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Post by stellar on Apr 11, 2009 4:51:41 GMT
Do comics (or "Graphic Novels") have any place as legitimate literature in the twenty-first century? Discuss with as much passion as possible.
(I'd like it to be noted, I personally like comics a great deal. I'm not really into superheros, except maybe V for Vendetta and Watchmen-both Alan Moore. More Neil Gaiman-I have the whole Sandman series and all the spinoffs. I'm just developing my own story which I am trying do decide whether to do it as a wordy book or a comic.)
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Post by marianne on Apr 11, 2009 23:03:03 GMT
Without being ay type of expert on comics, I would have to say yes. Too many iconic characters have been born from comics for them not to be a legitimate part of our literature. That said, some of them are badly written (like some books).
I'm about to show my ignorance here - but I brought a 'Death Note' (manga) episode a while ago. While I found the premise strong, the language seemed so stiff and formal. Is this normal for manga? It was tough to read.
MDP
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Post by JM on Apr 12, 2009 3:06:23 GMT
Great question Stel. This is one of my favorite lit questions because I love comics.
This is all personal opinion just in case I sound like the proverbial pack animal.
I think that comics have the benefit of being a rapid and dramatic way of conveying a story's plot. Images take strain off the author to describe settings in detail and short, sharp dialogue interspaced with expressive monologue works just as well as the equivalent spiel in a novel.
If the story is right and the artwork meshes with the overall theme of the piece then you end up with something like Sandman or a Jhonen Vasquez piece or an Alan Moore classic.
As we progress through the twenty-first century I think that comics are becoming an even more prominent form of literary expression. They reach an audience that may otherwise not read, are great for pushing ideas (or more classically propaganda), and allow for a more rapid absorbtion of the concept.
Marianne, the main problem with the language of Manga is just that, the language. Remember this stuff was originally Japanese and has had to go through another company for its translation. It's like a big game of Chinese whispers.
And honestly I never could get into Death Note. Didn't like the movies, hated the Anime and just couldn't get through any of the Manga. So don't feel like you missed the trick there.
There is some very strong Manga in terms of visual style and writing.
Hellsing is one of my favorites. There is a consistent dialogue between the characters and while the images can be very graphic (lots of body parts flying around) it compliments the story line perfectly. Plus they are finally remaking the Anime the way it should have been made.
IM
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Post by stellar on Apr 12, 2009 7:51:02 GMT
innatemalk has it in one as far as Death Note is concerned. I tried watching the anime series and then tried the manga and it couldn't hold my interest. Like malk said, you lose a lot in translation. I have it on good authority from a good friend who is a Japanese language teacher, that the speaking style can be pretty formal, especially next to some casual Australians. Cast your mind back the Speed Racer and Star Blazer and some of the horribly earnest dialogue in those ones.
MDP: You raise an interesting note about the writing. It is funny how many people would imagine comics to be badly written straight away, and yet traditional books do not automatically carry that connotation.
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