Comments on: Yukiko’s Spinach by Boilet

By: J.Cross

J.Cross — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:29:41 +0000

I’m guessing Frank is somewhat under-qualified to make any critical observations on the Japanaese or African male gazes’ respectively. I agree with Frank about the photo-realist art being off putting.

By: Luke P.

Luke P. — Sun, 27 May 2007 19:11:29 +0000

I’m responding to his response to the book. The grad student part was a joke, meant to make fun of how grad-studentish his response sounded.
I agree with Frank about the photo-realist art being off putting. I just
don’t think criticizing something for appearing to indulge in “European Male gaze” is at all meaningful.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:25:30 +0000

Luke — Frank is describing his response to the book. It’s not clear to me whether you’ve read the book and are defending it, or are just airing a general beef. (And by the way, Frank Santoro is not a graduate student — he’s an artist and cartoonist.)

By: Luke P.

Luke P. — Sat, 26 May 2007 02:35:36 +0000

I’m not sure what’s worse; A supposed “European Male Gaze” that “objectifies women” ( do Japanese men or African men not “objectify” in the same way? - Or is it bad for a white guy cause his ancestors were assholes?) , or somehow pretending that you’re not engaging in those un-P.C but perfectly natural behaviors because grad students somewhere might get mad.

By: Frank Santoro

Frank Santoro — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:18:29 +0000

I agree that the book is Boilet’s attempt at “fixing” his gaze, meaning it’s an attempt to stop time and preserve it in amber. Haven’t we all felt this longing to preserve a fleeting romance, to channel the feelings into words, pictures? It’s this scrapbook aspect that is at once welcoming and distancing for the reader. (And here the heavy use of photographs keeps me on the surface and doesn’t allow me to really engage the “text”). Boilet can fill in the blanks, we cannot.

And, I decided to can the review. This exchange says it all. Thanks D.

By: DerikB

DerikB — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:24:48 +0000

I look forward to your review.

I think, in reading the book, there is something to be said for the way the Yukiko character acts in the story. She, to me, is avoiding the “ownership” aspect by doing what she wants. She is clear about the short lived nature of the relationship with Boilet. The book does then become in a way his attempt to retain her and the relationship past it’s fleeting moment. It is disappointing how little we get of the female perspective, rarely even any words from here more than banalities.

By: Frank Santoro

Frank Santoro — Thu, 24 May 2007 19:51:55 +0000

I agree and think your assessment is fair on formal grounds. It is interesting, innovative, and well executed. I simply can’t get past what is inherent and unspoken in his particular (European) gaze. It clouds my reading of it. It is, as you write, not about the woman. It is, I think, about power and submission. Is it worse than a hundred other comics that are about the objectification of women? No. It’s a successful book in many ways. I think my reaction to it stems from my wanting it to be about a give and take between lovers, to be something more than a diary (which it is somehow but not enough for me). Just personal taste. Were it about two French people I might not have had the same reaction. (Curiously, I was preparing a review of it for Comics Comics when your post came out!)

By: DerikB

DerikB — Thu, 24 May 2007 19:30:32 +0000

Frank, It is definitely about the gaze, which, while socially (morally) disturbing in some ways, is formally interesting in how much it is directly about the gaze. I’m not really up on the topic enough to make any intelligent insight into the social/feminist/colonial aspects of the story. As usual, I’m mostly picking out formal elements that interest me.

By: Frank Santoro

Frank Santoro — Wed, 23 May 2007 20:39:19 +0000

It’s also a form of colonialism that I find disturbing. And despite it’s formal inventiveness I think the reliance on photographs undermines any real “sight” or insight by the author.

By: Frank Santoro

Frank Santoro — Mon, 21 May 2007 21:23:05 +0000

I’ve never had such an adverse reaction to a comic. I wanted to rip it up in my hands and throw it across the store. It’s all about the white man’s gaze and ownership of the “other.”