Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Drawing From Life”

In this activity, students will tell a story from their life visually, as though they are writing a graphic memoir.

Bechdel’s Fun Home is notable for the way in which it feels like we’re wading through her memory as she thinks back to her relationship with her father and her exploration of her sexuality. In this activity, you will also think of a theme prevalent in your life.

Part A

First, think of a significant relationship in your life, especially one with a family member, close friend, or guardian. Then, reflect on the following questions:

• How might you represent this relationship? Would you tell the story of a specific moment or a series of moments?
• Is there a recurring motif, like books and literature in Fun Home, that comes to mind as you think about this relationship?

Now, draw out one scene to the best of your ability. Feel free to use different colors to exert different meanings or to include narration boxes to explain what is happening.

Part B

Then, get together with a partner and let them read your scene as you read theirs.