Ariel and the Drugs

     In Ariel Schrag’s first two books Awkward and Definition her character enters her first year of High School at Berkley. This graphic memoir follows her through all her awkward encounters, crushes, and her relationship with alcohol/drugs.

     The first time Ariel tried smoking weed was because a friend was doing it and she didn’t want to stand out by saying she had never done it. Although Ariel had never smoked weed before, she didn’t want her friend to think of her differently so she did it just to fit in. I enjoyed this scene in many ways, and find it extremely important to the book and her characters development because it shows the struggle that every new high school student has; trying to fit in, sometimes regardless of how you have to do it.

     Throughout the whole book Ariel is meeting new people who smoke weed and getting high or drunk with them, sometimes both. Ariels character would hide this particular hobby from her parents by trying to avoid them while she was drunk or high. During the book this caused a few problems as sometimes when Ariel and a friend were trying to leave while smoking her Dad stopped her and Ariel tried leaving in more of a rush causing her Dad to worry and question her.

     Ariel’s interest in weed and alcohol grows throughout the book from her just simply trying it to her smoking up whenever she hung out with her friends, and them drinking every weekend. For Ariels 16^th birthday a friend offers to buy her a new bong; this part shows the growth with her relationship to drugs because now Ariel isn’t just doing while out with friends, Ariel starts to smoke by herself, and is growing a ‘collection’.

     Near the middle of Definition Ariel and her two friends proceed to get really drunk and start running around like man men through the city. Both of Ariels books include a couple times in which Ariel and friends get drunk or high and do things that aren’t too safe, such as; racing while under the influence, smoking down dark alleys, and taking their clothes off in public.

Ariel’s exploration of weed and alcohol is a constant in Awkward and Definition, although Ariel isn’t always safe, she isn’t in any horrid danger throughout the books. Ariels character also still does well in school and maintains herself throughout the book which is an excellent thing to see. I enjoy this in the books because we can see a girl character do drugs and get drunk without dying, getting raped, or contracting a disease. It’s refreshing.

A page from Ariels book Definition

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Book Summary

     Taking place at Berkeley High School in California Ariel's book Awkward revolves around a strange love triangle between Ariel Michael and Margaret his ex-girlfriend. When not obsessing about Michael she writes about crushes, concerts, developing new friendships and her obsession with L7. 

    Then leading into Definition we see Ariel's interesting friendship with Leonard who has an obsession with her while she is obsessed with girls. Ariel explores her sexual identity in Definition strongly learning towards a stronger fascination with the female gender.   

    The visuals between the first section of the paper back start out very simple and childish. The young dialog is being written by a 15 year old so it creates an over all strong visual structure that reflects upon the dialog in a positive way.
Definition has artwork that again relates to the text in the sense of a great deal of growth. There is more confidence in the bold line and details. The development in both text and visuals creates an overall unique novel.   





Kristian Williams

"Awkward and Definition — have a sweet naiveté, and they’re full of promise. The art is crude, the writing is clumsy, and the characters are shallow in their gossipy drama and their obsessions with cheap alterna-pop culture. But Awkward andDefinition also convey the feeling of newness and enthusiasm and hope. The sense of exaggerated importance that attaches to everything is both the blessing and the burden of youth, its charm and its vice."

Link 


- Claire

My Take on Awkward and Definition

Over all I found Ariel's novel to be extremely honest and accurate of what it is teenagers go through during High School. Everyone is trying to fit in and not be judged in a negative light. You try to discover yourself all while trying to fit in, the pressures of growing up is something everyone goes through. I find it inspiring that at a young age Ariel was able to be so honest and upfront with herself.

The book reminds be of the years I would write in my diary growing up. Concealing my most inner and honest thoughts. Although Ariel of course has produced a much more creative and unique take in expressing herself. I feel both a diary or graphic memoir at the age of 15 presents the same purpose to have a place to be accepting with yourself in writing in private. Ariel is far more brave then most people would be at such a young age to allow people to read her most private thoughts is not something most people would ever do.

