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Drama (graphic novel)

January 21, 2023

Drama is a graphic novel written by American cartoonist Raina Telgemeier which centers on the story of Callie, a middle school student and theater-lover who works in her school's drama production crew. While navigating seventh grade, Callie deals with tween hardship, including confusing crushes, budding friendships, and middle school drama. It is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of friendship, teamwork, inclusion, and determination through Callie and her relationship with the people around her.[1]

Drama
AuthorRaina Telgemeier
LanguageEnglish
Genregraphic novel
PublishedSeptember 1, 2012
PublisherScholastic/Graphix
ISBN9780545326995
Websitegoraina.com/drama

Although the novel has received much praise for the normalization of the LGBTQ community and consequently winning multiple awards, it has also been the source of much controversy. Drama has appeared in the American Library Association's List of top ten challenged books for its inclusion of LGBTQ characters and ultimately became the seventh-most banned book between 2010 and 2019.[2]

Background

In an interview with School Library Journal, author Raina Telgemeier responds to a question about her inspiration for the graphic novel by saying she wrote from her life experiences, such as what she felt, saw and knew.[3] Although Drama is a work of fiction, she draws from her personal experiences to create content. In high school, Telgemeier was in the choir and sang in the ensemble for many school plays, which ultimately drew her inspiration for writing Drama.[4] Several characters in the graphic novel are based on real people in Telgemeier's own personal life. The twin brothers, Jesse and Justin, resemble two of Telgemeier's actual friends, and their in-book personalities mirror their real-life personalities.[3] Although Telgemeier originally intended the characters to be high schoolers, Scholastic believed the setting was more appropriate for middle school.[4]

The graphic novel itself combines both manga and comic forms, which the author frequently read while growing up.[4] Telgemeier has since continued to write graphic novels with a similar growing up theme for her four other novels of Sisters, Smile, Guts, and Ghosts.[5]

Summary

The main character of Drama is Callie Marin, a grade seven student, major theatre enthusiast and member of the Theatre Tech Department's stage crew at Eucalyptus Middle School. In the first scene, she is walking home with her friends Greg and Matt Solano – who are also brothers – where she confesses her feelings for Greg, an upperclassmen baseball superstar and one of her best friends. Greg responds by blushing and saying that Callie "is cool, but..." And Callie says that the girl, Bonnie Lake, that Greg recently broke up with was stuck up and a drama queen. Much to Callie's delight, she shares a kiss with Greg. At school, Callie joins the meeting of the stage crew, led by Mr. Madera and student stage manager Loren, announcing the upcoming production of the fictional Civil War-era romantic musical Moon over Mississippi with her as returning set designer and is excited to implement her plans. She envisions an exploding cannon for the play; although, there are doubts from her peers about its feasibility. Later on, Callie meets identical twin brothers Justin and Jesse Mendocino. Justin is eager to try out for the musical, but Jesse is too shy.

The next day, Callie goes to the mall with Jesse and Justin, where she shows them a book about set designs and describes her love for theatre production and her dreams for the future. As they wait for the twins' father to pick them up, Jesse and Justin sing one of the songs from the musical. Callie is shocked by their talent and propositions them to join the musical. Jesse rejects Callie's suggestion; however, he accepts her follow-up offer to work on stage crew with her. The next day at school, Callie's friend Matt, a lighting crew member for the musical and Greg's younger brother, angrily confronts her and she is confused over his sudden aggression. She then proceeds to sit with Justin during lunch, where he shares that he is gay (though he is slightly embarrassed when he does), and although Callie is initially shocked, she supports him nonetheless.

Callie and Jesse then watch the auditions for Moon over Mississippi, where the lead role is granted to West Redding, which disappoints Justin. Callie confesses her crush on Jesse to her best friend Liz, who suggests that she invite him to the upcoming school dance. The following day, Callie goes to the bookstore with the twins and asks if their father knows that Justin is gay, to which Justin responds no. In school the next day, to counteract the lack of ticket sales, Callie decides to demonstrate her cannon in front of the student body, which generates excitement and an increase in tickets.

The first two nights of the musical are a success, but the third night is marred after West breaks up with Bonnie just before the final performance. She then locks herself in a supply closet and refuses to come out, forcing the stage crew to frantically find Jesse as a backup, decked out in a red dress. He performs well and even shares a kiss with West like the role calls for. Following his performance, Jesse asks Callie to the dance, and during the slow dance Callie embraces him, and suddenly, Jesse ditches her to talk alone with West outside. Callie and Jesse have an argument about him leaving her during the dance, during which Jesse implies that he is also gay and makes a comment about how Callie falls for every nice guy. She angrily storms off in response and coincidentally runs into Greg. They go for a walk so she can clear her mind. During the walk, Greg tries to kiss Callie, but she refuses due to his reaction the last time they kissed. Later, Callie meets with Jesse where he apologizes and thanks her for helping him break out of his shell, stating if he were to date a girl it would be her. Matt then confesses his crush on Callie that was the cause of him lashing out at her during musical rehearsal, apologizing for his actions. At the end of the novel, the stage crew celebrates the success of the musical and Callie is named the new stage crew manager for the following year, much to her excitement.

