Remember when you had to hide your comics in a science or history book so mom and dad wouldn't find out what you were reading? Well it's time to stick it to the folks once again, as The University of Memphis offers a class on the graphic novel (comic books), ENGL 4430.
"The idea of teaching a class on the graphic novel started for me 15 years ago at The University of Oklahoma," said Stephen Tabachnick, professor of English and chair of the department. "I was assigned to teach a course on Contemporary American Literature and I started thinking about who were the best American writers to teach. It occurred to me authors appearing in comic book stores were among the best."
Tabachnick said he started incorporating graphic novelists in the course but realized he had more than enough material to actually teach a full course on the graphic novel. When he came to The U of M in 2000 he started teaching the class here.
"We're moving toward a more visual culture with film, television and the computer screen," Tabachnick said.
"I think the graphic novel is literature and painting's response to electronic media. It is a response to what these authors feel is happening in our culture. That is one reason there is a lot of work in the medium; comics have always been popular and have their own way of coming back. Comics have had a long association with children and newspapers. The truth is as it has shown, comics don't have to be for children and unsophisticated, but in fact can be very sophisticated."
Tabachnick also said the medium is popular because one can do anything with it.
"It is a visually striking medium that grabs the reader immediately but it's a book," he said.
"They deal with war in a serious way such as George Pratt's 'American Idyll' or deal with the Holocaust like in Art Spiegelman's 'Maus.' If these authors are able to do something strikingly intelligent, then why not study it?"
Students who take the class come from a variety of majors.
"Who does this class bring together? Creative people from literature, art, film, communication and computers" Tabachnick said. "Many of my students are fans who know a lot about it and I believe I get the best students at The University. I learn from them all them time; it's the art form of their generation."
Tabachnick also teaches a graduate course on the graphic novel, ENGL 7473.
"The class is called Visual Verbal Text and I teach it as a graduate course," Tabachnick said. "I figured they will be the teachers of tomorrow and will integrate this form into undergraduate studies and even high school. The graduate students are fascinated with this subject and know of its importance."
The study of the graphic novel has picked up speed across The U.S. Tabachnick surveyed colleges across the country and found that a minimum of 25 schools offered a course on it.
"These schools ranged from Harvard to U.T. Knoxville to Seattle Community College," Tabachnick said. "And it doesn't stop in the U.S. This is an international movement. In Europe and Japan comics are taken a bit more seriously and we've finally caught up with the rest of the world."
All literary forms have their greats who are at the top of the field, and the graphic novel is no exception.
"Certainly Robert Crumb is one of the greats," Tabachnick said. "He is one of the best artists in America. Art Spiegelman is another. He did the cover of the New Yorker after 9-11, which had the twin towers in black. When you held it to the light, they disappeared. Frank Miller, who did 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns' is another great. The list goes on and on."
The graphic novel has certainly come a long way since Will Eisner's "A Contract with God," which was published in 1978 and has the credit for being the first graphic novel.
"I think comics are a very interesting and valid form of literature," said Sophomore Sean George, journalism major and employee of Comics and Collectibles. "They've been ridiculed in the past but I'm glad they're finally getting the recognition they deserve and it's especially great for them to be taught in a major university setting."
Memphian Curt Franklin, who is considering going to The U of M to pursue a degree in biology, said he would take the course just for the enjoyment.
"Comics have come a long way since our parent's time," Franklin said. "Though you can't find them just anywhere, I would encourage people to go to comic and gaming stores, where you can find graphic novels that really make you think."
