University of Cambridge To Study Comic Books

The literature center will now look at comics and graphic novels and how they shape our youth

Professor Maria Nikolajeva, who is the [University of Cambridge's Literature] centre’s first director, said: “Everybody can remember a book or a film from their childhood that played a role in shaping the way they understand the world around them. “For children, these are often secret and sacred places that they can go to and we need to study them if we want to improve their education and development. It’s easy to say that these things are just kids’ fashions or that they’re trash, but I don’t believe that’s good enough.”

“We live in a multimedia society. If we just pretend these things do not exist, we could lose a very important dimension of children’s competence at interpreting stories. Even to be a video-game player you need to learn something.

“Children’s literature and culture are not created in a vacuum: you need the social context. If what we regard as trash is popular with young people, we need to know why and whether, as researchers and teachers, we can offer them something that addresses the same needs but also deals with these themes in a critical and ethical way.”

FINALLY

Damn, too late...

About damn time

Too bad I just started at a different uni :(

course needs to be in every college especially at rutgers

Aye, it's about time.

Sweet. 
 
I agree that comic books do help to shape our childhood. Long before I ever started actually collecting the books, I was inspired by Spider-man. Kinda weird to say that a fictional character was my role-model, but the way I acted back then (and the way I still act, really) was very much "What Would Spidey Do?" 
 
The heroes of comic books are excellent role-models for children. And Spider-man manages to deliver his message with humor, which kids most definitely respond to. It's one of the reasons the webhead is one of my favourite characters.

It’s no secret that the comic book faces an ongoing stigma. In the 1950’s, Superman and Batman were hidden under the bed sheets amongst Playboy. A super powered imagination was considered near pornographic to the staunch conservative adults of the era. Chalk the scarred reputation up to Fredric Wertham’s “Seduction of the Innocent” and the soon-to-be established writer restrictions AKA the Comics Code Authority. Heaven forbid Papa catch you viewing brightly colored spandex and flowing capes, what was then thought to inspire what every red-blooded Christian-American parent dread: latent homosexuality. Hah!

Occasionally comics actually do fit the billing of immature drivel. Throughout the vast and diverse history of one of Americas few genuine art forms, though it pains me to admit it, some really are nothing more then glorified wrestling matches. Fast forward to the 1980’s! We’re publicly shown (through writers like Alan Moore, Neil Gaimen, and Grant Morrison) that the so-called lowly comic books of old inspired brilliance. Since superhero inception, we’ve been introduced to deeply underlined religious parallels, moral motifs, and ethically empathetic power-fantasy themes. It merely takes a keen eye to notice them.

Fantasy has always mainly been considered lesser by the narrow mainstream critics. Heck, comic books were once thought to only appeal to either children or the mentally slow. Most people view it as nothing but mindless amusement; they ignore what’s called applicability and condescendingly criticize those who love things like comics or science-fiction as needing to get out more or having impractical hobbies. Any and all fiction, from classic literature to comic books, no matter how fantastical, can be practically applied to your very real life. This is why we study English, playwrights, or film to begin with. Most people are just too lazy to view entertainment as anything more, that doesn't mean that it can't be made into something sensible. For example: Batman can introduce you into the real-world of psychology, through Thor you can gain knowledge on actual history and mythology, Hellboy for the occult and archaeology, and just the general concept behind all superheroes can educate you on ethnics. The list goes on and on. These stories can act as a springboard toward knowledge, you just have to have an authentic interest in learning. The greatest form of educating is one that's masked in entertainment.   

I think the Cambridge lady is actually trying to insult comic books in her quote. Read this section closely:
 
"we can offer something that addresses the same needs but also deals with the themes in a critical and ethical way"
 
She's essentially saying that comics are generally unethical and that the main reason to study them is so they can work out why kids read them and then take out the bits they don't like.

"I think the Cambridge lady is actually trying to insult comic books in her quote. Read this section closely:  "we can offer something that addresses the same needs but also deals with the themes in a critical and ethical way"  She's essentially saying that comics are generally unethical and that the main reason to study them is so they can work out why kids read them and then take out the bits they don't like. "

Hate to burst the bubble, but Concordia University in Montreal has had a graphic novel course for a few years now. 

"Hate to burst the bubble, but Concordia University in Montreal has had a graphic novel course for a few years now.  "

"

It’s no secret that the comic book faces an ongoing stigma. In the 1950’s, Superman and Batman were hidden under the bed sheets amongst Playboy. A super powered imagination was considered near pornographic to the staunch conservative adults of the era. Chalk the scarred reputation up to Fredric Wertham’s “Seduction of the Innocent” and the soon-to-be established writer restrictions AKA the Comics Code Authority. Heaven forbid Papa catch you viewing brightly colored spandex and flowing capes, what was then thought to inspire what every red-blooded Christian-American parent dread: latent homosexuality. Hah!

Occasionally comics actually do fit the billing of immature drivel. Throughout the vast and diverse history of one of Americas few genuine art forms, though it pains me to admit it, some really are nothing more then glorified wrestling matches. Fast forward to the 1980’s! We’re publicly shown (through writers like Alan Moore, Neil Gaimen, and Grant Morrison) that the so-called lowly comic books of old inspired brilliance. Since superhero inception, we’ve been introduced to deeply underlined religious parallels, moral motifs, and ethically empathetic power-fantasy themes. It merely takes a keen eye to notice them.