Genre and style

Drama can be classified as a graphic novel because of the integration of text and comic style art.[6]

This particular genre of Drama has received praise from visual literacy and critical reading professor Meryl Jaffe. Jaffe believes that Telgemeier's illustrations a "sense of place, touch, and feel" which allow readers to further connect with the characters and events in the book, as compared to a regular novel.[7] Jaffe suggests that the depiction of a diverse student body helps to normalize the process of coming out. The diversity featured in the illustrations convey that everyone, regardless of appearance or background, experience similar challenges with self-identity.[7] She argues that Telgemeier's creative decisions, such as using facial expressions to reveal emotion and color to express mood, allow readers to better comprehend the complexities of the situations that the characters experience.[7] Through her illustrations, Telgemeier is able to successfully address difficult subjects, specifically the LGBTQ relationships depicted in Drama.[7]

The graphic novel genre of Drama is also praised by college librarian Eti Berland, who contends that the use of the graphic novel style allows readers to imagine themselves in the book.[8] By having a visual representation of the challenges the characters face, readers not only develop a more personal understanding of LGBTQ experiences, but also gain a better sense of empathy for others in similar situations outside of the novel.[8] For readers who identify as LGBTQ, Berland argues that Telgemeier's positive depiction of LGBTQ characters in Drama serves to validate their experiences, and make them feel more included in modern literature.

Professor of literature Michelle Ann Abate emphasizes certain issues with Telgemeier's graphics. She claims that the illustrations and creative choices in the novel carry white supremacist and racist overtones.[9] For example, Abate points out that West Redding, who bears a striking resemblance to Ashley Wilkes from the movie Gone with the Wind, is the only character in the book whose eye color is depicted. With his blue eyes, blond hair, and role as the male lead for the play Moon Over Mississippi, West seems to symbolize "white racial purity."[9] Another aspect Abate finds troubling is the similarity between Justin performing a dance routine in the school play and the caricature of Jim Crow performing a minstrel dance. This is especially emphasized because Justin plays a comedic role in the performance, similar to the role Jim Crow.[9] Abate argues that the uncanny resemblance between Telgemeier's illustrations and racially charged images presents a tension that complicates the issue of race in Drama, and renders the novel much less progressive than most critics believe.

Analysis

Presentation of questioning identity and coming out

College librarian Eti Berland credits Raina Telgemeier for using Justin's coming out to show that sharing one's sexual identity is an important aspect of adolescent life. Justin casually reveals his sexual orientation to Callie, conveying the message that coming out has become increasingly normalized in young people's lives.[8]

Berland states that Jesse's case is more complex as he learns to come to terms with his sexual identity. His process of coming out is slow and closely related to his fear of being judged. Performing in the play is a major catalyst to the development of his identity as he comes to terms with his sexuality.[8] Despite the initially worrisome situation Jesse finds himself in after ditching Callie in the school play, his coming out story is "challenging but affirming" where he finds an accepting and supportive community.[8]

West's process of coming out is still burgeoning. He displays signs of perpetually self-questioning tweens who "recognize the fluidity of identity." He represents the idea that the "gay-straight divide" is slowly fading by continuously doubting his sexuality without selecting a label, "still doesn't know if he's really gay, or whatever the character its self is probably pan or bi."[citation needed] Due to this, West is able choose what he wants to self-identify as.[8]

Portrayal of hegemonic masculinity

Berland states that Raina Telgemeier portrays hegemonic masculinity or in other words toxic masculinity in Drama through the experiences of Matt and Jesse, who struggle in adhering to institutional and "social structures" such as dating and sports.[8] In Matt's case, the pressure of society to conform to the ideals of "real men" is more pronounced. Matt says, "Their stuff's way too cutesy for me," in an attempt to assert masculine authority over Callie. Another instance of this, is when he displays his "craving for dominance" by telling Callie to focus less on the performers with the "intention of becoming the object of her affections." In the end, Matt expresses remorse for his actions and resists hegemonic masculinity.[8]

Jesse's fight against masculine norms is subtler than Matt's. His hidden desire to perform on stage is held back by his fear of being judged for what he enjoys. He also encounters expectations of masculinity from his father, when asked if Callie was his girlfriend. Once Jesse resists hegemonic masculinity by playing the role of Miss Maybelle, this aids in his ability to realize his identity and come out.[8]

