What is a graphic novel?
This is a question that still begs answering to this day as there is no clear
answer. How does it differ from a comic book? That is a bit easier to explain a
comic book is a periodical that tells part or a short story about a character
and intended for children. A graphic novel is “usually taken to mean a long
comic narrative for a mature audience, published in hardback or paperback and
sold in bookstores, with serious literary themes and sophisticated artwork.”
(Encyclopedia Britannica)
Are graphic novels their
own genre? I don’t believe they are I believe they are a delivery method not
unlike audiobooks. They are not limited to a specific genre like horror or
action but rather can be found across all genres. It is a medium by which a
story is told. The features of a graphic novel are not indicative of the story
being told but the manner in which it is told much like an audiobook or print
book. These mediums are how people choose to enjoy a story. Many popular classics
such as Frankenstein and The Three Musketeers have been turned
into graphic novels cementing the fact that they are not a genre but a medium.
This can help shed light on the question of if graphic novels can be
considered literature. I believe they can be if the story they are telling is
one that is literature worthy. Many great literary tales have been converted
into graphic novels does this in some way take away from the story’s literary
credibilityMerriam-Webster defines literature as “writings in prose or verse
especially writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing
ideas of permanent or universal interest”. So, the argument could easily be
made that graphic novels are told through prose as well as imagery and could
therefore technically be considered literature. “Awareness doesn’t mean
critical sophistication or conscious analysis; reading the images in graphic
novels is similar to learning to “read” one’s environment — point of view,
consequences of action, and feelings provide narrative cues.” (Goldsmith)
Great topic! I work in the children's department and a lot of parents are weary of having their kids read graphic novels. I usually show them some of the classic books made into graphic novels to ease their nerves. Some complain that they are "not real books." I find that so frustrating. My go to book to pull out is a Wrinkle in Time. I love graphic novels and think they are a great resource for people who find a traditional print book to be overwhelming or hard to finish.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about graphic novels. True, when they first became popular, it was for the mature and older audience as you mentioned. However, now it seems like every book is turned into a graphic novel. I just Goggled 'recent novels turned into graphic novels' and I was flabbergasted at the top 7 novels that came up. WHY??? These novels are great they way they were in their original form - Emma, Anne of Green Gables, Wuthering Heights!! The Odyssey made the list, OK I can see that as a graphic novel. I didn't know about A Wrinkle in Time. Do the authors of the graphic novel adaptation make changes from the original or are they true to it?
ReplyDeleteChrista, I'm not quite sure what you mean by "if the story [graphic novels] are telling is one that is literature worthy." Do you mean if the graphic novel sticks to the original text?
ReplyDeleteRegarding some of the other points brought up: I think if people enjoy reading graphic novels, then that is great. No, the graphic novels I've read that were adapted from "classics" are definitely not the same as the original, but does it matter if you're reading for pleasure? Students who try to read the graphic novel instead of the assigned original and write reports on them may not be able to pull it off, that's for sure.
We'd have to start defining what we mean by literature in order to determine if graphic novels qualify. I wrote a paper arguing fantasy novels can be considered literature, so I'd generally come down on the side that graphic novels /could/ be literature, just as any novels could be literature, depending on their quality. The problem is so much of graphic novels depend on the graphics rather than the words (this is the draw of graphic novels, after all), which is what literature is all about. But, again, if it gets people reading, I'm all for it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you wrote about GNs. I want to be a better librarian for GN readers- adults and youth. I definitely consider them literature, and books! Studying the graphics is just as much an experience as the words.
ReplyDeletecomments noted - paper's grade can be found on canvas
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