Friday, September 29, 2006
Week #6 Reader Response
**Note: Week #6 response is due by Wednesday, October 4th even though class is cancelled**
Question #1:
Sanders, in his article, Of Storytellers and Stories in Gaiman and Vess's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (p. 38), states:
...We do not like to think that we live in a tangle of love and fear, that we may try to climb past our limits through art, and that the escape may itself become a trap. Comics may be an especially apt medium for such a disconcerting subject because it naturally involves the audience in the process of creating meaningful 'stories'...
Agree or disagree? Why?
Question #2:
Gaiman, in an interview, indicated that he breaks the rules of familiar comic book storytelling. What are the rules and how does Gaiman break them? Use examples from your reading of the stories from The Sandman.
Class will meet next on October 11th (happy birthday, Nate) and remember to read chapters 6 & 8 from Eisner, as well as the reserve reading (Jeff Smith's graphic novel, Bone: Out from Boneville, which will be available at the Circulation Reserve Desk this coming Monday afternoon, 10/2).
See you all on the 11th.
Question #1:
Sanders, in his article, Of Storytellers and Stories in Gaiman and Vess's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (p. 38), states:
...We do not like to think that we live in a tangle of love and fear, that we may try to climb past our limits through art, and that the escape may itself become a trap. Comics may be an especially apt medium for such a disconcerting subject because it naturally involves the audience in the process of creating meaningful 'stories'...
Agree or disagree? Why?
Question #2:
Gaiman, in an interview, indicated that he breaks the rules of familiar comic book storytelling. What are the rules and how does Gaiman break them? Use examples from your reading of the stories from The Sandman.
Class will meet next on October 11th (happy birthday, Nate) and remember to read chapters 6 & 8 from Eisner, as well as the reserve reading (Jeff Smith's graphic novel, Bone: Out from Boneville, which will be available at the Circulation Reserve Desk this coming Monday afternoon, 10/2).
See you all on the 11th.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Interview with 'Sandman' creator Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman was interviewed by NPR Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan back in 2003. Listen to the interview...
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Joe Sacco's school of rock: Love it or loathe it
Sacco's school of rock: Love it or loathe it
Great interview with Joe Sacco on the publication of his new book exploring the crazy world of rock 'n'roll...
Great interview with Joe Sacco on the publication of his new book exploring the crazy world of rock 'n'roll...
Fantagraphics 2006 : Society of Illustrators
Fantagraphics 2006 : Society of Illustrators
For those of you who live in the NYC Metro area and are going home for Columbus Day/Fall Break, check this out -- the Society of Illustrators is exhibiting 30 years of comic art, through October 21st...
For those of you who live in the NYC Metro area and are going home for Columbus Day/Fall Break, check this out -- the Society of Illustrators is exhibiting 30 years of comic art, through October 21st...
Scott McCloud takes "Making Comics" on the road with daughters
Boing Boing: Scott McCloud takes "Making Comics" on the road with daughters
Some of you might be interested in this -- Scott McCloud is traveling the country talking about his work, which includes Understanding Comics, and its sequel, Reinventing Comics...
Some of you might be interested in this -- Scott McCloud is traveling the country talking about his work, which includes Understanding Comics, and its sequel, Reinventing Comics...
Monday, September 25, 2006
Book Review #1
In addition to the titles mentioned before, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, is also on reserve at the Circulation Reserve Desk in Milne Library. It is available for a 4 hour loan. Bring your student ID if you would like to check it out and read it for your book review.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Reminder: Book Review #1 Due September 27th
The first book review is due IN CLASS next week, September 27th. Out of the choices, (which are listed on the syllabus) the following titles are available for limited loan at the Circulation Desk in Milne Library:
Identity Crisis
A Contract with God (the edition on reserve is a trilogy, but you would only need to do the one listed here)
Volumes 1 & 3 of Sandman
V for Vendetta
Watchmen
Again, if you have a title you would like to review that is NOT on the syllabus, please see me after class today or sometime this coming week to get permission. Thanks!
Identity Crisis
A Contract with God (the edition on reserve is a trilogy, but you would only need to do the one listed here)
Volumes 1 & 3 of Sandman
V for Vendetta
Watchmen
Again, if you have a title you would like to review that is NOT on the syllabus, please see me after class today or sometime this coming week to get permission. Thanks!
Friday, September 15, 2006
Week #4 Reader Response
Sorry this week's response is so late.
Watching last season's episodes of Lost...interferes with work...
Now, on to this week's post, which actually necessitates a two-part response on your end.
Part I:
In Understanding Comics, McCloud states, "...words -- are the ultimate abstraction". Do you agree or disagree, and Why? What do you think about McCloud's idea for a unified "language of comics"? What does that even mean?
Part II:
In Wright's book, Comic Book Nation, the author is piecing together a cultural history of comic books and as such, he is not interested in the aesthetics or the art form of comics. His interests lie in the cultural representation of the comic book in America. Knowing this, formulate a response to reading Chapter 1 from his book, "Superheroes for the Common Man: The Birth of the Comic Book Industry, 1933-1941". What does Wright have to say about the origins of the comic book phenomenon in America?
Watching last season's episodes of Lost...interferes with work...
Now, on to this week's post, which actually necessitates a two-part response on your end.
