"Tramways, cars, buses, trucks...it turns out the streets aren't deserted after all."
"Everything is very clean. Too clean, in fact."
Pyongyang: A Journey In North Korea is a graphic novel based on Guy Delisle's time as an expatriate in North Korea. He describes the absurdities and oddities he found in the Hermit Kingdom while working as an animator for a foreign-owned animation studio.
Tropes Are:
- Author Avatar: Guy talks about his own experiences in North Korea, and is thus the protagonist.
- Black Comedy: Guy notes he is in a totalitarian state that punishes dissent brutally...but this creates numerous absurd situations he's happy to share.
- Blatant Lies: This is a given since it is a totalitarian state that lies to itself and the rest of the world. When visiting the International Friendship Museum, Guy views a picture of Kim Il Sung (supposedly) receiving a pickaxe as a gift from a miner. Then he notices that the pickaxe is the pickaxe in the museum is not the same as the one in the picture.
- Canned Orders over Loudspeaker: Guy hears North Korean propaganda being blasted over loudspeakers, much to his own annoyance.
- Crapsaccharine World: Pyongyang presents itself as a shining paradise of the working class, but Guy Delisle finds many cracks in this facade, from bad food to the substandard services of his hotel.
- Forced into Evil: Guy (privately, mind you) reflects on whether the North Korean officials genuinely believe the nonsense they spout...or if they are just scared of being sent to a labor camp along with most of their families.
- Hell Hotel: Guy's hotel is a crappy place with poor service and possible surveillance.
- Lawful Stupid: Guy is annoyed by a woman who ruins his sleep to deliver him his ration of water, even when he puts up a "Do Not Disturb" sign.
- Lethal Chef: The food Guy gets is garbage. Among the many "delicacies" is a "french toast"...made by dipping bread into some milk and heating it up.
- People's Republic of Tyranny: North Korea is one the most infamous examples, complete with monuments, portraits, and citizens that glorify and celebrate the accomplishments of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
- "Ray of Hope" Ending: Guy leaves a still totalitarian North Korea...but his final act is giving his guides the present of cognac, to which they show him gratitude. Guy is at least happy to see even in this totalitarian society, kindness and empathy are still present.
- Shout-Out: Guy dryly notes "the only thing missing (from his hotel) are the howling balls that shoot out of the water when you try and escape."
- Stepford Smiler: Being in a totalitarian society, this is a given, but the standout example are the child musicians who are forced to play music like robots while wearing strained smiles. Guy especially feels pity for them.
