graphic novels: literature studies expectation |
"explain how the study of literature has contributed to their understanding of human nature"
In our investigations of the representation of gender, race, and age, in comic books and graphic novels, we are able to build on our understanding of how graphic novels and comic books have evolved in how they represent such large groups in our society and what it tells us about how see others, ourselves, and what our relationship to other genders, races, and ages is presently and has been in the past.
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INQUIRY PROJECT: RACE REPRESENTATION IN COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS
In our class, we are doing a number of inquiry projects into representation in comics and graphic novels. We can't possibly look at every text in our investigations, so we need to focus our inquiry both with the question we choose and the data we collect.
Our inquiry into the representation of people based on racial groupings (i.e. race representation) in comics and graphic novels will focus on a comparison between the two largest - and most mainstream (i.e. representative) - comic publishers, DC (Detective Comics) and Marvel Comics.
Our inquiry should also be answering a question. In this case, since it is a comparison, a straightforward question would be "Which publisher has a better representation of non-white characters in its comic titles?" To answer this question, we will have to decide (i) which publisher's comics include more characters from marginalized groups and (ii) which publisher includes characters that represent these marginalized groups in a more positive and/or authentic manner.
The comparison will involve several steps:
Step One: a simple count of the titles offered by each publisher, noting which titles have main characters that represent a ethnic or cultural group that is not white, a native English speaker or of British or continental European descent. The main character can be either the central figure (protagonist), a sidekick, or the main adversary/villain. We will then determine the proportion of these characters to those characters that represent the more typical white character for both DC and Marvel. (e.g. out of 1000 titles, DC has 45 characters that are visible minorities, so the proportion would be 4.5% or 45 to 955)
Step Two: based on the findings from step one, the next calculation would be determining what role those characters play. For example, if there are 45 visible minority characters in DC, we might find that only 10 are main protagonists, 25 are villains, and 10 are sidekicks. Again, we will compare the DC numbers to the Marvel numbers.
Step Three: What conclusions can we come to with this short investigation? We can determine through our study which publisher has more titles featuring visible minorities (step one) and, based on step two, which publisher represents these marginalized groups more positively/authentically.
Worksheets to collect data
Our inquiry into the representation of people based on racial groupings (i.e. race representation) in comics and graphic novels will focus on a comparison between the two largest - and most mainstream (i.e. representative) - comic publishers, DC (Detective Comics) and Marvel Comics.
Our inquiry should also be answering a question. In this case, since it is a comparison, a straightforward question would be "Which publisher has a better representation of non-white characters in its comic titles?" To answer this question, we will have to decide (i) which publisher's comics include more characters from marginalized groups and (ii) which publisher includes characters that represent these marginalized groups in a more positive and/or authentic manner.
The comparison will involve several steps:
Step One: a simple count of the titles offered by each publisher, noting which titles have main characters that represent a ethnic or cultural group that is not white, a native English speaker or of British or continental European descent. The main character can be either the central figure (protagonist), a sidekick, or the main adversary/villain. We will then determine the proportion of these characters to those characters that represent the more typical white character for both DC and Marvel. (e.g. out of 1000 titles, DC has 45 characters that are visible minorities, so the proportion would be 4.5% or 45 to 955)
Step Two: based on the findings from step one, the next calculation would be determining what role those characters play. For example, if there are 45 visible minority characters in DC, we might find that only 10 are main protagonists, 25 are villains, and 10 are sidekicks. Again, we will compare the DC numbers to the Marvel numbers.
Step Three: What conclusions can we come to with this short investigation? We can determine through our study which publisher has more titles featuring visible minorities (step one) and, based on step two, which publisher represents these marginalized groups more positively/authentically.
Worksheets to collect data
race_representation_data_collecting.pdf | |
File Size: | 51 kb |
File Type: |
SOme places to begin your research...
marvel
Trace the Lineage of Marvel's Black Superheroes
A Marvel Black History Lesson Pt. 1
Marvel Character Index
List of Marvel Characters (Wikipedia)
Marvel Character Database (probably the best one to go to for character info)
A Marvel Black History Lesson Pt. 1
Marvel Character Index
List of Marvel Characters (Wikipedia)
Marvel Character Database (probably the best one to go to for character info)
dc
DC Comic Characters
DC Comics Database (probably a good one to go to for character info)
List of DC Comic Characters (Wikipedia)
Top 100 DC Comic Characters
DC Comics Database (probably a good one to go to for character info)
List of DC Comic Characters (Wikipedia)
Top 100 DC Comic Characters