How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less: A Memoir or a Documentary?

In a small author’s note, Glidden refers to How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less as a memoir. However, this might not be quite the case. Instead of a memoir, we have a sneaking suspicion that HTUII60DOL is actually a documentary.

For example, Glidden uses textual voice overs, which are a major component of documentaries, to explain the backstory behind the conflict. Memoirs often rely on the author’s emotions or how they change over an event. While a novel might seem like its only ever a voice over, Glidden’s usage of the graphic novel makes it more so. On pages 52 and 53, every panel has voice over text boxes explaining the history of the location where she stayed for the night. Rather than express her opinions about how she felt, she remains neutral when presenting facts, which is another key characteristic of a documentary.

One of the larger differences between a memoir and a documentary is the latter’s usage of interviews, specifically indirect interviews. Unlike direct interviews, indirect interviews don’t follow any prearranged questions and consequently, are more organic and free flowing. Often the subject is unaware that they are even being interviewed. Glidden indirectly interviews a handful of characters including Frank (who doesn’t believe in marriage), Matt (her cousin), Gil (their tour guide), and most frequently, Nadan Feldman (the Israeli group leader). Through their conversations, Glidden is able to portray more opinions on the Israeli-Palestine conflict and other topics than by sticking to her own. Nadan especially helps to put Glidden’s opinions into a greater perspective. This in turn portrays Glidden as a more trustworthy and objective narrator.

Another large element of documentaries is their usage of reenactment, to give a visual of the past as it happened. Glidden uses this in several points, such as on pages 87 and 88, when she tries to reason through the conflict over the ancient city of Jaffa. She draws the various major stages of conflict throughout history, with narration running throughout. This is a common feature of documentaries and forces the reader to really see her point rather than just taking her word for it. Many other scenes that depict characters who are no longer living further demonstrate her usage of reenactment.

Another common element in documentaries is the use of a montage sequence to convey ideas visually by putting them in a specific order. Montages are mainly used to create a juxtaposition that adds additional insight to the storyline like Glidden uses in page 107 to portray Glidden-the-character’s inner thoughts. The panels have minimal to no words, another feature of montages, and really pushes the reader to understand the contemplation that Glidden is under: is or isn’t birthright brainwashing her? Furthermore, a constant backdrop (which is used in most montages) of a courtroom really highlights the intensity of Sarah’s conflicting thoughts especially when the judge in the scene uses the word  “versus.” This entire scene is a perfect portrayal of the techniques used in documentary montages, rather than the traditional narrative, stylistic choices of a memoir.

Most memoirs often tell a story about a significant turning point in a person’s life. However, Glidden doesn’t make it clear whether or not she truly changed or gained a new perspective after her experience in Israel. In the end, on page 203, she remains unsure about her stance on the controversial topic despite her intentions of gaining clarity on the issue. Because Glidden does not reach a resolution in her conflicting views, the novel becomes more of a documentary rather than a memoir. Glidden’s use of a graphic novel to tell her story also makes it more of a documentary, because the visual illustrations place a greater emphasis on the surroundings and geography of the location rather than the story at hand. She spends a substantial section of the book describing the landscape and scenery of Israel instead of focusing on her personal growth and changes such as on pages 24, 50, and 54.

Perhaps, we’re being too nit picky here about the specific differences between memoirs and documentaries. Who cares as long as the story was good? If you’re only reading the book for the surface level then yes, these differences might not make a difference to you. However, depending on your approach, the book changes what you’re supposed to take away from it. Documentaries make an argument, trying to persuade you to one side or the other. The question now is did Glidden accomplish that?