COMICS JOURNAL 07: Wordless Graphic Novels (Southern Cross)
Title: Graphic Witness: Four Wordless Graphic Novels
Authors: Frans Masereel, Lynd Ward, Giacomo Patri, .
Pages 291-412: Southern Cross by Laurence Hyde
Southern Cross consisted of 120 wood engravings, which was created by Laurence Hyde (1914-87), compared the conditions before and after the hydrogen bombs explosion on the little island Bikini Atoll in 1946 in order to raise public awareness about bomb testing by the U.S. government. Hyde helped us experience the changes through a local family which had three members, the father, mother, and the child.
The military not only force the local people to abandon their land and evacuated to a much smaller island, there are also sexual assaults by the military members. The man and his family had to escape after the military guy was killed even though the killing was to protect his wife. As a result, they were left on the island instead of evacuating to another island.
Just a click on the button, the bomb exploded. The shiny rays and large mushroom clouds in the sky took away the couple's life leaving the child crying next to his parents. The graphic on page 322 showed the local family enjoying the sunset moment by the sea. The graphic on page 354 with the local woman lying on the ground, facing down, and a hand covering her face showed how helpless the local people were toward the invasion of the military. The graphic on page 409 showed the death of the couples after the bomb testing.
This wordless novel tried to raise public's concern about how war caused destruction and how a small click can cause enormous effect on a local family, all of the local people, as well as the fish and other species on or around the island. However, there are still many wars involved the U.S. nowadays.
Authors: Frans Masereel, Lynd Ward, Giacomo Patri, .
Pages 291-412: Southern Cross by Laurence Hyde
Southern Cross consisted of 120 wood engravings, which was created by Laurence Hyde (1914-87), compared the conditions before and after the hydrogen bombs explosion on the little island Bikini Atoll in 1946 in order to raise public awareness about bomb testing by the U.S. government. Hyde helped us experience the changes through a local family which had three members, the father, mother, and the child.
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| Page 322, Graphic Witness: Four Wordless Graphic Novels Southern Cross by Laurence Hyde Before bomb testing |
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| Page 323, Graphic Witness: Four Wordless Graphic Novels Southern Cross by Laurence Hyde Before bomb testing |
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| Page 354, Graphic Witness: Four Wordless Graphic Novels Southern Cross by Laurence Hyde Sexual assault after military invasion |
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| Page 409, Graphic Witness: Four Wordless Graphic Novels Southern Cross by Laurence Hyde After bomb testing |
Is a world without wars just a dream?
Love what you're doing with this journal! Great job.
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