Like a Dog in our graphic novel review: Are Kafka's works still relevant? – tower

Franz Kafka's stories are visually implemented as a graphic novel, how is that supposed to work? In addition to video game culture, we at ntower have also made it our mission to incorporate other forms of culture into our work. There are also many of our readers who don't exclusively consume video games. Every now and then, you and I read classics such as Franz Kafka's stories or novels. In 2024, feature sections in all major German editorial departments everywhere will celebrate the Year of Kafka because the writer died exactly 100 years ago. Today we would like to introduce you to try a graphical implementation of Kafka works, which will not be alone in German-speaking countries this year.

Croatian illustrator and comic artist Danijel Zegeli, who has already created a monument to Vincent van Gogh with his comic style influenced by Expressionist painting, has created “Like a Dog,” a collection of text fragments and short stories by Franz Kafka. Zelig's major work is Kafka's story “The Hunger Artist,” which he graphically executes here using gorgeous combinations of black-and-white collages and shadow plays. This seems a bit underwhelming at first, but it fits with the story being told.

In the century before last, hunger artists were still considered a source of attraction for people, as they were displayed in public places. Over the course of several days or even weeks, they stop eating completely and consume only fluids. The performance art was observed under the eyes of guards who made sure that a hungry person was not tricked into eating something. The townspeople continued to flock to the public square where the artist was starving. The artist also drew strength from this and remained on the pedestal for up to 40 days until he was helped with a ceremonial act and offered something to eat.

If The Hunger Artist had had his way, it would have lasted longer than 40 days, but the showmen soon realized that people's interest declined quickly after 40 days, which is why an upper limit was set. After all, people still want to make money using one's willpower.

After a while, the Hunger Artists became less and less popular, which is why their participation decreased until eventually no one wanted to see them anymore. Sometimes, they were received in circuses, but even there they could not escape the attraction of wild animals. Dead activity in the truest sense of the word.

Danijel Žeželj implements the story of “The Hunger Artist” in large format images and presents us readers with contrasting black and white scenes in about 80 pages. There he also mixes realistic-looking elements into his angular, expressionistic drawings, like those that might appear in a black-and-white film. In this story he mixes elements from other short stories by Kafka such as “An Imperial Letter” or “The Eagle”. He either takes bits and pieces of them and implements them graphically, or he incorporates textual elements from the stories directly into himself.

The avant-verlag post is concluded with the corresponding texts on Kafka's pieces used by Žeželj at the end of the book. This way you can make a direct comparison between the text template and the graphic implementation. You can see more examples of technical implementation in the preview on the page opposite the publisher here Looking at.

Like a dog Posted by avant-verlag:

• ISBN: 978-3-96445-119-4
• 104 pages
• Black and white
• 20.5 x 29 cm
• Soft cover
• 22.00 euros

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Our e-magazine ntower is a member of the affiliate networks Amazon PartnerNet, AWIN, Webgains, Rakuten Advertising, Media Markt E-Business GmbH and Saturn online GmbH. When you order through one of our affiliate links, we receive a variable commission from the relevant store operator. There are no additional costs for end customers.