4
Stergios Botzakis [email protected] Finding Truth, Justice and Literacy with Graphic Novels Working with students at the University of Tennessee, i use comics in two different contexts, with undergraduates in a general education seminar and with graduate students working toward initial licensure and advanced degrees. In both arenas, I teach using comics and graphic novels because I see their usefulness as literature, as texts that help teach students about literacy, and as content-area resources. My most-taught freshman seminar is Truth, Justice, and Superheroes. In this course we read collections of classic comic books series such as Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley's The Dark Knight Returns, a n d A l a n M o o r e a n d D a v e G i b b o n s ' s Watchmen, along with newer comics s u c h a s B r i a n K . V a u g h a n and Tony Harris's Ex Machina, a n d B r a d Meltzer, Rags Morales, and Michael Bair's Identity Crisis. A l o n g t h e w a y , we have discussions about power, justice, and ideologies. These works all touch upon complex societal themes of how power circulates and what defines justice. Beginning with the story of a disillusioned Batman r e t u r n i n g f r o m r e t i r e m e n t t o become a type of friendly fascist and ending with the tale of a superhero w h o h u n g u p h i s c o s t u m e t o t a k e on thé arguably more difficult job of mayor of New York City, we talk about the ethics of vigilantism, the effectiveness of government institutions, and how the choices people make define their lives. In this class we look at comics as literary texts that offer complex characters and intense political configurations, using characters that readers recognize from cartoons, movies, and comicbooks. W e b u i l d f r o m t h e f a m i l i a r b u t v e e r into new territories, examining why the concept of superheroes would and would not work in our world. One example of an activity from this class deals with Watchmen. This book about a superhero team with very strong personalities allows the class to speak about the complexities of justice. I ask the students to write a response to two questions, "Who is your favorite character?" and "Who is the most just character?" The corresponding conversation raises many interesting points as many of the students gravitate toward liking Rorschach, a violent, paranoid, and strident vigilante with a very troubled past. When it comes to who is right, though, I typically see much divergence. Some students lean toward Dr. Manhattan with his distant view of humanity as a r a n d o m l i f e - f o r m a n d t h e w o r l d as an uncaring place. Some see O z y m a n d i a s a s a p e r s o n w h o d o e s what is best for the common good, even at the cost of great sacrifice. Some see the Comedian as a realist, forced to make tough decisions in a harsh world, while many others side with Night Owl, who seems the most centrist and reasonable character. Despite whom they side with, members of the class have a rich discussion that always could extend well past class time as participants defend their views. This book, with its stark contrasting characters, offers an excellent opportunity to discuss, in the context of a fictional work, government and political stances that also apply to people's everyday lives. Not everyone agrees with the solutions the characters offer via their actions, but students do have lots of fodder for thinking and speaking. DC Comics' Watchmen by Alan Moore and Da,v& Gibbons is considered one of the greatest graphic novels ever created. 6 8 Knovsfe : 'j.ie-1 I • ftj : to Know GfjSphic N^jteis

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Page 1: Finding Truth, Justice and Literacy with Graphic … · Finding Truth, Justice and Literacy with Graphic Novels Working with student ast the ... complex adul workt liks Asterios e

Stergios Botzakis [email protected]

Finding Truth, Justice and Literacy with Graphic Novels

Working with students at the University of Tennessee, i use comics in two different contexts, with undergraduates in a general education seminar and with graduate students working toward initial licensure and advanced degrees. In both arenas, I teach using comics and graphic novels because I see their usefulness as literature, as texts that help teach students about literacy, and as content-area resources.

M y m o s t - t a u g h t f r e s h m a n s e m i n a r

is T r u t h , J u s t i c e , a n d S u p e r h e r o e s .

