Published by Massot editions, the comic book anthology
#BalanceTaBulle
brings together testimonials from cartoonists victims of sexual violence.
While the American presidential campaign continues, with Donald Trump caught several times in the act of misogyny, the book illustrates the excesses of our patriarchal societies.
An approach that complements the one initiated with us in 2015 by the Collective of comic book creators against sexism and its Paye ta bubble platform.
The cover of the anthology.
Massot Editions
In
#BalanceTaBulle, 62
cartoonists, mostly English-speaking and little known in France (with a few exceptions such as Aline Kominsky-Crumb and Emil Ferris), deliver their experiences of harassment or sexual assault, even rape, in styles and various tones.
The figure of the independent American comic strip Diane Noomin, who collected these precious testimonies, agreed to answer the
Figaro's
questions
.
Diane Noomin and her drawn alter ego.
Diane Noomin
LE FIGARO. - In the preface of the book, you explain that the memory of a sexual assault came back to you during #MeToo. Rather than recounting this personal experience in detail, why did you want to give other women the opportunity to share their own experiences?
Diane NOOMIN.
-
In fact, memories of sexual assault came back to me when I saw headlines over headlines about famous men who were accused of being sexual predators.
Trump's audio recordings of the "Access Hollywood" TV show were a watershed moment.
I felt I had to do something in response and decided to create and edit a book about sexual assaults by ordinary men on ordinary women.
Initially, I was going to make a story about my own experiences, but it seemed to me more important to go
"grab them by the pussy"
, as Trump said on the Billy Bush show.
I had accumulated anger to a critical point.
My weapons were drawing and editing, which I had practiced for many years.
Interestingly, with the exception of one woman, every artist I contacted had a story of sexual violence or harassment to tell.
I had no trouble convincing the cartoonists to tell their stories.
Diane Noomin's comic book introduction.
Diane Noomin
Which of the 62 stories struck you the most?
I cannot answer that.
I was overcome with a wave of emotions when the works were sent to me.
I started looking at the men and women I saw on the streets and wondering if “this guy” was a rapist or if “this woman” was going to be assaulted.
I was happy that the 62 artists had 62 different ways of telling their stories.
Some were more moving and horrifying, and others were disturbing or even funny.
The original title of the book,
Drawing Power,
reverses the victim status of women.
Why was this important to you?
Because revealing "dirty" or humiliating experiences and secrets puts the fault where it should be, on the side of sexual predators.
The flowers of bad faith.
Maria stoian
In addition to being a militant work,
#BalanceTaBulle
proves the tremendous vitality of female comics and its great diversity in terms of graphics and storytelling.
Was this a secondary objective of this anthology?
That was actually the main goal.
I wanted to highlight, beyond the subject of sexual violence and harassment, the talent and diversity of women designers.
Although they are still largely in the minority in France, we are fortunate to have a certain number of very appreciated and recognized comic book authors (Pénélope Bagieu, Catherine Meurisse, Marion Montaigne ...). Is this also the case in the United States?
There are many more talented cartoonists in France and elsewhere than most people realize.
The artists you mention have talent and are accepted and recognized for it.
When I started looking for designers for
#BalanceTaBulle
, I discovered a thriving international community of cartoonists on Instagram.
Of the difficulty of talking about it around you Lenora Yerkes
Is the world of comics, very masculine, particularly difficult when you are a woman?
Honestly, I don't think the comic book world is that masculine.
I teach comics at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
In all of my classes until today, young girls outnumber young men by around 75%!
Do you think comics (and art in general) are a good way to share traumatic experiences for women who would be locked in silence?
I think #MeToo has helped tremendously by giving women a place to express their anger and feel united.
I feel that comics have the ability to draw readers in and draw them into their stories.
They have been educational tools for years.
A "funny" first time.
Aline Kominsky-Crumb
How to fight effectively against patriarchy? What roles can artists play?
It's very difficult to make a real shift in the balance of power in society, but I think #MeToo has had some effect, at least here in the US.
Henceforth, men's voice is no longer always considered superior to that of women when accused of sexual violence.
The US presidential campaign is in full swing.
How do you explain the popularity of Donald Trump, especially with women he seems to despise?
What do you expect from Joe Biden if he is elected?
I don't understand Donald Trump's appeal to anyone in their right mind.
He's a despicable character, a con artist, a liar, a sexual predator, and a pathetic human being.
Let's not even talk about him as president ... I hope Joe Biden and Kamela Harris will help contain the spread of Covid-19 and make wearing a mask in public mandatory.
Also, I hope Joe Biden will appoint Anita Hill to the Supreme Court.
Saved by the monsters.
Emil Ferris