Race

Literary scholar Michelle Ann Abate presents a more critical view of Drama by arguing that the novel's romanticization of the antebellum South and lack of meaningful discussion of race limits its purpose as a celebration of diversity.[9] For example, Abate contends that the title of the school play, Moon Over Mississippi, which serves as a backdrop for the events in the novel, represents a whitewashing and idealization of Southern plantation life, and ignores the realities of life during that era, including slavery. Although Raina Telgemeier's multicultural cast of characters in the novel is an attempt to promote diversity, the characters' failure to engage in dialogue about race, and power undermines her efforts.[9] Abate observes that the absence of discussion about race among students at Eucalyptus Middle School reflects the situation of many American millennials, in which they reject racism and embrace tolerance and diversity, but are also uncomfortable with actually addressing issues of race. She claims that Drama's troubling treatment of both past and contemporary racial tensions ultimately compromises its status as a progressive novel that realistically portrays LGBTQ characters.[9]

Reception

Between 2012 and 2013, Drama received many positive remarks from various sources. Publishers Weekly stated that Drama "sweetly captur[es]" the challenges that are associated with a middle school production.[10] Booklist Review claimed that "Telgemeier is prodigiously talented at telling cheerful stories with realistic portrayals of middle-school characters."[11] Ada Calhoun of the NY Times Book Review commented, "Telgemeier's use of color, created with design team Gurihiru, is eloquent."[1]

There is also high praise from The Gazette to Telgemeier for using the graphic novel style to present a more mature theme.[5] According to The Gazette, Telgemeier does a wonderful job of being able to convey a theme usually meant for young adult readers, making it more accessible to the middle school audience the novel was written for.[5] From the School Library Journal, there is discussion about how this graphic novel promotes a more positive view point when compared to other novels; however, this is not to say that Drama is without its prejudices.[12] The article by Abate suggests that, in attempting to make her novel more inclusive, Telgemeier inadvertently fits her characters into stereotypes.[12] This works directly against the perceived climax of her novel when Jesse fills in for Bonnie and kisses West on stage.[9]

There is, however, some push back amongst libraries under the guise of not wanting to include graphic novels.[13] Charles Brownstein, the director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, does not agree with this genre losing legitimacy due to the inclusion of illustrations. Additionally, Brownstein continues to say, that Drama and other novels, "are clearly a vital aspect of current culture", and that controversy amongst graphic novels with relevant topics of discussion is expected.[13]

Drama has been challenged by some parents and critics for being "sexually explicit", for having "subject matter too advanced for elementary students."[14][15] and for "promoting the homosexual agenda".[16] Drama has almost consistently received a spot on the American Library Association's Top Ten 10 of Banned Books from 2014 to 2019,[16] and ultimately became the seventh-most banned book between 2010 and 2019.[2] In Texas, Drama was banned three years consecutively between 2014 and 2018.[17] In 2014, a ban in Chapel Hill Elementary School in Mount Pleasant, Texas, put Drama on the American Library Association list of top 10 banned books.[18] However, the details regarding the Chapel Hill Elementary School ban are limited since "there has been no news coverage... so details are thin on the ground."[19] Its use was also restricted in Seele Elementary School in New Braunfels, Texas in 2014.[15] At Kirbyville Junior High in Kirbyville, Texas, the book was also banned for being "politically, racially, or socially offensive" in 2016.[20] During the 2016–17 school year, Drama was banned in the Franklin Independent School District in Franklin, Texas "most likely... due to the storyline involving a crush between two friends of main character Callie."[17] That year, Drama was the only novel noted on the Texas ACLU list of banned books.[17]

Common Sense Media, a company that rates media by age-appropriateness, has marked Drama as suitable for readers over 10 years of age. Common Sense Media acknowledges that "some readers may be uncomfortable with the graphic novel's depiction of homosexual crushes between young teens."[21] Since this is a common point of contention, many schools will include novels with this type of young romance in order to normalize it and promote more equality.[13] It is a popular opinion that in normalizing this type of relationship between homosexual individuals, there will be a positive impact on today's youth.[12]

Michelle Abate, an Associate Professor of Literature for Children and Young Adults at The Ohio State University, argues that, "...the graphic novel demonstrates the limitations of LGBTQ youth advocacy that does not remain cognizant of intersectionality, while it also highlights the problem with millennial forms of multiculturalism that omit critical discussions about race."[9] In her opinion, the musical production in Drama of Moon over Mississippi, a play about the Civil War that mimics Gone with the Wind, romanticizes the Antebellum South, thus limiting how progressive the novel can be.[9] According to Abate, the production itself serves as a way of promoting the ideology of white supremacy from that era and therefore negatively impacts the novel's ability to serve as an effective advocate for the LGBTQ community.[9]

In response to backlash for portraying gay characters in a children's book, Telgemeier replied by saying she is "grateful Scholastic has been willing to stand behind me on Drama."[22] She also believes that "sexuality is a part of your identity that doesn't necessarily apply to what you are doing with other people when you are eight or nine years old," and that she doesn't attempt to force her viewpoints on anyone.[3] She explained that her "agenda is love and friendship. People will make of it what they will and I can't let that sway the things I believe and the things I write about."[3] Telgemeier continues to say "If a chaste heterosexual kiss had happened in Drama, no one would have batted an eye", meaning to discuss the double standard of the objections to this novel.[12] This idea is consistent with other sources and praises for Drama such as The Gazette and Brownstein, that fully support the normalization of homosexual relationships, and also support her deliverance in the form of a graphic novel for this subjectively more mature theme.