There is a possibility that a child with a very sheltered up brining and never experienced drinking or drugs at such an early stage in life may have a harder time connecting with her work. In my case I has begun to experience such things when I was in grade 8 and continuing into High School. I find this novel allowed me to see just how closed off I am from people. I can keep secrets and most heart breaking thoughts to myself entirety if i choose it. This reasoning is why I find Ariel to be in some ways a stronger person to me because she is always open the moment she chose to make her books public. I truly enjoyed reading Ariel's journey through her first two years of high school, i found myself laughing and relating to her experiences.

-
Claire




Interesting blogger shares her opinions on Ariel's writing.

Feminist Music Geek

How the Memoir Made ME Feel

     Ariel Schrag’s graphic memoir Awkward and Definition is the first graphic memoir I have sat down and chosen to read. Previous to reading these two books I knew who Schrag was and what her books were about. Before I started reading I had an assumption of how I would feel about her books. Her memoirs are full of brutal, unflattering honesty, and to me this was refreshing; normally when I read books I read about situations that will never/could never happen to me, but her books are the complete opposite. Schrag’s books re completely ordinary. They’re about her dealing with relationships, her obsessions, and her exploration into sexuality as she discovers her bisexuality. Her books remind you that it’s okay; that even though it may seem awkward to you, other people have probably done it too. Although some parts of the memoir felt unnecessary it she writes in such a lighthearted way about her teenage years, and failed threesomes. I think Schrags book is well written and enjoyable for a graphic novel. 

     I enjoy her quirky drawings and that her book looks just like personal journal extracts. I feel all these details help with the reminiscing feeling these memoirs put out. Her book may be confusing or boring at times, but it is about real life events, and I feel this reminded me that ‘ya, sometimes life is boring’. Although Ariel Schrag could have easily made up her stories, her memoirs make you feel like she could have been your best friend in high school, she even reminded me of an old acquaintance from high school. Schrag's book amkes her feel very down to Earth and friendly. Ariel Schrag may not have been my typical high school friend, but this book reminds you that its okay to be awkward and unsure at times. This book reminds you that completely ordinary isn’t always boring. 

Due to it being near Christmas, I felt you guys would enjoy this.

                                                                             
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Technical Aspects of Schrag's 'Awkward and Definition'

Schrag’s graphic memoir Awkward and Definition is about her first two years attending Berkley High school. During this two-in-one book Ariel recaps the great bands, the great friends, and the not so great lost ‘loves’ and the while trying new drugs, becoming involved with science, and finding herself.

Within this memoir Schrag lets us relive her life through her own drawings. These drawing are laid out in a comic layout design along with a comical style of drawing. These drawings use thick lines and shading that makes a lot of her drawings look indistinct and messy. Ariel draws people with round heads and humongous eyes; although these are fun to look at, her characters do start to look like one another after seeing so many similar sketches. Schrag’s book is also printed in black and white which doesn’t provide and further information to differentiate between characters.

Aside from the drawings Ariel does to accompany her memoirs she has adds narrative pieces and speech bubbles to her comics. Schrags work is directly reflecting her first high school experiences and this is clearly visible throughout her comics. The text is in penned hand writing in an imprecise manor throughout this whole graphic memoir and at times the narrative may be hard to follow because you’re not always sure what to read first.

Schrag does an excellent job of highlighting her true feelings through her drawings in her memoir. When something important happens during her life she highlights it by creating a bigger/bolder comic slice which immediately draws your attention; although it is distracting from the story at times.

 After reading Awkward and continuing on to Definition right away you can see an improvement and slight change in Schrags style; this is her transition from 9^th grade to 10^th grade. When Schrags drawings improve, and her style changes, even though it may be slight, this lets the viewer(s) feel like Schrag is maturing right in front of us through her work.

The first photo is a page from Awkward and the second one is half a page from Definition.

After briefly viewing these two comics you can see the slight change in Ariel Schrags style. 

These two pieces reflect most of Ariel's drawings and writing within Awkward and Definition.

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