Race and Ethnicity in American Comics 4219-SD0061
This course offers an introduction to the ways race and ethnicity are represented and explored in American (web)comics and graphic novels. Students will first learn how to read and interpret comics. From there, we’ll examine a variety of works, ranging from superhero stories to slice-of-life texts, that reflect on race, ethnicity, and social issues. In the final part of the course, students will research and present on a comic, webcomic, or graphic novel of their choice, applying the tools and concepts discussed in class.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
- The student has an introductory knowledge of multicultural American comics.
- The student knows basic terminology connected with analyzing comics.
- The student knows selected American authors and their work.
Skills:
- The student is able to analyze comics.
- The student has the ability to work in a group to deliver a group presentation.
Social competences:
- The student is able to cooperate and work in a group.
- The student is able to formulate their opinion about the texts discussed in class.
- The student completes and improves their knowledge of American comics.
Assessment criteria
- Active participation (20 points)
- Presentation (50 points)
- Writing task (30 points)
Grading policy:
0-60 – 2
60-70 – 3
71-75 – 3.5
76-85 – 4
86-90 – 4.5
91-95 – 5
96-100 – 5!
Bibliography
Aldama, Frederick Luis, editor. Multicultural Comics: From Zap to Blue Beetle. University of Texas Press, 2010.
McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. Harper Collins, 1993.
Royal, Derek Parker. “Introduction: Coloring America: Multi-Ethnic Engagements with Graphic Narrative.” MELUS, vol. 32, no. 3, 2007, pp. 7–22. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30029789.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: