COM 4003 - Comics as Communication
Randy Duncan
Office Hours:
Goodloe 308
MWF 11:00 - 12:00
Course Objectives:
This course is designed to help the studentAppreciate the diversity and potential of the comic book/graphic novel medium;
Understand comic books/graphic novels as a unique medium of communication;
Discover the governing principles of comic books/graphic novels as an art form;
Apply knowledge of the medium to the creation of comic books/graphic novels;
Analyze the role of comic books/graphic novels in American society and culture;
Evaluate works of the comic book/graphic novel medium
Grading:
Grades will be determined on a 1000 point scale. The points will be distributed as follows: Tests (400 pts.); Book Reviews (300 pts.); Project (100 pts.); Exercises (180 pts.); Participation (20 pts.). The minimum points needed for each grade are: A - 920; B - 830; C - 730; D - 620.
Attendance:
You must have an excused absence to make-up a test. Ten points will be deducted for each class day that an assignment is turned in late. Hopefully, there will be a great deal of discussion in this class. If you are not in class to take part in the discussion, your participation grade will be reduced.
Required Text: Your textbook for this class is a work in progress. You will be given photocopied chapters free of charge. If you miss class, check with me to see if a chapter was distributed on that day. You should come by my office and pick up your copy so that you do not fall behind on assigned readings or exercises.
Grievance Procedure: If you wish to appeal a grade in this course you should schedule an appointment with the instructor and explain the reasons for your appeal. The instructor will explain the basis for the grade. If you are still not satisfied, you should see the chair of the Communication and Theatre Arts Department
Final Project
Creative Option: Create a comic book of at least five pages in length. Even if you do not produce the artwork, you should do thumbnail breakdowns and turn them in as part of the final project. As long as you are juxtaposing words and pictures in a deliberate sequence, your project can be in any format. Do not be afraid to push the boundaries of the form.
Critical Analysis Option: Write a five to eight page critical analysis of a graphic novel (the choice has to be approved by the instructor). Employ one of the critical methods covered in Chapters 10 and 11.
COURSE OUTLINE
R, Aug 29 Introduction to the course
T, Sept 3 Chapter 1: Why Study Comic Books / Exercise 1 - Definition (10 pts.)
[Eisner from Masters of Comic Book Art video]
R, Sept 5 Chapter 2: History of the Medium / Exercise 2 - The Spirit (10 pts.)
T, Sept 10 Chapter 2 continued [distribute books for review]
R, Sept 12 Chapter 2 continued / [GL-GA evolution]
T, Sept 17 Chapter 2 continued / Book Review 1 (50 pts.)
R, Sept 19 Chapter 3: The Comic Book Creators / Exercise 3 - Auteur (25 pts.)
[assign books for review]
T, Sept 24 Chapter 3 continued [Creator Bill of Rights]
R, Sept 26 Chapter 4: The Comic Book Readers / Book Review 2 (50 pts.)
[distribute cut up panels for Ex. 4]
T, Oct 1 Test 1 (100 pts.) / Exercise 4 - Sequence (25 pts.)
[turn in sequenced panels]
R, Oct 3 Chapter 5: Creating the Story [explanation of the sequence story]
[handout adaptation one assignment]
T, Oct 8 Chapter 5 continued / Exercise 5 - Language of Comics (10 pts.)
["Master Race"]
R, Oct 10 Chapter 5 continued ["The Block"]
T, Oct 15 Chapter 6: Experiencing the Story / Exercise 6 - Adaptation 1 (25 pts.)
R, Oct 17 Chapter 6 continued / Book Review 3 (50 pts.)
T, Oct 22 Test 2 (100 pts.)
R, Oct 24 Chapter 7: Comic Book Genres [assign books for review 3]
T, Oct 29 Chapter 7 continued [hand out adaptation 2 assignment]
R, Oct 31 Chapter 8: Comic Books as Literature / Book Review 4 (50 pts.)
[assign books for review 4] [spiegelman from Masters video]
T, Nov 5 Chapter 8 continued [Crumb] [Raw]
R, Nov 7 Chapter 9: Comic Books and Ideology / Exercise 7 - Adaptation 2 (25 pts.)
