Stone Flower: Critical Analysis
Homosexuality and the LGBT lifestyle have come a long way since the ’80s and ’90s. people coming forward, open and proud changed the perspective society had on the community. however rarely do we see the aspects of Homosexuality from earlier days of the 1950s.
Ladies and gentlemen, I will be reviewing the comic Stone Flower by Finsterwalds, on Tapas.
Please note that all opinions are my own and i only speak from my perspective, please give your reaction if you wish in the comments below.
Based on the description of the comic, which is labeled by the creator themselves, the comic is set In 1956, Ton, a German architect of Brazilian descent, is sent to Brazil to help with the planning of the new capital. Here he pairs up with his new Brazilian colleague Rainer, who has to put up with his unpleasant ways and weird disdain for his own origins. In the middle of the construction of Brasilia, they end up bonding, and maybe, just maybe, getting a bit too attached to each other as well…
The story works its wait between the two characters, mostly through their interactions with one another. Ton is happy-go-lucky with joy in his step and retains a positive attitude on life, continuing forward as well as changing himself when the situation calls for it. Rainer is a stoic and silent man that takes time to open up slowly and surely to his colleague, wishing to work and nothing more than the start.
From the entire perspective of the first few pages, there's a clear clash of personality that works in favor to the story, one being an optimist, one as a pessimist with something in common, sexuality. This story takes precedence in manifesting the idea of being gay at a time where it was seen as unheard and repulsed by society, almost nonexistent in the eye of the public. The character's display of concepts really turns the notion of understanding historically how common it really was formulating a tight-knit dynamic between the culture and the characters working through it.
Two architects that seem to meet on the same notion of a project and work on their differences, even manifesting the idea of looking at the past regards themselves heavily on the concept, how they grow and nurture one another as the story moves on. Rainer having unresolved issues with family, feeling uncomfortable about going along with visiting his mother, not only throws a loop of understanding his past but also led to some comedic moments. Tonis by all means a good influence, as well as someone to learn as well.
The two take on different outlooks on like, Ton doesn't look back on things and moves forward as the comic signs of progress, while ton takes a look more at the future than he looks on the past. To Ton, he acts on the volition that there are timeless moments in life and ton thinks more about how the past cant be reflected if you wanna move on. Now, this is my speculation honestly.
From one moment, they're discussing the plans of a certain project with ton bringing up that the designs might be outdated in 10 years, while Ton thinks that they were made to be timeless and always modern. This kinda alludes to their personality, one willing to work diligently and fast to get it done while the other takes time to conceptualize the idea and work into common ground. A reflection perception and observation in the work as well as themselves.
I won't go into certain specifics due to the constraint that the comic should be read for the connotation in understanding the story yourself. However, I will look into the story as a whole as well as the artwork done for it.
I want to state that the artwork reflects on different aspects in itself when seen by the viewer. Some might think this is simply that melds to making work faster and working the dialogue to fit between the pages. In reality, it works because of the tone and setting of the story. In the 1950s there was a boom in modernist perspective as an art style used mainly in advertising and programming stations for title cards. The insinuation of the style remarks the time period as well as the concept of saving time to upload pages more frequently.
The tone of character designs are also appealing, many have different color schemes in clothes and character to differentiate from each other, with the subtlety of the yes and linework expressing their emotions working in favor to the artist, working well with brushwork and manifesting a more clear definition of expressive reality melding with fusing a modernized tone to the classic style and appreciating growing changes in graphics.
Finsterwalds works in conjunction with telling a story and showing emotion deeply in the context of the atmosphere, simple shading and color changes to the background really emanate from the backgrounds in a sketched feel with more focus on the characters than what's around them, melding a more intimate feel for them that they are the focus rather than what's around them. This can mean more simplicity on the part of panel work but I like to think that the environment means nothing to them as their story is more reliant on self-actualization over the society that could in the future demoralize them.
I think the characters flow perfectly with one another while manifested interactions and events help grow them together closer, with each moment going deeper and more emotionally invested. The story itself is fast-paced and well-executed, not pertaining to one set of events too long and showing the notion of variety in changes to setting and locale. I would say if you’re into short fun reads on cultural impacts made in history, give this a shot.
the current update of their parting after four long years between each update forecasts the feeling of longing to be with someone, the social stigma that impacts them both, and the bitter truth that what they hold is truly a red thread shared between them, their existence tied in trust and love, but parted not only be the sea but by the real-world implications that come with a final kiss.
The comic does not pull punches knowing what it is, and knowing the time frame set inside roots the realism overlaying the romance, a struggle of acceptance and confusion of what one wants in life, is something to admire in this work. I recommend giving it a thorough reading and supporting the artist continue this project.
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