ESH6085
Reading Global Graphic Narratives
Level 6 (30 credits)
Over the last twenty years the graphic narrative has grown into a global form. From Japanese Manga to Iranian webcomix, graphic narratives are now as varied as prose and as widely produced. This module will investigate how writers and illustrators from regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, and South and East Asia are altering and adapting the medium to speak to new contexts, for alternative aesthetic and political purposes. Covering comics, cartoons, and graphic novels from around the globe it invites students to explore the different ways in which the graphic form is used to mediate global politics, articulate marginal subject positions and synthesize regional cultural histories.
Preparing for this Module and Approximate Costs
No preparation is required. If you would like to familiarise yourself with studying graphic narratives critically, please take a look at Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics (available online as a pdf. or through the QMUL library).
Graphic narratives can cost up to £10 (and in some cases even more!) when bought new from high street bookshops. However, the texts we will be looking at are widely available online, second-hand and as ebooks. In these formats, they are much cheaper. The library holds multiple copies and in some weeks readings are provided digitally.
Students are encouraged to share texts on the module and to pass on library copies.
Why take Reading Global Graphic Narratives
?
1. Learn how to think critically and theoretically about the graphic narrative as a global literary form.
2. Explore what the ‘graphic narrative’ means today and learn about the stylistic similarities and differences across texts from different cultural contexts.
3. Investigate how the form mediates global politics and marginal subject positions.
| Learning Context |
Long Seminar + Workshop (or equivalent) |
| Semester |
One |
| Assessment |
- Creative Critical Assignment (1-2 page creative + 750 words critical analysis), 20%
- Presentation (10 mins), 20%
- Essay (3000 words), 60%
|
| Mode of reassessment |
Standard |
| Contact |
|
There is some content covered on the programme that you may find challenging and sensitive. We do not issue content notes for individual texts (written, performance, visual, sonic etc.), but please do contact your module tutor and/or convenor and/or adviser if you have concerns or problems relating any of the content, themes or discussions.
