Class Info: Tuesday 6:30-8:30

CUNY Graduate Center room 6417

To-Do Before Class:

Topic: INTRODUCTIONS & FINDING YOUR VOICE 

Activities 

ICE BREAKER ACTIVITY: Ivan Brunetti Cartooning Style 

*NO SOUL FITS INSIDE A STICK FIGURE!*

ACTIVITY: Lynda Barry 3 min Self Portraits in Brunetti Style. 

DISCUSS: What’s Your Why? Class Introductions.

Who am I?

Philosophy:

Comics are language. Every language can be learned.  You’ll find this course is front-loaded with language acquisition tools and idea generation tools.   My goal is to get you ready to share your personal narratives in sequential art format as quickly as possible.

DISCUSS: What is Sequential Art? (a.k.a Comics) Class Relationship with Comics

Broad Overview of Genres and Styles – Biography and Memoir in Sequential Art.

Comics are a language with a distinct Grammar Set.  It’s made up of Sequential Reading (left -right up down), of grammatical parts which are composed of BOTH words and images.

(Realistic drawing is NOT a requirement.) 

ABOUT THIS COURSE:

Review academic policies, syllabus, calendar, and async resources

Craft, Community, and Culture!

  • Course Structure
  • Reading VS. Making
  • Reading List
  • Critique and Discussion: Class Discord
  • In-class activities (Like the one we just did!)
  • FINAL PROJECT
  • Grading Policy: EFFORT, TIME, CARE, GROWTH, STORY, CRAFT, CLARITY (not rendering.)

DISCUSS: Do we need to DRAW to make comics? NO! (…but it helps.)

Value of a sketchbook. Why work and write by hand?

Optional DRAWING ASSIGNMENT. (Since this is not a drawing class!)

DISCUSS: Our First Character – an exploration of self / personal voice.  What is VOICE in Comics? What you choose to say and how you choose to say it!

DISCUSS: Value of Daily Diary for Life Writing

INTRODUCE: Lynda Barry’s Diary Format – Share Mine – Create Template

ACTIVITY: Meet the Artist / Comics Selfie / Share Mine

(Begin in class if time allows)

Consider the different ways text and image interact on a page.  Consider your personal visual style or play with styles you find interesting and experiment!

Create a “meet the artist” page in your sketchbook with a comic version of yourself as a method of exploring your voice.  Challenge yourself to try multiple ways of using words + images together. 

Infographics, cross sections, embedded text (in the background or on an item?), maps, dialogue, signage, sound effects, and captions, are all options. 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: DISCORD ONBOARDING

Due Next Week

Homework:

  • In Sketchbook (aim for 5) DAILY DIARY PAGES
  • Complete your Meet the Artist / Artist Selfie   *KEEP IT SIMPLE*
  • 2-3 FINAL PROJECT IDEAS

READ: Lynda Barry Making Comics Excerpt

READ: Chapters 1 & 2 Understanding Comics

READ: Inventing Comics by Dylan Horrocks

READ: Dear Sophie, Love Sophie – By Sophie Lucido Johnson

**DISCUSSION ON DISCORD**

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