ARTH 3330 The Art of the Graphic Novel
This course explores the evolution of sequential art/graphic storytelling in the context of art history, from cave paintings to contemporary art. The development from caricature, with the satirical works of 18th century British Rococo artist William Hogarth and 19th century Swiss caricaturist Rodolphe Töpffer into the genres of comics and manga. Graphic novels, the latest incarnation of sequential art/graphic storytelling, are the focus of this course, some of which are widely considered works of high art, having won prestigious literary awards. In view of the fact that most academic scrutiny paid to comics and graphic novels is in the form of literary studies, this course seeks to redirect attention to the visual by privileging the study of comics from an art historical perspective, focusing on these works as visual objects created according to distinct aesthetic criteria.
Offered
Fall, Spring