Release the Beast

release the beast

SAI ZUNDE, Romy (text) Cinzah Merkens (illus.) Release the Beast Beatnik Pub, 2014 unpaged NZ$24.99 ISBN 9780992264819 

It is a popular idea that catharsis works: that to vent one’s anger is a powerful way to release pent-up emotion and, having done so, feel good about oneself.  This is very much the premise of this powerfully illustrated picture book.  The text describes how a young lad, when told to do things, gets angry (that’s where the beast comes into play) and he stomps his feet and roars his terrible roars.  Narratively, this venting is expressed in powerful, imaginative images of cannibalising his younger brother, shooting his father to the moon and blowing his mother across the room, out the door and into the garden up to the top of the tree where she had to be rescued.  Visually, using imagery and design styles as a street artist, the illustrator has captured wonderfully the transgressive nature of the beast: it is outer-worldly and almost robotic (with mechanically sharp lines and blue-grey colours).  It does its bidding.  Mother of course laughs when our young lad expresses remorse for his thoughts and describes her own cathartic imagery when it comes to coping with this lad and his baby brother!  This is a brilliant picture book that captures well the act of imaginative venting.

But, the big question is: Does venting feed or extinguish the flame?  Is catharsis, the act of purging one’s negative feelings through imaginative or active processes, a valid construct?  Or is the fantasy misleading in that it seems to give permission for the egocentric impulse that could indeed be counterproductive.  It is fair to say that impulse control is a central issue in our schools in terms of management of behaviour.  Highly recommended text both for the quality of its production and the possibility of a productive discussion, particularly exploring cultural/gender differences.

reviewed by John McKenzie

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