The graphic novels "Maus" and "Maus II" tell a profound story through an unexpected medium: comic books. Their creator, the 1992 Pulitzer Prize- winner Art Spiegelman, will be performing on Wednesday night at Bowdoin.
Spiegelman successfully combined a grim subject matter and the comic book medium to create "Maus," elevating the comic book genre to new levels with the publication of his stories of the Holocaust.
"A comic book about the Holocaust caused an explosion of response," Professor of English Marilyn Reizbaum said. "The incompatibility is often ignored by calling the books graphic novels, but Spiegelman's work is drawn directly from the tradition of comic books."
"[The medium] makes the story more accessible," said first-year Jeana Petillo. "People who are less likely to read about this time in history are given a different way to do so."
The illustrated characters of "Maus" and "Maus II" are mice (Jews), and cats (Nazis). The books deal both with the horrors of World War II experienced by Spiegelman's father and the subsequent effects of the war on their lives.
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Spiegelman and his family immigrated to the United States when he was a child. Resisting his parents' desire that he become a dentist, Spiegelman began drawing professionally at the age of 16, later working as a creative consultant for Topps Bubble Gum Co., teaching history and aesthetics of comics at the School for Visual Arts in New York, as well as contributing regularly to a number of underground "comix" (graphic novels) publications.
In 1980, Spiegelman and his wife Francoise Mouly founded the avant-garde comics magazine RAW. He has worked as a staff artist and writer for The New Yorker. In 1997, Spiegelman wrote a children's book called "Open Me...I'm A Dog."
Spiegelman has continued his work as a political graphic artist/writer in recent years. "In the Shadow of No Towers" was published in 2004. The controversial nature of Spiegelman's work has not diminished over time.
The Class of 2009 was given "Maus" and "Maus II" to read over the summer as its first-year books. The books were then used as the focus of discussion groups facilitated by faculty and staff during orientation.
First years answered frequently, "It's awesome" in response to Spiegelman's upcoming performance.
"It's exciting that students will be able to engage in a discussion with the author after having read his work over the summer," Tucker Hermans '09 said.
"It is not always possible for the author of the first-year book to visit Bowdoin," said Associate Professor of History Susan Tananbaum. "Fortunately the Spindel committee was able to secure Mr. Spiegelman."
Bowdoin is able to bring Spiegelman to campus on behalf of the Harry Spindel Memorial Lectureship in Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Affairs. Rosalyne Spindel Bernstein and Sumner Bernstein, in homage to Rosalyne Bernstein's father's lifelong devotion to Jewish learning, created the lectureship in 1977.
Spiegelman's appearance is listed as a performance, and a professional crew will be in charge of the lighting and sound.
Because Spiegelman is not only an author but an illustrator as well, his performance will include projections.
"So much of his work is about the process of how to develop an understanding of an event like 9/11 or the Holocaust through art and writing," said Assistant Professor of English Aviva Briefel.
The expectation is that Spiegelman will speak about these two aspects of his work as well as an artist's method of creation.
"Mr. Spiegelman is a renowned author. I expect his performance to be compelling and for the tickets to go quickly," said Tananbaum.
Spiegelman will perform on April 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Pickard Theater. A reception will follow in Drake Lobby.