According to the second Farr extract (p.50-59), how did Herge research China for The Blue Lotus?
The excellently written text by Michael Farr clearly shows that Georges Remi was a very unique person with a creative mind like no other. What this particular article delves into is the backstory and history behind Herge's fifth offering of the highly acclaimed graphic novels - The Blue Lotus. Fans of the Tintin canon at the time would have grown curious as to where Tintin would travel to next in his upcoming adventure. According to the extract by Farr, Georges Remi was a perfectionist who spent quite a lot of time on each Tintin novel. 'Readers who were hungry and impatient for the latest Tintin had to learn to wait and have their patience rewarded.' (Farr, M. Introduction)
It was from his previous works such as the Cigars of the Pharaoh for instance that Herge realised that he needed to brush up on his style of writing. From the very start, Herge used research as a means of visualising foreign countries without actually having to go there. His prior Tintin instalments had, for the most part, been built up on cliches which was probably derived from propaganda messages of the time. 'So in the Spring of 1934 Father Gosset introduced him to Chang Chong-Chen.' (Farr, M. p.51)
The reason the two of them were acquainted was due to the concern of Herge basing his next Tintin story in China. When the word of this leaked out, it was advised that Herge was to refrain from using cliches by having him partner up with someone of that specific race who could offer him incite into the Chinese culture. Down the road, Georges Remi forced himself to discard any racial cliches as he throws Tintin into a peril situation where he bravely rescues a Chinese villager from drowning. The character in distress was named Chang Chong-Chen who manages to justify Tintin's ignorant perception of China. Tintin's interaction with this character was used to mirror Herge's friendship with Chang.
Farr, M. (1991). Tintin: the complete companion.
Thanks Joel. Good, you express some of your own opinions and thoughts here. You clearly read the second Farr extract. Your referencing is a little incomplete. Please note - your middle paragraph includes a section from the Farr extract that you have not attributed to him - you must be careful with this.
ReplyDeleteJust a minor note - if you refer to someone in your text by both their real-name and their pen-name, you should note the pen-name as a pen-name the first time you type it (usually like this Herge [pen-name of Georges Remi]). Good.
It's really interesting to note how he was advised to refrain from using cliches. It really gets you thinking about the pressure of writing about certain things like the relationship between Japan and China and how he would have had to address certain issues and topics when researching and writing this particular comic. As he previously used research to imagine what countries were actually like I think that it's no wonder that he was advised to watch out for cliches.
ReplyDeleteGood job.