Design Matters with Debbie Millman: Celebrating Pride

Inferno is the first part of Dante Alighieri's epic poem, The Divine Comedy. It describes Dante's journey through the nine concentric circles of Hell, each representing a different level of sin and punishment. Guided by Virgil, Dante encounters various historical and mythological figures, witnessing their punishments which are symbolic of their sins. The poem is an allegory of the soul's journey towards God, with Inferno representing the recognition and rejection of sin. Dante's journey through Hell is also a personal and spiritual exploration, reflecting his own struggles and the political and social issues of his time.

Published in 2006, 'Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic' is a graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel that recounts her upbringing in a funeral home in rural Pennsylvania. The book focuses on Bechdel's fraught relationship with her father, Bruce, a closeted gay man and high school English teacher who also worked as a part-time mortician. The narrative is non-linear, using literary and mythological allusions to explore themes of sexual orientation, gender roles, family dysfunction, and the impact of secrets on family life. Bechdel's meticulous artwork and essayistic writing style combine to create a powerful and intimate portrayal of her childhood and her attempts to understand her father and herself.

This graphic memoir is a companion piece to Bechdel's earlier work 'Fun Home', which dealt with her relationship with her father. 'Are You My Mother? ' delves into Bechdel's relationship with her mother, an unaffectionate amateur actor trapped in a marriage to a closeted homosexual. The book interweaves memoir with psychoanalysis, drawing on the works of Donald Winnicott, Virginia Woolf, and other literary figures. It follows Bechdel's quest to understand her mother through dreams, therapy sessions, and personal reflections, ultimately concluding on a note of acceptance and appreciation for the complexities of their relationship.

In *How We Fight for Our Lives*, Saeed Jones chronicles his coming-of-age as a black gay man in the American South. The memoir explores themes of identity, race, and sexuality through vivid storytelling, reflecting on his experiences with family, relationships, and societal challenges. Jones's narrative is both a personal exploration and a broader commentary on the intersectionality of race and queerness in America.

The Importance of Being Iceland is a collection of essays that blend personal ruminations with art and travel writing. The book includes pieces on topics such as the overlap between the physical and intellectual, and it features Myles's unique essayistic voice, combining intimate language with astute observations. The essays explore themes of identity, creativity, and the challenges of language in describing art and environment.

In *The History of My Shoes and the Evolution of Darwin's Theory*, Kenny Fries weaves two narratives: the development of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace's theory of evolution, and his own personal journey of adapting to life with a congenital disability. The book explores themes of adaptation, variation, and survival, challenging traditional notions of ability and disability. It received the Outstanding Book Award from the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights.