldwork readhis foundation andsolid of walk knowledge. awaywitha re a depictions, his in history uses Sacco which in way the of Because other. the of continuation a is conflict one that implying without so does he but readers, his for conflict the contextualize to Bosnia 1990’s. the in Muslims Bosnian of way, the suffering of Serbs during WWII is equated with and seen as a justification for the suffering 1990’s is conflation between the two conflicts and viewing them and one continuous event. In this c and imagery for WWII using of risk The equated. almost is suffering their where attempting to overcorrect the depiction of Serbs as aggressors and Muslims as victims, to the point crit One 1990’s. the of War Bosnian the of sense make to perceived is it way the and WWII on heavily relies Duijzings or lack of, may influenced have inthe behavior 1990’s. t recounts He Bosnia. within unity for potential the complicate depictions and memories conflicting These

Cushman and Mestrovic, Mestrovic, and Cushman he atrocities committed by various sides during WWII and how their commemoration, commemoration, their how and WWII during sides various by committed atrocities he 40 ader who has no prior knowledge of the region or the events that took place in the the placein took that events the or regionthe of knowledge prior no has who ader

They use a polarizing comparison appening A appening

ique that can be made of Duijzings’ work is that it often seems that he is he that seems often it that is work Duijzings’ of made be can that ique This Time WeKnew Time This

gain

Similarl

, 6. ,

y, Sacco relies on WWII and the recent history of of history recent the and WWII on relies Sacco y, 22

of knowing versus not knowing. Although they

a heavily evoked theme when when theme evoked heavily a

ontext in the in ontext CEU eTD Collection 1991 Disunion, European a of Studies WesternBalkans: the Hayden, M. Robert genocide. of term burdensome and damaging fromthe theconflict absolve 43 Inte of Institute Affairs(Royal Appeasement,” of Crime The “Bosnia: Vulliamy, Ed camp. concentration Omarska the at particularly 42 41 1945 and 1941 between that notes Hayden times Multiple 1990’s. the and 1940’s the in conflict refere continual Hayden’s is striking most is What conflicts. two the comparing constantly by argument own his undermines inadvertently Hayden WWII, occurred. actually “genocide” con never Hayden although 1990’s, the in place took what than genocide to closer had been abused in political and journalistic rhetoric and that in fact the conflict in the 1940’s was Hayden, the acts that most to According 1990’s. the and 1940’s the in conflict the between comparison the and occurred it not or whether “genocide”and term the of use the with concerned primarily is Hayden prophecy. War the term “genocide” was used too liberally and often and c Bosnian the during that postulates Hayden War. Bosnian the and Holocaust the of conflation the against argue to point a makes Hayden M. Robert different, somewhat is reasoning his Although attitudes towards theBosnian suffering the Musli of their for US the and Europe, UN, the on guilt place to order in Appeasement,” of Crime The Guardian Vulliamy, Ed other. the than important more was one that suggest time same at the twoevents, connectionbetween the readers but themselves. the Theytheirtomake implore between the g

Hayden instead refers to mass targeted killings, especially Srebrenica, as mass killings or massacres in order to to inorder massacres mass killingsas or Srebrenica, especially killings, targeted mass to refers Haydeninstead place, weretaking thethat events describe to pogrom” “Serbian and solution” “final like phrases uses Vulliamy 7. Ibid,

during the Bosnian war, also used imagery from the Holocaust in his article “Bosnia: “Bosnia: article his in Holocaust the from imagery used also war, Bosnian the during enocide enocide in Bosnia and the Holocaust.”

rnational Affairs 1944 Affairs rnational

closely resembled “genocide” in the 1990’s occurred only after the term

In order to discourage the use of the trope of the Holocaust and Holocaust the of trope the of use the discourage to order In - )

74 (January 1998): 73 (January 1998): 74 23

- 2011 41 ms. nces to the number of casualties of both the both of casualties of number the to nces

By doing so, they unintentionally contradict , (Leiden, Brill Publishers, 2013), 138 2013), Publishers, (Leiden,Brill , 42

ontributed to a sort of self - 91.

From Yugoslavia to to Yugoslavia From a reporter for for reporter a International International - ee that cedes 141. - fulfilling fulfilling

the CEU eTD Collection 45 44 Bosnianthe natureof distinct the emphasized Saccohas Holocaust, the to Byreferences omitting severity the is War Bosnian of the stressing in Holocaust the on heavily so rely To entities. separate as form to began nations the Holocaust compared to genocidal events that took place as Yugoslavia broke apart and distinct co is event catastrophic onewhen itself of manifests importancethat ranking and suffering of hierarchy a is There Mestrovic. and Cushman Hayden, of works the in example for arise that problems the avoided has Sacco Holocaust, the referencing not By genocides and masskillings are lesse other of severitythe time same the at while reaffirmed is Holocaust the of “specialness” the then Holocaust the to comparable is nothing If Holocaust. the to comparable be ever will or ever can the with readers leaves it because futile is comparison this intentions, of which to measure all genocide and ethno/national/religious conflict. Even if invoked with the best hi uses Hayden attention” which paid it ispresumed to tobe unwarranted. “greater the on comments and conflicts two the of “lesser” the as War Bosnian the of casualties n greater and numbers on 1941 in places killed Hayden those of that percentages stress The Bosnia. of history recent the in killed and 1995. and 1992 years the between 100,000 approximately and killed, were people 300,000 roughly

Ibid, 138. Ibid, 139. Ibid, 44

These statistics are statistics These umbers of dead deserve a greater amount of emphasis and importance. He refers to the to refers He importance. and emphasis of amount greater a deserve dead of umbers

story as a means of comparison to imply that the Holocaust is the yardstick with yardstick the is Holocaust the that imply to comparison of means a as story

typically used to emphasize the number of Serbs who were targeted were who Serbs of number the emphasize to used typically

to almost suggestto almost that thelatter isinsignificant the former. without - ned. ned. 95 oprd o hs kle i 1992 in killed those to compared 1945

mpared to another, for example another,for to mpared impression that nothing that impression - 95 mle that implies 1995 CEU eTD Collection two juxtaposes Sacco offensive. ’94 the in role his recounts Edin section another In narration. of flow established disruptingthe without past the into flashback aaudience the show films waythe similarlyto reads representation styleof This events. actual the as well storyas his telling Edin’s thi employs WWII from scenes recounting is Edin, translator, Sacco’s where chapter The eyes. their before unfold events watching reader the to reader, the at right looking characters the between alternates Sacco example, For about. event the experiencing time same the at and conversation the for present being like somewhat is It black background. white a a with with depicted depicted is present always the is while background past the as reader, the to obvious made is distinction The to their experiences aftermath. inits months ago. The characters in of actions and consequences, as the past certainly influences the present; even if that past was only images, because many times they are unexpected. In ano can discomfort the disorientation increase This time. in fluctuation constant a to unaccustomed certainly almost are r the disorients it sense, Ina functions. multiple serves timeframe nonlinear a of use their experiences in m the that way same the in their time through of forth and back reader the move backbone to able are any, if few, the analysis, and representation as history use War Bosnian the about written pieces many Although H Visualizing p own its deserves and representation. right own its in significant is it that suggested as well as War istory

Safe Area Safe

and impact and edium of comics enables Sacco to do so. As his interlocutors recount recount interlocutors his As so. do to Sacco enables comics of edium , the reader is carried back past iscarried , thereader forth andpresent. This and between Safe Area

the reader experiences when exposed to some of the horrific the of some to exposed when experiences reader the

alternate between recounting their experiences in the war s type of depiction. The reader is given scenes of both of scenes given is reader The depiction. of type s 25

ther sense ,

it it serves as a constant indicator that the conversation is conversation the that eader as they they as eader roper roper

CEU eTD Collection Figure the reader thepresent. boththe past and in 1994duringIn freezinggiven snow. theoffensive, Sacco inthe winter one image seamless has In a small box Edin can be seen facing forward as he t story. this telling is who Sacco, not and Edin, is it that illustrate to frame same the within images 2 : Sacco, 162.

alks while the larger image shows Edin back

CEU eTD Collection Area Additionally, deserve. they attention proper the get to order in Holocaust the of coattails the on in ushered be to need not do and right own their in significant are Yugoslavia of breakup the Rather, again.” happening is again “never that t that proven has Sacco matter, the in interests their legitimize to order in trope a as Holocaust the overemphasize or abuse to manyWhile writeauthors about who the breakup of Yugoslavia War areBosnian and the content Conclusion Figure ’s use of the past to contextualize the present rivals that of academic works, yet avoids avoids yet works, academic of that rivals present the contextualize to past the of use ’s 3 : Sacco, 22

he Bosnian War can be discussed without evoking a sense of guilt of sense evokinga without discussed be can War Bosnian he Safe Area Safe 27

demonstrates that the Bosnian War and and War Bosnian the that demonstrates Safe Safe

