Imagine you're playing dress up, not for a costume party, but with layers of cultural expectation and personal identity. That's the juggling act presented in Riad Sattouf's French graphic novel "Some Like It Veiled," co-created with Joann Sfar in 2015. Set in Paris, the story centers around two converging narratives enriched by slices of laughter and real-life dilemmas. The graphic novel unravels the lives of an Arab couple living in France and a liberal, irreverent narrator who happens to be curious about their choice to wear the veil. But more than that, it guides you through the complexity of contrasting values converging in a multicultural society.
"Some Like It Veiled" might seem, at first glance, to be another attempt to satirize something that has been rigorously debated in public spheres. However, its disarming humor and insightful character development make it a masterpiece of nuanced storytelling. The liberal reader might easily align with the narrator's blunt approach, but the novel skillfully challenges this perspective by sketching a detailed tableau of the protagonists' views. It effectively humanizes the cultural tensions that often seem too charged to discuss calmly.
The plot, though comedic in tone, digs deeper by diving into the intricacies of identity. It illuminates how dressing choices for some are tethered with years of tradition, religious beliefs, and personal expression. We often hear the notion that 'a piece of clothing shouldn’t dictate who you are,' yet it undeniably acts as a piece of first impression armor. This graphic novel excels in exploring the depths of this paradox.
The authors have ingeniously embedded an empathetic look at both sides of the conversation, making sure not to steamroll the layers of individual choice just because they all don’t align with the Western idea of freedom. Instead of leaving the characters black-and-white or forcing them into molds, the novel thrives in the space between extremes where real people live.
What’s interesting is the setting of France—a country recognized for its vigorous secularism strategies, whose burqa bans make international headlines. France, with its complex history of immigration and secular values, becomes an unwitting star of the novel, a character navigating its own identity crisis. How does a society hold on to its secular values while ensuring that rights and freedoms aren’t being curtailed arbitrarily?
The narrative encourages the reader—especially younger ones who are on a constant quest for identity—to think deeper. It pushes boundaries, questioning the nature of freedom and how every culture can impose its own views as the universally acceptable norm. "Some Like It Veiled" showcases that imposing one's belief may not always lead to the desired emancipation but sometimes reinforces stereotypes.
This book offers diverse viewpoints without dipping into heavy-handedness. It is indispensable for Gen Z readers, who are digital natives naturally inclined towards accepting diversity. The story argues for a world less about wolfish divisions and more about understanding pluralities. It taps into the growing discomfort with homogenized cultural expectations and challenges the necessity of labeling everything foreign as the 'other.'
And yet, the novel doesn’t just play cheerleader to a multicultural utopia; it shows the genuine hurdles faced by individuals caught in a cultural crossroads. It paints a realistic vision—a future where there is a thriving coexistence but not without its occasional hiccups.
While readers could interpret the narrative in diverse ways—be it a satire or an honest take on multicultural life—the graphic novel stays relevant. It consolidates humor with deep reflections and what ends up on the reading table is a thoughtful attempt to portray how different stories have the power of redefining identities.
Every panel of "Some Like It Veiled" serves as a probing tool into the essence of identity. It’s a gateway for conversations on how the universe is not just black or white, but speckled with hues we must learn to appreciate. Wrapped in comedic dialogues, the novel provokes an inner journey that challenges prevailing narratives, pushes for empathy, and most importantly—asks us to question wherever we might draw imaginary lines.
Ultimately, this tale is about acceptance. Accepting differences, and engaging with them instead of shrinking from them. It's not just a book; it's a conversation starter offering perspective in our often divided world. With each turning page, the protagonists unveil the unseen, skipping stones across a river of what it truly means to respect individual choices without hastily passing judgment.