Awards

In 2012, Drama was declared a Notable Children's Books and a Teen Top Ten by the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), which are all as part of the American Library Association.[23]

Both Publishers Weekly[24] and the Washington Post[25] list Drama as one of the Best Books of 2012.

Also in 2012, NPR noted Drama as a novel that went under-recognized.[26] In the NPR book review, Glen Weldon explained how, "If somebody handed this book to [him] in the seventh grade, [he] still would have been the same self-conscious jerk [he is], but it would have helped. It would have helped so much."[26]

NPR also named Drama a "5 Great Summer Reads for Teens" in 2013.[27] Petra Mayer, on NPR, described the artwork in the novel as "...simple but animated, and delightfully expressive."[27]

Drama also won a 2013 Stonewall Book Award in Children's and Young Adult Literature, an award given by the American Library Association that serves to recognize authors who tackle LGBTQ related topics.[28]

Drama was nominated for a Harvey Award in 2013 by a group of comic-book professionals for excellence in comics.[29] The Harvey Award is one of the most prestigious and oldest accomplishments within the comic industry.[30]

Also in 2013, the American Library Association deemed Drama as a Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.[31]

Drama was placed on the Rainbow List in 2013, which is an annual list of books that are reviewed by the Committee of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association.[32]

References

  1. ^ a b Calhoun, Ada (2012-08-23). "'Drama,' by Raina Telgemeier". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  2. ^ a b American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (2020-09-09). "Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019". Banned & Challenged Books. from the original on 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  3. ^ a b c d "Interview: Raina Telgemeier on 'Drama' — Good Comics for Kids". blogs.slj.com. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  4. ^ a b c "Interview with Raina Telgemeier | Teenreads". www.teenreads.com. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  5. ^ a b c Goedhart, Bernie (March 23, 2013). "The drama of middle school". The Gazette. Retrieved May 2, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Karen MacPherson, Scripps Howard,News Service. "Raina Telgemeier Goes for 'Drama' After Dental Pain of 'Smile'." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA), 2012, NewsBank. Web.
  7. ^ a b c d "Using Graphic Novels in Education: Drama | Comic Book Legal Defense Fund". cbldf.org. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Berland, Eti (2017), "The Drama of Coming Out", Graphic Novels for Children and Young Adults, University Press of Mississippi, pp. 205–217, doi:10.2307/j.ctv5jxmqd.17, ISBN 9781496811714
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Abate, Michelle Ann (2016-12-01). ""Springtime in the South is Like a Song in My Heart": Raina Telgemeier's Drama, the Romanticization of the Plantation South, and the Romance Plot". Children's Literature in Education. 48 (4): 355–377. doi:10.1007/s10583-016-9299-x. ISSN 0045-6713. S2CID 152138371.
  10. ^ "Drama". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Summary/Reviews: Drama /". Buffalo & Eerie County Public Library. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  12. ^ a b c d Alverson, B. (2017). "Just another day in an LGBTQ comic". School Library Journal, 63(05), 38.
  13. ^ a b c Cavna, M. (2018). "Rock-star YA author Raina Telgemeier will publish the graphic memoir 'Guts' next fall"
  14. ^ "Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books Lists of the 21st Century". American Library Association. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Banned Books". ACLU of Texas. 2015-09-27. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  16. ^ a b American Library Association (26 March 2013). "Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists". Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. from the original on 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  17. ^ a b c "Drama Banned Again in Texas, ACLU Report Shows | Comic Book Legal Defense Fund". Retrieved 2018-12-05.
  18. ^ "Case Study: Drama". Comic Book Legal Defense. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  19. ^ "What Do We Know About the Frequently Challenged Comics of 2014? | Comic Book Legal Defense Fund". Retrieved 2018-12-05.
  20. ^ "Banned Books". ACLU of Texas. 2015-09-27. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
  21. ^ "Drama - Book Review". Common Sense Media. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  22. ^ Cavna, Michael. "'Persepolis,' 'Saga' and 'Drama' among 'Most Challenged' books in U.S. libraries". The Washington Post.
  23. ^ admin (1999-11-30). "Notable Children's Books - 2018". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  24. ^ "Best Books of 2012". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  25. ^ Cavna, Michael (November 16, 2012). "Top 10 graphic, comic novels of 2012". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Graphic Novels That Flew Under The Radar In 2012". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  27. ^ a b Mayer, Petra (11 June 2013). "School's Out: 5 Great Summer Reads For Teens". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  28. ^ "Stonewall Book Award List". American Library Association. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  29. ^ "Drama". GoRaina. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  30. ^ "Homepage - The Harvey Awards". www.harveyawards.com. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  31. ^ JFINNEKE (2013-01-30). "Great Graphic Novels Top Ten 2013". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Retrieved 2018-12-05.
  32. ^ "2013 Rainbow Book List". Rainbow Book List. Retrieved 2018-12-05.

