Comics and the Graphic Novel

Sequences and series are the ubiquitous ways we most often see photographic images. This class concentrates on producing and looking at how series of images are structured and the significance those structures hold. Assignments help develop students' use and understanding of sequential and serial imagery by engaging narrative and non-narrative strategies in simple sequences, books, zines, web-based projects, installations, videos, and projected presentations.

This course will examine contemporary approaches to self-produced, independent comic making. Emphasis is on all aspects of making comics including classic cartooning conventions (character building, sequencing, storytelling, etc.), formal innovation, development of personal style, intuition and experimentation, simple graphic skills and craftsmanship, and tools of production. Comics will be defined and presented as a subversive cultural force and will be discussed and evaluated within the parameters of a rigorous critical discourse. This class will also provide a survey of groundbreaking American comics since 1945.

The Department of Painting and Drawing offers a wide variety of comics courses, ranging from traditional to experimental methods and techniques. Each course is designed to focus on a specific area of comics production. To learn more about the topic of a specific comics course in which you are interested, please review the course description for that particular class.

The contemporary form of comics is explored in this studio course, in which each participant creates and produces a self-published comic. Writing, storyboarding, penciling, inking, and prepress preparations are covered, and a range of comics are read and discussed.

Sequences and series are the ubiquitous ways we most often see photographic images. This class concentrates on producing and looking at how series of images are structured and the significance those structures hold. Assignments help develop students' use and understanding of sequential and serial imagery by engaging narrative and non-narrative strategies in simple sequences, books, zines, web-based projects, installations, videos, and projected presentations.

The contemporary form of comics is explored in this studio course, in which each participant creates and produces a self-published comic. Writing, storyboarding, penciling, inking, and prepress preparations are covered, and a range of comics are read and discussed.

The Department of Painting and Drawing offers a wide variety of comics courses, ranging from traditional to experimental methods and techniques. Each course is designed to focus on a specific area of comics production. To learn more about the topic of a specific comics course in which you are interested, please review the course description for that particular class.

This class will explore both the language and production of comics, focusing primarily on independent, alternative and art comics. Students will learn about making comics beginning with an idea, following through the writing and drawing process, and including aspects of design, business, reproduction and publication. From overcoming writer's block and the blank canvas dilemma to dealing with bad reviews, this course will introduce students to a range of theoretical and practical concepts while they practice drawing comics. Studio time will include exercises dealing with writing, drawing style, materials and production.

Gen Sem: Complex Narratives: Engineering Comics In this course we focus on refining ideas and methods for telling stories through comics by exploring the complex relationship and interactive development of sequential text and image. Students engage with visual representation, narrative, and language by studying and making comics. Required readings supplement the creative assignments, and may include the work of Eleanor Davis, Joseph Lambert, Los Bros Hernandez, Alan Moore, Jason Lutes, Lynda Barry, Joe Sacco, Jen Wang and many others. Class meetings include writing and drawing exercises, critical analysis of comics and their forms, discussions and workshops for weekly assignments and longer projects. This class is recommended for students who have experience in narrative, storytelling, writing and mark-making.