They did say "Graphic" Novels

So our first readings are done and we had discussion on them Wednesday. I am impressed with the students in my class. We had a great dialogue about the first Graphic, Contract with God.

I was surprised to see so many people willing to express their opinions and discuss opposing beliefs about the meaning of the artistic content. We talked over minor details like when a cross is shown being worn in a single panel, what was the significance? The fact that such a minor detail can mean so much is the strength of this medium I believe. They say a picture is worth a thousand words right? I think that belief is very true with well written and drawn comics and graphic novels. A minor detail can reveal a lot about a character without creating dialogue or scenarios to draw it out. A small item like a cross on a necklace not only shows the character to be Christian but the timing can hold additional details. It can show for instance that the motivation for having sex with that person may have more to do with their religion then their appearance. “Shiksappeal” went the joke I believe... Certainly a spare paragraph or two could say the same thing in a novel but by making it a visual element the reader gets to explore the depth and meaning on their own. The moments spent deciphering the meanings convey far more then a spoon fed explanation.

I watched an adaptation of a Graphic Novel today, 2001 Maniacs. It did have an obviously Jewish character in it, using mock Chasidic style but I don't think his religion had any meaning beyond a casual joke about the large influence of Judaism in American media. Unlike the graphics we are reading I can't say this movie had deeper meaning tucked away. It was a simple gore fest with a bit of cheap thrills based around a creative premise. A city of the south was raped, pillaged and ultimately slaughtered by a northern army during the Civil War. All 2001 citizens are killed but several of them rise again as a type of flesh easting zombie who are cursed to kill a “northerner” for each southern death before being granted release from their curse. I just can't bring myself to sully this perfectly awful and cheesy movie with pseudo-wisdom or meaning that it's creators strived so hard to avoid.

So why do I include this then, is it in an effort to make some word count requirement? No, I am rather sure I am already well past that number. I thought the film today probably did a fair job of representing the original work, pointless and for those with low expectations, amusing. While it is possible to consider Comics and Graphic Novels to represent an art medium as was mentioned in our weekly reading, not everything included or made in this field will be meaningful art, some will be beautiful landscapes or cute pictures of puppies. By that I mean fun but with no secrets to pry out.

I heard a classmate comment on the amount of nudity in the weekly reading before class. I was surprised as well at first but as this silly movie reminded me, while the sex and nudity can have meaning such as revealing a crucifix it can also just be titillation to keep the reader interested. From ancient woodcuts and masterful paintings to comics and eventually grainy B-movies, sometimes the character is naked just because the artist knew that's what we wanted to see.