Pyongyang

Pyongyang is an autobiographical comic-book by Canadian cartoonist Guy Delisle, who in 2001 spent two months in this unusual capital city as one of the few Westerners to do so. The author describes his experience of the strict and clear rules in a country with a totalitarian regime, where every aspect of an individual’s life is subject to strict government control. As an external collaborator, he worked as a film animator for a French animation company. Upon his arrival in the country, when, ironically, he walked into the airport with a copy of Orwell’s novel 1984 under his arm, he was assigned a government official who accompanied him every step of the way throughout his stay. The real North Korea is inaccessible to foreigners, strictly forbidden and extremely well-guarded. Foreigners have access to only a few hotels and restaurants and specific “tourist attractions,” which, of course, they can only visit in the company of their government escort. In his comic, Guy Delisle depicts the extent of the rigid control not only of foreigners but also of locals. With humour, but also with seriousness, he addresses the absurdity of the rules and restrictions he faced during his stay there and everyday life, where propaganda plays the biggest role in indoctrinating the population and thus creating the image of a perfect society. He reflects on the social and political situation in North Korea, censorship, cultural differences, and the complexity of society. The minimalist drawing style is perfect for the chosen theme and beautifully complements the story through visual experience. The comic-book is a valuable and moving document of a certain time and place. (NA)