January 21, 2023
drama, graphic, novel, drama, graphic, novel, written, american, cartoonist, raina, telgemeier, which, centers, story, callie, middle, school, student, theater, lover, works, school, drama, production, crew, while, navigating, seventh, grade, callie, deals, wi. Drama is a graphic novel written by American cartoonist Raina Telgemeier which centers on the story of Callie a middle school student and theater lover who works in her school s drama production crew While navigating seventh grade Callie deals with tween hardship including confusing crushes budding friendships and middle school drama It is a coming of age story that explores themes of friendship teamwork inclusion and determination through Callie and her relationship with the people around her 1 DramaAuthorRaina TelgemeierLanguageEnglishGenregraphic novelPublishedSeptember 1 2012PublisherScholastic GraphixISBN9780545326995Websitegoraina wbr com wbr dramaAlthough the novel has received much praise for the normalization of the LGBTQ community and consequently winning multiple awards it has also been the source of much controversy Drama has appeared in the American Library Association s List of top ten challenged books for its inclusion of LGBTQ characters and ultimately became the seventh most banned book between 2010 and 2019 2 Contents 1 Background 2 Summary 3 Genre and style 4 Analysis 4 1 Presentation of questioning identity and coming out 4 2 Portrayal of hegemonic masculinity 4 3 Race 5 Reception 6 Awards 7 ReferencesBackground EditIn an interview with School Library Journal author Raina Telgemeier responds to a question about her inspiration for the graphic novel by saying she wrote from her life experiences such as what she felt saw and knew 3 Although Drama is a work of fiction she draws from her personal experiences to create content In high school Telgemeier was in the choir and sang in the ensemble for many school plays which ultimately drew her inspiration for writing Drama 4 Several characters in the graphic novel are based on real people in Telgemeier s own personal life The twin brothers Jesse and Justin resemble two of Telgemeier s actual friends and their in book personalities mirror their real life personalities 3 Although Telgemeier originally intended the characters to be high schoolers Scholastic believed the setting was more appropriate for middle school 4 The graphic novel itself combines both manga and comic forms which the author frequently read while growing up 4 Telgemeier has since continued to write graphic novels with a similar growing up theme for her four other novels of Sisters Smile Guts and Ghosts 5 Summary EditThe main character of Drama is Callie Marin a grade seven student major theatre enthusiast and member of the Theatre Tech Department s stage crew at Eucalyptus Middle School In the first scene she is walking home with her friends Greg and Matt Solano who are also brothers where she confesses her feelings for Greg an upperclassmen baseball superstar and one of her best friends Greg responds by blushing and saying that Callie is cool but And Callie says that the girl Bonnie Lake that Greg recently broke up with was stuck up and a drama queen Much to Callie s delight she shares a kiss with Greg At school Callie joins the meeting of the stage crew led by Mr Madera and student stage manager Loren announcing the upcoming production of the fictional Civil War era romantic musical Moon over Mississippi with her as returning set designer and is excited to implement her plans She envisions an exploding cannon for the play although there are doubts from her peers about its feasibility Later on Callie meets identical twin brothers Justin and Jesse Mendocino Justin is eager to try out for the musical but Jesse is too shy The next day Callie goes to the mall with Jesse and Justin where she shows them a book about set designs and describes her love for theatre production and her dreams for the future As they wait for the twins father to pick them up Jesse and Justin sing one of the songs from the musical Callie is shocked by their talent and propositions them to join the musical Jesse rejects Callie s suggestion however he accepts her follow up offer to work on stage crew with her The next day at school Callie s friend Matt a lighting crew member for the musical and Greg s younger brother angrily confronts her and she is confused over his sudden aggression She then proceeds to sit with Justin during lunch where he shares that he is gay though he is slightly embarrassed when he does and although Callie is initially shocked she supports him nonetheless Callie and Jesse then watch the auditions for Moon over Mississippi where the lead role is granted to West Redding which disappoints Justin Callie confesses her crush on Jesse to her best friend Liz who suggests that she invite him to the upcoming school dance The following day Callie goes to the bookstore with the twins and asks if their father knows that Justin is gay to which Justin responds no In school the next day to counteract the lack of ticket sales Callie decides to demonstrate her cannon in front of the student body which generates excitement and an increase in tickets The first two nights of the musical are a success but the third night is marred after West breaks up with Bonnie just before the final performance She then locks herself in a supply closet and refuses to come out forcing the stage crew to frantically find Jesse as a backup decked out in a red dress He performs well and even shares a kiss with West like the role calls for Following his performance Jesse asks Callie to the dance and during the slow dance Callie embraces him and suddenly Jesse ditches her to talk alone with West outside Callie and Jesse have an argument about him leaving her during the dance during which Jesse implies that he is also gay and makes a comment about how Callie falls for every nice guy She angrily storms off in response and coincidentally runs