Superman Crusoe: A Tale of a Will Exalted by Trials
by Melanie Allen
Author’s Description
The Robinson Crusoe created by Daniel Defoe is a tale about sin, God’s chastisement, and repentance. I have altered this book to be a tale of the will and the affirmation of the self through the struggle against indifferent forces of nature. This new piece I have renamed Superman Crusoe. Its namesake is drawn from the idea of the Superman as described by the book Thus Spake Zarathustra by Frederic Nietzsche. The idea of a Superman, who creates and asserts his values against all obstacles, resonates strongly with me.
With the help of an architecture student, Ian Elmore, I converted the original binding into a ship sinking into pages of the book, and the pages of the story into an opening scroll folded to resemble waves. I wanted to emphasize the sailing imagery because it is well suited to capture the concepts of individuality and the strength of the will.
Editorial Board Review
Melanie has created a visual design that surprises the audience with its complexity and beauty even before taking in the stirring found-poems. Utilizing pages torn from the book, the author creates and builds a representational icon that embodies her meaning and rationale. Clever use of cosmetics, pencil, and the book itself, expertly manipulated by the author, has rendered a memorable piece of art.
A highly descriptive work, it befits the topic and emits a feeling of reverence for it. It is a thought provoking book that you will want to look at over and over again.
