Guiding question: In what ways does the artist use the features of graphic novels to
convey his understanding of refugee camps?
Text 1, titled “Refugeeland '' is an extract from Joe Sacco’s graphic novel “Palestine”
regarding the Palestinian conflict between the population and the neighboring countries. The
text was published in 2001, a time of misery due to the matter of recurring tragedies. The
author highlights one of the significant global issues- the global issue of refugees' rights
being taken away. The author uses a humorous, mocking, and satirical tone to point out the
deficiencies in society acts and the UNRWA’s inactions to convey his criticism. The intended
audience is everyone, no matter what age or nationality. Considering that the author's satire is
entertaining, the intended audience is, therefore, a wide range of people. Through the use of
features of graphic novels, being voice-over, panels, perspective, and body language, the
author describes how in the condition they are in, the refugees are supposed to accept the
mistreatment they face and survive since nobody is taking action.
Through the use of voice-overs, the author uses satire to alter the reality of the
situation, bringing in his critical view. The use of voice-overs adds context and depth to the
mistreatment of the refugees, which is the main message of the text. The text boxes depict a
broken sequence of thoughts, with incomplete sentences and an ellipsis, reflecting the
refugees' mental state and morale. This guides the author in persuading the reader to
sympathize with the innocent. The text within the boxes is of larger importance as they serve
as a humorous complement to the main message of refugee mistreatment. Moreover, despite
the terrible conditions in the camps, Sacco employs satire to portray the refugee camps as a
theatrical tourist attraction. This idea is reflected through the phrases like “the admission is
free '' and words like “tour” in referring to visiting the refugee camps. Though later, the direct
reality and the issue behind the situation is described through the phrase “world's blackest
holes”, symbolizing hopelessness. The critical point of view to the issue is brought forward
here since the tragedy is “open for everyone to see”, yet the reality is that nobody is willing to
take action and help the ones suffering. Subsequently, the author references UNRWA's
inactions after providing the refugees with camps. The readers sympathize with the victims as
they feel pity. Therefore, the voice-over technique guides the author to express his critical
thoughts.
Through the use of panels, the author portrays how humanitarianism and the condition
they are in is of importance to him in the case of refugee camps. The two individual panels
used on the page bleed into each other, providing a full scenery of people and their
surroundings. This portrays the congestion within the refugee camps. Additionally, the lack
of structure and clarity within panels highlights a chaotic and claustrophobic mood. As a
matter of fact, like every other conflict with its complexity, the Israel-Palestine conflict has
political, religious, and economical aspects. However, combining the two panels into one
large panel is an endeavor of Joe Sacco to present his work from a humanitarian perspective,
meaning that it’s the lives of the poor innocents that are above all the aspects.
Through the use of perspective, guided by various camera angles the author illustrates
his image of the environment and the people in the refugee camps. The first panel on the top
of the page is from eye level. The eye-level shot here presents the visual image of people’s
suffering through a familiar viewpoint for the audience, to adequately imagine themselves in
the situation of refugees. In addition, the eye-level shot allows the reader to focus specifically
on the non-verbal communication created by the people’s unusual body language. For
instance, one can discern the two men who have their backs crouched and hands inside of
their pockets. Not only does the projection of their body language suggest the lack of
confidence and physical exhaustion, but it also highlights the hopeless morale of the refugees.
The inferiority of the refugees is a symbol of the refugees' rights being stripped away from
them, which is true to the fact. Following the first top half of the page depicting an eye-level
shot, the bottom half of the page is from a bird’s eye view, illustrating the full space in which
the crowd is in. This portrays the reason for their suffering which is their living conditions,
even in the special camps provided. The author uses this angle to, moreover, emphasise the
inferiority of the refugees as they are seen as small figures from a bird’s eye view.
Conclusively, the author depicts refugee camps as a dystopian land with the intention
of opening the eyes of people and spreading awareness. By eloquently portraying the brutal
reality of their living conditions through satirical tone, the graphic novel serves as a call to
action for individuals and humanitarian aid organisations to support the innocent refugees
being mistreated.
A-4
B-5
C-3
D-4