Sophomore Seminar
VISUAL AND VERBAL SUBCULTURES--“MULTICULTURAL”:GRAPHIC NOVELS
Introduction:
This course, like other Sophomore Seminar courses, attempts to provide another perspective on the following: What is American multiculturalism? What works of American literary/ visual culture that have significant contributions to multiculturalism and broader American culture? Through the analysis, evaluation and serious scholarly study of graphic novels, we can attempt to define some of their ideological and pedagogical aspects – which might include: notions of identity, character interaction, intertextuality, comic art, cultural – historical referential themes and literary analysis. Since graphic novels are also texts where we can observe ethnic and racial ideas, study of them should provide fresh perspectives to these scholarly inquiries.
Required Texts:
Persepolis – Marjane Satrapi
Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth - Chris Ware
Palestine – Joe Sacco
In The Shadow of No Towers – Art Spiegelman
Reference Texts – Not Required
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art – Scott McCloud – (Harper-Perennial, 1994).
Reinventing Comics: How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing an Art
Form
(Harper-Perennial, 2000).
Comic Book Culture: Fanboys and True Believers – Matthew J. Pustz -(University Press of Mississippi, 1999).
How To Read Superhero Comics and Why – Geoff Klock – (Continuum Press, 2000).
Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture and Image – Bradford W. Wright (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001).
The Language of Comics: Word and Image – Robin Varnum and Christina T. Gibbons – Editors – With essays by Jan Baetens, David A. Berona, Frank L. Cioffi, N.C. Christopher Couch, Robert C. Harvey, Gene Kannenberg, Jr., Cahterine Khordoc, David Kunzle, Marion D. Perret, and Todd Taylor. (University of Mississippi Press, 2001) – This text is one of the finest and most scholarly books on the function, analysis and other serious academic discussions of comics, graphic novels, cartoons, cartoonists, artists – available.
International Journal of Comic Art - <ISBN: 1531-6793> John A. Lent – Editor (This journal is in the DePaul University Library.
Course Policies -
A 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 as follows: there are no “excused” or “unexcused” absences, students that miss the equivalent of two weeks of class are subject to failure. This absence policy is a departmental directive. Six class sessions of absence in any order will result is a failing grade. There are no incompletes given. Excessive absence and tardiness will have an adverse effect on your final grade – no excuses for tardiness as well as absence. Students that have not attended class by the first regular class meeting aftrer the last day to add classes will not be admitted. If roster says class is closed – it is closed. Students may not “sit in”. No guests without instructor’s permission. Any student not enrolled must register.
Plagiarism –
This course does have a writing component and therefore plagiarism on writing assignments is subject to the rules and penalties given The DePaul Student Handbook and the Faculty Ethics Handbook. Plagiarism results in a failing grade for the course.
Papers – Tests – Grades
Papers for this course will be based on readings scanned into Blackboard or
on our textbooks.
Writing papers and submitting them on due dates is very important to your final
grade assessment. There is ample time given to complete these written assignments
and you will be given specific Assignment Sheets for each paper. Papers may
be submitted only one day later than the due date and must be stamped by L.A.S.
or English Department office. No e-mail papers – No e-mail papers are
accepted. No papers later than the submission requirement above will be accepted.
All class work missed may not be made up – this is not a tutorial course
– if you miss a quiz – a test or an in-class assignment due to absence
– you fail that work. Reading tests/quizzes will be given on our textbook
reading assignments.
Tests – Quizzes – Blue Book Writing: 25%
Papers – (3-4) –(3 pages average in length). – 30%
Final Examination Paper – 45%
Blackboard: This syllabus is subject to frequent and important changes throughout the quarter. All information in it is subject to revision and correction depending on class activities – length of lectures – tests – quizzes – film and other factors. Therefore all students MUST check Blackboard Announcements Daily for updates. The syllabus should be checked every week for updates – regarding important changes. Readings, in-class activities, class work, and other weekly class information will be posted on Blackboard Announcements. Students will need to make print copies of readings, scanned into Blackboard in PDF – Adobe Reader files – so this program should be on your computer. All DePaul computers have Adobe Reader and this program can be downloaded from the library website.
Course Schedule:
Week 1 – Mar. 28 – M. – Introduction
Mar. 30 – W. – Reading -
Apr. 1 – F. –--- See sample assignments as part of this syllabus online at “comix scholars list from the University of Florida -
Week 2 – Apr. 4 –M. – Paper #1 – Due
Apr. 6 – W. –
Apr. 8 – F. –
Week 3 – Apr. 11 – M. –
Apr. 13 – W. –
Apr. 15 – F –
Week 4 – Apr. 18 – M. –
Apr. 20 – W. –
Apr. 22 – F –
Week 5 – Apr. 25 – M. –
Apr.. 27 – W. –
Apr. 29 – F –
Week 6 – May -2 – M –
May 4 – W –
May 6 – F. –
Week 7 – May 9 – M.-
May 11 – W.-
May 13 – F. –
Week 8 – May 16 – M. –
May 18 – W. –
May 20 – F. –
Week 9 – May 23 – M. –
May 25 – W. –
May 27 – F. –
Week 10 – May 30 – M. –
June 1 – W. –
June 3 – F. –
Final Examination Date: