February 18, 2009

Katrina's thoughts: Pyongyang by Guy Delise



The French animator is placed in North Korea for a 2 month stint in which he has to check editions of cartoons for French TV. The graphic novel is sold as 'a journey through North Korea' but is actually a single-minded mans view of a small part of North Korea. Now, I'm not saying that North Korea is amazing or politically correct, in fact I know so little about the place that I couldn't make an educated comment on the country, but I can say that Delise is negative about the place from the opening to the end of the book. He never says a single positive thing about the country or the people that he meets, instead he mocks their views, behaviour and culture. Surely if you visit a country you must find something nice to say. Anyone else read this? Have a different opinion?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Hmmm. That's interesting. You make a good point, you'd think that he'd find something of value. Most people would find such an experience eye-opening. North Koreans are still human after all. I have heard of this and I was unsure about it, but now I might have to add this to the list just to see it for myself. Thanks for the review.

Anonymous said...

I think you are missing the point here. It's not that he likes or dislikes North Koreans, it's that he has freed himself from PC hang ups. Delise is clearly well travelled and has, unlike most North Americans, lived for an extended period of time in foreign countries. That alone gives him the right to freely make assertions about people, culture etc.. This isn't some hick travelling overseas for the first time.

Anonymous said...

ps: he is french afterall. Don't count on too much positivity.

Renata Prado said...

Katrina, I had the same impression. He is very negative and his vision was very weak. No matter how much experience he has, he didn't show real interest or respect for anything. He had no sense of humor trough the hole thing. Very acid guy. The book has few interesting moments... Very limited.