Course detail

Comics – History and Present

FaVU-KOHISO-ZAcad. year: 2024/2025

The lectures follow the history of the comic from the second half of the 19th century to the present. They represent important realizations in economic conditions, social circumstances and the political context of their origin, along with critical and theoretical reflection. Lectures are accompanied by examples in digital form and examples of printed periodicals.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

MgA. Pavel Ryška, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Audiovisual Technology (KAT)

Entry knowledge

Students should have general knowledge of visual arts history.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Course assessment is based on an essay (minimum 5000 characters).


Teaching takes place in the classrooms of the FFA BUT in the hours determined by the schedule. Lectures are optional.

Aims

The aim of theseries of lectures is to acquaint students with the history and the contemporary form of sequential narratives – comic strips, albums or graphic novels.
Students acquire basic knowledge about the development of comics from the first comic strips in humorous magazines to contemporary graphic novels. They will be able to recognize significant realizations, understand the context and links between sequential stories, animated film, literature, and visual arts.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Bart Beaty, Unpopular Culture: Transforming the European Comic Book in the 1990s. University of Toronto Press, 2007.
Brian Walker, The Comics before 1945. / The Comics sice 1945. Harry N. Abrams Inc., 2004.
Paul Gravett, Mangasia: The Definitive Guide to Asian Comics. Thames & Hudson, 2017.
Roger Sabin, Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels. A History of Comic Art. Phaidon Press, 1996.
Scott McCloud, Jak rozumět komiksu, BB art, 2008.
Scott McCloud, Reinventing Comics, Harper Collins, N.Y.C., 2000.
Thierry Groensteen, Comics and Narration. Jackson: University Press of Missisippi, 2013.
Thierry Groensteen, Stavba komiksu, Host 2005.
Tomáš Prokůpek – Pavel Kořínek – Martin Foret – Michal Jareš, Dějiny československého komiksu 20. století. Praha: Akropolis, 2014.
Umberto Eco, Skeptikové a těšitelé, Argo 2007.

Recommended reading

Andrei Molotiu, Abstract Comics: The Anthology. Fantagraphics Books, 2009.
Bart Beaty, Fredric Wertham And the Critique of Mass Culture, University Press of Mississippi, 2005.
Coulton Waugh, The Comics, University Press of Mississippi (reprint edition), 1991.
D. B. Dowd – Todd Hignite, Strips, Toons, and Bluesies: Essays in Comics and Culture, Princeton Architectural Press, 2006.
David Carrier, The Aesthetics of Comics, Pennsylvania State University Press, 2001.
Ernst Hans Gombrich, Umění a iluze. Studie o psychologii obrazového znázorňování. Praha: Argo, 2019.
Jonathan Clements – Helen McCarthy: The Anime Encyclopedia. A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917, Stone Bridge Press, 2006.
M. Thomas Inge, Comics as Culture, University Press of Mississippi, 1990.
Masao Yokota – Tze-yue G. Hu, Japanese Animation. East sian Perspective. Jackson: University Press of Missisippi, 2013.
Ondřej Kavalír (ed.), Made in Japan. Eseje o současné japonské popkultuře. Praha: Labyrint, 2014.
Richard Reynolds, Super Heroes. A Modern Mythology, University Press of Mississippi, 1994.
Roman Prahl – Radim Vondráček – Martin Sekera, Karikatura a její příbuzní. Obrazový humor v českém prostředí 19. století. Praha – Plzeň: Arbor vitae – Západočeská galerie v Plzni, 2014.
Sean Howe, Marvel. Co jste neměli vědět o komiksovém zázraku. Paseka, 2016.
Takashi Murakami (ed.), Little Boy. The Arts of Japan´s Exploding Subculture, Yale University Press, 2005.
W. J. T. Mitchell, Teorie obrazu: Eseje o verbální a vizuální reprezentaci, Karolinum 2017.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme DES_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Pavel Ryška, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Cartoon, illustration and narration. 19th century readers, spectators and graphic arts. George Cruikshank: Comic Almanacs. Rodolphe Töppfer: La littérature en estampes. Wilhelm Busch: Bilderbogen. Problems of searching for "comics predecessors". Visual humor and satire in albums and illustrated magazines. E. H. Gombrich: Cartoon Experiment.

2. Yellow journalism. W. R. Hearst vs. Joseph Pulitzer. Humorous newspapers, advertising and comic strip at the end of the 19th century. Phonographic paradigm. Phonography (shorthand), phonographs and speech balloons. R. F. Outcault. Rudolph Dirks. F. B. Opper. Bud Fischer.

3. Nightmares and day dreams. American comics from the 20's and 30's. Winsor McCay. George Herriman. Lyonel Feininger. Comics as a model of film animations.

4. From the newspaper strip to the album. Collection of newspaper strips. Funnies on Parade. European comic books. Georges Remi (Hergé): The Adventures of Tintin.

5. Seduction of innocents. Superheroes, detective and horror comics of the 40's and 50's. Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster: Superman. Bob Cane: Batman. Superhuman and non-human characters in modern mythology. Critical responses in the American press. Comics Code: establishment of censorship in USA. The practice of censorship in Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc.

6. The Silver Age of Comic Books (American comics of the 1960s). Marvel Comics: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko. Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man. X-Men. Consequences of censorship.

7. Comix. Parody and paraphrase of newspaper strips. Tijuana Bibles. American Comic Underground of the 1960s and 1970s. MAD. Harvey Kurtzman, Basil Wolverton. Robert Crumb.

8. Manga. Traditional narrative paintings in China and Japan. Modern Asian cartoons. Comics after 1945. Mangaka Osamu Tezuka. The entertainment industry of the 1980s. Katsuhiro Otomo: Akira. Takeshi Murakami and the reflection of Japanese popular culture.

9. System of Comics. Will Eisner. Comics and Sequential Art. Film metaphors in Comics theory. Umberto Eco: Apocalypse Postponed. Scott McCloud: Understanding Comics. Thierry Groensteen: The System of Comics.

10. Graphic novels. From narrative picture series to "graphic novels". W. Hogarth: Harlot's Progress. Rodolphe Töpffer: Histoire de M. Vieux Bois. Frans Masereel: Mon livre d'heures.
Will Eisner. Art Spiegelman. Osamu Tezuka. David B. Frank Miller. Alan Moore.

11. Comics in Czechoslovakia. Cartoons and pictorial stories. Kája Saudek. Vlastislav Toman. Václav Šorel, František Kobík: Vzpoura mozků (The rebellion of Brains).

12. Unpopular culture. Comics albums and books in the 1990s. L'Association, Small Press, La Nouvelle Bande Dessinée. Fantagraphics. Chris Ware: Acme Novelty Library. Comics without recitatives and dialogues. Jean Giraud (Moebius). Jim Wodring: The Frank Book.

13. Infinite Canvas.mOnline comics. Realization, publishing and distribution of digital formats. Scott McCloud: Reinventing Comics.