In Emil Ferris's graphic novel, My Favorite Thing is Monsters, the reader is introduced to the young protagonist, Karen Reyes, who navigates through the turbulent social and political landscapes of 1960s Chicago. Karen, a 10-year-old girl who has endured multiple traumas, grapples with the unpredictability and chaos that surrounds her. As a result, Karen indulges in artistic expression as a means of escape, whether it be through monsters and horror or classical mythology and fine art, to process her emotions and delve into themes of identity, otherness, grief, and trauma. Karen's love for art is reflected in the way she creates her own art, and how she views the world around her. Her art is infused with her emotions and experiences, and she …show more content…
By referencing established works of art and mythology, Ferris is able to tap into the emotional and symbolic meanings of these works and use them to convey her characters' experiences. "The Temptation of the Magdalene" is an example of how Ferris uses art to explore the theme of escapism and how art can help individuals cope with difficult …show more content…
By juxtaposing references to real works of art with the monsters and horror that Karen creates, Ferris creates a sense of uneasiness for the reader. This blurring of boundaries is especially effective in conveying the trauma that Karen has experienced. Ferris uses Karen's references to art and classical mythology to show how Karen's experiences are both real and imagined and how she uses art as a way of processing her