I n t h i s c o u r s e we r e a d c o l l e c t i o n s

o f c l a s s i c c o m i c b o o k s s e r i e s s u c h

as F r a n k M i l l e r , K l a u s J a n s o n , a n d

L y n n V a r l e y ' s The Dark Knight Returns,

a n d A l a n M o o r e a n d D a v e G i b b o n s ' s

Watchmen, a l o n g w i t h n e w e r c o m i c s

s u c h as B r i a n K . V a u g h a n a n d

T o n y H a r r i s ' s Ex Machina, a n d B r a d

M e l t z e r , R a g s M o r a l e s , a n d M i c h a e l

B a i r ' s Identity Crisis. A l o n g t h e way,

w e h a v e d i s c u s s i o n s a b o u t p o w e r ,

j u s t i c e , a n d i d e o l o g i e s . T h e s e w o r k s

a l l t o u c h u p o n c o m p l e x s o c i e t a l

t h e m e s o f h o w p o w e r c i r c u l a t e s a n d

w h a t d e f i n e s j u s t i c e . B e g i n n i n g w i t h

t h e s t o r y o f a d i s i l l u s i o n e d B a t m a n

r e t u r n i n g f r o m r e t i r e m e n t t o

b e c o m e a t y p e o f f r i e n d l y f a s c i s t a n d

e n d i n g w i t h t h e t a l e o f a s u p e r h e r o

w h o h u n g u p h i s c o s t u m e t o t a k e

o n t h é a r g u a b l y m o r e d i f f i c u l t j o b

o f m a y o r o f N e w Y o r k C i t y , w e t a l k

a b o u t t h e e t h i c s o f v i g i l a n t i s m ,

t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f g o v e r n m e n t

i n s t i t u t i o n s , a n d h o w t h e c h o i c e s

p e o p l e m a k e d e f i n e t h e i r l i v e s .

I n t h i s c l a s s we l o o k a t c o m i c s as

l i t e r a r y t e x t s t h a t o f f e r c o m p l e x

c h a r a c t e r s a n d i n t e n s e p o l i t i c a l

c o n f i g u r a t i o n s , u s i n g c h a r a c t e r s

t h a t r e a d e r s r e c o g n i z e f r o m

c a r t o o n s , m o v i e s , a n d c o m i c b o o k s .

W e b u i l d f r o m t h e f a m i l i a r b u t v e e r

i n t o n e w t e r r i t o r i e s , e x a m i n i n g w h y

t h e c o n c e p t o f s u p e r h e r o e s w o u l d

a n d w o u l d n o t w o r k i n o u r w o r l d .

O n e e x a m p l e o f a n a c t i v i t y f r o m

t h i s c l a s s d e a l s w i t h Watchmen. T h i s

b o o k a b o u t a s u p e r h e r o t e a m

w i t h v e r y s t r o n g p e r s o n a l i t i e s

a l l o w s t h e c l a s s t o s p e a k a b o u t

t h e c o m p l e x i t i e s o f j u s t i c e . I a s k

t h e s t u d e n t s t o w r i t e a r e s p o n s e

t o t w o q u e s t i o n s , " W h o is y o u r

f a v o r i t e c h a r a c t e r ? " a n d " W h o

is t h e m o s t j u s t c h a r a c t e r ? " T h e

c o r r e s p o n d i n g c o n v e r s a t i o n r a i s e s

m a n y i n t e r e s t i n g p o i n t s as m a n y o f

t h e s t u d e n t s g r a v i t a t e t o w a r d l i k i n g

R o r s c h a c h , a v i o l e n t , p a r a n o i d ,

a n d s t r i d e n t v i g i l a n t e w i t h a v e r y

t r o u b l e d p a s t . W h e n i t c o m e s t o

w h o is r i g h t , t h o u g h , I t y p i c a l l y s e e

m u c h d i v e r g e n c e . S o m e s t u d e n t s

l e a n t o w a r d D r . M a n h a t t a n w i t h

h i s d i s t a n t v i e w o f h u m a n i t y as a

r a n d o m l i f e - f o r m a n d t h e w o r l d

a s a n u n c a r i n g p l a c e . S o m e s e e

O z y m a n d i a s as a p e r s o n w h o d o e s

w h a t is b e s t f o r t h e c o m m o n g o o d ,

e v e n at t h e c o s t o f g r e a t s a c r i f i c e .

S o m e s e e t h e C o m e d i a n as a r e a l i s t ,

f o r c e d t o m a k e t o u g h d e c i s i o n s i n a

h a r s h w o r l d , w h i l e m a n y o t h e r s s i d e

w i t h N i g h t O w l , w h o s e e m s t h e m o s t

c e n t r i s t a n d r e a s o n a b l e c h a r a c t e r .

