so, what makes a book a graphic novel?
the basics
Graphic novels are books set up like comic books and present information textually and through illustrations. Most graphic novels center around one story, though they can be about anything. Common types include:
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A brief history
The first graphic novels evolved from early comics (which first appeared in 1895). Funnies on Parade was the first published comic book in 1933. Comics gained popularity as superheroes began to become common comic figures especially during World War II. Comics would largely be banned and burned by the United States government during the 1950s, but the formation of the Justice League and other superhero comics regenerated the comic book market.
It was not until 1978 that Will Eisner coined the term "graphic novel" and novels such as Batman: The Dark Knight, The Watchmen, and Maus: A Survivor's Tale emerged. Recognition and awards for graphic novels have continued to bring more attention to them within the public as well as in the classroom. |
Compare American Born Chinese and other graphic novels to their comic book predecessors. What has changed in terms of style and storytelling? Personally, do you prefer one form over the other or does it depend on what you are reading? In the next 50+ years, how do you think comics and the graphic novel will evolve?
the format of a graphic novel
Now that you know what the qualifications are for a graphic novel, how to you read a graphic novel or analyze one?
Reading a graphic novel is just like reading a comic or a book. Start on the left and finish on the right side of the page. The shape of the panels will help guide your eye to where you need to read next. For example, is a box is elongated vertically past other smaller panels, continue reading this panel before moving to the next.
The placement of white space, dialog and thought balloons, and sound effects can help you transition from panel to panel as you read. The format of the graphic novel ultimately depends on the style of the book itself, but these basic tools always apply to all types. |
analyzing the structure
In the PowerPoint file located to the right, Michael Pemberton of Georgia Southern University breaks down the visual structure of American Born Chinese by noticing how visual elements change from section to section. This in turn helps indicate the themes and story structure of the book as well.
Be able to answer the following:
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comics in education
If you are interested in incorporating graphic novels and comics into the classroom, review on of the following links to get more information.
ASK YOURSELF:
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are you interested in making comics and graphic novels?
Yang provides advice for aspiring cartoonists in his blog.
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Comic Book Generators
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Further reading
If you like American Born Chinese, consider reading one of the other following other books:
Maus
by Art Spiegelman |
Persepolis
by Marjane Satrapi |
Other Recommendations
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Works cited
"Bitstrips logo." Bitstrips. 12 June 2013. <http://www.bitstrips.com/>. JPEG file.
"Chogger logo." Chogger. 12 June 2013. <http://chogger.com/>. JPEG file.
"Get Graphic: The World in Words and Pictures." Get Graphic. 12 June 2013. <www.getgraphic.org/Teachers
/TEACHERpowerpoint.ppt>. PowerPoint file.
"Maus book cover." Wikipedia. 12 June. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maus>. JPEG file.
"Marvel Kids logo." Marvel Kids. 12 June 2013. <http://marvelkids.marvel.com/>. JPEG file.
Pemberton, Michael. "American Born Chinese, Comic Books and First-year Writing - Moving Beyond Literary
Analysis." 6 February 2009. 12 June 2013. <www.westga.edu/~mmcfar/American%20Born%20Chinese.ppt>.
PowerPoint file.
"Persopolis book cover." Comic Book Resources. 15 March 2013. 12 June 2013.<http://robot6.
comicbookresources.com/2013/03/persepolis-reportedly-removed-from-chicago-public-schools/>. JPEG file.
"Pixton logo." Pixton. 12 June 2013. <http://www.pixton.com/>. JPEG file.
"Tribute to the Golden Age of Comic Books." 24 February 2012. 12 June 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=pH872JzoVtc>. YouTube video.
Yang, Gene Luen. "American Born Chinese book cover." 2006. Gene Luen Yang official website. 12 June 2013.
<http://geneyang.com/american-born-chinese>. JPEG file.
Yang, Gene Luen. "Panel of The Monkey King in battle." 2006. Google Books. 12 June 2013.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=nihoSwMJLGMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false>. JPEG file.
"Chogger logo." Chogger. 12 June 2013. <http://chogger.com/>. JPEG file.
"Get Graphic: The World in Words and Pictures." Get Graphic. 12 June 2013. <www.getgraphic.org/Teachers
/TEACHERpowerpoint.ppt>. PowerPoint file.
"Maus book cover." Wikipedia. 12 June. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maus>. JPEG file.
"Marvel Kids logo." Marvel Kids. 12 June 2013. <http://marvelkids.marvel.com/>. JPEG file.
Pemberton, Michael. "American Born Chinese, Comic Books and First-year Writing - Moving Beyond Literary
Analysis." 6 February 2009. 12 June 2013. <www.westga.edu/~mmcfar/American%20Born%20Chinese.ppt>.
PowerPoint file.
"Persopolis book cover." Comic Book Resources. 15 March 2013. 12 June 2013.<http://robot6.
comicbookresources.com/2013/03/persepolis-reportedly-removed-from-chicago-public-schools/>. JPEG file.
"Pixton logo." Pixton. 12 June 2013. <http://www.pixton.com/>. JPEG file.
"Tribute to the Golden Age of Comic Books." 24 February 2012. 12 June 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=pH872JzoVtc>. YouTube video.
Yang, Gene Luen. "American Born Chinese book cover." 2006. Gene Luen Yang official website. 12 June 2013.
<http://geneyang.com/american-born-chinese>. JPEG file.
Yang, Gene Luen. "Panel of The Monkey King in battle." 2006. Google Books. 12 June 2013.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=nihoSwMJLGMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false>. JPEG file.