Reading Graphic Novels at the Cambridge Center
Optional Books
The following optional books cover the language and history of comics and expand on many of the ideas we will cover in class. They are not required, but you may want to read or consult these books as you take the course.
- Comics and Sequential Art. Will Eisner. 1985, Poorhouse Press. ISBN: 0961472812
- Graphic Novels: Everything You Need To Know. Paul Gravett. 2005, Collins Design. ISBN: 978-0060824259
- Understanding Comics. Scott McCloud. 1994, Perennial Currents. ISBN: 006097625X
- Making Comics. Scott McCloud. 2006, Perennial Currents. ISBN: 0060780940
- The Comics Before 1945 Brian Walker. 2004, Harry N. Abrams. ISBN: 978-0810949706
Reading Graphic Novels
at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education
42 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA
Thursdays, 5:45pm - 7:45pm
April 17 - May 8, 2008
Adults reading comics? Who would have thought it? The growing literary graphic novel movement is giving us an unprecedented number of new works of biography, journalism and fiction targeted at serious readers. In this four-week course we will explore seminal graphic novels by Alison Bechdel, Neil Gaiman and Gene Luen Yang among others. Along the way we will discuss each artist's unique approach to visual storytelling and find out how this melding of words and pictures differs from poetry, literature and film. We'll also touch on the 150 year history of the medium.
Required Books
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Read For Week One: American Born Chinese. Gene Luen Yang. 2006, First Second. ISBN: 978-1596433731.
Week One Handouts & Links- Interview: Gene Yang on Finding Wonderland
- Interview: Gene Yang on NPR
- Background: More on the Monkey King
- Video: The Backdorm Boys (inspiration for the final panel in the novel)
Week One Bonus Comic Strip Handout
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Read For Week Two: TWO SHORT BOOKS Violent Cases. Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean. 1991, Dark Horse. ISBN: 978-1569716069. AND Night Fisher. R. Kikuo Johnson. 2005, Fantagraphics. ISBN: 978-1560977193.
Week Two Handouts & Links- Review: Examining Gaiman's "Violent Cases" with Peter Sanderson
- Bio: Neil Gaiman's Career in Comics
- Bio: Neil Gaiman on Dave McKean
- Review: Night Fisher, The Comics Journal #275
- Interview: R. Kikuo Johson, The Comics Journal #275
- Comics: Conditioning by R. Kikuo Johnson in NYT, 2007
Week Two Bonus Comic Strip Handout
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Read For Week Three: TWO SHORT BOOKS Jar of Fools. Jason Lutes. 1996, Drawn & Quarterly. ISBN: 978-1896597720. AND The Golem's Mighty Swing [Collected in James Sturm's America: God, Gold and Golems]. James Sturm. 2007, Drawn & Quarterly. ISBN: 978-1897299050.
Week Three Handouts & Links- Interview:James Sturm on Booklist Online
- Interview:More on the House of David Baseball Team
- Video:Watch Paul Wegener's 1920 film "Der Golem" on Google Video
- Interview:Jason Lutes on PBS.org
- Video:Al Flosso's Magic Act
Week Three Bonus Comic Strip Handout
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Read For Week Four: Fun Home. Alison Bechdel. 2007, Mariner Books. ISBN: 978-0618871711.
Week Four Handouts & Links- Interview:Interview with Alison Bechdel
- Review:Puzzle Palace by Tom Crippen
- Video:Alison Bechdel at work
Week Four Bonus Comic Strip Handout