Artist Overcomes Family Traumas, Makes Pulitzer History in Comics
- JUNEAU, Alaska — While working as a cook in Juneau, Alaska, Tessa Hulls learned that her graphic novel debut, "Feed the Ghosts," had won a Pulitzer Prize.
- Hulls' work is only the second comic to ever win a Pulitzer, following Art Spiegelman's "Maus," which won in 1992.
- Beyond her artistic endeavors, Hulls immersed herself in chinese history, devouring books and consulting with historians and journalists.
Tessa Hulls’ ‘Feed the Ghosts‘ Wins Pulitzer, Blurring Genre Lines
Table of Contents
- Tessa Hulls’ ‘Feed the Ghosts’ Wins Pulitzer, Blurring Genre Lines
- Tessa Hulls’ “feed the Ghosts”: A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Graphic Novel
- What is “Feed the Ghosts” about?
- How did “Feed the Ghosts” achieve such recognition?
- What ancient events does “Feed the Ghosts” cover?
- What personal story is woven into the historical narrative?
- How long did it take to create “Feed the Ghosts”?
- How does the author incorporate research into the novel?
- What inspired Tessa Hulls in creating the graphic novel?
- Can you give me a brief overview of the themes explored in the graphic novel?
- What is the author’s reflection
JUNEAU, Alaska — While working as a cook in Juneau, Alaska, Tessa Hulls learned that her graphic novel debut, “Feed the Ghosts,” had won a Pulitzer Prize. The announcement arrived indirectly,a testament to the region’s fragile internet connectivity strained by cruise ship tourism.
Hulls’ work is only the second comic to ever win a Pulitzer, following Art Spiegelman’s “Maus,” which won in 1992. Both works were awarded in the autobiographical literature category.
A Deep Dive into History and Family
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Hulls immersed herself in chinese history, devouring books and consulting with historians and journalists. “Feed the Ghosts” incorporates extensive research, presented with notes akin to an academic essay.
The graphic novel explores China and Hong Kong’s tumultuous 20th century. Hulls delves into Mao’s Great Leap Forward and the lives of the Euro-Asian community in British Hong Kong. She investigated her Swiss grandfather, a diplomat who abandoned his pregnant grandmother.
The writing and drawing process took four years and approximately 80 Japanese nylon-tip brushes, including six months spent in an Oregon forest cabin on a writer’s residency. “There I found the structure of the story,” Hulls said.
Learning from Predecessors
Hulls reflected on Alison Bechdel’s “Are You My Mother?,” a comic that followed the success of “Fun Home.” Hulls said that Bechdel was afraid to reach the level of honesty that that book would have required to be as relevant as Fun Home”, explains Hulls. “His example helped me to know what I shouldn’t do.”
A Mother-Daughter Story
“Feed Ghosts” is a story of a maternal-infilial relationship, exploring guilt, reproach, and reconciliation. hulls and her mother traveled to China and Hong Kong as part of the research. Hulls said her mother was involved throughout the process.
“I was worried to hurt her, and in the successive revisions I dedicated myself to adding layers of compassion. I did not want to teach her the result until I was finished. The penalty is that when that moment arrived, the dementia had already taken over her,” laments the author.
Hulls grew up in a small town, viewing the world through her mother’s perspective: “I do not understand the United States.” The lack of Asian depiction in media further shaped her worldview. She sees the success of works like “Everything Everywhere All at Once” as a shift in dominant narratives.
Though, this shift has also triggered a backlash, particularly from supporters of Donald trump, who Hulls believes “see as a threat the collapse of the American white model.” her study of Maoism provides context for understanding contemporary issues in the United States.
“The desire [de Trump] For pursuing and prohibiting certain words, it looks a lot like what the communists did in China when they came to power: to ignore reality and try to impose a narrative.”
A Multidisciplinary Artist
Despite the Pulitzer, hulls does not plan to publish another book. “Writing this made me understand the difference between being an author and multidisciplinary artist. I am the second.”
Hulls hopes the award will encourage Art Spiegelman to read “Feed Ghosts,” seeing parallels with “Maus.” She plans to focus on comics journalism from Alaska, covering climate change, environmental justice, indigenous sovereignty, and natural resource extraction.
Until then, she will continue preparing snacks for the congressmen of that state.
Tessa Hulls’ “feed the Ghosts”: A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Graphic Novel
What is “Feed the Ghosts” about?
“Feed the Ghosts” is a graphic novel by Tessa hulls that explores themes of history, family, and identity. It delves into the tumultuous 20th century in China and Hong Kong, with a specific focus on MaoS Great Leap Forward and the Euro-Asian community in British Hong Kong. It’s a story rooted in extensive research, presented in a style reminiscent of an academic essay.
How did “Feed the Ghosts” achieve such recognition?
“Feed the Ghosts” won a Pulitzer Prize, making it only the second comic to ever achieve this honor. The only other comic to win a Pulitzer was Art Spiegelman’s “Maus,” which won in 1992. Both were awarded in the autobiographical literature category. the award came as Tessa Hulls was working as a cook in Juneau,Alaska.
What ancient events does “Feed the Ghosts” cover?
The graphic novel examines a significant period in Chinese history. It includes:
Mao’s Great Leap Forward
The lives of the Euro-Asian community in British Hong Kong
What personal story is woven into the historical narrative?
The story also explores Tessa Hulls’ family history, including her inquiry into her Swiss grandfather, a diplomat who abandoned her pregnant grandmother. the book is also a mother-daughter story.
How long did it take to create “Feed the Ghosts”?
The writing and drawing process took four years.
“Feed the Ghosts” incorporates extensive research, presented with notes akin to an academic essay. Tessa Hulls immersed herself in Chinese history, consulting with historians and journalists.
What inspired Tessa Hulls in creating the graphic novel?
She reflected on Alison Bechdel’s “Are you My Mother?” and took inspiration from Bechdel’s approach, noting that Bechdel made a choice of what not to do in her work.
Can you give me a brief overview of the themes explored in the graphic novel?
The novel dives into the following themes:
Family Dynamics: Specifically, a maternal-in-filial relationship that explores guilt, reproach, and reconciliation.
Cultural Identity: Navigating identity, particularly as seen through the author’s perspective of growing up in a small town, shaped by her mother’s experiences, and the lack of Asian portrayal in media.
* Historical Context: The book uses the study of Maoism to provide greater context for understanding contemporary issues.