OS OLHARES MELANCÓLICOS NA GRAPHIC NOVEL THE MAGIC FISH (2020)

Abstract

This research focuses on the analysis of the graphic novel The Magic Fish (2020), by Trung Le Nguyen, through an interdisciplinary approach that combines the studies of sequential narrative, marginalities, and the melancholic gaze in the context of digital comics. The investigation aims to examine how the textual and visual elements of the narrative construct representations of subjectivity, cultural displacement, and identity in the postmodern context. The research is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Piotr Śniedziewski (The Melancholic Gaze, 2018), Lyotard (The Postmodern Condition, 2022), and Bauman (Liquid Modernity, 2000), connecting these perspectives to the analysis of graphic narratives and the specificities of fantastic literature. The methodology employed combines qualitative research and content analysis, following Bardin’s principles, seeking to identify the relationships between image and text and their contribution to the construction of fragmented and vulnerable subjectivities. The study also explores the iconography of melancholy in the narrative, addressing aspects such as diaspora, marginalization, and gender identity. The findings indicate that The Magic Fish has characteristics that go beyond children's literature, presenting itself as a rich and multifaceted narrative that problematizes the notions of belonging and exclusion. Thus, the research contributes to literary and cultural studies, reinforcing the relevance of graphic works in the formation of critical readers and in the discussion of identity and emotional issues in contemporary contexts.