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As an art form, the graphic novel has quickly established itself as part of a North American cultural landscape dominated by visual media. Yet, its historical and stylistic connection to comics does not mean that the genre is limited to "mere entertainment" or "escapist fantasies." Rather, a surprising number of graphic novels have taken up explicitly political themes such as social conflict both in- and outside of the U.S. and Canada, racism, sexism, and homophobia.
In the course, we will investigate how graphic novels participate and intervene in discussions about contemporary as well as historical political issues, and how they construct gender, sexuality, and 'race'/ethnicity in particular. The combination of visual images and written language requires an approach that addresses their interrelation as well as the ways in which each component contributes to the text's overall style. The respective aesthetic strategies form an integral part of the graphic novel's politics and affect its function as a political medium. Texts to be discussed include Alison Bechdel's Fun Home and Lynda Barry's One! Hundred! Demons!.
Requirements for obtaining credit in this course include participation in a group presentation as well as class discussions. Registration for the course takes place in the first session. |