Part I:
In Understanding Comics, McCloud states, "...words -- are the ultimate abstraction". Do you agree or disagree, and Why? What do you think about McCloud's idea for a unified "language of comics"? What does that even mean?
Part II:
In Wright's book, Comic Book Nation, the author is piecing together a cultural history of comic books and as such, he is not interested in the aesthetics or the art form of comics. His interests lie in the cultural representation of the comic book in America. Knowing this, formulate a response to reading Chapter 1 from his book, "Superheroes for the Common Man: The Birth of the Comic Book Industry, 1933-1941". What does Wright have to say about the origins of the comic book phenomenon in America?
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Editorial and Political Cartoons, Comic Strips
Slate Magazine - Editorial and Political Cartoons, Comic Strips
For those of you who mentioned cartoons (political cartoons in particular) last night in our discussion about what "constitutes" comics, here is a great daily compilation of political & editorial cartoons from around the country, put up by Slate Magazine. Check it out...
For those of you who mentioned cartoons (political cartoons in particular) last night in our discussion about what "constitutes" comics, here is a great daily compilation of political & editorial cartoons from around the country, put up by Slate Magazine. Check it out...
Marvel Comic Book Creator
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Boing Boing: Be in a Chris Ware comic strip
How to get Reserve Readings
For those with questions about the Reserve readings...
Reserve readings are different from the ERes readings -- they are found in Milne Library at the Circulation/Reserve Desk (huge desk to your right as you pass the statue in the lobby). Tell the student or library assistant at the desk that you have to check out a Reserve reading for your class (in this case, INTD 101) and your instructor is Pitcher. Then give the assistant the title of the book you want. They will then check the book out to you for a specified period of time -- in some cases it is 4 hours, in others 2 hours or as much as 1 day. Make sure to ASK if they don't tell you!
If you have any questions, just email me or stop by my office.
Reserve readings are different from the ERes readings -- they are found in Milne Library at the Circulation/Reserve Desk (huge desk to your right as you pass the statue in the lobby). Tell the student or library assistant at the desk that you have to check out a Reserve reading for your class (in this case, INTD 101) and your instructor is Pitcher. Then give the assistant the title of the book you want. They will then check the book out to you for a specified period of time -- in some cases it is 4 hours, in others 2 hours or as much as 1 day. Make sure to ASK if they don't tell you!
If you have any questions, just email me or stop by my office.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Week #3 Reader Response
McCloud and Eisner both use the juxtaposition of images and text to create a working definition of comics. In your own words, what is the definition of the term "comics"? What does it mean to be a comic book? What is the criteria?
If comics are literature, how do they fit into the world of art?
Next Wednesday, we will begin to explore how comics are defined, using the reading from Eisner's book Comics & Sequential Art (behind the Circulation/Reserve desk in the library -- ask for it by title and my name; you can borrow it for a few hours) and the readings from McCloud. Be prepared to come and discuss!
**Add your comments by clicking on the "comments" link below this post. Your comments can be as long as you like. Don't censor yourself, but please write at least a paragraph responding to the question. Remember -- you have until Tuesday, September 12th at midnight to post a response.**
If comics are literature, how do they fit into the world of art?
Next Wednesday, we will begin to explore how comics are defined, using the reading from Eisner's book Comics & Sequential Art (behind the Circulation/Reserve desk in the library -- ask for it by title and my name; you can borrow it for a few hours) and the readings from McCloud. Be prepared to come and discuss!
**Add your comments by clicking on the "comments" link below this post. Your comments can be as long as you like. Don't censor yourself, but please write at least a paragraph responding to the question. Remember -- you have until Tuesday, September 12th at midnight to post a response.**
Book Review Guidelines
Your first book review is due on September 27th. I will be sending you the guidelines through email, so check your inbox. Remember -- you only need to read and review one of the following comic books (trade paperbacks --NOT the individual issues!):
American Splendor, Harvey Pekar
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller et. al.
Identity Crisis, Brad Meltzer & Rags Morales
A Contract with God, Will Eisner
The Sandman (any volume), Neil Gaiman et. al.
Sin City: vol I: the hard goodbye, Frank Miller
V for Vendetta, Alan Moore & David Lloyd
Watchmen, Alan Moore
If you have another title (and doublecheck the syllabus to make sure its not one of the other titles for the other two book reviews) you want to review, please check with me first.
If you have any questions about the assignment, let me know -- stop by or send an email my way.
American Splendor, Harvey Pekar
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller et. al.
Identity Crisis, Brad Meltzer & Rags Morales
A Contract with God, Will Eisner
The Sandman (any volume), Neil Gaiman et. al.
Sin City: vol I: the hard goodbye, Frank Miller
V for Vendetta, Alan Moore & David Lloyd
Watchmen, Alan Moore
If you have another title (and doublecheck the syllabus to make sure its not one of the other titles for the other two book reviews) you want to review, please check with me first.
If you have any questions about the assignment, let me know -- stop by or send an email my way.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Eisner book
Hello -- it looks like some of you have had problems getting the Eisner book from the bookstore. If you were not able to get the book yet, don't worry too much, we will discuss the chapters in class tomorrow. Do make sure to read the Inge (available on ERes). Read the Eisner when you get your copy.
As for the posts, keep 'em coming!
As for the posts, keep 'em coming!