CEU eTD Collection genregraphic ofiscapable narrative of. ent and fresh a gives image and word between interplay The present. the to relationship past’s the of depiction effective an in employedframe time nonlinear the Finally, 1990s. the during conflict f blame absolve would that conflict of continuity a implying ertaining representation of the Bosnian War and alludes to what the the what to alludes and War Bosnian the of representation ertaining

rom those who participated in the in participated who those rom Safe Area Safe

contributes to contributes CEU eTD Collection 64. 1995) Press, HopkinsUniversity Johns The (Baltimore: Caruth 48 47 46 form. from initial its the realityactual ofthe events.” the more distorted it becomes in the survivor’s conception of it, so much so that the survivor doubts adver becan then the memory corrupted by traumatic experiences. Dori Laub argues that if a traumatic memory is unarticulated, account. into taken be must and occur corruption of degrees varying must be articulated and brought from the interior to the exter study memory they are studying what is inside the mind, as it is remembered; however, memories scholars When vocalized. is memory awhen occurs that corruptionthe is memory subjectivityof with Coupled subjective. inherently is it as “untruthful” or unreliable as seen be can memory memory. of conceptions different yield approaches different as regulated, memory as a discipline not is notes, Cubitt Geoffrey As events. traumatic by influenced memory especially memory, of use the with connection in arise that discrepancies and problems many are There controversial. and and legitimacy. credibility its undermine as well as history to asset an both be can Memory knowledge. historical of body a build to use many that sources the of foundation the is memory yet, And It is often said that memory is fleeting. Memory is subjective. Memory can be fickle an a Narrative Create to Memory Using 3: Chapter

Dori Laub, “Truth and Testimony: The Process and the Struggle,” in in the and Struggle,” Process The Testimony: Laub,“Truth and Dori Ibid, Cubitt, Geoffrey 96.

In academia, the use of memory as a as memory of use the academia, In History and Memory and History

yet standardized, and as a result is rather amorphous and not always

sely affected. She states that “[t]he longer the story remains untold, story longerremains thatthe untold, “[t]he affected. She states sely 48

, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2007), 2 2007), Press, University Manchester (Manchester: , Memory, ifleft unarticulated, be can altered o 29

base

of knowledge can be somewhat contested contested somewhat be can knowledge of

ior. During this process of articulation, Trauma: Explorations in Memory Memory in Explorations Trauma:

eoy a as be also can Memory 46

- With good reason, good With 3. r even deteriorate

d unreliable. ed. Cathy ed. the CEU eTD Collection 51 174. 50 49 and actions considering past, the analyzes also it past, the preserve does it as and confirmed, be can history theory, In application. its in scientific and structured more is History regulated. academi an as ways same the in regulated be cannot and selective is Memory respectively. subjective, and objective between difference the being significant most When discussing history and memory, it is important to note the differences between the two The that compliments historyyetwith memories not eradicated. preservation of memory by special spaces and events.” the warranted has situation a Such eradicated. and conquered is latter the memory, overtakes serves still it limitations, has insight and preserve the experiences. Although memory, especially memory influenced by trauma, gain to order in memory the properly describe to made be not should attempt an that however, tr especially endured, have people that events the properly it.” of narration [the] and event an of experience the between truth.” transmissible a of denial mean necessarily not does story… comprehensible a of impossibility “[t]he notes, Caruth Cathy treatedaccordingly.asbeHowever, must unnoticeable,and if even degradation,change or with exist Memories with. dealt be should it how to as insight gives also memory of volatility The memory. of nature volatile the of indicative are memory withholding and transmitting both of effects adverse The Ibid, 176. 176. Ibid, Robert Braun, “The Holocaust and Problems of Historical Representation,” Representation,” ofHistorical Problems and Holocaust “The Braun, Robert in Introduction,” Past: the “Recapturing CathyCaruth,

Blending

Memory and History Memory

n seii tm ad lc ad r cntnl udron sm kn of kind some undergoing constantly are and place and time specific a in

as a credible source of information. Braun states that “[a]s history “[a]s that states Braun information. of source credible a as 49

There is, as Robert Braun argues, “an unresolvable conflict… unresolvable “an argues, Braun Robert as is, There

30 Trauma: Exploration Trauma:

Sacco’s work is one such “special” spac

uai oe. hs os o mean, not does This ones. aumatic 50

Words can often fail to describe to fail often can Words History and Theory and History s in Memory, sin c discipline such as history is history as such discipline c

154. 154.

33, (May 1994) (May33, 1994) — the the the e CEU eTD Collection 54 53 52 history vice withmemory and versa. with was what included, is to story Edin’s Area, Safe throughout panels rhetoric other in as Just ground. the political on happening their juxtaposing time same the at while Karadzic Radovan speeches the between alternates Sacco Offensive” ’94 “The entitled chapterthe in example, For escalated. it how and conflict the includesBosniahis readers recent excerpts understand from ofYugoslaviaand the history sothat Sac way the to Similar readers. his for illustrates he that stories the experience personally didnot winding he down, as was just conflict cameBecause toGorazde he S WWII, while simultaneously juxtaposing it against the story of his translator, Edin. of the conflict in Bosnia, he illustrates to his reader some of the history of the region, beginning in in Sacco’s use of the past to contextualize the p view of memory with the “external” view of history. “internal” the couples which history, with paired is it when is memory of use effective most The memory. natur manifold the mind in keep to needs simply One “true.” not is it then “confirmed” be credible. be orderto in academia in usually needed is reactions. Memory, on the oth

cos nie ok ol nt ae en osbe ihu te eois f i interviewees. his of memories the without possible been have not would work entire acco’s Sacco, Sacco, 44. 35, Ibid, 36. Cubitt,33, his image serving not only as a break between past and present but as a way to corroborate corroborate to way a as but present and past between break a as only not serving image his Safe Area Gorazde Area Safe

,18 - 23. er hand, does not necessarily give one a “citable” knowledge, which

of former US president Bill Clinton and the Bosnian Serb leader leader Serb Bosnian the and Clinton Bill president US former of

resent. In order to explain some of the background 31

53 52

This symbiosis between the two can be seen

This is not to say that if a memory cannotmemory a if say to that not is This co uses WWII for context, he context, for WWII uses co 54

Additionally, e of e CEU eTD Collection 55 memories from and that experiences ofthe largernarrative chronicles conflict. that the no does Area Safe way, this In conflict. larger the in embedded is experience personal his as talking Edin features however, image, next The saluting. and smoking drinking, Serb offensive andGorazde directline nowhad the east of bank series of images Sacco writes that “[o]n April 9 the Serbs captured the Gradina mountaintop above pi not is Edin when even testimony, the supplement to gathered information the and experience lived the between distinguish can reader the that so marks quotation within words Edin’s contain always to careful is Sacco research. and offensive, recollecti Edin’s case this in memories, the between made also is distinction A Figure

Ibid, 165. Ibid, 4 : Sacco, 167.

is coupled with images of a map drawn to scale as well as Serbs in the mountaintop

32 - of

- ctured in the actual image. For example, in a in example, For image. actual the in ctured sight into the town.” sight the into 55

The ofthe description t separate personal personal separate t n f h ’94 the of on

CEU eTD Collection 57 56 Sa himself, with Beginning enables. memory that parameters open the demonstrates Sacco historian, an not and cartoonist, historians with ample options and room to be creative. Although he was trained as a journalist and i openness the Conversely, compatible. even or uniform Different liberating. disciplines use as varying methodological yieldapproaches, and therefore results that are not always well as overwhelming be can memory of limits and standardization review.”under and flux in concept aalways, legitimately, andis invariablyit recur: wo his in on early out same end goal: the preservation of the past as it pertains to the present. One thing that Cubitt points respects it seems as if history and memory serve the same function, or work in tandem towards the simi a inhabit they concepts: proximate are memory and “history since sense makes “turn” the specifically history for that explains and memory” to “turn a made w In Figure

ell as the critiques and praises for its uses. Cubitt argues that recently many disciplines have have disciplines many recently that argues Cubitt uses. its for praises and critiques the as ell Ibid, 8. Ibid, Cubitt, History and Memory 5 : Sacco, 165.

