Working in Unfamiliar Territory: A Rhetorical Criticism of the Work-Related Sequences in The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Shaun Tan’s 2006 wordless graphic novel The Arrival presents readers with an affecting portrait of the immigrant experience. Drawing from semiotic theory and the narrative paradigm, this paper offers a rhetorical criticism of the scenes in The Arrival related to the main character’s employment-related experiences. The paper proposes a novel theoretical concept – a semiotics of unfamiliarity – and, guided by this concept and the narrative paradigm, concludes that The Arrival is an effective rhetorical artifact that poignantly presents important information about the professional difficulties faced by immigrants. It is recommended that The Arrival be considered for use in organizations that employ newly arrived immigrants.