D e s p i t e w h o m t h e y s i d e w i t h ,

m e m b e r s o f t h e c l a s s h a v e a r i c h

d i s c u s s i o n t h a t a lways c o u l d e x t e n d

w e l l p a s t c l a s s t i m e as p a r t i c i p a n t s

d e f e n d t h e i r v i e w s . T h i s b o o k , w i t h

i t s s t a r k c o n t r a s t i n g c h a r a c t e r s ,

o f f e r s a n e x c e l l e n t o p p o r t u n i t y

t o d i s c u s s , i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a

fictional w o r k , g o v e r n m e n t a n d

p o l i t i c a l s t a n c e s t h a t a l s o a p p l y

t o p e o p l e ' s e v e r y d a y l i v e s . N o t

e v e r y o n e a g r e e s w i t h t h e s o l u t i o n s

t h e c h a r a c t e r s o f f e r v i a t h e i r

a c t i o n s , b u t s t u d e n t s d o h a v e l o t s o f

f o d d e r f o r t h i n k i n g a n d s p e a k i n g .

DC Comics' Watchmen by Alan Moore and Da,v& Gibbons is considered one of the greatest graphic novels ever created.

68 Knovsfe : 'j.ie-1 I • ftj : to Know GfjSphic N^jteis

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READING COMICS UNSETTLES SOME UNIVERSITY

STUDENTS, WHO MIGHT BE OTHERWISE VERY CAPABLE

AND KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND OFFERS A CHANCE FOR

LOOKING AT STRUGGLING READERS IN A DIFFERENT,

MORE DISTINCT AND PERSONAL LIGHT.

L o o k i n g at L i t e r a c y f r o m a D i f f e r e n t Perspec t ive

A l t h o u g h I d o n o t a l w a y s u s e c o m i c s

t o e x a m i n e e t h i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l

s i t u a t i o n s i n m y e d u c a t i o n c l a s s e s ,

I d o u s e t h e m w i t h s t u d e n t s t o

e x a m i n e t h e i r v i e w s a b o u t l i t e r a c y

i n g e n e r a l . E a c h y e a r I c h o o s e a

s e q u e n c e f r o m a g r a p h i c n o v e l ,

s u c h as G e n e L u e n Y a n g ' s American

Born Chinese o r G a r e t h H i n d s ' s

The Odyssey, a n d a s k s t u d e n t s t h e

s e e m i n g l y s i m p l e q u e s t i o n , " W h a t

h a p p e n e d ? " U s u a l l y t h e y s t a r t by

e x p l a i n i n g w h a t t h e y s e e g o i n g o n ,

a n d I a sk t h e m h o w t h e y k n o w t h e y

a r e c o r r e c t . T h i s q u i c k l y t u r n s i n t o

a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e s e q u e n t i a l a r t

m e d i u m . W e t a l k a b o u t t h e p a n e l s ,

t h e g u t t e r s , t h e w o r d b a l l o o n s ,

t h e u s e o f n e g a t i v e s p a c e , a n d

s h o r t h a n d s y m b o l s s u c h as c o l o r

c h a n g e s , s w e a t b e a d s , o r l i g h t n i n g

b o l t s . W e a l s o e n d u p t a l k i n g a b o u t

t h e a u t h o r s ' i n t e n t i o n s w i t h t h e

a r t , a n d t h e r e a s o n s w h y t h e y c h o s e

t o i n c l u d e v a r i o u s w o r d s , i m a g e s ,

a n d v i s u a l i n f o r m a t i o n . T h i s a d

h o c v i s u a l - g r a m m a r l e s s o n u s u a l l y

t a k e s t u r n s t h a t a l l o w u s t o t a l k

a b o u t h o w we b r e a k d o w n a n d

u n d e r s t a n d t e x t s , h o w we w o r k

w i t h s t r u g g l i n g r e a d e r s , a n d h o w

w e d e a l w i t h r e a d e r s ' a t t i t u d e s .