History and Memory and History

rk is that “Memory has no fixed, stable, unitary meaning to which we can can we which to meaning unitary stable, fixed, no has “Memory that is rk , Geoffrey Cubitt explains the relationship between memory and history as , 4. ,

c tls i on tr, i on xeine o big n Gorazde. in being of experiences own his story, own his tells cco

n which memory can be applied leaves applied be can memory which n lar mental territory.” mental lar 57

The lack oflackThe 56

In many In

CEU eTD Collection 10. 1987), Press, University JohnsHopkins 62 61 60 59 58 significance.” their to respect with events rank the In narration. memory. original the obscuring therefore another, priorityover given be will memory one or memories recounting when out left bealways else. no mattermay howmuch one always try, somethingwill be left or out reality thethat and memory of theselectivity remembered.Relatedly,stresses event Cubitt that is th runs One On the other hand, narratingCaruthcan traumaalleges problematic. be that through. worked be to trauma the allows that one therapeutic a be can events traumatic narrating bypreciselyan possessed tobe visual is traumatized and be “[t]o that contends Caruth textual understood. better be can of memory of representation benefit the and War Bosnian the of understanding the to contribution With the limitations and benefits of memory in mind, Sacco’s interviewedcovering while thewar. he that people the of memories the are narrative autobiographical Sacco’s between in Woven

Hayden White, HaydenWhite, Cubitt, 97. 56, Ibid, 153. Ibid, Caruth, 60

As Cubitt notes in notes Cubitt As communicated, to be integrated into one’s own, and others’, knowledge of the past, may lose both the the both lose may past, the of knowledge others’, recall. traumatic and that characterizes force the and precision own, one’s into integrated be to communicated, T History and Memory and History Trauma: Explorations in Memory, Memory, in Explorations Trauma: e transformation he

e risk of forgetting or losing the integrity of the original memory by articulating the articulating by memory original the of integrity the losing or forgetting of risk e

The Content of the Form: Narrative Discourse and Historical Representation Historical and Discourse Narrative Form: of the Content The Content of the Form the of Content

f h tam it a artv mmr ta alw te tr t b vraie and verbalized be to story the allows that memory narrative a into trauma the of , 99. , History and Memory and History

image or event.” or image

4 , Hayden White asserts that there is a “need or impulse to to impulse or “need a is there that asserts White Hayden , - 5. 5.

A similar occurrence happens during the process of process the during happens occurrence similar A , no matter how hard one may try, something will something try, may one hard how matter no , 34 62 58

In many ways the process of remembering and ofrememberingIn many process ways the This ranking results in a selection of what is what of selection a in results ranking This 59

work work can be better analyzed, and its

prioritized over somethingprioritized :

(Baltimore: The The (Baltimore: CEU eTD Collection 66 65 64 63 as it is the job to make the most plausible narrative by analyzing sources and sequence of events. sacrif knowledge,” organized into over spills “memory how is history that states, Cubitt as if, Even incomplete. somewhat is story personal her if even told, being story larger the from detract rape.was Thisomis affected by directly shame. Munira herselfdistances from the act in story,her and does not discuss whether or not she structures. i is ranking this that argues White important. as events ranking of process suffered. people other that own experience. her on comment not will or cannot but away taken women multiple witnessed she how recounts Munira occurred. frequently rape where women, pregnant for hospital a at Foca in time spent of chapter One problem again be can illustratedby revertingto Sacco’s back work. in present

White, 27. White, Cubitt,30 10. White, 117 Sacco, ices ices and prioritizations made to create the “organized knowledge” must be taken into account

- 64

31. - h gvn artv, ih vns n ifrain ihr nldd r icre. This discarded. or included either information and events with narrative, given the 119.

In most societies rape is a topic that is taboo and is associated with disgrace and disgrace with associated is and taboo is that topic a is rape societies most In

Safe Area Safe While While the memory in question belongs to Munira, the story told prioritizes events

63 Gorazde

Possibly the reason for this omission in her story has to do with the with do to has story her in omission this for reason the Possibly

features an interview with a woman named Munira who had had who Munira named woman a with interview an features sion does not make her story any less “true” and does “true” not and anynot makestoryless her sion does 35

nfluenced by social social by nfluenced 65

the 66

CEU eTD Collection 68 Communication 67 of resuscitation a than rather knowledge historical to obstacle “an is change.” it that claiming by nostalgia social of assessment for options viable real excluding and discounting unattai an of version idealized an “offers Volcic, Zala to according Nostalgia, past. the regarding nostalgia express to people for common increasingly became it escalated, fighting and fragmented become to continued Yugoslavia As Yugo Figure

Ibid, 25. 25. Ibid, “Yugo ZalaVolcic, 6 - : Sacco, 118. nostalgia

24 (March (March 24

historical understanding.” historical

and Longing for thePast for Longing and - Nostalgia: Cultural Memory and Media in the Former Yugoslavia,” Yugoslavia,” Former inthe Media and Memory Cultural Nostalgia:

2007): 25. 2007):

68 al ps ta cn tn te utrl mgnto by imagination cultural the stunt can that past nable

This nostalgic remembrance expressed itself in manyin itself expressednostalgic remembrance This 36

occ otne her continues Volcic Critical Studies in Media Media in Studies Critical

CEU eTD Collection 72 71 70 http:/ Ristic, “Yugo Marija Yugoslavcountries. 69 nostalgia werebreakup ifit wouldYugoslavia existed have ofitself. notfor the self a is nostalgia fashion, invoking a long appear more alluring and yet out of reach. Specifically, Yugo past the made conflict and violence heightened of times as general, in Yugoslavia of breakup Yugoslav the misrepresented experience.” who nationalists of memory faulty the “rectify to way a be to understood is positive the while unity”’ and “brotherhood of Yugoslavia Tito’s of romanticizing positive. one and negative Yugo of understandings general two are there that explains and Yugoslavia” lo Yugo sees Simmons Cynthia (Yugo)Nostalgia,” and Jergovic “Miljenko In early 1990’s. and 1980’s late the in appeared it which with intensitysame the without perhaps although today, n This breakup. that of understanding our in plays memory that role the also but Yugoslavia of breakup the only not discussing when ignored “Yugo termed was Yugoslavia former the in nostalgia of fro developed What past. recent the of recollection fond a least very the at or Yugoslavia, communist Tito’s to return a for longing a by characterized typically was but ways,

Volcic, 26. 26. Volcic, 458 Ibid, (Yugo)Nostalgia,” and Jergovic “Miljenko Simmons, Cynthia Asemi ia pit f eatr fr tdig h rpeetto o te el n iaie ps in past imagined and real the of representation the studying for departure of point gical /www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/yugo - recent article in Balkan Insight gives a glimpse into the present state ofstateYugo the present into glimpse givesa Insight in Balkan article recent - 459. 459.

71 69

Yugo

- otaitr phenomenon.” contradictory -

nostalgia features very prominently in ing ing for the very past whose destruction engendered it,” and “suggests that 70

h ngtv udrtnig s ad o e ‘lon a be to said is understanding negative The - Nostalgia Thrives at Tito Memorials,” Tito at Thrives Nostalgia - nostalgia ostalgia towards Tito’s Yugoslavia is still present present still is Yugoslavia Tito’s towards ostalgia - thrives 37 72

t s niey ht hs ye f Yugo of type this that unlikely is It - at Russian Literature Russian - tito - nostalgia” and is a topic that cannot be be cannot that topic a is and nostalgia” -

memorials. depictions of the Bosnian War and the - nostalgia “functions in a paradoxical Balkan Insight Balkan

(2009): 458. 458. (2009): - Nostalgia in various former former various in Nostalgia m this specific type specific this m -

otli “s the “as nostalgia , 25 June 2013, June2013, 25 ,

- nostalgia: one one nostalgia: ig o and for ging - specific CEU eTD Collection when thefighting. Serbfleeorjoinin neighbors are typically juxtaposed at later points in the book with i his in matter not friendships, did as if they were not markers of difference. These images of friendship and cooperation “Muslim” and “Serb” like terms when time a of memories childhood chaos experienced when neighbors began to flee and the fighting began. Edin expresses living peacefully and happily with his Serb friends and neighbors, as opposed to the confusion and illust also is dynamic This Serb. The later twofriends war becomeas enemies reaches the theirtown. one and Muslim one friends; best be to explained are that boys young two with 1980 in tunnel his and Tito glorifies that song a showing the inauguration of the “brotherhood and unity tunnel” in 1971, as the partisan youth sing labels. distinction the by affected not are who Muslims and Serbs young Yugo In

many films about the breakup of Yugoslavia of breakup the about films many - nostalgia, pastremembereda where is peaceful the as timeofcoexistence, usuallybetween o example For rty ilg Pet Flame Pretty Village Pretty rated in rated triumphant Yugoslavia. The next scene opens at the very same same very the at opens scene next The Yugoslavia. triumphant Safe Area Safe , as the main character and translator Edin recounts Edin translator and character main the as , 38 , there are typically scenes that depict this type of of type this depict that scenes typically are there ,

( ea ea eo Gore Lepo Sela Lepa mages that express confusion and disbelief s between their ethno their between s

oes ih scene a with opens ) fondly his - religious CEU eTD Collection Figure 7 : Sacco, 20.

