KKHow do we perceive each other when we regard each other as strangers? This is one of the central themes identified by Cornelia Muschet in her literary analysis of Takua Ben Mohamed’s graphic novels. In her thesis, the doctoral candidate in Italian Studies came to a conciliatory conclusion: Ben Mohamed’s characters often accept prejudices about those from other cultures as fact, even though they do not exist. The author often sees herself as a stranger; she is perceived as different. Her work addresses topics such as questions of identity in clothing, the impact of images of others, stereotypes and prejudices in intercultural communication, and the concept of ‘othering’. In October 2024, Cornelia Muschet completed her doctoral thesis with an oral defence at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

Takoua Ben Mohamed, born in Tunisia in 1991, came to Rome at the age of nine, where she grew up in a multicultural environment. Today she is a graphic novel author, illustrator, and filmmaker. Her work is the focus of Cornelia Muschet’s doctoral thesis, which she completed as part of the Italian Studies programme offered by the University of Klagenfurt within the framework of a strategic partnership with the Università Ca’ Foscari. She was the first student from Klagenfurt to graduate from the programme in October 2024, while the previous year saw the first graduate from the Università Ca’Foscari.
Cornelia Muschet took a close look at five graphic novels by Takua Ben Mohamed in her doctoral thesis. She focuses on a modern literary genre that has received little attention in literary studies so far. When asked what makes graphic novels special, she explains: “Narrative and visual language complement each other. Unlike comics, graphic novels tackle serious topics as well, making it easier for the audience to engage with this kind of material.” Cornelia Muschet was particularly intrigued by how Takua Ben Mohamed addresses – or rather, chooses not to address – issues surrounding migration and transculturality: “The interplay of images and text is what makes literary analysis of graphic novels so exciting. Sometimes the content is illustrated in great detail, while at other times the author simply uses a black box with white text.” Graphic novels add new dimensions to the reading experience: As you turn the pages, the eye wanders over the images and sometimes lingers on a particular point further ahead. The illustrations seem to anticipate something that would otherwise only arise through the reader’s imagination, but at the same time, graphic novels also leave gaps that can be filled in by the reader’s interpretation. “The author determines what she wants to show us. Some things are only hinted at, while others are so horrific that they remain unillustrated,” Cornelia Muschet elaborates.
In the specific case of Takoua Ben Mohamed, there is the additional factor that the author utilises both of her languages – Italian and Arabic. The author writes in Italian; Arabic is only found in fragments, for example on protest signs or in illustrations of letters. Cornelia Muschet explains: “When encountering Arabic characters, another dimension is added for me as a reader: The unfamiliar element is also present in the language itself.” This underscores what happens to her characters in their intercultural encounters and what the author herself brings to the story from her own life: How does it feel to wear a headscarf in Catholic Rome? How do you integrate your own family history, which spans different cultures, into your life in southern Europe? What experiences do young people have in schools? The question that hangs over everything is: How am I perceived by others? How do I perceive others? Do others treat me with prejudice, or am I just assuming that they do? What prejudices do I hold? In her two graphic reports, she also addresses the migration stories of others (Cambodia and Mozambique). This involves a closer examination of the internal and external narrative perspectives. What differences are there in the portrayal of the self and others in the various works? When the author talks about herself, she often resorts to irony.
Cornelia Muschet pursued her doctoral studies across national borders in Italy and Austria, even though the pandemic prevented her from spending a long period of time in Italy and meant that many of her encounters took place online. As the first student (from the University of Klagenfurt) to participate in the programme, she also had to overcome bureaucratic hurdles. She found an enthusiastic supporter in her supervisor Angela Fabris (Department of Romance Studies), who is well versed in both cultures and who launched the Italian Studies programme. The doctorate has now been completed and Cornelia Muschet, who also worked as a teacher while studying, has spent the last few months at home in Fürnitz, just a few minutes’ drive from the Italian border, with her young family. Cornelia Muschet is no stranger to intercultural experiences: “The people living in the border triangle rarely feel like strangers to those living across the border. These areas have long been places where people meet, for example at festivals or when shopping in the neighbouring country. What I found particularly fascinating in Takoua Ben Mohamed’s books was the following realisation: People often believe that others approach them with preconceptions. However, this is frequently not the case. People are likely much more open-minded than one might assume.”
 
Der Beitrag A change of perspective alters not only our perception of others, but also our perception of ourselves erschien zuerst auf University of Klagenfurt.