Taming the Levant: Reflections on Zionism, Orientalism, and Depictions of Tel Aviv-Yaffo in Israeli and International Comics

Depictions of Tel Aviv in Israeli and international comics reveal its evolving visual identity, blending early 'garden city' imagery with the iconic Bauhaus-style 'White City' era and modern metropolis aesthetics. The study identifies key elements—landmarks, architecture, and urban scenes—that make Tel Aviv instantly recognizable across genres and time periods (1930s–2010s). It highlights how local and international artists contribute differently to the city's collective memory, with glocalization shaping its image. A notable finding is the tension between Tel Aviv as a symbol of modern Jewish Israel and Jaffa’s Levantine past, reflecting broader sociocultural contexts in visual representations.

Berenstein, O. (2023). Taming the Levant: Reflections on Zionism, Orientalism, and Depictions of Tel Aviv-Yaffo in Israeli and International Comics. Imagined Israel(s): Representations of the Jewish State in the Arts, 55–75. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004530720_005