CEU eTD Collection Figure 8 : Sacco, 18.

CEU eTD Collection 74 73 Hayden that: asserts Balkans Western book his in Hayden, M. Robert manner. unprecedented an in society th death, AfterTito’s past. Yugoslavia’sof memories difficult coverthe to means a as seen be also can it cooperation, and peace relative of time a of emblematic as seen fracturesth the influenced that politics memory of practices detrimental the expose to seeks that argument In contrast to the often fondness in which Tito’s Yugoslavia is remembered, there is also a growing “Yugo Countering Figure

Ib Hayden, id. id. 9 : Sacco, 77.

been carefully constructed and officially approved during the communist period. the during officially and approved carefully constructed been was suppressed long been had that knowledge” “private of hidden and oppositional histories from within and without the state socialist power structure. In both cases, manipulation and invocation we the cansee and early1990s, 1980s the Yugoslaviain [I]n From Yugoslavia to WesternBalkans to Yugoslavia From at occurred in the 1990’s. While the famous slogan of “brotherhood and unity” can be unity” can and “brotherhood sloganof famous the While 1990’s. the occurredin at

, calls this particular occurrence an example of “secret or hidden histories.” hidden or “secret of example an occurrence particular this calls , -

ostalgia” with the Surfacing of Stifled Memories Stifled of the Surfacing with ostalgia”

, 26. ,

used to challenge the versions of events that had had that events of versions the challenge to used ese memories surfaced insurfacedmemories ese rm uolva o the to Yugoslavia From 74

CEU eTD Collection 77 76 75 identity, Yugoslav a of something create managedto Tito “[i]f that states He conflict. current the In scholarship. i in topic common a is which 1990’s, the during unity” and “brotherhood past.” the from away turn to forced basically were and theirs forget to “had Muslims while victims, lines.” ethnic along fought mainly was Bosniaeastern in war,which civil brutal a been also [WWII]had this that fact the on and that the histor Duijzings argues that there was “little sensitivity to contradicting memories and different traumas,” public sphere. Chetniks were relatively public. deeds the as massacres,” partisan of Yugoslavia within stories been always had “there but federation, Yugoslav the as long as almost existed myth” “Partisan this notes, the under covered were group each by committed atrocities Instead, afterwards. addressed properly not were acts these but WWII, during peoples Yugoslav various against acts committed groups whe especially WWII, during Yugoslavia of liberators the as championed been had Partisans communist the death, Tito’s Until

Ibid, 149. Ibid, 148. Duijzings, 34. Ibid, Safe Area guise of communist slogans that were meant to diffuse any remaining conflict. As Hayden Hayden As conflict. remaining any diffuse to meant were that slogans communist of guise 77

i wr gvs uh edd rtcl otx t te eois n nsaga of nostalgia and memories the to context critical needed much gives work His

, Sacco alludes to this suffocation in one small frame, as he attempts to contextualize tocontextualize attempts as he frame, small alludes in one suffocation tothis , Sacco

y of WWII was heavily bysanitized the communists. “No emphasis was placed

n compared to the Ustasha and Chetniks. In reality, each of these of each reality, In Chetniks. and Ustasha the to compared n eb, e eosrts wr gvn oe om o comme to room more given were demonstrates, he Serbs, 75

This myth lead to the suffocation of memories, especially in the 42

nterviews as well as as well as nterviews

of the Ustasha and Ustasha the of morate CEU eTD Collection 79 78 can be to how easy can it be toview Yugoslavia the under influence ofYugo of example an as serve to instead but work, Sacco’s discredit to intended not is observation This s but addressed, not was past the that time same In way, this Saccoperpetuates the “Partisan myth,” even ifinadvertently. acknowledges He at the alongside tothe Ustashawhoareas opposed and men, Chetniks women. murdering wo welcoming as represented are Partisans the addition, In trench. and violence of a from aggressors at firing acts “defensive,” being as drawn are however, committing Partisans, The aggression. illustrated each are Chetniks and Ustasha The question. grou three the of image clear very a present text the with couple images the true, is states crushed.” eventually they whom Chetniks, the against campaign aggressive Par “[t]he that states He Chetniks. and Ustasha the to compared especially fashion, favorable a in them portraying of mistake the makes Sacco book, overall the in role minor a play only they Although Partisans. the o memory the regardingwork Sacco’s in flaw major One understands theof these severity and thatforgetting actions be wouldnot an easy them task. continues to depict the grievances in question, primarily Chetnik and Ustasha activities, the reader gone.” grievances would be exploited by politicians jockeying for power once President def without so did he

Ibid, 21. Ibid, 20. Sacco, 78

This quote is paired with an image of Tito greeting a crowd from a podium. As podium. a from crowd a greeting Tito of image an with paired is quote This create a depiction thataddresses acreate all perspectives. depiction

tisans fought a generally defensive war against Axis forces and waged an waged and forces Axis against war defensive generally a fought tisans sn o alwn fr n iig f h ntoaiis givne. Those grievances. nationalities’ the of airing an for allowing or using

43 till does not correct this lack of representation. of lack this correct not does till

f Tito and the past is the way he depicts wayhe the is past the and Tito f

- men, who are in the trenches trenches the in are who men, nostalgia, and howdifficultnostalgia, it 79

While what Sacco what While - for -

life life Tito was Sacco ps in ps

CEU eTD Collection the present. Yugo as present, the of understanding personal memories. Additionally, Sacco is able to illustrate how memory of the past influences the portrayed. be can picture comprehensive and accurate more a that so “experiences” real with history inform to ability the has memory then acknowledged, be can limitations these If memories. the natureof on depending impeded or limited be also can Memory experience. every for accountpossibly Due to its nature, memory must be understood to be subjective and at times incomplete, as it cannot Conclusion Safe Area Safe

exemplifies a work that has struck a b a struck has that work a exemplifies - nostalgia created a fondness for the past and a disbelief of of disbelief a and past the for fondness a created nostalgia 44

alance between confirmable facts and and facts confirmable between alance the the CEU eTD Collection 80 greatly readers the impacts time same the at while life” “real with distance a creates medium The dep can that medium a as function comics were,” things “how of representations as understood be was privy to as a result of his fieldwork. Unlike films on the subject, which are generally meant to here use of gripping images to convey the tragic story of Gorazde and the Bosnian War. It will be argued Safe Area full advantage the impact of that images ofviolence and suffering o have yet commonplace become have films Bloc Hollywood with War Bosnian the of representations graphic from profit a made has industry entertainment The greatly. differ perspectives their although voyeurism, this of critics outspoken Balkan War: the role of voyeur.” the in role important an played has West “the that contend Mestrovic and Cushman subject. the capitalize onthese asmade ason images, is plethora writtenfilms evident work, well by the of as foreign most the at to appeal to tools intervention, and at the very least, sympathy. Spectators have taken as used been have images the war, the throughout place took certainly crimes these While murders. mass and genocide mutilation, genital rape, of evokingimag without conflict the representdiscuss or to impossible apparently, become, Ithas Violence and suffering seem to be the characteristics most central in the focus on the Bosnian War. Chapter

Cushman and Mestrovic, 3. Mestrovic, and Cushman ict the events and emotions witho emotions and events the ict , however, that Sacco does not attemp kbusters like

often straddles the line between informative and entertainment, and does make effective

4: Representations of Violence, Suffering, and “RealLife” and Violence, of Suffering, Representations 4: Welcome to Sarajevo

Writers Writers such as Susan Sontag and Jean Baudrillard have become ut claiming a total “realistic” total a claiming ut are (1997) and t to capitalize or exploit the personal information that he contested depictions of the Bosnian War, and War, Bosnian the of depictions contested 45

In the Land of Blood and Honey

seemingly seemingly every advantage to recreation of what happened. what of recreation n an audience.n (2011). These

they

take take es

CEU eTD Collection 82 Times,” in Suffering Our 81 to the locationand of eventstothosewhow account of any event, no matter what it is intended for. This experience is why reporters are drawn distorted.” and out, thinned experience suffering, of representation cultural a this as through and used commodity, being is “experience that lament Kleinman Joan and Arthur journalism, meaning audience o an illuminate to intentions producer’s the are present; always is intention regarding question The literature. and films in found those as such production, mass and audience wide a for intended is into the exploitative. Those limits can be even mo When depicting suffering, it can be easy to venture beyond the limits of ethical representation and su to shape universal spaceless or timeless no is “there that and suffer,” to way single no is “[t]here that contend Times,” Our in Suffering of Appropriations “Cultural in Kleinman, Joan and Arthur Others of Suffering from the Profiting whatconflict written about is in the upon expand often handled are theyway the as well as covers he themes following the addition, In chapter. the in explicit made be will differences these and offer, films what to comparison bodies, decomposing murder, in with a seemingly unlikely “heavy” content in such a “light” form

