A permanent fixture in the underground comix scene since the early 80’s, Chester Brown has depicted many an event in his work. From cock-worshipping pygmies to people whose arses lead to another world through to the myriad of emotions felt when viewing pornography, he somehow manages to tie it all together and let a little bit of him shine through for the reader to either be repulsed or fascinated.
This graphic novel, first published in 2011, depicts a series of encounters Brown had with a variety of sex workers after the breakup of a long-term relationship and how his views on what constitutes love and a relationship become solidified as a result of his experiences.
That’s all there is to it. Simple, confessional and (for some) challenging.
There’s no doubt that it’s an honest and unflattering look at Brown’s life, with no hint of eroticism even suggested. It’s a world that is functional, transactional but friendly. The faces of the escorts are never shown, and the locations are mundane. Brown resists the opportunity to depict himself as a bulbous sex god and happily depicts himself as someone with little social skills. Take the following page as an example of this:
The scenario is humourous but also believable down to the reader imagining the character delivering his dialogue in a cramped monotone devoid of irony or self-awareness and the glasses accentuating the blank, fixed expression on his face. The reader envisages the escort with a bemused and slightly worried expression. You could imagine her reaching for the pepper spray just on the off chance.
Another example would be this page:
Notice how non-descript the setting is? It’s not run down and dilapidated as some might expect with a story associated with sex work. Also, once again, you’ve got to laugh at Brown’s non-expression which recasts the delivery of his deep observations as polemics.
And this is where the book starts to go off the rails as it goes from being an observant, non-judgemental look at a man engaging with the oldest profession in the world to a series of speeches about why sex work should be decriminalised. In particular, the afterword (28 pages) is devoted to discussing the pros of such a move.
While I certainly don’t have a problem with the argument itself, nor a piece of art taking a particular stand, what I do take issue with is seeing the transformation from a personal and honest account to a piece of propaganda does take away the impact of those early pages where the reader was forced to question their perceptions of what was motivating the character and his own character.
Then again, it is important to remember that Brown sees himself as being honest with the audience in terms of his characteristics and his views. So maybe it’s not a big surprise that the balding, middle-aged man on the autistic spectrum that we follow throughout views the world in such binary terms.
An empty experience? A peep into someone’s sad life? An open rejection of traditional norms? An unflinching look at one individual living his life on his terms?
Paying for It is all of the above.
Chester Brown, 2011, Paying For It: A Comic-Strip Memoir about Being a John. Drawn & Quartered. ISBN 978-1770461192.
⏩ Christopher Owens was a reviewer for Metal Ireland and finds time to study the history and inherent contradictions of Ireland. He is currently the TPQ Friday columnist.
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