

Authors commonly incorporate visual elements and literary devices into their work in order to support major themes and ideas, as well as to add multiple layers of meaning to what they are writing about. Kelly Sue DeConnick is able to successfully utilize color scheme, flashbacks, repetition, and gaze theory in her text to emphasize her message on conformity to the reader. Color scheme is utilized in literature and art to portray certain themes and emotions, which in this text relates to the color white representing purity and the color pink representing femininity. Flashbacks are literary devices used to jump between settings in time, which DeConnick utilizes to highlight development in the protagonist. She also incorporates repetition to emphasize phrases that act as symbols in the text. A fourth and final element the author uses is gaze theory, which is the way characters look at one another and its significance. All four elements and literary devices are incorporated by Kelly Sue DeConnick to help emphasize the theme of conformity in “Bitch Planet” and how current society values appearance over everything and how one cannot be socially accepted if they are not attractive. This is a huge occurrence in today’s society and DeConnick aims to pass on this message with the usage of these devices and gaze theory. 

The author utilizes color scheme throughout the comic, specifically with the colors white and pink to emphasize the themes of purity and femininity in various scenes. The color white is a motif used in the comic to represent purity and conforming to societal standards. Gary Sherman from the University of Virginia writes, “A white object, conversely, is universally understood to be something that can be stained easily and must retain unblemished to remain pure” (Sherman. "The Color of Sin: White and Black Are Perceptual Symbols of Moral Purity and Pollution.”). This quotation from Sherman is supporting the meaning of the color white in the context of the text and why it is associated with purity. He is explaining how white is a color that cannot be mixed with other colors to get and how it is its own color. This correlates to purity because someone with this trait has not be influenced by outside factors and exist as what they were made to be. Someone who is pure has not been tarnished by others, similarly to how the color white has not been mixed with other colors. If white was mixed with a different color, the color would no longer be considered white. In the beginning of the work, Penelope stands before the government officials in a room with a pure white background. She is surrounded by these men of power, called the Fathers, with the color white glowing on her. This is significant because it correlates to the themes of purity and conformity. They are trying to conform Penelope to their standards and want her to become their version of pure, which is important because it portrays how much their society values appearance. The motif of the color pink is also present in the scenes on pages one hundred eighty-six to one hundred eighty-eight where Penelope is in a room with a lady portrayed as her guardian. Pink correlates to femininity because it symbolizes love and love is commonly associated with women. Women as very loving and tender individuals, which is why the color pink is connected to femininity. In this scene, Penelope sits, getting her hair combed as the guardian speaks to her about becoming what the Fathers hope for her to become. The color pink glows in the background of this scene and represents femininity, which is incorporated to demonstrate how Penelope is being forced to become more womanlike and pretty in appearance. The Fathers have an expectation for women and Penelope’s guardian is asking for her to improve on her physical appearance. This correlates to the concept of society valuing one’s physical beauty rather than their self-identity and uniqueness. Color scheme and the motifs of white and pink are incorporated into the comic to represent the themes of purity and conformity, which relates to how society has a standard for people’s physical beauty and prioritizes their appearance over everything.  

DeConnick also incorporates the usage of flashbacks in her work to portray how much societal standards can impact one and change who they really are. The comic alternates scenes from Penelope’s past and her current situation. The plot begins with Penelope standing before the Fathers as a grownup. She has a shaved head and grown into a larger body. After the scene concludes, the comic changes time periods to when she was a little girl in her years as a child. Throughout the entire comic, DeConnick is constantly flipping the time period and setting of the scenes. This is to establish an image in the reader’s mind of what Penelope initially looked and acted like, and how much she has changed. The author establishes these flashbacks to emphasize the impact that expectations have on one’s mind and body. She no longer is portrayed as this unique individual, but almost as this outlier, which takes away from one’s self-worth and identity. By using flashbacks, the author can show the reader the change Penelope underwent due to the Father’s expectations, which relates to how society values appearance over individuality. 

The author also utilizes repetition in the comic in order to highlight the importance of sticking to one’s values and how self-identity is more important than meeting society’s standards. In the beginning of the comic, Penelope’s grandmother tells her, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” (DeConnick 179). Her grandmother is teaching her a life lesson in this moment and is telling her to not change for others. This phrase is repeated at the end of the comic when Penelope stands before the Fathers and is being forced to show these officials what her ideal image of one is. Penelope shows them how she believes she is the perfect version of herself and tells them, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” (DeConnick 199). This quotation serves as a symbol because of its representation of self-worth. By repeating the phrase, the author is able to establish its role as a symbol and how this repetition shows how Penelope is the same from the beginning of the comic to the end of it. This quotation also demonstrates her value of self-identity and her belief that everyone’s uniqueness is their beauty. The author incorporates repetition because she wants to establish this message and to also tie the comic together at the end with Penelope being victorious because she stays true to her values. The repetition of the phrase is significant because it emphasizes staying true to one’s beliefs and having a unique identity. 

DeConnick includes extra-diegetic gaze in “Bitch Planet” to make it seem as if Penelope is speaking to whoever is reading the comic and therefore establishing a personal connection between herself and the reader. In the last scene, Penelope is looking straight outside the comic and attempting to make eye contact with the reader. She concludes by saying, “And you bastards ain’t never gonna break me” (DeConnick 199). This is significant because Penelope is standing up to the Fathers, while at the same time looking at the reader. DeConnick is speaking directly to the reader in this moment and is trying to relay the message to be true to oneself and to rebel against those attempting to take away one’s self-identity. By addressing the Fathers while looking at the reader, DeConnick is able to highlight the rebellion in Penelope and show how if she can be stubborn to what she believes in, then the reader can too. The usage of extra-diegetic gaze plays a major role in the conclusion of the comic by establishing a connection between Penelope and the reader with a purpose to show rebellion against conformity. 

Kelly Sue DeConnick incorporates the theme of conformity in “Bitch Planet” with a purpose to highlight how society values appearance over everything and that one cannot be socially accepted without being physically attractive. She utilizes the meaning of colors, repetition, flashbacks, and extra-diegetic gaze to pass on her significant message and strengthen her argument. DeConnick wants the reader to know that conforming to societal standards and having expectations of beauty is a flaw in society and how nobody should change who they are. 