Ibid. Ibid. of Appropriations Cultural DismayofImages: The Experience; of Appeal “The Kleinman, Joan Arthurand ffering.” Safe Area Safe

r to turn a profit? In reference to what they call “professional appropriations,” primarily 81

If this is true, then it is logical to assume that there is no single way to depict suffering. are gruesome and shocking, as Sacco has painstakingly illustrated scenes of mass mass of scenes illustrated painstakingly has Sacco as shocking, and gruesome are

Daedalus 82

125 (Winter 1996 (Winter 125

rncly eprec i wa i nee t cet a compelling a create to needed is what is experience Ironically, eia mtlto, n rp. e h Yet rape. and mutilation, genital academic circles.

ere theretoendurethesuffering. ): ): 2. 46

re re ambiguous when the representation in question

. To be sure, many of the images is images differ greatly in in greatly differ images is

s en remade, being is CEU eTD Collection 87 86 85 84 83 Sacco answered: W.J.T. by Mitchell why he felt compelled asked to seek out conflict areas and When report on them in the form implicitly. of comics, and explicitly both journalism, mainstream or traditional trained technically Although endeavors.separated mainstream himselffrom the ofjournalistic as “war was and still is the most irresistible desire and demand for images of sufferi entertainment.” of form suffering, a become has… about else, somewhere exists reading that suffering especially and “Watching space. and time across transpired have that events a and population a inform to just longer no subsequently, is, is ademand for images ofsuffering, and they therefore have a become commodity. Their purpose pornographic. the borderson suffe of images these see to desire the that and suffering” of “iconography an developed abroad. happening things terrible of “spectator” or observer an be Sontag, journalists are a Susansort of “profe to According journalist.” “comics a be to himself considers he as journalists, to applied are that criticisms same the from Sacco safeguard to times at problematic be can It

Mitchell and Sacco, Sacco, Mitchelland Sontag,43. Kleinman,8. Sontag,36. SusanSontag, Well, go and do comics about thesethings. comics do about and go Well, was comics indign or anger of sort that is It on. going really is what tell not still and something about “facts” write could you that I realized trained. been had I which in journalism of style American the and journalists, American at furious was I

Regarding the Pain of Others of the Pain Regarding

— Public Conversation Public I I was already doing comics and I well, thought, I’m a cartoonist, so how do I put this together?

ation that drove me towards that subject and others… I was looking for an outlet and that and outlet an for looking was I others… and subject that towards me drove that ation 84 ssional, specialized tourists,” and that it is a “modern experience” to

as a journalist, Sacco has no qualms with expressing distaste for distaste expressing with qualms no has Sacco journalist, a as

Sontag, along with Arthur and Joan Kleinman, maintain that therethat maintain Kleinman, Joan andArthur with Sontag,along , 54. 54. , , (London: Penguin Books, 2003), 16. 2003), (London: Books, Penguin, ng influences the stories that journalists seek out and repot,

— 87

and picturesque 47

— llow for greater understanding of of understanding greater for llow news.”

She contends that there has there that contends She

In regard,this Sacco has 85

This ring

CEU eTD Collection 90 89 88 The jacket. his on pockets several the to down cameras of selection his from detail, in pictured cand of handful a were not above inducing some quickie action themselves.” footage. thereporters “needed Sacconotesthat journalism r a shows image, single a just depiction, Another area.” “safe the in night the stay to have not and back convoy the catch would she sure make to reporte a panel presumably time, the checking one her of imagean by up broken story, her for residentsinterviewing In Gorazde. of residents the with interacted journalists that ways various the chronicles Sacco when evident made are contrasts Other aftermath. its a with in of reporters that rolledin and thetidesof outwith UN convoys, Sacco outofhishotel and moved despises, it also shows how Sacco sets himself apart for the mainstream. As opposed to the droves asForas much Iworldprivileges.guestof the thereacertain Bosnianwar.” was were my “[i]n that stating quo, status the maintaining in complicity his acknowledges Sacco while, a such remarks hearing quotes author the as view, positive a with readers leave not does journalists of portrayal the Additionally, safety. to back way their make would they acquired, was story or soundbite desirable a Once shambles. in were rest the as accommodations luxurious be to considered were what in staying often According to him, journalists would pour in and out of Sarajevo and Gorazde on the UN safe roads, In

Ibid, 131. Ibid, 130. Ibid, 4. Sacco, ae Area Safe

local and stayed over an extended period of time to immerse himself in the conflict and and conflict the in himself immerse to time of period extended an over stayed and local

, ac cmet svrl ie o te oiin ht orait hl i Bosnia. in held journalists that position the on times several comments Sacco Safe Area Safe y on the ground for a small crowd of children to fight over. The reporter is reporter The over. fight to children of crowd small a for ground the on y

shows Sacco as a typias a shows Sacco

48 cal American journalist, something he admittedly somethingadmittedly American he cal journalist,

eporter staging a scene to get some desirable desirable some get to scene a staging eporter s “I wish Gorazde would go away.” go would Gorazde wish “I s 90 now

The image shows a reporter throwing , for the top of the hour, and a few and ofthe, fora hour, few thetop 89

r can be seen seen be can r

of the cities cities the of 88

All the All CEU eTD Collection situation am,I’m I fact that the filterthat the journalist, myas a role about truthful mebeing 92 91 Figure heaudience his isthefilter with which toGorazdeWar. Bosnian isexposed and the that acknowledges He journalist. a as position his about transparent very is he that telling is it se, time.” the all there are They them. find to have you like not is It human… as to talking are they people the reveal actually that moments humanizing not worth picturing. Reg understood that the story was more important than the actual people in that story, as their faces are of the reporter to that of the children is striking. While the message is not explicit, it is nevertheless children, on the other hand, are pictured only as faceless silhouettes. The contra

In regards as to why he features himself so prominently, as well as the relationships he develops, Sacco states: “to states: Sacco hedevelops, the wellrelationships as prominently,as so himself whyfeatures he as to Inregards 57. Conversation,” “Public Sacco, Mitchelland 10 : Sacco, 130. — all of that is ethical.” Ibid, 68. Ibid, isethical.” ofthat all

arding other journalists, Sacco commented that “they don’t allow for those

Although Although Safe Area Safe a Westerner inforeign a Westerner a

is not about not is st in the illustration 92

Sacco per per Sacco

CEU eTD Collection 95 81. 1996), Press, NYU York, (New Mestrovic Stjepan and Cushman Thomas 94 93 “should” dosomething,whiletho they that felt war of witnesses The war. the witness to came who those and war the experienced who those between distinction a perpetuated further only War Bosnian the of representations [Bosnians].” them towards attitude world’s the of was hyperreality this that argued incomprehensibility the reinforcesimply who agencies, humanitarian and “media by hasexacerbated Baudrillard War, Bosnian the to reference specific rep to meant are they phenomena world real the from simulacra distinguish to abilitythe lost have “audiences consequently, references,”that and contexts social their from c the facilitated has society postmodern that alleges He Baudrillard. Jean theorist, social French from comes One of the most provoking criticisms of journalism and the way in which it creates representations Figure

Ibid, 80. 80. Ibid, in Sarajevo,” for “No Pity Baudrillard, Jean 79. Mestrovic, and Cushman 11 : Sacco, 131.

reation of a “hyperreality” that is “characterized by the detachment of symbols of detachment the by “characterized is that “hyperreality” a of reation

se actually felt experiencing the“need”todosomething. This Time We Knew: Western Responses to Genocide in Bosnia in Genocide to WesternResponses Knew: WeTime This 50

The out The side forces that created reports and reports created that forces side

resent.” 93 95

, eds. ,

With CEU eTD Collection 97 96 reach apart cinematic fromrepresen other they perform their duty to stay alive while finding stories for the evening news. What sets this film as reporters of tribe small a follows and 1996 in enacted was ceasefire the after shortly Sarajevo T War. Bosnian the to pertaining specifically representations, “realistic” film the to here made be can comparison pointed A reade “actually” happened, such as films and photographs. Instead, the medium is able to focus on giving it as event “real” a depict to intended are that images between distance a create to is comics of the about truth the captures that one rather but reality,actual an depict to claims that representation acreate to attempt not does then, Sacco, Mitchell byW.J.T. statin with conversation public his in representation of problem this addresses Sacco suffering. this depict to chosen are images which regarding authority an is time same the at while suffering, of inadvertently become part of the problem that she criticizes. the arbitrary way in which “reality” is selected, created, and disseminated. In this way, Sontag has [Bosni they than idea better a have must [Sontag] “she that saying representations, of production the in role condescending somewhat a playing as Sontag like people sees Baudrillard effect, this To

