Professor Paul Watkins
Class: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-2 pm or by appointment

English 390 will investigate intersections between word and image in an emergent genre loosely defined as “graphic memoir,” or what others have called “autographics” (Gillian Whitlock), “graphic narrative” (Hilary Chute), “Graphic-Novel-Memoir” (David Itzcoff), or “comics journalism” (Joe Sacco). Along the way, we will explore how graphic texts push the boundaries of literature and memoir. We will also delve into the intricate relationship between popular culture, politics, and art. Additionally, a creative intervention project will be part of the course.

Note: This course deals with mature subject matter.

See the course outline on VIULearn for course policies and a detailed breakdown of assignments.

Required Texts:

  • Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
  • Maus by Art Spiegelman 
  • Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
  • Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
  • Ducks by Kate Beaton
  • Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco


Schedule:

Please note that this schedule is subject to change as the term progresses.

I. Intro to Comics

Sept 3, Course Intro

  • Introduction: course outline; standards and expectations

Sept 5, Understanding Comics

  • Reading: Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics (chapter 1-3)

Sept 10, Understanding Comics

  • Reading: McCloud, Understanding Comics (chapters 4-6)
  • Show and Tell [short presentation and submission]

Sept 12, Understanding Comics

  • Reading: McCloud, Understanding Comics (chapter 7-9)
  • Discussion of Presentations and Signup 
  • Seminar and Discussion 1 

Additional Readings and Media for Understanding Comics

II. History and Graphic Memoir

Sept 17, Maus (I: My Father Bleeds History)

  • Reading: Art Spiegelman, Maus (chapters 1-2)

Sept 19, Maus (I: My Father Bleeds History)

  • Reading: Spiegelman, Maus (chapters 3-4)
  • Seminar and Discussion 2

Sept 24, Maus (I: My Father Bleeds History)

  • Reading: Spiegelman, Maus (chapters 5-6)

Sept 26, Maus (II: And Here My Trouble Began)

  • Reading: Spiegelman, Maus (chapters 1-2)
  • Seminar and Discussion 3

Oct 1, Maus (II: And Here My Trouble Began)

  • Reading: Spiegelman, Maus (chapters 3-5)
  • Additional VIULearn Readings: Jonathan Kincade, “Art Spiegelman’s Maus;” Rosemary V. Hathaway, “Reading Art Spiegelman’s Maus as Postmodern Ethnography”
  • Presentation (Group 1)

Additional Readings and Media for Maus

Oct 3, Persepolis

  • Reading: Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis (pages 1-71)
  • Start Persepolis film

Oct 8, Persepolis

  • Reading: Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis (72-155)

Oct 10, Persepolis

  • Reading: Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis (155-275)
  • Seminar and Discussion 4

Oct 15, Today is Monday (no class)

Oct 17, Persepolis

  • Reading: Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis (276-341)
  • Additional VIULearn Readings: Chute, “The Texture of Retracing in Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis”; Darda, “Graphic Ethics: Theorizing the Face in Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis”
  • Presentation (Group 2)
  • Close Reading Due by 11:59 pm on VIULearn

Additional Readings and Media for Persepolis

III. Feminist and Queer Perspectives in Graphic Memoir

Oct 22, Fun Home

  • Reading: Alison Bechel, Fun Home (chapters 1-4)
  • Seminar and Discussion 5

Oct 24, Fun Home

  • Reading: Alison Bechel, Fun Home (chapters 5-7)
  • Additional VIULearn Readings: Watson, “Autographic Disclosures and Genealogies of Desire in Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home;” Abram, “Beyond the Front, Specificity is Abandoned’: Illustrating Backgrounds in Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home“
  • Presentation (Group 3)

Oct 29, Ducks

  • Reading: Kate Beaton, Ducks (pages 1-100)
  • Discussion of Creative Projects

Oct 31, Ducks

  • Reading: Kate Beaton, Ducks (100-250)
  • Seminar and Discussion 6

Nov 5, Ducks

  • Reading: Kate Beaton, Ducks (250-382)
  • Discussion of final paper

Nov 7, Ducks

  • Reading: Kate Beaton, Ducks (382-end)
  • Additional VIULearn Reading: “The Liminal World of The Oil Sands in Kate Beaton’s Ducks” and “The Messiness of Humanity” (CBC, Kate Beaton Interview); [note: might be one more]
  • Presentation (Group 4)

Additional Readings and Media for Fun Home and Ducks

Nov 11-15 STUDY DAYS (no class)

  • See additional reading or film on VIULearn 

IV. Comics Journalism

Nov 19, Footnotes in Gaza

  • Reading: Joe Sacco, Footnotes in Gaza (1-39)

Nov 21, Creative Interventions Due and Sharing 

Nov 26, Footnotes in Gaza

  • Reading: Joe Sacco, Footnotes in Gaza (40-194)

Nov 28, Footnotes in Gaza

  • Reading: Joe Sacco, Footnotes in Gaza (195-297)
  • Seminar and Discussion 7

Dec 3, Footnotes in Gaza

  • Reading: Joe Sacco, Footnotes in Gaza (298-end and Appendix)
  • Additional VIULearn Readings: Owen, “The Form of History in Footnotes in Gaza” and Shay, “Framing Refugee Time”
  • Presentation (Group 5)

Additional Readings and Media for Footnotes in Gaza

Dec 5, Final Mix and Gathering

  • Research paper due on Due 5 by 11:59 pm on VIULearn; if writing on Footnotes, Dec 9