GCSE MEDIA STUDIES INSET COMICS A Teacher’s Approach

Comics Comics will be the study area for Section B of the written paper for 2008 Candidates should be prepared for this topic with reference to the broad areas of the specification namely Genre Codes and conventions Narratives Representation Organisation Audiences

Comics A definition Comics or sequential art is a form of visual art consisting of images which are commonly combined with text, often in the form of speech balloons or image captions. Originally used to illustrate caricactures and to entertain through the use of amusing or trivial stories, it has evolved into a literary medium with many subgenres.

Comics Genre and sub genre It is interesting to try and categorise comics based on genre and sub genre this may necessarily involve wider issues of audience and representation Kids comicsboys / girls Super hero comics Manga Science Fiction Horror Sports Action / adventure

A brief history of comics Some link the development of comics to Egyptian hieroglyphics, Japanese emaki, European stained glass windows, pre Columbian Central American manuscripts, and the Bayeux Tapestry. 15th -18th Century Comics can be traced back to 15th century Europe and particularly the development of the Printing Press Barlow’s A true narrative of the Horrid Hellish Popish Plot 1682 Hogarth’s The Punishments of Lemuel Gulliver 1762 Famous artists of the time working in the medium included, Gillray, Rowlandson and Cruickshank

A brief history of comics 2 The 19th century Swiss artist Topffer prints work in both Europe and America creating a new market - Gombrich suggested Topffer created a new art style. Satirical drawing in UK newspapers and magazines Punch Chinese Manhua form started Comic cuts and Illustrated Chips UK Cartoon strips began to drive newspaper sales The 20th century 1927 Buck Rogers and Tarzan start the action genre 1929 Herges Adventures of Tintin as Black and white strip in Le Vingtiegme Siecle collected as comic book 1930 The Land of the Soviets The Golden Age of Comic Books Action genre After WW2 Manga develops in Japan 1950’s British Communist party launches campaign to ban American imports 1960s underground comix 1970s Graphic novel develops 2000 the web comic

Comics Codes and conventions Creating a sequential narrative Comic style Cartoony style- utilising comic effects variation of line widths Characters have rounded simplified anatomy Realistic style or adventure style adventure genre of 1930’s Realistic anatomy and shapes Used illustrations found in pulp fiction magazines superhero comic book style Computer Graphic Style often mixture of hand drawn, photographic and computer generated images.

Designing your comic Panels Regular two columnIrregular

Design and layout Diagonal panelsInclude image captions Speech Balloons Image captions, thought bubbles and explosions

Comic characters From famous people Many comic characters are based on famous people - this might be a good starting point for students thinking about comic characters E.g. Alexander Lemming in the Beano named after Alexander Flemming, Hitmonlee from Pokemon- Bruce Lee, Hitmonchan- Jackie Chan, Yogi Bear- Yogi Berra-Baseball player Non famous people The Simpsons characters are all named after Matt Groening’s family your pets or animals your teachers (dangerous) Your own family (be brave). Create a Super hero