[Hand out content analysis assignment]
T, Nov 12 Chapter 9 continued
[assign books for review 5]
R, Nov 14 Test 3 (100 pts.)
T, Nov 19 Exercise 8 - Content Analysis (25 pts.)
R, Nov 21 Chapter 10: Critical Analysis of Comic Books
T, Nov 26 Chapter 10 continued / Book Review 5 (100 pts.)
T, Dec 3 Guest Speaker
R, Dec 5 TBA
T, Dec 10 Final Project (100 pts.)
R, Dec 12 review for final
T, Dec 17 Final Exam (100 pts.) 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Book Reviews
There are 5 Book Review assignments during the course of the semester. Each Book Review should cover the concepts listed below. You can cover these concepts in any order or format that is appropriate for the central thought of your review. Not all of the sub-points listed below will be relevant to each work reviewed.
1. Who created the work and why?
a. Relevant personal history of the creator(s)
b. Artistic influences
c. What they were attempting to achieve
2. How is the work significant in the history of the medium?
a. Does it continue narrative or stylistic traditions of the medium?
b. Does it revise traditions of the medium?
c. Does it introduce totally original elements to the medium?
d. Are there other reasons why the work is significant?
3. How is meaning developed in the work?
a. What is the meaning/subtext that you derive from this work?
b. How does encapsulation (breaking down the narrative into panels)
contribute to the meaning?
c. How does composition (elements within the panel) contribute to
the meaning?
1.) Signs (icon, index, symbol)
2.) Color
3.) "Cinematic" elements (lighting, distance, angle, etc.)
4.) Style
d. How does layout (arrangement of panels on the page) contribute
to the meaning?
e. How does closure (meaning created by the combination of panels)
contribute to the meaning?
Book Review Assignments
Review 1 A Spirit story by Will Eisner (distributed in class)
Review 2 A Sandman [Gaiman] or Swamp Thing [Moore] story
Review 3 A Batman comic book or graphic novel (a few suggestions below)
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Batman: The Cult
Batman: Year One Batman: Night Cries
Batman: Black and White Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: Arkham Asylum Batman: Faces
Batman: Shaman Batman: Prey
Review 4 comic book or graphic novel of your choice
Review 5 One of the graphic novels or trade paperbacks below (other choices
must be approved by the instructor):
Concrete: Think Like a Mountain Astro City (trade paperback)
Concrete: Fragile Creature Camelot 3000
Strangers in Paradise: I Dream of You Kingdom Come
Death: The High Cost of Living Ronin
Death: The Time of Your Life Uncle Sam
Starman: Sins of the Father Enemy Ace: War Idyll
The Desert Peach: Belief Systems Watchmen
Baker Street: Honor Among Punks Sin City
Zenozoic Tales: Cadillacs and Dinosaurs Give Me Liberty
Lone Wolf and Cub (trade paperback) Zot: Book I
Preacher: Gone to Texas Marvels
Animal Man (trade paperback) V For Vendetta
Usagi Yojimbo: Shades of Death Akira
Elf Quest: Fire and Flight His Name is Savage
The Death of Captain Marvel A Tintin graphic novel
Swamp Thing: Love and Death a Blueberry graphic novel
Review 6 One of the following graphic novels or trade paperbacks (other choices
must be approved by the instructor)
Paul Auster's City of Glass Our Cancer Year
A Contract With God The Dreamer
Dropsie Avenue: The Neighborhood A Life Force
To the Heart of the Storm The Building
New York: The Big City Invisible People
The Will Eisner Reader The Outer Space Spirit
Fax From Sarajevo Tale of One Bad Rat
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History Toxic Gumbo
Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began Why I Hate Saturn
A Jew in Communist Prague American Splendor
Stuck Rubber Baby Ghost World
Kings in Disguise Stray Bullets
A Distant Soil A Small Killing
Signal to Noise Blood of Palomar
Palestine: A Nation Occupied Barefoot Gen
Secret of San Saba Twisted Sisters
300 From Hell