into Greg They go for a walk so she can clear her mind During the walk Greg tries to kiss Callie but she refuses due to his reaction the last time they kissed Later Callie meets with Jesse where he apologizes and thanks her for helping him break out of his shell stating if he were to date a girl it would be her Matt then confesses his crush on Callie that was the cause of him lashing out at her during musical rehearsal apologizing for his actions At the end of the novel the stage crew celebrates the success of the musical and Callie is named the new stage crew manager for the following year much to her excitement Genre and style EditDrama can be classified as a graphic novel because of the integration of text and comic style art 6 This particular genre of Drama has received praise from visual literacy and critical reading professor Meryl Jaffe Jaffe believes that Telgemeier s illustrations a sense of place touch and feel which allow readers to further connect with the characters and events in the book as compared to a regular novel 7 Jaffe suggests that the depiction of a diverse student body helps to normalize the process of coming out The diversity featured in the illustrations convey that everyone regardless of appearance or background experience similar challenges with self identity 7 She argues that Telgemeier s creative decisions such as using facial expressions to reveal emotion and color to express mood allow readers to better comprehend the complexities of the situations that the characters experience 7 Through her illustrations Telgemeier is able to successfully address difficult subjects specifically the LGBTQ relationships depicted in Drama 7 The graphic novel genre of Drama is also praised by college librarian Eti Berland who contends that the use of the graphic novel style allows readers to imagine themselves in the book 8 By having a visual representation of the challenges the characters face readers not only develop a more personal understanding of LGBTQ experiences but also gain a better sense of empathy for others in similar situations outside of the novel 8 For readers who identify as LGBTQ Berland argues that Telgemeier s positive depiction of LGBTQ characters in Drama serves to validate their experiences and make them feel more included in modern literature Professor of literature Michelle Ann Abate emphasizes certain issues with Telgemeier s graphics She claims that the illustrations and creative choices in the novel carry white supremacist and racist overtones 9 For example Abate points out that West Redding who bears a striking resemblance to Ashley Wilkes from the movie Gone with the Wind is the only character in the book whose eye color is depicted With his blue eyes blond hair and role as the male lead for the play Moon Over Mississippi West seems to symbolize white racial purity 9 Another aspect Abate finds troubling is the similarity between Justin performing a dance routine in the school play and the caricature of Jim Crow performing a minstrel dance This is especially emphasized because Justin plays a comedic role in the performance similar to the role Jim Crow 9 Abate argues that the uncanny resemblance between Telgemeier s illustrations and racially charged images presents a tension that complicates the issue of race in Drama and renders the novel much less progressive than most critics believe Analysis EditPresentation of questioning identity and coming out Edit College librarian Eti Berland credits Raina Telgemeier for using Justin s coming out to show that sharing one s sexual identity is an important aspect of adolescent life Justin casually reveals his sexual orientation to Callie conveying the message that coming out has become increasingly normalized in young people s lives 8 Berland states that Jesse s case is more complex as he learns to come to terms with his sexual identity His process of coming out is slow and closely related to his fear of being judged Performing in the play is a major catalyst to the development of his identity as he comes to terms with his sexuality 8 Despite the initially worrisome situation Jesse finds himself in after ditching Callie in the school play his coming out story is challenging but affirming where he finds an accepting and supportive community 8 West s process of coming out is still burgeoning He displays signs of perpetually self questioning tweens who recognize the fluidity of identity He represents the idea that the gay straight divide is slowly fading by continuously doubting his sexuality without selecting a label still doesn t know if he s really gay or whatever the character its self is probably pan or bi citation needed Due to this West is able choose what he wants to self identify as 8 Portrayal of hegemonic masculinity Edit Berland states that Raina Telgemeier portrays hegemonic masculinity or in other words toxic masculinity in Drama through the experiences of Matt and Jesse who struggle in adhering to institutional and social structures such as dating and sports 8 In Matt s case the pressure of society to conform to the ideals of real men is more pronounced Matt says Their stuff s way too cutesy for me in an attempt to assert masculine authority over Callie Another instance of this is when he displays his craving for dominance by telling Callie to focus less on the performers with the intention of becoming the object of her affections In the end Matt expresses remorse for his actions and resists hegemonic masculinity 8 Jesse s fight against masculine norms is subtler than Matt s His hidden desire to perform on stage is held back by his fear of being judged for what he enjoys He also encounters expectations of masculinity from his father when asked if Callie was his girlfriend Once Jesse resists hegemonic masculinity by playing the role of Miss Maybelle this aids in his ability to realize his identity and come out 8 Race Edit Literary scholar Michelle Ann Abate presents a more critical view of Drama by arguing