Week 1: The Arrival by Shaun Tan

For the first week of class, I read the graphic novel titled The Arrival by Shaun Tan. It was published in 2006—a time where interest in the graphic novel genre was skyrocketing. The entire story is depicted through beautifully drawn images that give a vintage feel. There are no words whatsoever; everything is understood through Tan’s illustrations. This type of storytelling is something that resonates with me because I love creating and viewing visual images and I also aspire to make graphic novels of my own.

In each part of the story, the style of shading is slightly altered to match the tone of what the protagonist is undergoing. For example, the beginning of the narrative features darker values to convey the somber emotion the characters are experiencing. 

It is clear to viewers that the man is packing up and leaving his family. He is sad to do so but he must go forth in order to have a better future. Immigrating to a new country is an extremely tough task that Tan perfectly expresses with his graphic novel. Leaving loved ones is heart-wrenching, and when combined with the obstacles of learning a new culture and finding ways to survive, one will find themselves carrying a heavy weight. However, there are many positive things associated with immigration. There is a new world to explore; it is an exciting adventure despite the hardships. 

The creatures and all the oddities Tan illustrates are symbolic of the new curiosity one has when arriving to a new country. There are things that are frightening, but also things that are lovely and magical. The atmosphere of the panel above is very bright and happy; the new city is drawn to be whimsical, and it is understood by viewers that the protagonist is having a good time. This contrasts with panels of the novel that tell a darker story, as they usually have strong dark values. It is easy to tell when the protagonist is experiencing a happy moment because there are always many bright values depicted.

Overall, The Arrival is extremely successful at storytelling with just artwork. It has very alluring visuals along with a story that pulls the reader in. I myself was heavily invested in the protagonist's journey, I found myself wishing for him to succeed and have happiness in the end. I am glad that the story had a joyous resolution, and I am grateful I was able to read an important part of graphic novel history.