F i r s t , r e a d i n g c o m i c s is n o t

s o m e t h i n g t h a t m a n y o f m y s t u d e n t s

w h o a r e , o r s o o n w i l l b e , t e a c h e r s

a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h . I h a v e s e e n t h a t

t h e y e a r s o f c h i l d r e n r e a d i n g a n d

s w a p p i n g c o m i c b o o k s m i g h t b e

w e l l g o n e a t t h i s p o i n t , a s m o s t

c o n f e s s t h e y h a v e n e v e r r e a d a

c o m i c b o o k , t h o u g h m a n y s t i l l w i l l

say t h e y r e a d o r h a v e r e a d c o m i c

s t r i p s i n t h e n e w s p a p e r . I t r y t o

c a p i t a l i z e o n t h e i r d i s c o m f o r t w i t h

t h e f o r m a t c o n v e n t i o n s t o s h o w h o w

t h e y m i g h t s i m i l a r l y b r e a k d o w n

t e x t s t o b e m o r e e a s i l y u n d e r s t o o d

b y t h e i r s t u d e n t s , a c c o r d i n g

t o t e x t s t r u c t u r e s a n d c o n t e n t

e x p e c t a t i o n s . O f t e n t h e s e i n - s e r v i c e

o r p r e - s e r v i c e t e a c h e r s a r e v e r y

c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h t h e i r c o n t e n t a r e a s

a n d d o n o t c o n s c i o u s l y r e c o g n i z e

t h e a s s u m p t i o n s t h e y m a k e a b o u t

r e a d i n g t h e i r s u b j e c t m a t t e r

o r d o i n g w o r k i n t h e i r s p e c i f i c

c o n t e n t a r e a s . I t i s o n e t h i n g t o

say t h a t t h e y n e e d t o s c a f f o l d t h e i r

t e x t s , b u t b e i n g i n t h e p o s i t i o n o f

n o v i c e o f t e n d r a w s m o r e a t t e n t i o n

t o t h e n e e d f o r t h e m t o w o r k t o

m a k e t h e i r t e x t s a n d c o n t e n t m o r e

a c c e s s i b l e t o s t u d e n t s w h o m a y n o t

b e s o c o m f o r t a b l e n a v i g a t i n g t h e m .

S e c o n d , t h e d i s c o m f o r t w i t h

r e a d i n g c o m i c s a l s o p u t s s o m e o f

m y s t u d e n t s i n t o t h e p o s i t i o n o f

b e i n g a s t r u g g l i n g r e a d e r . N o t o n l y

d o t h e e d u c a t o r s g e t t o t h i n k a b o u t

h o w t h e y m i g h t s c a f f o l d r e a d i n g i n

t h e i r o w n c l a s s e s , t h e y a l s o g e t t o

t a l k a b o u t t h e e f f e c t s o f a t t i t u d e o n

t h e i r r e a d i n g a b i l i t i e s a n d s t a m i n a .

O f t e n t i m e s , t h i s m e a n s I g e t a v o c a l

c o n t i n g e n t w h o t e l l s m e t h a t t h e y

h a t e c o m i c s a n d w o u l d n e v e r u s e

t h e m ; m e m b e r s o f t h i s g r o u p d o n o t

u n d e r s t a n d c o m i c s . I d o n o t t a k e

t h i s p e r s o n a l l y , b u t I t r y t o t u r n t h i s

t a l k i n t o h o w t h e y m i g h t w o r k w i t h

s t u d e n t s w h o say t h e v e r y s a m e t h i n g s

a b o u t t h e t e x t s t h e y h a v e t o r e a d f o r

t h e i r c l a s s e s . T h e r e a l i t y is t h a t m a n y

s t u d e n t s m i g h t n o t h a v e t h e p a t i e n c e

o r w i l l i n g n e s s t o k e e p u p w i t h

s c h o o l w o r k w h e n t h e y s t r u g g l e o r find

t h e m s e l v e s c o n f u s e d , s o t h e y r e q u i r e

p a r t i c u l a r t y p e s o f a t t e n t i o n . R e a d i n g

c o m i c s u n s e t t l e s s o m e u n i v e r s i t y

s t u d e n t s , w h o m i g h t b e o t h e r w i s e

v e r y c a p a b l e a n d k n o w l e d g e a b l e ,

a n d o f f e r s a c h a n c e f o r l o o k i n g a t

s t r u g g l i n g r e a d e r s i n a d i f f e r e n t ,

m o r e d i s t i n c t a n d p e r s o n a l l i g h t .

Volume 41 N o 3 j Jonuaiy/Febraciy 2 0 1 3

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DC Comics Identity Crisis by Novelist Brad Mcltier and artist Rags Morales depicts the breakdown of relationships within the Justice League when a family member is mysteriousl\ murdcrcd.

