Still Alive is a graphic novel that documents the stories of a number of people Safdar Ahmed met while running art classes in an immigration detention centre in Villawood, Sydney. These stories are told within the broader context of Australia's immigration detention systems. Those seeking asylum in Australia due to war, strife and violence in their home countries face extraordinary challenges both during their journey and upon arrival. Ahmed's book focuses on people who arrive in Australia by boat. For these people, a long, perilous journey ends with the often equally perilous obstacles they face when dealing with Australia's legal processes, with the privations of onshore and offshore detention centres, and with inadequate health and psychological support. In addition to documenting the stories of those seeking asylum, Still Alive also includes the author's own self-reflective thoughts on the ethics of telling other people's stories, the aesthetics of comics and heavy metal, and the way art can be used for catharsis, healing and redemption after trauma. Still Alive interweaves journalism, history and autobiography with a striking visual style to bring to light the crucial untold stories of refugees in Australia, and the immigration detention systems they confront here.
By:
Safdar Ahmed Imprint: Twelve Panels Press Country of Publication: Australia Dimensions:
Height: 240mm,
Width: 170mm,
Spine: 14mm
Weight: 650g ISBN:9780980593730 ISBN 10: 0980593735 Publication Date:01 April 2022 Audience:
General/trade
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ELT Advanced
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ELT Advanced
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active