Background Information Graphic Novels Background Information

Learning Targets I can…. Explore Graphic Novels as a literary genre Understand the Elements of a Graphic Novel Find connections between literature, self and other cultures

Basically, Graphic novels are book-length comics Basically, Graphic novels are book-length comics. Sometimes Graphic novels tell a single, continuous narrative from first page to last; sometimes they are collections of shorter stories or individual comic strips. The art is "sequential" and reading of both visuals and text together requires several different skills.

Graphic novels first appealed to the comic book readers of the 40's, 50's, and 60's. In the late 90's and early in 2000's it became popular with teens. It is currently the fastest growing literary genre.

Most comic historians agree that the first graphic novel was Will Eisner’s A Contract With God and Other Tenement Stories published in 1978. It was Art Spiegelman's work, Maus, which popularized the term "graphic novel."

Manga is the Japanese word for comics. Japanese comics are distinctive because they read right to left and from the back of the book to the front cover. These are some of the most popular books in our Graphic collection! In fact, they are checked out on a daily basis.

Popular Authors Art Spiegelman- won a Pulitizer for Maus. Will Eisner - "father" of the genre Marjane Satrapi - female graphic novelist, her book tops many "best" lists (Persepolis) Japanese authors Art Spiegelman- won a Pulitizer for Maus. Frank Miller - film-noir style, Batman, Sin City Alan Moore- "one of the great fiction minds of his generation,..." Rolling Stone (V is for Vendetta, Watchmen)

Let’s Check some Out!!

Elements of a Novel Character Setting Plot Scene Point of View

Elements of a Graphic Novel Panels Panel borders or Frame Gutters Caption Box Word / Thought Balloons Sound Effects/motion lines Bleed Foreground Midground Background Graphic weight

Border Sound effect Motion Lines Thought

Text + Graphics = Graphic Novel The graphic aspect is visual language; symbols that convey thought, feelings, mood, time, action, movement, etc.

Motion Lines A. B. = Smoke = Odor = Movement C.

Bleeds

Word and Thought Balloons/Bubbles

How to Read a GN

Checkpoint! Pull out your phones and go to Kahoot.it