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IST 605: Comic Books & Graphic Novels: School-Use Approved!

Let's learn the effective qualities of using comic books and graphic novels in an educational setting!

Online Database Articles

Hendricks, A. D. (2022, August 11). Teaching Comics: A Syllabus. JSTOR Daily. Retrieved from https://daily.jstor.org/teaching-comics-a-syllabus/

This article offers potential comic books and graphic novels that could be used within a school curriculum and how they can implement them into it. There is a focus on "wholeness" in academics by pairing the content in writing courses with those of art courses. The article mentions two well-known places that offer lessons on William Blake's, an English poet and painter, visual and poetic mash-up of Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. This stresses the importance of connecting written literature with visual literacy as it engages students and increases critical thinking of literature.

 

Infobase. (2008). Comic books and graphic novels. Issues & Controversies. Retrieved from https://icof.infobase.com/articles/QXJ0aWNsZVRleHQ6MTYzMDg%3D?aid=17054

This source is a Pro/Con article that gives arguments by supporters and opponents on whether or not comic books and graphic novels are sophisticated enough to be considered legitimate art forms as well as used for educational purposes. The article provides strong arguments from both sides and addresses some misunderstandings that can occur when thinking about comic books and graphic novels as well as the content presented in them. This can be very useful for those writing an argumentative essay on the topic or want this information to counteract possible arguments for implementing comic books and graphic novels into school curriculum.

 

Pagnucci, G., & Romagnoli, A. (2014). Rebooting the Academy: Why Universities Need to Finally Start Taking Comic Books Seriously. Works & Days, 32(1/2), 9–21. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.libproxy.albany.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=hus&AN=117806157&site=ehost-live

This article highlights how some people still treat comic books as "light entertainment" instead of a more serious academic resource. It explains how comic books actually are academic material because of their multimodal nature, complexities of characters, and require multiliteracy skills to be understood. The article relates how comic books can create a strong interest in the area of study of humanities, and how that can increase student interest in learning, comprehension of the material, and expand their knowledge of literary works in various genres and mediums.

 

Price, A. (2009). New Books from Old: Turning Classics into Comics. Publishers Weekly, 256(51), 27–29. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.libproxy.albany.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=lih&AN=47600522&site=ehost-live

Various classic novels and stories have been adapted into comic books and graphic novels. This article illustrates how that has a positive effect in bringing in different audiences to be introduced to classics that people all know and love. By adapting the classics into a different medium, it can appeal to those that may struggle reading books by authors like Shakespeare or Jane Austin, and strive by having books that are accompanied by illustrations or pictures. Since popularity has increased in approaching classics in a new light by adapting them into comic books and graphic novels, those versions should be appreciated and utilized in different environments and settings, such as a school or class.