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Although comics have been around for more than a century, academic engagement with the form has been far less consistent. However, as comic book adaptations arrest the popular imagination (and the box office), it seems only fitting to explore a medium that has produced fascinating material long before its translation to the silver screen. In fact, the history of comics as a form is as rich and tumultuous as the content of its stories: Super-people in underpants vs. moralist psychiatrists. Close collaborators becoming bitter rivals. Magicians working through panels and paper. Intimate tales of personal discovery…comics have it all.
This seminar is designed to serve as an introduction into the field of comics studies. We will chart the development of graphic narratives throughout the 20th century up to our own day. No comic shall be safe from our discerning gaze - whether it takes the form of a four color ‘floppy’ or a hard-backed 'graphic novel'. Our focus will lie on English-language works, supported by excursions into Japanese and Franco-Belgian traditions. Along the way, a selection of works will serve as milestones as we investigate the multitudinous roles of comics as historical artifacts, riveting entertainment, and thoughtful art.
The bulk of short-form materials will be provided during the seminar, but you may already purchase a copy of Alan Moore’s and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen (1986-1987) beforehand. |
