Page - 91 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 04/01
Image of the Page - 91 -
Text of the Page - 91 -
Representations of Religion and Culture in Children’s Literature |
91www.jrfm.eu
2018, 4/1, 81–99
sume that they are not known to the
intended reader. Thus, for example,
we read, “Aunt Martha hangs a bunch
of flowers behind the corner seat.
‘Now it will protect us from illness’,
she explains” (fig. 11).29
Those characters that represent
own identities often visit the charac-
ters that represent foreign identities
on religious holidays to learn about
traditions and rituals. Each narration
informs the reader about particular
dishes that are prepared and eaten in
specific foreign countries. The authors
compare traditional dishes with food
the reader may know: “Family Wang
eat Jiaozi at the spring festival. This is pasta filled with meat and vegetables like
ravioli or Maultaschen.”30
The illustrations of tableware and cooking utensils along with the interior
design represent material culture and visualise own and foreign identities. The
objects depicted are often accompanied by religious symbols. Levent’s Turk-
ish background is evident from the many postcards from Turkey, posters with
football players wearing the shirts of the Turkish national team, a doormat with
the inscription “Merhaba” and an alarm clock in the shape of a mosque. An im-
age of the Basmala “بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم” (“In the name of Allah, the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful”) decorates his grandparents’ living room (fig. 12).
29 Pana 2016, n. pag.
30 Yu-Dembski 2016, n. pag., emphasis in original. Fig. 11: Customs and traditions in Pana/
Bandlow (illust.), Jana und Teresa feiern
Himmelfahrt (n. pag.).
Fig. 12: Representation
of Muslim identities in
Halberstam/Tust (illust.), Levent
und das Zuckerfest (n. pag.) ©
Carlsen Verlag GmbH,
Hamburg 2011.
JRFM
Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 04/01
- Title
- JRFM
- Subtitle
- Journal Religion Film Media
- Volume
- 04/01
- Authors
- Christian Wessely
- Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati
- Editor
- Uni-Graz
- Publisher
- Schüren Verlag GmbH
- Location
- Graz
- Date
- 2018
- Language
- English
- License
- CC BY-NC 4.0
- Size
- 14.8 x 21.0 cm
- Pages
- 129
- Categories
- Zeitschriften JRFM