that the novel s romanticization of the antebellum South and lack of meaningful discussion of race limits its purpose as a celebration of diversity 9 For example Abate contends that the title of the school play Moon Over Mississippi which serves as a backdrop for the events in the novel represents a whitewashing and idealization of Southern plantation life and ignores the realities of life during that era including slavery Although Raina Telgemeier s multicultural cast of characters in the novel is an attempt to promote diversity the characters failure to engage in dialogue about race and power undermines her efforts 9 Abate observes that the absence of discussion about race among students at Eucalyptus Middle School reflects the situation of many American millennials in which they reject racism and embrace tolerance and diversity but are also uncomfortable with actually addressing issues of race She claims that Drama s troubling treatment of both past and contemporary racial tensions ultimately compromises its status as a progressive novel that realistically portrays LGBTQ characters 9 Reception EditBetween 2012 and 2013 Drama received many positive remarks from various sources Publishers Weekly stated that Drama sweetly captur es the challenges that are associated with a middle school production 10 Booklist Review claimed that Telgemeier is prodigiously talented at telling cheerful stories with realistic portrayals of middle school characters 11 Ada Calhoun of the NY Times Book Review commented Telgemeier s use of color created with design team Gurihiru is eloquent 1 There is also high praise from The Gazette to Telgemeier for using the graphic novel style to present a more mature theme 5 According to The Gazette Telgemeier does a wonderful job of being able to convey a theme usually meant for young adult readers making it more accessible to the middle school audience the novel was written for 5 From the School Library Journal there is discussion about how this graphic novel promotes a more positive view point when compared to other novels however this is not to say that Drama is without its prejudices 12 The article by Abate suggests that in attempting to make her novel more inclusive Telgemeier inadvertently fits her characters into stereotypes 12 This works directly against the perceived climax of her novel when Jesse fills in for Bonnie and kisses West on stage 9 There is however some push back amongst libraries under the guise of not wanting to include graphic novels 13 Charles Brownstein the director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund does not agree with this genre losing legitimacy due to the inclusion of illustrations Additionally Brownstein continues to say that Drama and other novels are clearly a vital aspect of current culture and that controversy amongst graphic novels with relevant topics of discussion is expected 13 Drama has been challenged by some parents and critics for being sexually explicit for having subject matter too advanced for elementary students 14 15 and for promoting the homosexual agenda 16 Drama has almost consistently received a spot on the American Library Association s Top Ten 10 of Banned Books from 2014 to 2019 16 and ultimately became the seventh most banned book between 2010 and 2019 2 In Texas Drama was banned three years consecutively between 2014 and 2018 17 In 2014 a ban in Chapel Hill Elementary School in Mount Pleasant Texas put Drama on the American Library Association list of top 10 banned books 18 However the details regarding the Chapel Hill Elementary School ban are limited since there has been no news coverage so details are thin on the ground 19 Its use was also restricted in Seele Elementary School in New Braunfels Texas in 2014 15 At Kirbyville Junior High in Kirbyville Texas the book was also banned for being politically racially or socially offensive in 2016 20 During the 2016 17 school year Drama was banned in the Franklin Independent School District in Franklin Texas most likely due to the storyline involving a crush between two friends of main character Callie 17 That year Drama was the only novel noted on the Texas ACLU list of banned books 17 Common Sense Media a company that rates media by age appropriateness has marked Drama as suitable for readers over 10 years of age Common Sense Media acknowledges that some readers may be uncomfortable with the graphic novel s depiction of homosexual crushes between young teens 21 Since this is a common point of contention many schools will include novels with this type of young romance in order to normalize it and promote more equality 13 It is a popular opinion that in normalizing this type of relationship between homosexual individuals there will be a positive impact on today s youth 12 Michelle Abate an Associate Professor of Literature for Children and Young Adults at The Ohio State University argues that the graphic novel demonstrates the limitations of LGBTQ youth advocacy that does not remain cognizant of intersectionality while it also highlights the problem with millennial forms of multiculturalism that omit critical discussions about race 9 In her opinion the musical production in Drama of Moon over Mississippi a play about the Civil War that mimics Gone with the Wind romanticizes the Antebellum South thus limiting how progressive the novel can be 9 According to Abate the production itself serves as a way of promoting the ideology of white supremacy from that era and therefore negatively impacts the novel s ability to serve as an effective advocate for the LGBTQ community 9 In response to backlash for portraying gay characters in a children s book Telgemeier replied by saying she is grateful Scholastic has been willing to stand behind me on Drama 22 She also believes that sexuality is a part of your identity that doesn t necessarily apply to what you are doing with other people when you are eight or nine years old and that she doesn t attempt to force her