Episode 11: G.B. Tran and Vietnamerica

On this weeks After the Jump, Grace Bonney is talking with cartoonist G.B. Tran- but dont think of your grandfathers cartoons! G.B. is the author and illustrator of Vietnamerica: A Familys Journey, a graphic memoir about his parents immigration to the United States before the fall of Saigon in 1975. The book encompasses G.B.s family history, and also includes some of his own realizations about his culture and identity. Hear about the different processes that G.B. used in illustrating Vietnamerica, as well as some of the other cartooning projects that he works on to pay the bills. G.B. identifies as a cartoonist; hear why some consider that to be a dirty word, but why G.B. embraces it! Other discussions include this years Eisner Awards, the trend of graphic memoirs, and G.B.s research process with his family members. This program has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard andamp; Winery. andnbsp; Its always really great when something that you pour so much love, sweat, and blood into resonates with someone. I feel like the immigrant experience- no matter where youre from or where youre going- follows the same process, as far as emotional states. -- G.B. Tran on After the Jump