Mitchell and Sacco, 61. Sacco, Mitchelland 81. Ibid, es theassumptionthat without rs a meant stand is in truthfulaccount to it for thereal thing. ans] of what reality is, since she chose them to incarnate this reality.” this incarnate to them chose she since is, reality what of ans]

that becomes a final word in a way.worda in final a thatbecomes somehow… You realize this: there is was Holocaust the how was that Listas Schindler’s of think goingto are who people of lota are there mean I event. this about remember to going are people what for tone the setting are you realize you end the [I]n further further and are therefore more evident. Many of the scenes in the film are actually footage

tations of the Bosnian War is that its attempts isthatits Bosnian War ofthetations todepict reality 97 a real, dangerous, powerful thing about representing something, because

event in question. Part of the function of the medium the of function the of Part question. in event 51

ecm t Sarajevo to Welcome She laments the exploitation of images e im a so in shot was film he 96

Baudrillard notes Baudrillard 19) regarding (1997)

CEU eTD Collection 99 Times York 98 and personal subject that people often do not talk about. Although Sacco befriended some residents througho is rape of While narrative,andwhat for purpose. of the “West.” Sacco presentedwas with the challenge of how to represent violence in his graphic of disgust and shame from his readers, as his article is a chronicle of his perceived failure o mouth to stifle his screams.” the inmateto bite testicles wh offfellow a forced was prisoner a where place “a camp, concentration Omarska the at place took that events recounts he as violence of imagerygraphic uses Vulliamy representation. each in varied them on a be not could topics these course, thatOf occurred. cleansing ethnic and rape, violence, the with infatuation its in pornographic almost was Srebrenica, genocideat the to regards in Bosnia,particularly coverageof scholarly andpress The Voyeuris from Steering Away in the theater towhat was iscomparable experienced duringofSarajevo. theactual siege imagery, the producers have deceived the viewer into believing that what they have just witnessed Bosnian the about film a creating By events. scripted and real between line ambiguous an creates intentions, good guiseof the under practiced perhaps footage. actual the of that with footage film staged the distinguish dif often is it and siege, the during scene the on were who reporters and journalists from

Vulliamy, “Bosnia,” 74. 74. “Bosnia,” Vulliamy, “ Maslin, Janet Safe Area , N ovember 26, 1997. 1997. 26, ovember Dangers and Jitters of Life in Sarajevo,” of Life in Jitters and Dangers

shows a variety of violence, one might be shocked at how minimal the occurrence ut the book. Possibly one reason for this is that rape is an incredibly difficult difficult incredibly an is rape that is this for reason one Possibly book. the ut

The use of these images in Vulliamy’s article is to illicit a response

tic Depictions tic o, as he died of pain, had a large pigeondied ofa pain,his large into hadstuffed o, as he 52

voided in the coverage, the in voided review of Welcome to Sarajevo by AngelinabyJolie Sarajevo to ofreviewWelcome

War that ventures into documentary into ventures that War 98

hs ehiu, although technique, This and

the emphasis placed emphasis the

n behalf ficult to ficult , New - like like CEU eTD Collection 103 102 States,” 101 Hercegovina 100 time. gave an array of answers, but the general consensus was that it might be possible but it would take ever could they if Gorazde of residents some asked Sacco When conflict. the after Serbs with life imagine could still Gorazde of people the because Sacco’swork Serb as Bosnia, to applies definitely which borders, arbitrary on stressed particularly is emphasis His coexistence impossible.” going to be an option, because occurred frequently in Gorazde. Hayden argues that rape is used when peaceful coexistence is not in issue larger a not is rape that reason the Perhaps would h Bosnian culture and language had a hard time, it is reasonable to assume that Sacco, a foreign man, about them but only when [she] had gathered the courage to ask.” menti visitors foreign but anyone heard people knew the rapes where happening but they were not talked about much,” and that she “never that seemed “it that notes She residents. with rape discussing difficulty experienced too she that InInnocence foreignVictimhood, and a journalist. of Gorazde, he still was

Sacco, 160 Sacco, 32. Ibid, Avoidan Rape and “Rape Hayden, M. Robert ElissaHelms, s were encroaching from the east to consolidate territory. So perhaps rape does not feature in notfeature rape does perhaps territory. So consolidate east the to from encroaching s were 103 American Anthropologist American however, rape is an extremely effective tool for conveying this message. this conveying for effectivetool isan extremely rape however, expects assertingdominance is group withwhom the people over dominance display to only whenlesson is the isunacceptable Rape

ave as time a well. difficult

, (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2013), 82. 82. 2013), Press, Universityof(Madison: Wisconsin , - 161. 161. Innocence and Victimhood: Gender, Nation, and Women’s Activism in Postwar Bosnia and and Bosnia Postwar in Activism Women’s and Nation, Gender, and Victimhood: Innocence

101

He continues byclaiming that:

102 (March 2000): 31. 31. 2000): (March 102

it it creates hatred and an enemy. He states that “rape makes continued to keep on living. When the lesson is to show that life together is finished, is finished, together that life show is to lesson the living.on keep When to

ce in ce Ethno on the rapes. Some refugees confirmed that they knew knew they that confirmed refugees Some rapes. the on 53

National Conflicts: Sexual Violence in Liminalized Liminalized in Violence Sexual Conflicts: National Safe Area Safe

is that it was not something that something not was it that is 100 live with the Serbs again, they they again, Serbs the with live

102 If she, someone familiar with

Elissa Helms remarks CEU eTD Collection 104 controversial the films the example for others, to contrast stark a is rape of depiction This Figure seriousness objectifying oftheact without ortaking advantage the capture to able still is Sacco victims. the or act the sensationalize or exploit not does that each pa are words and images the because however, successful, is representation particular This reader. struggle suchemotions of and a heinous act, notexploitthe act do they also merely tomortify the allude that images the While smoking. and half four as wall the to back her with bed a in curled pictured is woman a as exposed is aftermath its but shown, never is rape of women kickingand screamingpullthem from as their hospital Serbsoldiers ro her story, child in arms, and images of the story she is actually telling. There are several images of Munira primarilyon focuses occurred, that rape the of aspects some showing while Munira, with interview Sacco’s

For Munira’s story, see Sacco, Sacco, see Munira’s story, For 12 : Sacco, 119. rtial in content, but when blended together create an effective and ethical depiction of rape

In the Land of Blood and Honey and Blood of Land the In

herself, the person. the herself, Safe Area Gorazde Area Safe

- dressed Serb soldiers gather around a table laughing, drinking, laughing, table a around gather soldiers Serb dressed 104

Safe Area alternates between scenes of Munira tellingMunira of scenes alternatesbetween Area Safe , , 117 to rape in rape to 54 - 119.

. The act of rape is essentially roman essentially is rape of act The .

Safe Area Safe

of the situation. of

undoubtedly fail to capture the capture to fail undoubtedly As if I am not there not am I if As

om. The actual act om. The act actual ticized in ticized

and

CEU eTD Collection a Arthur images. such showing of purpose the undermine presumably would With an overwhelming amount of graphic images the audience risks becoming desensitized, which overexposedthat viewers and arepossibly basically desensitized. lessened the impact therefore on the audience. Additionally, rape scenes feature so have p and rape of perpetrators the humanized inadvertently have they otherwise, or woman who es a depicts film each because However, rape. of act the characterize that inhumanity and severity the show to attempt films these of Both leave. to her allows eventually he as life her saving up then She youngofficer. a with favor gain to women from the town. She is raped repeatedly until she decides to use her feminine wiles in order other of group a with along prisoner taken is she and her to way its makes conflict after, Shortly teacher from Sarajevo, moves to a small town in eastern Bosnia in order to take a teac young school aSamira, name.same the of book 1999 Drakulic’s Slavenka writer famedCroatian there not am I if As raped repeatedly. w Danijel, with stay to volunteers but released is she point one At women. treated is and property Danijel’s be to considered is she resc her to to rape her while the others must watch. Just as Ajla is chosen to be the next victim, Danijel comes upon arriving at center the detainment a Serb soldier grabs a thegroup woman from and proceeds an up rounded is woman The Sarajevo. in started woman, Ajla, falls in love with her Serb rapist, Danijel, whom she dated briefly before the fighting debut, directorial Jolie’s Angelina ue and saves her by claiming ownership over her. In her remaining time as a prisoner prisoner a as time remaining her In her. over ownership claiming by her saves and ue sentially has an intimate relationship with her rapist, influenced by survival instincts