viewpoints on anyone 3 She explained that her agenda is love and friendship People will make of it what they will and I can t let that sway the things I believe and the things I write about 3 Telgemeier continues to say If a chaste heterosexual kiss had happened in Drama no one would have batted an eye meaning to discuss the double standard of the objections to this novel 12 This idea is consistent with other sources and praises for Drama such as The Gazette and Brownstein that fully support the normalization of homosexual relationships and also support her deliverance in the form of a graphic novel for this subjectively more mature theme Awards EditIn 2012 Drama was declared a Notable Children s Books and a Teen Top Ten by the Association of Library Services to Children ALSC and the Young Adult Library Services Association YALSA which are all as part of the American Library Association 23 Both Publishers Weekly 24 and the Washington Post 25 list Drama as one of the Best Books of 2012 Also in 2012 NPR noted Drama as a novel that went under recognized 26 In the NPR book review Glen Weldon explained how If somebody handed this book to him in the seventh grade he still would have been the same self conscious jerk he is but it would have helped It would have helped so much 26 NPR also named Drama a 5 Great Summer Reads for Teens in 2013 27 Petra Mayer on NPR described the artwork in the novel as simple but animated and delightfully expressive 27 Drama also won a 2013 Stonewall Book Award in Children s and Young Adult Literature an award given by the American Library Association that serves to recognize authors who tackle LGBTQ related topics 28 Drama was nominated for a Harvey Award in 2013 by a group of comic book professionals for excellence in comics 29 The Harvey Award is one of the most prestigious and oldest accomplishments within the comic industry 30 Also in 2013 the American Library Association deemed Drama as a Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens 31 Drama was placed on the Rainbow List in 2013 which is an annual list of books that are reviewed by the Committee of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association 32 References Edit a b Calhoun Ada 2012 08 23 Drama by Raina Telgemeier The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2016 09 12 a b American Library Association s Office for Intellectual Freedom 2020 09 09 Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books 2010 2019 Banned amp Challenged Books Archived from the original on 2020 09 27 Retrieved 2021 03 06 a b c d Interview Raina Telgemeier on Drama Good Comics for Kids blogs slj com 22 June 2017 Retrieved 2017 12 05 a b c Interview with Raina Telgemeier Teenreads www teenreads com Retrieved 2017 12 05 a b c Goedhart Bernie March 23 2013 The drama of middle school The Gazette Retrieved May 2 2019 via newspapers com Karen MacPherson Scripps Howard News Service Raina Telgemeier Goes for Drama After Dental Pain of Smile Pittsburgh Post Gazette PA 2012 NewsBank Web a b c d Using Graphic Novels in Education Drama Comic Book Legal Defense Fund cbldf org Retrieved 2018 11 22 a b c d e f g h i Berland Eti 2017 The Drama of Coming Out Graphic Novels for Children and Young Adults University Press of Mississippi pp 205 217 doi 10 2307 j ctv5jxmqd 17 ISBN 9781496811714 a b c d e f g h i j Abate Michelle Ann 2016 12 01 Springtime in the South is Like a Song in My Heart Raina Telgemeier s Drama the Romanticization of the Plantation South and the Romance Plot Children s Literature in Education 48 4 355 377 doi 10 1007 s10583 016 9299 x ISSN 0045 6713 S2CID 152138371 Drama Publishers Weekly Retrieved 16 February 2016 Summary Reviews Drama Buffalo amp Eerie County Public Library Retrieved 2016 09 12 a b c d Alverson B 2017 Just another day in an LGBTQ comic School Library Journal 63 05 38 a b c Cavna M 2018 Rock star YA author Raina Telgemeier will publish the graphic memoir Guts next fall Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books Lists of the 21st Century American Library Association 26 March 2013 Retrieved 18 February 2016 a b Banned Books ACLU of Texas 2015 09 27 Retrieved 2016 09 12 a b American Library Association 26 March 2013 Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists Advocacy Legislation amp Issues Archived from the original on 2017 07 28 Retrieved 2021 03 05 a b c Drama Banned Again in Texas ACLU Report Shows Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Retrieved 2018 12 05 Case Study Drama Comic Book Legal Defense Retrieved 17 February 2016 What Do We Know About the Frequently Challenged Comics of 2014 Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Retrieved 2018 12 05 Banned Books ACLU of Texas 2015 09 27 Retrieved 2017 11 13 Drama Book Review Common Sense Media 8 December 2012 Retrieved 2016 09 12 Cavna Michael Persepolis Saga and Drama among Most Challenged books in U S libraries The Washington Post admin 1999 11 30 Notable Children s Books 2018 Association for Library Service to Children ALSC Retrieved 2018 12 04 Best Books of 2012 Publishers Weekly Retrieved 2018 12 04 Cavna Michael November 16 2012 Top 10 graphic comic novels of 2012 The Washington Post Retrieved December 4 2018 a b Graphic Novels That Flew Under The Radar In 2012 NPR org Retrieved 2018 12 04 a b Mayer Petra 11 June 2013 School s Out 5 Great Summer Reads For Teens NPR org Retrieved 2018 12 04 Stonewall Book Award List American Library Association 9 September 2009 Retrieved 18 February 2016 Drama GoRaina Retrieved 16 February 2016 Homepage The Harvey Awards www harveyawards com Retrieved 2018 12 04 JFINNEKE 2013 01 30 Great Graphic Novels Top Ten 2013 Young Adult Library Services Association YALSA Retrieved 2018 12 05 2013 Rainbow Book List Rainbow Book List Retrieved 2018 12 05 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Drama graphic novel amp oldid 1134340090, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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