Graphic Horizons: Unveiling Spatial Utilization in Vishwajyoti Ghosh’s This Side, That Side: Restorying Partition
摘要
Graphic novels utilize the spatial dimensions of the page to enrich representation by visually portraying diversity, integrating cultural context, employing symbolism, and making deliberate decisions in page layout. The spatial arrangement of panels and the integration of visual and textual elements equip graphic novels to represent diverse cultural perspectives, fostering inclusivity and conveying a broad spectrum of voices and experiences. This chapter examines Vishwajyoti Ghosh’s This Side, That Side: Restorying Partition (An Anthology of Graphic Narratives) (2013), a collection of diverse graphic short stories from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh set against the backdrop of partition. Employing Benoît Peeters’s model of panel utilization, the chapter aims to understand how spatiality contributes to constructing the narrative in these selected graphic stories. It thus attempts to examine the diverse ways in which spatiality shapes these narratives of trauma and refugee crises. It also sheds light on how graphic novels emerge as a compelling medium to articulate narratives of history and trauma.