Online Material for Comics Course
DePaul University
Syllabus
Interdisciplinary Studies Program – 200-212
Ken Bill - Instructor
Spring 2003
Sophomore Seminar on Multiculturalism in America
VERBAL AND VISUAL SUBCULTURES: MULTICULTURAL COMIC BOOKS. 1960-PRESENT
Introduction: This course, like other Sophomore Seminar courses, attempts
to provide another perspective on: What is American multiculturalism? Through
the analysis, evaluation and serious scholarly study of comic books, we
can attempt to define the significance of their pedagogical aspects – which
will include: notions of identity (the hero-superhero)-interaction; imagination
(what ifs); vested interests, political ideology (evaluation); art interpretation;
and self and culturally referential themes. Since comic books appear to
be text where we can observe ethnic and racial unity serious study should
provide many fresh perspectives to answer the question above as well as
other scholarly inquiries.
Required Texts: available for purchase at campus bookstore
Scott McCloud. Understanding Comics – The Invisible Art (Harper Perennial.
1994) ISBN: 0-06-097625
Readings – Monographs for this course –Course Packet - Available at DePaul
Publishing – Student Activities Center.
Comic Books – Trade Paperback Books (collections of comic book series) Graphic
Novel – student choice with recommendation
Optional Texts for Reference
Scott McCloud. Reinventing Comics – How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing
an Art Form (Harper Perennial. 2000) ISBN: 0-06-095350-0
Jeffrey A. Brown. Black Superheroes, Milestone Comics, and Their Fans. (University
of Mississippi Press. 2001)ISBN 1-57806-282-9)
Matthew J. Pustz. Comic Book Culture – Fanboys and True Believers (University
Press of Mississippi. 1999) ISBN: 1-57806-201-2
David Carrier. The Aesthetics of Comics (The Pennsylvania State University
Press. 2000) ISBN: 0-271-01962-X
Geoff Klock. How To Read Superhero Comics and Why (Continuum. 2000) ISBN
: 0-8264-1419-2 pb.
S. Maasik, J. Solomon. Eds. Signs of Life in the U.S.A. – Readings on Popular
Culture for Writers –4th Ed. (Bedford/St. Martin’s. 2000
Bradford W. Wright. Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture
in America ( The Johns Hopkins University Press. 2001)
Richard Reynolds. Super Heroes: A Modern Mythology . (University of Mississippi
Press. 1992) ISBN: 0-87805-694-7 pb.
Robin Varnum and Christina T.Gibbons- Editors The Language of Comics: Word
and Image With essays by Jan Baetens, David A Berona, Frank L. Cioffi, N.C.
Christopher Couch, Robert C. Harvey, Gene Kannenberg, Jr., Catherine Khordoc,
David Kunzle, Marion D. Perret, and Todd Taylor. (University of Mississippi
Press. 2001) pb. ( This may be a required text in
2003-2004 classses).
George M. Fredrickson – “Models of Ethnic Relations: A Historical Perspective”
(an essay on multiculturalism-definitions)
International Journal of Comic Art: ISBN: 1531-6793 John A. Lent – Editor
(-This journal will be in the DePaul University Library quite soon – perhaps
some back issues as well-)
Attendance/Participation:
Student’s success in this course depends on regular attendance, the completion
of assignments, class work and discussion. The absence policy for this course
is: students who have missed the equivalent of two weeks of class (six class
sessions in any sequence) are subject to failure or an “FX” grade. There
are no “excused or unexcused” absences. There are no incompletes. The (ten
–week) quarter is quite short. Excessive absence and tardiness can have
an adverse effect on your final grade. Students who have not attended class
by the first regular class meeting after the last day to add classes will
not be admitted. If roster says class is closed – it is closed. Students
may not “sit-in” on the first class. No guests in class without instructor’s
permission. Any student not enrolled must see the registrar or their college.
Plagiarism on writing assignments will be subject to the penalty of notification
of your college dean and course failure. Rules regarding “plagiarism” are
defined in the DePaul University Student Handbook or the Faculty Ethics
Handbook. Syllabus Changes:
This document is subject to many changes (particularly the Daily / Weekly
Course Schedule. Assignment dates, daily course activities, readings, class
writing and discussions will be posted on DePaul Blackboard on a class session
basis. Every student must access Blackboard Announcements and the Blackboard
site for this course on a daily basis.
Papers: Class
Writing Assignments: Besides the individual project (final examination)
/ research paper students will write four reaction/analysis/papers. These
papers will be based on readings for the course. There will also be occasional
in-class writing and quizzes on our textbook.
Each student must commit to submitting writing assignments on time. The
sequence of papers for this course is very important to your final grade
assessment. There is ample time to complete papers by the due dates. Papers
that are not submitted on the due dates are graded as failures.
There will be the possibility of other forms of assessment besides writing.
Students will be expected to use a “scanner” when citing examples in their
texts. All papers must use M.L.A. citations and/or “Comic Art in Scholarly
Writing: A Citation Guide” – Allen Ellis – Northern Kentucky University.
Grades / Grading:
Attendance and Participation – In-Class Writing / Quizzes – 20% -points
Four - Two page reaction Papers – 60% - points
Course Schedule
Week 1 –
Monday – Jan. 6 – Introductions: Writing Assignment Paper #1
Wednesday – Jan. 8 – Review and Discuss graphic novels, t.p.b’s. for quarter.
Friday – Jan. 10 –Writing - Paper # 1 - Due – (for example “Superman vs.
Imago: Superheroes, Lacan, and Mediated Identitiy” – Christopher Murray
– IJOCA:Fall 2002)
Week 2 –
Monday – Jan. 13 – Field Trip – Chicago Comics and/or Quimby’s Comics
Wednesday – Jan. 15 – Film: “Comic Book Confidential”
Friday – Jan. 17 – Paper #2 –– IJOCA essay (for example – a discussion/reaction
to “The Image of Blacks (African Americans) in Underground Comix: New Liberal
Agenda or Same Racist Stereotypes?” William H. Foster III – IJOCA – Vol.
4, No. 2, Fall 2002)
Week 3 –
Monday – Jan. 20 – Readings from “Understanding Comics”
Wednesday – Jan. 22 – Readings from “Understanding Comics”
Friday –Jan. 24 – Discussion – Paper #2 Due
Week 4 –
Monday – Jan. 27 – Film : “Crumb”
Wednesday – Jan. 29 – Film: “The Confessions of Robert Crumb”
Friday – Jan. 31 – Discussion
Week 5 –
Monday – Feb. 3 – Midterm Writing
Wednesday – Feb. 5 – Readings: “Understanding Comics”
Friday – Feb. 7 – IJOCA –The Language of Comics - Writing Assignment – Paper
#3
Week 6 –
Monday – Feb. 10 –
Wednesday – Feb. 12 – Paper #3 – Due
Friday – Feb. 14 -
Week 7 –
Monday – Feb. 17 –
Wednesday – Feb. 19 – Film: “Unbreakable”
Friday – Feb. 21 – Writing Assignment – Paper #4 – Graphic Novel -
Week 8 –
Monday – Feb. 24 – Discussion
Wednesday – Feb. 26 – Paper #4 Due -
Friday – Feb. 28 –
Week 9 –
Monday – Mar. 3 – Film – “Donny Darko”
Wednesday – Mar. 5 – Discussion
Friday – Mar. 7 – The Language of Comics -
Wednesday – Mar. 12 –
Friday – Mar. 14 –
Final Examinations – Mar. 17