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Habibi: 01/11/18
Habibi by Craig Thompson is a graphic novel set in an Islamic dystopian future. Dodola and Zam, two refugee slaves make a life for themselves in a boat washed up on what's now a desert at the edge of a vast city. Dodola is sold into marriage, escapes, and later is captured and taken into a harem. Much of her story seems to be an excuse to draw her naked. Zam, a young African boy has a good childhood with Dodola until he hits puberty. Then we have lots of awkward scenes of him watching Dodola dress and bath. Mixed into this voyeuristic romp through rape fantasies and Orientalism are lessons from the Quran. Politely put, it's an awkward juxtaposition. Put another way: imagine the outrage if the same story was told except Dodola was former indentured servant living near Monument Valley with a former slave boy, only to be kidnapped and forced to be a sister wife to some Mormon elder with chapters being introduced with calligraphic excerpts from the Book of Mormon. Two stars Comments (0)
1997-2025 Sarah Sammis |
