Comics Resources at the University of Florida

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Why Aren’t Comic Books Commonly Used in the Classroom?

What Subjects Are Suitable for Comics?

Laurie N. F. TaylorLaurien@ufl.edu

Comics Resources at the University of Florida

Why Aren’t Comic Books Commonly Used in the Classroom?

Bias, Lack of Access, & Lack of a Critical Knowledge Mass

What Subjects Are Suitable for Comics?

All or any

Bias, begins with:Easy Answer Real Answer:

Hybrid form with image and text All the concerns of “bad

books” and “bad art”

Comics Code Authority Established in 1954

No charges to be filed in Guilford book flap, By Rachael Scarborough King,

Register Staff 10/17/2007

Teacher assigned Eightball #22, by Dan Clowes, which contained a discussion of

rape and murder and had some sexual images.

Benefits Trump Bias

•Fun•Seem easy•Inspirational•Showing & Telling

•Through Metaphor•Helpful for Learning, Living, & Coping

•Other Voices

Online Comics Materials:

Exhibits, Comics, Reviews, Lesson Plans are creating access and building a critical mass of knowledge.

Subjects:

LiteracyVisual LiteracyVisualizationMetaphorArtLiteratureWritingHistoryScience (science fiction that inspires thought goes through the scientific process)

• Classics Illustrated• Superhero Comics:

Spider-Man

• Marvel• Historical Comics:

P*SReign of the Super-Man

• Maus, Persepolis

• Mutants

• Literature• Current events, social

responsibility, life and death

• Real world• History

Technical WritingTeenagers who write are cool

• History, literature, art, and more

• Coping with being different

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/2103_daredevi_01.html