漫畫中的歐洲人刻板印象——以《阿斯泰利克斯歷險記》為例

Abstract

《阿斯泰利克斯歷險記》是一風靡歐洲的漫畫系列，作者勒內・戈西尼(René Goscinny)及漫畫家阿爾貝・烏代爾佐(Albert Uderzo)共同創造此系列之傳奇。作品背景設定在凱撒執政的高盧時期，主要描繪主角阿斯泰利克斯一行人的歷險故事。筆者首先爬梳漫畫這項媒體的流變及歐洲漫畫的特色，並且介紹《阿斯泰利克斯歷險記》兩位作者的背景對於其作品之影響。並以此為根基，分析作者將背景設立在高盧時期的原因，以及高盧與該時代的英雄維欽托利(Vercingetorix)對於法國身份認同的重要性，以及相對他者的出現，最後聚焦在此系列漫畫本身對於描繪周邊民族、南歐、北歐及古羅馬文明的圖像分析。透過剖析這部作品中對不同民族所描繪的民族性格、外貌、地景、生活方式、語言使用及文化及傳統節慶之刻畫方式，總結出《阿斯泰利克斯歷險記》為一加深法國的民族認同，甚至大至歐洲整體的認同之作。由於此漫畫需以幽默的語境，在有限的篇幅內營造出特定民族之意象，因此時而有刻板印象的出現，但是作者從未表態加上故事背景時代錯誤之設定，成功巧妙的避開成為種族諷刺漫畫，而是成為代表歐洲精神之作。Astérix le Gaulois is a renowned comic series composed by the author René Goscinny and the artist Albert Uderzo. The story takes place during the period of Gaul under Caesar’s rule, and the story describes the adventure of Astérix and his friends. Initially, this thesis focuses on the historical background of media and comics, as well as the distinguishing features of European comics. Then the thesis introduces the two authors’ backgrounds and the effect on their works. Further, the thesis analyzes the reasons behind the authors’ decision to set the story in Roman-ruled Gaul, and the influence on French identity from the hero of the time, Vercingetorix, as well as the emergence of the “otherness”. Finally, the discussion analyzes the use of images in the work to depict the different nationalities of France’s neighbors, including Western Europe, Southern Europe, Northern Europe and ancient Rome. Through investigating the different depictions of national characters, appearances, landscapes, lifestyles, lexicons, and cultural and traditional festivals, we conclude that Astérix le Gaulois is a work that strengthens French identity and, more broadly, European identity. Although the authors’ need to create images of specific nationalities in limited pages under humorous contexts may sometimes result in stereotyping, they successfully and subtly avoid turning this comic series into a caricature and instead create a powerful work that encapsulates European identity to this day.