Department of English

This course analyzes acclaimed autobiographical graphic narratives-- also called nonfiction comics or graphic memoirs-- from a transnational and global perspective, focusing on works from East Asia, Latin America, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. By the end of this course, students will have a firm grasp of the graphic memoir genre through history, and will be able to analyze both the form of comics from an academic and analytical perspective. Students will also understand the field of comics studies and its relation to adjacent and overlapping fields such as media studies, literature, art history, and film. The course will include academic research essays, a short presentation, film screenings, and guest artists and lectures. In addition, the class will conclude with a hands-on creative project which allows students to use the skills they learned and apply it towards the creation of short non-fiction graphic essays.