Graphic Novels: A Literary Genre to be Taken Seriously
by Steven Capriglione
1. The newfound popularity in such subjects can be seen in Comic-Cons around the world
1.1. If a person can identify with a character and that encourages them to read more stories, we as a collective academic society are bolstering the very areas in which we hope new generations will grow: that of literacy
2. Growing Popularity
2.1. With the new popularity of GNs as a form of literature, it is possible that this is the current generation's take on where literacy should go
2.2. As it appears to me, each generation has a literary movement; Romanticism, Gothic Lit, Pastoral, etc. and it is only logical that something like Graphic Novels are a new movement
2.2.1. Especially since it is not only limited to science fiction
2.3. On a personal note in favor of this sort of literature; the way in which the stories are executed really help the reader visualize what can sometimes be lost in what is written as description
2.3.1. This can be emphasized with the idea that 90% of all human communication is non-verbal, so it stands to reason that a multitude of graphic images - graphic meaning artistic - would help a reader maintain the main ideas that a particular story argues
3. Criticisms Against
3.1. Not sure where to go with this, but will research it coming up (The idea popped in my head while creating this map)
4. Concluding Statements and/or Arguments
4.1. Examples of Popular GNs
4.1.1. Spiderman, X-Men, Superman, Batman, Maus, Scott Pilgrim, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Fahrenheit 451, etc
4.2. Need to draft first before I can think of what to put here
5. Many teachers and professors are using it to teach not only in literature classes, but writing and history classes as well; presumably could be taught in science
5.1. Primary school teachers utilize this form to help pre-planning and planning out papers
5.2. History teachers are using them to help with the idea of "realistic fiction" depicted in Marvel's line of comics that take place during the civil war
5.3. Some of the "literary classic" GNs are being and can be used in helping students understand more difficult concepts that the stories convey
6. Birth of the Genre
6.1. Will Eisner's "Contract with God"
6.1.1. Commonly held as first GN
6.1.2. Officially began being marketed as GN in the late 70s, but arguably began as early as the 20s
7. Modern GNs
7.1. No longer marketed only to young readers
7.2. Modern GNs range from literary classic reinterpretations to superheroes to the "insignificant" main character
7.2.1. Examples: Shakespeare, Dickens' Tales, Spiderman, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Scott Pilgrim, Ray Bradbury