The Graphic Novel, also known as (but lately distinguished from) a comic book, has boomed and evolved as a storytelling format over the past decade. A truly polymathic form of storytelling, it combines images and the flash-point nature of the comic strip with the long-forms of literature and the novel. Recently, we have seen the graphic novel seep into popular culture and the public consciousness as inspiration for film adaptations and television series. However, graphic storytelling is nothing new – from the cave paintings at Lascaux to Satrapi’s Persepolis, the graphic format has been embraced to tell diverse stories throughout our history. Why has this art form soared in popularity lately? What is it about graphic storytelling that resonates across the centuries and taps into the modern psyche? And why is it worthy of our investigation? Join us as we explore these questions with experts on the art form, as well as scholars who use graphic novels for their own unique teaching purposes.
Panel Members:
Henry Jenkins, Provost's Professor of Communication, Journalism, Cinematic Arts, and Education
Clifford Johnson, Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Dana Johnson, Associate Professor of English
Reception to follow event at 5:30 pm