(2009) presents another problematic depiction of rape. The film is based on on based is film The rape. of depiction problematic another presents (2009) In the Land of Blood and Honey and Blood of Land the In

becomes exclusively involved with him, which ends ends which him, with involved exclusively becomes 55 d taken prisoner along with others. Immediately others. with alongprisoner taken d

fairly fairly well in comparison to the other other the to comparison in well

(2011). In the film, a Muslim Muslim a film, Inthe (2011). rominently in each film here she is eventually eventually is she here nd Joan Kleinman Joan nd hing hing position. CEU eTD Collection 800. 2006): (Winter 109 108 107 106 105 reason,not allowforfeelings a the mediumdoes brought dulling passivity. onby of film without question. Comics, on the other hand, require an engagement that is continual. For this could viewer noncritical a that plot the of much so out spell often Films so. do to them of required always not is it but work, the with engageactively not do film as such mediums complete must who necessarily are comics all reader the of Thus imagination the and author/artist the of imagination the action. between texts collaborative missing the with frames the between space the in sim most the in “[e]ven that contendsGardner Jared that you can skim through them quickly and take it all in.” reading,” “easy are comics that think people that is medium… comics the of misunderstandings of “[o]ne that notes Mitchell readers. its of participation active requires general, in According to Sontag, “it is passivity that dulls feelings.” is com a river, to be sure, but it could never compare to witnessing such events in reality, or in a form that into dumped being bodies and slit being throats like something depict comic a see to shocking is “real,” be to pretend never images Sacco’s because the viewer.” desensitized has suffering… of forms serious such of images of “appropriation the that contend

Jared Gardner, “Archives, Collectors, and the New Media Work of Comics,” ofComics,” Work Media the and New “Archives,Gardner, Collectors, Jared 60. Sacco, Mitchelland 91. Ibid, Sontag,73. Kleinman,9. monlyto representrealityas and film photography. such understood

105

Sontag saysthat “shock can Shockcan familiar. become wear off.”

h narrative.” the

109

t s o itne t sget ht uine o different of audiences that suggest to intended not is It 56

just truthful, they do not run the same risk. It risk. same the run not do they truthful, just plistic narratives, the reader is required to fill to required readeris narratives, the plistic 107 108

However, Sacco’s work, like the genre

The reader must engage with the text. Modern Fiction Studies Fiction Modern

106 understand the the understand

But perhaps the greatest the

52, no. 4 4 no. 52, CEU eTD Collection 40. 2007): Ashgate, (Surrey: eds. Post a in Claims Moral and Memories, Identities, 110 this, of because that argues Macek fired. being longer no were bullets the when end not did This laundry. do to order in water and electricity having not example for tasks, of basic most the even the siege the inhabitants were subjected to inconsistencies and incon During not. did Sarajevo in lifeeveryday with coping of struggles the ceased, had conflict armed people t allows which gradually, occurs typically argues, she Conflict, changes. life daily as especially shape normality, and that the concept of normality is constantly subject to the possibility of change, war in normality” negotiating of “process the calls she what depict to attempts Macek, Ivana author, the Life” of “Imitation In after. S is it life,” “everyday of aspects illuminate to attempted have Macek, Ivana as such authors, some audience to even begin to grasp the harsh realities that were brought on by the Bosnian War. While entir the obscures overshadowing This ones. graphic and violent more by overshadowed typically are cigarettes and jeans, blue years, for available not foods of search in Bosnians of Images fighting. physical the with along greatly plig the in interest however, many, For conflict. by shattered were that life of pieces the up picking while normalcy of sense a gaining with grappled they as going, The theSuffering Normalcy after of Sense Regaining a acco’s

Ivana Macek, “‘Imitation of Life’: Negotiating Normality in Sarajevo under Siege,” in underSiege,” Sarajevo in Normality Life’: Negotiating of “‘Imitation Ivana Macek, Bosnian War did not end after the actual fighting had subsided. The lives of Bosnians kept kept Bosnians of lives The subsided. had fighting actual the after end not did War Bosnian

o continual make minor adjustments to perception their of “normal” life. Safe Area Safe

that attempts a complete depiction of life effected by war: before, during, and during, before, war: by effected life of depiction complete a attempts that

torn Sarajevo. She stat She Sarajevo. torn ety of the picture that must be presented in order for an an for order in presented be must that picture the of ety - WarSociety 57

, Xavier Bougarel Elissa Helms and Ger Duijzings Duijzings Ger and Helms Elissa Bougarel Xavier , es that it is the daily, lived experiences that that experiences lived daily, the is it that es

veniences that interfered with ht of Bosnians diminished diminished Bosnians of ht The New The 110 Bosnian Mosaic: Mosaic: Bosnian

Even after the CEU eTD Collection 113 Ibid. refreshment. basic sucha to offer order in ingredients ofquality getahold inability to their at seeminglyembarrassed 112 111 excitement that the inhabitants of Gorazde experienced when the blue road opened up and brought foreigners. from aid receiving from humiliated being life tolive as able they previously. had not Sarajevo in people the with associated shame the discusses Macek normalcy. of sense some of burden laborious and collecting firewood, to th dangerous the From declined. had Bosnia in conflict the after just of illustrating the struggles and seemingly unimaginable amounts of work that went into daily life comparisons Sacco,many of work the to connection In Figure over their lives. Consequently, thattheir theyfeeling lives started wereworthless.” but slowly that message “the

Ibid, 44. 44. Ibid, ofcoffee, cup acceptable makingan of act the simple discusses example,Macek For 43. Ibid,

13 : Sacco, 49.

e rudimentary river contraptions created to harness electricity, and surely

surely engraved itself into the people was that they had no power power no had they that was people the into itself engraved surely 112

58 Also, shenotes thatmany were people

113

n otat Sco hw te rd and pride the shows Sacco contrast, In can be made. Sacco does a wonderful job job wonderful a does Sacco made. becan

and how her hosts were hosts her how and 111

shamed orshamed

CEU eTD Collection 115 133 Sacco, sugar. and flour like things basic of availability the much takeso joyin Gorazde whyof the reader residents to it isclear detail, excruciating aft weresporadic visits but their food, and who journalists brought troops, wereUN freely moved whoonly The ones Bosnia. of fromthe rest cutoff wereve death and frostbite where conditions to trip make the enough to thosebrave whichexposed only, night at winter, army the Bosnian to on 114 he as detail, full in topic the to returns later He now. for topic the skip should they that reader trail.” up death to winter frozen had pop and her times… lines five done she’d enemy which mountains… through yourself it humping than you, tell could Nina table, the to thr side a image The shows journey“white death.” perilous of asalludes it tothe the image ismuchdarker, the dish to her guests, fresh from the serving happily Nina shows image the of foreground The Nina. named woman a by made pizza, to the house of a local to eat, drink, and better acquaint himself. At the house party Sacco is offered After arriving image. large yet single, one in goods essential to access of joy and suffering the illustrates Sacco cake. to due delicacies become were made available by the UN convoys. Serb through endeavors perilous potentially through after sought were in basic necessities that had been nearly impossible to acquire

Ibid, 10. 10. Ibid, “whitedeath” the through trekking of theillustrating dangers to chapter a devotes Sacco ough the freezing wilderness. Sacco comments that the trucks were “an easier way to bring food 115

- ry real risks. Although the journey was dangerous, for many it was a necessity since Gorazde was essentially Gorazde since necessitywas many a it for dangerous, was the Although journey risks. real ry by

As Sacco and his newly his and Sacco As -

side of how food made its way into Gorazde; by a convoy of UN trucks, or by foot by or trucks, UN of convoy a by Gorazde; into way its made food how of side in

Gorazde Gorazde and deciding to move of out the journalist - held area of Grebak. The journey received its name because it was traveled in the snowy snowy in the traveled was it namebecause its received journey The ofGrebak. area held

the lack of ingredients most people could acquire, such as bananas for for bananas as such acquire, could people most ingredients of lack the er having been ambushed in July of 1992. After this reality is explained in is explained After reality this Julyof1992. in ambushed been having er

- 147. - found friends are at a party enjoying themselves, he tells the tells he themselves, enjoying party a at are friends found

oven as steam is visible rising off the top. The background of 114

His hosts were able to make dishes that had essentially 59

previously. Things like flour and oil - ridden - held territory before they before territory held hotel, Sacco is invited

through Serb through

there on that same same that on there - held lands lands held CEU eTD Collection subsided conflict afterthe toemerge begun have shops anddiscothequesthat coffee new various in reporters and locals other with interact they town, around Edin translator deal however, well as explain what had happened to Bosnia as Yugoslavia broke apart. The images of the present, as context reader the give to used were past the of images the previously, discussed As present. activities. social to pertaining that is Another attempt to regain a sense of normalcy in everyday activities that Ma Figure get to conditions just the basic necessities they tosurvive. needed devotes an entire chapter to the stories 14 : Sacco, 10. with a much different topic, namely, negotiating the present. As Sacco follows his his follows Sacco As present. the negotiating namely, topic, different much a with

of those who had no choice but to risk their lives in extreme ae Area Safe 60

the and past the of images between alternates

cek does not highlight . At one point Sacco point . Atone

CEU eTD Collection 117 116 privilege of mobility. If fighting resumed, things became dan the had very he that reader is the informing constantly Macek, area, safe the unlike in position Sacco, his about transparent electricity. without weather cold as such conditions, living was not subjected to the same danger as Macek. He did, however, experience to an extent t to the victims of the siege. Sacco entered Gorazde just as the physical conflict had ended, and thus personal level. soldiers UN of at shot is author the until not Itis siege. the during Sarajevo broughther inclu Macek that reflexivity of degree the is Sacco to Similar Figure world, they would press him for any information they could on topics ranging from sports to films. people the since that explains Sacco page following me.” for survival of matter a is activity an “such that comments women the of One show. puppet a perform to preparing were women two where center, cultural local the by stops

Macek, 52 Macek, Sa cco, 74. cco, 15 : Sacco, 74.

