Contemporary British Literature

Alan Moore’s definition of graphic novel:

“expensive comic book”

Juxtaposed pictorial and other

images in deliberate sequence,

intended to convey information

and/or to produce an aesthetic

response in the viewer.

Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics 9)

1986

1954

1992

• Frank Miller writes Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

• Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman wins a Pulitzer Prize

• Seduction of the Innocent published
• Comics Code Authority created

The Comics Code Authority was formed in 1954 by the Comics Magazine Association of America as an alternative to government regulation, to allow the comic publishers to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. Its code, commonly called "the Comics Code," lasted until the early 21st century. Many have linked the CCA's formation to a series of Senate hearings and the publication of psychologist Fredric Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent.

By the early 2000s, newer publishers bypassed the CCA and Marvel Comics abandoned it in 2001. By 2010, only three major publishers still adhered to it: DC Comics, Archie Comics, and Bongo Comics. Bongo broke with the CCA in 2010. DC and Archie followed in January 2011, rendering the Code defunct.

1970

(extra)Literary Vocabulary

1990

1980

1950

1978

1987

• Panel
• Gutter

The graphic novel

• Alan Moore writes The Watchmen

• Contract with God by Will Eisner

• gutter
• layout
• panel
• sound representation
• speech balloon
• thought balloon

• Style

• Color

• Design

• Symbolism

• Perspective

• Lettering

Gandhi leads nonviolent campaign against anti-Indian laws in South Africa.

1906

1900

Jason Quinn

Gandhi

my life is my mesage

Gandhi returns to India from South Africa.

1910

1915

Mahatma Gandhi was the primary leader of India’s independence movement and also the architect of a form of non-violent civil disobedience that would influence the world.

Relying on Gandhi’s own words to express his thoughts, Quinn’s script is necessarily text heavy; however, the layout does a remarkably graceful job of keeping a reader’s eye moving through each page, and the art itself is lively, though muted in color.

Jason Quinn is the award winning author of Campfire's Steve Jobs: Genius by Design. He learned to read with Marvel Comics and was devastated when his teacher told him Spider-Man did not exist. He has worked in publishing for the last twenty years as an editor and writer, working on everything from Spider-Man toBarbie. He moved to India in 2012 and currently works as Campfire's Creative Content Head

The story shows an elderly Gandhi reflecting on his life, remembering how his experiences with British colonial authority in South Africa and India taught him that anger and hatred should be met with love and respect. This faith eventually gained India’s independence and influenced the American civil rights movement, though the authors admit that it didn’t overcome the simmering distrust between India’s Hindu and Muslim citizens, which led to Gandhi’s assassination.

1920

Gandhi leads first of his all-India campaigns against the British Empire.

1920

1930

"Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth."

Gandhi

1930

March 12, 1930

Gandhi and his followers begin salt march, which launches the civil disobedience campaign for independence.

April 6, 1930

Marchers arrive at coast and make salt; civil disobedience begins to spread across India.

May 4, 1930

Gandhi is arrested.

Does this statement have any effect of your understanding of the cultural choices 20th century authors like Wa Thiong'o, Rushdie, Walcott or Bennett have made (regarding language)?

1935

1931-1932

January 1931

Gandhi and other Indian leaders are released from prison.

February 17, 1931

Gandhi-Irwin talks begin, resulting in "truce" and suspension of civil disobedience.

January 1, 1932

Civil disobedience resumes.

August 1947

India gains independence from British Empire.

1940