Social Conformity In Anya's Ghost

Adolescents undergo many social issues as part of this stage of ‘growing up’. In the graphic novel Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol, Anya struggles with her identity and self confidence but stumbles upon a ghost that could help her face these issues. The novel greatly focuses on elements of ‘fitting in’ at school: a problem that many, if not all teenagers face during this development stage. Brosgol explores this topic of social acceptance through various visual techniques that expresses Anya’s desire for social conformity.

It is acknowledged that Anya feels as if she were an outsider throughout the novel. This can be seen as she enters school for the first time after falling in the hole (43). Anya stands in the foreground with her back facing
towards the reader and stares at the school in panel #1. As both panels are long shots, this indicates that some amount of time has passed while she has been standing there. As Anya stands alone staring at the school for a long period of time with her face covered from the reader, the reader can infer that she feels anxious or reluctant to walk in the school. The panel is drawn so the reader can see the school from her perspective. This can build sympathy in the reader, building an emotional attachment to Anya especially as teenagers are the targeted audience of the novel. In panel #2, Anya stands in the midground of the panel walking to school. Although she stands in the midground and appears small which can take the focus off of Anya, this does not occur as she does not stand in the shadows, in contrast with the characters behind her. As she appears small, the reader can sense that she feels small and powerless with the combination of her facial expression and body language. Both panels show Anya’s loneliness and inability to feel as she belongs at school.