F o c u s i n g o n R e s o u r c e s f o r S t u d e n t s of A l l Ages

A s i d e f r o m c l a s s r o o m r e a d i n g s

a n d a c t i v i t i e s , I h a v e a n o t h e r

way t o e n g a g e m y s t u d e n t s i n

a l l t h e c l a s s e s I t e a c h : m y b l o g ,

G r a p h i c N o v e l R e s o u r c e s < h t t p :

g r a p h i c n o v e l r e s o u r c e s . b l o g s p o t .

c o m > . T h e b l o g is f o r a n y o n e

i n t e r e s t e d i n r e a d i n g o r u s i n g

g r a p h i c n o v e l s . I n i t , I o f f e r

r e v i e w s , s u m m a r i e s , a n d a d d i t i o n a l

r e s o u r c e s a b o u t a v a r i e t y o f g r a p h i c

n o v e l s a n d c o m i c s . I s ee t h i s b l o g

as a n e x u s o f m y t e a c h i n g , a p l a c e

w h e r e I c a n s i m u l t a n e o u s l y d i s p l a y

t e x t s o f i n t e r e s t w h i l e a l s o p r o v i d i n g

p o t e n t i a l t e a c h i n g c o n n e c t i o n s .

I t a g p o s t s b y s u b j e c t a r e a , i n t e r e s t s ,

a n d r e a d e r l e v e l , a n d I t r y t o p o s t

a b o u t a w i d e v a r i e t y o f b o o k s . I

h i g h l i g h t w o r k s b y a u t h o r s w h o w r i t e

a b o u t c o n t e n t - a r e a s u b j e c t m a t t e r ,

s u c h a s j a y H o s i e r a n d J i m O t t a v i a n i

i n s c i e n c e o r R i c k G e a r y a n d N i c k

B e r t o z z i i n h i s t o r y . I a l s o t o u c h o n

w o r k s t h a t m i g h t p a i r e a s i l y a n d

w e l l w i t h r e q u i r e d r e a d i n g s s u c h as

The Resistance s e r i e s a b o u t F r a n c e i n

W o r l d W a r I I b y C a r l a J a b l o n k s i a n d

L e l a n d P u r v i s . I i n c l u d e w o r k s f o r

y o u n g e r r e a d e r s , s u c h as M i c h a e l

R e x ' s Fangbone s e r i e s as w e l l as m o r e

c o m p l e x a d u l t w o r k s l i k e Asterios

Polyp by D a v i d M a z z u c c h e l l i .

F r o m m y w o r k i n c l a s s r o o m s

a n d o n m y b l o g , I e n d e a v o r

t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t c o m i c s

o f f e r m u c h i n t e r m s o f l i t e r a r y ,

e n t e r t a i n m e n t , a n d c o n t e n t -

a r e a l e a r n i n g f o r a l l t y p e s o f

r e a d e r s , e l e m e n t a r y t o h i g h e r

e d u c a t i o n . R e a d i n g c o m i c s c a n

h e l p u s a n a l y z e h o w we i n t e r a c t ,

l e a r n , a n d c o n d u c t o u r s e l v e s a s

c i t i z e n s . T h e y a r e a p o t e n t i a l l y

p o w e r f u l e d u c a t i o n a l r e s o u r c e .

Books M e n t i o n e d :

Hinds , Gareth. 2010 . The Odyssey. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Jablonski, Carla, and Leland Purvis. 2 0 I 0 . Resistance: Book 1. NewYork: First Second.

Mazzucchelli, David. 2 0 0 g . Asterios Polyp. NewYork: Pantheon .

Meltzer, Brad, Rags Morales, and Michael Bair. 2 0 0 6 . Identity Crisis. NewYork: D C Comics.

Miller, Frank, Klaus Janson , and Lynn Varley. 1986. The Dark Knight Returns. NewYork: DC Comics.

Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons . 1986. Watchmen. NewYork: DC Comics.

Rex, Michael. 20I2 . Fangbone! Third Grade Barbarian. NewYork: Putnam.

Vaughan, Brian K. , and Tony Harr is . 2 0 0 5 . ExMachina, Volume 1: The First Hundred Days. La jo l l a , CA:

Yang, Gene Luen. 2 0 0 8 . American Born Chinese. NewYork: Square Fish.

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