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Graphic Literature: Definitions? Subsets?
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 18:31:08 -0500
On 4/14/04 Karen wrote - in part: "On a different note, do most of you all consider a comic book to be a graphic novel per se? A subset therein? Frankly, I think that the two concepts are different forms of communication/expression. And it is a disserve to not recognize the separate and distinct formats..."
Two days ago Robin asked about a definition of "graphic novel" earlier. I've been wondering about subset defnitions myself. The various lists and recommendations - all welcome, to be sure - represent a mix of typical literary genres.
It'll be helpful if anyone helping Robin, Karen and me by suggesting definitions will use examples in order to define "graphic novels" or make a distinction between genres - if genre distinctions matter at all. Some of the examples might be Avi's "City of Light, City of Dark: A Comic Book Novel" (notice the subtitle there); Raymond Briggs's "Ethel & Ernest: A True Story;" the Tintin or Asterix books; Spiegelman's "Maus," or Winick's "Pedro & Me." Or others... There are plenty!
When I wrote about Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis," I made up the phrase
"graphic memoir" to clarify what this book seems to me to be in terms of its genre within the "graphic literature" being discussed energetically this month. So don't worry about making up a definition. Somehow that seems to go along with the whole idea, doesn't it?
Cheers, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Received on Wed 14 Apr 2004 06:31:08 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 18:31:08 -0500
On 4/14/04 Karen wrote - in part: "On a different note, do most of you all consider a comic book to be a graphic novel per se? A subset therein? Frankly, I think that the two concepts are different forms of communication/expression. And it is a disserve to not recognize the separate and distinct formats..."
Two days ago Robin asked about a definition of "graphic novel" earlier. I've been wondering about subset defnitions myself. The various lists and recommendations - all welcome, to be sure - represent a mix of typical literary genres.
It'll be helpful if anyone helping Robin, Karen and me by suggesting definitions will use examples in order to define "graphic novels" or make a distinction between genres - if genre distinctions matter at all. Some of the examples might be Avi's "City of Light, City of Dark: A Comic Book Novel" (notice the subtitle there); Raymond Briggs's "Ethel & Ernest: A True Story;" the Tintin or Asterix books; Spiegelman's "Maus," or Winick's "Pedro & Me." Or others... There are plenty!
When I wrote about Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis," I made up the phrase
"graphic memoir" to clarify what this book seems to me to be in terms of its genre within the "graphic literature" being discussed energetically this month. So don't worry about making up a definition. Somehow that seems to go along with the whole idea, doesn't it?
Cheers, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Received on Wed 14 Apr 2004 06:31:08 PM CDT