- 53.

117 —

Macek had an that she began to understand the plight of the people of Sarajevo on a more a on Sarajevo of people the of plight the understand to began she that

understandably emotional reaction, and appeared to equate herself 61

of Gorazde were cut off from the rest of the of rest the from off cut were Gorazde of gerous, or he simply could not tolerate des in her work, as her research research her as work, her in des — allegedly right in front front in right allegedly 116 he same

On the On

CEU eTD Collection Gorazde. of plight the of observers passive becoming from readers keeps require comics that participation unavoidable, were that tactics journalist employ in order to exploitative get a story worthy of the evening news. Although the images of violence criticizes He conflict. of crossfires the in caught been have who motivated him to move beyond reporting just the “facts” and on to humanizing depictions of process, exploit to easy is it While Conclusion attraction was inthe town,and ofmobility thephysical embodiment freedom. and an of somewhat was he this, of Because leave. to ability the had he longer any Gorazde in life Safe Area Safe

has avoided both. Sacco’s dissatisfaction with American with dissatisfaction Sacco’s both. avoided has ae Area Safe images of violence and suffering and desensitize and audience in the in audience and desensitize and suffering and violence of images

xoe raes o mgs th images to readers exposes 62

t il o dsniie Te active The desensitize. not will at - style journalism has journalism style

those CEU eTD Collection words ofwell big and names bigthe by being intimidated without happened what know to people for desirethe writ to compulsion his successful, relatively been has book his While lives. their with on move and cope to tried conflict that by affected people the how and Gorazde Sac Joe medium, traditional more a of instead comics using By Gorazde. in Muslims and Serbs between relationships neighbor of deterioration the depicting by communism of collapse the and Tito str groups various as sentiments Goraz Area Safe attention thatGorazde received. has full a created has Sacco events same the of depictions journalistic and academic both in lacking is that dimension and depth exhibits work Sacco’s present, the and past the memory, and history blending By Gorazde. leve and dimensions new add to way differenta in them use and figures, public and academics, journalists, by used themes and create an in areas so the of plight the is attention less received has What representations. popular and The war in Bosnia is a controversial topic that has received much attention in academia, the press, Conclusion outside co has made a dynamic contribution to the depiction and understanding of the conflict in conflict the of understanding and depiction the to contribution dynamic a made has co

- of Srebrenica and Sarajevo. Joe Sacco was ab was Sacco Joe Sarajevo. and Srebrenica of established academics.established -

depth account of Gorazde in the medium of comics. Sacco is able to take the same de shows both the escalation and reaction to nationalistic and ethnocentric ethnocentric and nationalistic to reaction and escalation the both shows de - length book in the medium of comics in order to correct the lack of of lack the correct to order in comics of medium the in book length ls of understanding to the conflict in Bosnia and the safe haven of of haven safe the and Bosnia in conflict the to understanding of ls uggled to fill the power vacuum created by the death of Marshall Marshall of death the by created powervacuum the fill to uggled

le to take a relatively unknown area area unknown relatively a take to le e and illustrate stems from from stems illustrate and e - called safe safe called . CEU eTD Collection as content. a medium ofnonfiction memories. Since the publication of Art Spiegelmen’s and events real of depiction nontraditional a for allows narrative Graphic events. fictional of graphic narrative to emerge in contemporary society. No longer are comics limited to the depiction The medium of comics has come a long way as it has

Maus sunsequently , com ics have become more prominent

paved paved the way for the genre of CEU eTD Collection LegacyHajdarpasic,Ottoman Edin.“The inSouth Gardner, Jared. Collectors, an “Archives, Geoffrey Cubitt, HillaryChute, and Graphic Marianne DeKoven. Narrative.” “Introduction: Hillary.Chute, Literature? Reading“Comics as Graphic Narrative.” Cushman, Thomas Caruth, Cathy, ed. Carleton, Change: Sean. “Drawn to Conciousness.” and Comics Critical Burg, L.and Shoup. Steven Paul S. Braun, “TheHolocaustHistorical Robert. andProblemsofRepresentation.” Bougarel,Helms and ElissaGerDuijzings. Xavier, vol. 44, no.5 (September 2008):vol. 44,no.5(September 715 Studies Studies Association Genocide inBosnia Press, 1995. (n.d.): 151 Intervention Theory Memories inaPost andMoralClaims

33 52 (Winter 2006):52 (Winter 767 52, no. 4 (Winter 2006):52, no.4(Winter 787 . History andMemory . History , no. 2 (May 1994): 172 , no.2(May 1994): - 177. Trauma: Explorations Memory in Trauma: and Stjepan G.Mestrovic. . 123

London: Sharpe, 1999. M.E.

, no.2 . New York:. New NewYork University Press, 1996.

(March 2008): 452 The WarThe andInternational Bosia:Ethnic Conflict in - . Manchester: ManchesterPress, University 2007. . Manchester: 782. d the New Mediad theNew of Work Comics.” - Bibliography 197.

- - 734. 806. - This Time We Responses Time Western This to Knew:

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. Surrey: 2007. Ashgate, Middle EasternStudies Middle Language Modern Labour/Le Travail Travail Labour/Le

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CEU eTD Collection Marija.Ristic, “Yugo andMitchell, W.J.T. Joe Sacco. “Public Conversation.” “Word Mitchell, W.J.T. Image.”andIn “ Janet. Maslin, IconoclasticMartin, The ofan Elaine.Novels Evolution “Graphic orNovel Graphics?: Genre.” Malcolm, Noel. Kleinman, Arthur “The andImages: Dismay Joan. of Appeal ofExperience; The Cultural Khan, Mujeeb “Bosnia R. Helms, Elis --- Hayden, Robert M. . “Rape and Avoidance Rape inEthno http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/yugo 53 Nelson andRichard47 Shiff, Angelina Jolie The Comparatist Press, 1996. Appropriations ofSuffering inOur Times.” 2/3 (Autumn1997): 287 In‘New“Islam Order.”’ World theBalkans.” in issue, Special Bosnia andHercegovina States.” 1991 - 70. sa. - 2011

Innocence and Victimhood: Gender, Nation, and Women’sInnocence and andVictimhood: Gender,Nation, Postwar in Activism Dangers and Jitters of Life of Dangersand Jitters inSarajevo.” American Anthropologist Bosnia: A ShortHistory Bosnia: . Leiden:. 2013. Brill, From Yugoslavia Yugoslavia From

- . Nostalgia atInsigh Thrives Memorials.” Tito Balkan New York Times

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Daedalus - nostalgia

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1 25, no. 1 (Winter 1996):25, no.1(Winter 1 - thrives - , edited by S. Robert 41. Islamic Studies - at

40, no.3(Spring 2014):

- tito t, 25 June, 2013. t, 25June, - memorials.

36, no.

23.

CEU eTD Collection Hayden.White, Vulliamy,The Crime Ed.“Bosnia:ofAppeasement.” Zala.Volcic, “Yugo Tuhus Tomsky, TravellingEconomy.” Terri. Sarajevoto9/11: “From and MemorytheTrauma Sremac, DanielleS. Sontag, Suzan. Cynthia.Simmons, “MiljenkoJergovicandLiterature (Yugo)Nostalgia.” Russian (2009): Sacco, Joe. - Dubrow, Rebecca. Joe Sacco. Joe Dubrow, Rebecca. Baltimore: HopkinsUniversity The Johns Press, 1987. 1944 Affairs of International Studies inMediaCritical Communication http://januarymagazine.com/profiles/jsacco.html Parallax Praeger Publishers, 1999. 457 Books, 2000. - Safe Area Gorazde: The War Bosnia1992 Safe Area The Gorazde: Eastern in 469. Regarding thePainOthers of

The Content ofthe Form:RepresentationHistorical Narrative DiscourseThe and Content 17, no.4(October 2011): 49

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- 1995 , June 2003. , June - - . Seattle: Fantagraphics. Seattle: 91. 38.

. Westpor t: