English 378


Film & Graphic Narrative


Prof. Jared Gardner

Spring 2009

T 0230P-0518 KN 0250

R 0330P-0518 MQ 0264

TAs: Alex Jenkins (jenkins.601) & Corinne Martin (martin.1682@osu.edu)

gardner.236@osu.edu

http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/gardner236/

Jared Gardner’s office hours (DE 530): T 8:30-10 &

F 9:00-10:30

Alex Jenkins’ office hours (DE 507): W 1-3



T 3/31

Introductions

The Origins of Film and Comics

R 4/2

Comics and Film Adaptation, 1900-20

Key terms and concepts in film and comics studies

T 4/7

Special Guest: Alex McDowell (production designer extraordinaire: Watchmen, The Crow, etc.)

Media matters and adapation

R: Superman origin 1938 (C)

S: Superman origin in radio (1940), movie serial (1948), tv (1952), and blockbuster (1978)

R 4/9

R: Batman origin 1939 (C); Batman Year One (1988)

S: Batman origin (1989)

QUIZ 1: due by midnight Friday 4/10

T 4/14

R: The Man Who Falls (1989) (C)

S: Batman Begins (2005; dir. Christopher Nolan)

R 4/16

Batman (continued)

Myths of Origins, Millennial Madness and the Return of the Comic-Film Team-up

T 4/21

R: X-Men Online Anthology; God Loves, Man Kills (1982) (C)

S: X-Men II (2003; dir. Bryan Singer)

R 4/23

X-Men (continued)

Superheroes & Allegory

Quiz 2: due by midnight Friday 4/24

T 4/28

Underground Comix and New Media

R: Harvey Pekar, American Splendor

S: American Splendor (2003; dir. Berman and Pulcini)

R 4/30

American Splendor (continued)

The Art of the Everyday in Comics and Film

T 5/5

Alternative Comix and Independent Cinema

R: Daniel Clowes, Ghost World

S: Ghost World (2001; dir. Terry Zwigoff)


PAPER ONE due in class

R 5/7

Ghost World (continued)

Telling Alternative Stories with Mass Media Forms

Quiz 3: due by midnight Friday 5/8

T 5/12

R: Frank Miller, Sin City: The Hard Goodbye; Sin City online anthology (C)

S: Sin City (2005; dir. Rodriguez & Miller)

R 5/14

Sin City (continued)

Digital cinema and the new frontier (or limit-case?) of transmediation

T 5/19

R: Garon Tsuchiya, Old Boy Vol 1; Old Boy online anthology (C)

S: Old Boy (2003; dir. Chan-wook Park)

R 5/21

Old Boy (continued)

Manga and graphic narrative in translation

T 5/26

R: Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis

S: Persepolis (2007; dir. Paronnaud & Satrapi)

R 5/28

Persepolis (continued)

French comics, global pop & animation

Quiz 4: due by midnight Friday 5/29

T 6/2

Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Watchmen

R 6/4

Watchmen (continued)

Conclusions, the future of comics and film

Transmedia adaptation from Film to Comics: Matrix, Buffy

M 6/8


T 6/9

FINAL EXAM 1:30-3:18


FINAL PAPERS DUE by midnight, posted to the Carmen drop-box


 


RESPONSIBILITIES


WARNING/DISCLAIMER/CAUTION: THIS COURSE MAY BE BAD FOR YOUR (MENTAL) HEALTH

Many of the texts we will be studying will contain graphic images (nudity, sex, violence, torture, genocide… you name it). Some of the texts will include frank discussion of “adult” issues like depression, drug use, suicide, etc. At least one of the texts embraces misogynist representations of women. We will discuss these images and issues openly and seriously, but if you think you will be offended or traumatized by such images and such discussion, this is probably not the class for you.


Required texts



All required texts are available at SBX, Laughing Ogre, and online booksellers.


In addition to the above required texts, those who are new to comics might appreciate the insights of Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. And those who are new to film might benefit from having on hand an introductory film textbook, such as Richard Barsam’s Looking at Movies.


Additional readings will be available on the class’s Carmen site and are marked “C” on the syllabus. Other optional materials will also be made available on the Carmen site during the course of the term.


Online quizzes.

In lieu of a midterm, we will have Carmen quizzes. These short, timed online quizzes will be given FOUR times during the quarter as marked on the syllabus. They will cover material from our reading, discussions and lectures.


Final exam.

The exam will be comprehensive, asking for brief essays about major concepts of the course. The best way to study is to review both lecture/class notes and the reading assignments.


Papers

One 4 page paper focusing on a close reading of one scene in a graphic narrative and film, focusing on how the translation of that scene reveals something vital about the narrative, the nature of the media, etc.

One 5-6 page final paper incorporating your larger insights into the central issues of graphic narrative in comics and film in relationship with a reading of a comic-related film or a film-related comic (anything not on our syllabus should be cleared with me first). Secondary research is strongly encouraged for this project. Suggestions and starting places will be distributed along with the paper prompt several weeks before the paper is due.


Attendance/participation.

This is a very large class, so we will have to be creative to find ways to open up discussion. In addition to using our large classroom space, we will take advantage of threaded discussion forums on Carmen.


Because we consume half of our primary texts together in class, our classtime is compressed and invaluable. For that reason, I maintain a very strict attendance policy in the class. More than two absences will negatively affect your final grade; more than three will likely result in a failing grade in the course.


Carmen.

This course has a Carmen site. To get to the course site, go to http://carmen.osu.edu and follow the directions from there. This will be the space where announcements, links, readings, resources, and discussion forums. All readings marked on the syllabus with “C” can be downloaded via the class’s Carmen site. Participation in the informal discussion forum on Carmen will count toward your participation grade.


Academic honesty.

Plagiarism is the representation of another's works or ideas as one's own: it includes the unacknowledged word for word use and/or paraphrasing of another person's work, and/or the inappropriate unacknowledged use of another person's ideas. All cases of suspected plagiarism, in accordance with university rules, will be reported to the Committee on Academic Misconduct.


Students with disabilities.

Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss specific needs. You should also contact the Office for Disability Services at 292-3307 in room 150 Pomerene Hall, who will work with us to coordinate reasonable accommodations for documented disabilities.