Graphic NovelsA Brief History

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GRAPHIC NOVELS: DEFINED

What’s a graphic novel?

• Broadly defined, a story told in comic book format, but presented to the reader in a book.

“Graphic” & “Novel”

• The phrase “graphic novel” is sort of a misnomer. • Not all graphic novels are “novels”.• See Persepolis.

• Not all graphic novels are “graphic”.• American Born Chinese, for example.

A Rich History

• Graphic novels have a lengthy history outside of the US. • Japan & Manga• Europe even beat us to the punch. • US & Graphic Novels started a beautiful relationship in

the 80s.

GRAPHIC NOVELS: US HISTORY

Before the days off…

1938

1940s

• “Most children (and certainly most boys) read, collected, and exchanged comic books” (Monnin).

• Many adults were scared by the intensity with which kids’ embraced such stories.

WHY THE BAD REP?

1950s• A psychologist by the

name of Wertham denounced comics and claimed they were causing kids to turn “bad”.

• Many communities organized comic book burnings.

Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency Hearings (1954)

• Televised trials• Young people + comics

= juvenile delinquents• Only horror & crime

books investigated• Politicians, educators,

doctors, and comic creators were present

Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency Hearings (1954)

• Let’s do a close reading of the statement of purpose regarding these trials.

Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency Hearings (1954)

• Created a biased representation• Comic content “toned down” as a result• However, the public still linked crime,

horror, and delinquency to comics

1960s• Comic books were

virtually left for dead.• Appealed now to a

narrow field of hardcore fans.

1970s• Comic artists set out

to prove that image literacies could:• Appeal to a wide

audience (kids & adults alike)

• Operate on a serious, literary level

1980s & 1990s

• Maus I (1986) & Maus II (1991) = game changers• US Graphic novels was born.

• Brought new readers to the world of graphic novels. • Novel readers were reading comic books.

• We got the stories of Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns out of this era, too.

Today’s Entertainment

Today’s Entertainment

• Clearly includes graphic novels

• Book store sections are overflowing

• Manga is has a growing fan-base.

What’s More?

• You can learn from reading them, too!

The truth…• Comics are more than superheroes, aliens, crime, and

violence. • Many subjects are successfully represented in comic books…• History/historical fiction• Science• Biography• Geography• Math• Classics/ poetry• Mythology/folklore/tall tales

Works Cited

Monnin, Katie. Teaching Graphic Novels. Gainsville, FL: Maupin House Publishing, 2010. Print.