Fantasy has always mainly been considered lesser by the narrow mainstream critics. Heck, comic books were once thought to only appeal to either children or the mentally slow. Most people view it as nothing but mindless amusement; they ignore what’s called applicability and condescendingly criticize those who love things like comics or science-fiction as needing to get out more or having impractical hobbies. Any and all fiction, from classic literature to comic books, no matter how fantastical, can be practically applied to your very real life. This is why we study English, playwrights, or film to begin with. Most people are just too lazy to view entertainment as anything more, that doesn't mean that it can't be made into something sensible. For example: Batman can introduce you into the real-world of psychology, through Thor you can gain knowledge on actual history and mythology, Hellboy for the occult and archaeology, and just the general concept behind all superheroes can educate you on ethnics. The list goes on and on. These stories can act as a springboard toward knowledge, you just have to have an authentic interest in learning. The greatest form of educating is one that's masked in entertainment.   

   

"

Good to see comic books coming forward. Comics books after all a popular culture medium. Why shouldn't they be taken seriously, like any other movie or novel?

"Well I think that the university's study of comic books' effects on the youth is probably most relevant to society nowadays. I think it's obvious that more kids now than ever are reading comic books. "

With all due respect, that's not true at all. Compared to the 40's, 50's, and 60's, comic books are a dying industry and have taken a significant dive when it comes to mass appeal. The analogy I always draw is with the video game industry. What that is to today, the comics business was to yesteryears. All kids read comics back in the day, but how many actually read the actual comics themselves today? Sure they all watch the films, buy the toys, and wake up Saturday mornings for the cartoons, but the actual comics are something else entirely. It’s become an adult driven medium. This is exactly why they branched out into the field of films and video games, to get more mass attention, so the major companies like Marvel and DC wouldn’t go extinct. This is also probably why comics are getting their long overdue praise now, film attracts more people and when it's done seriously, it'll garner serious analysis.

Its about time LOL ^_^

dam just finished uni last year i would love to do that course thou lol

I saw both Maus and Watchmen at my University library last semester. I'm pretty sure they're for an english class (I got to a french university) that's about different kinds of stories, including novels and graphic novels. Also, for the first couple of weeks of this semester, I noticed a few people coming in the local comics shop while I was there asking for "a package for a class" - though I don't have any details they were all leaving with a nice stack of graphic novels, also including Watchmen and Maus. 
 
I'm not surprised by this. I have a friend studying fine arts, and one of her assignment was to make a few comic panels inspired by a song. Comics are part of pop culture now, it's right to assume we'll start seeing them more and more in schools.

This sounds interesting but it won’t work with the new generation of kids because 90% of them don’t read comic books. It’s all just Gears Of War and MTV these days.

This sounds interesting but it won’t work with the new generation of kids because 90% of them don’t read comic books. It’s all just Gears Of War and MTV these days.

As a published writer and current educator, this sort of press release always has me a bit weary.   I'll explain why:
 
I'm currently finishing up my PhD and teaching a classical literature course at a university for the second straight semester.  I actively encourage students to make connections between classical heroes and myths and those they see in modern comic books and video games.  I'm consistently pleased to see how often students draw fantastic parallels and think critically about how these mediums (comics and games) explore the human condition.  
 
This is why this sort of press release always has me a bit weary.  Sure, it's Cambridge trying to draw attention to itself while trying to maintain its status as a major player in the academic world, but as so many here have already pointed out, the critical study of comics and graphic novels in universities around the world is nothing new.  Cambridge is certainly trying to add legitimacy to its endeavor by claiming that their research is all about the impact of comics on children.  This is always the calling card of those trying to grab media attention: just make everything seem that it's for the benefit of children and understanding kids.   But in doing so, these studies sometimes pigeonhole the medium they study as simply "kids stuff." 
 
A similar thing has been happening for years as video games try to shake off the stigma of being "murder simulators" as academics worldwide (most of who know nothing about the medium) analyze games and their impact on children.  We see far less attention being paid to college programs and courses that study games in critical ways via litarary, social, political, or psychological perspectives.  
 
Currently, in addition to my course on classical literature, I was able to convince the department to approve a class in which I use the Final Fantasy series as the basis for studying the creation of  modern myth and how the reverence paid to the series by the fan community mirrors that of classical civilizations in the development of their respective pantheons and mythological traditions.  Meanwhile, a fellow professor in my literature department teaches two courses on comics and graphic novels while another teaches literary theory and uses the Green Lantern and the symbolism in the series as the core material for the study of Semiology.  Years ago, yet another professor in our department had to bust their butt just to get a course on science fiction approved.  It was a major success that helped pave the way for courses on comics and video games that our department is so open to offer today.  
 
More important than what Cambridge is doing in terms of comics and their impact on youth would be to get some recognition for programs at other universities that legitimize mediums of science fiction, comic books, and video games as serious mediums packed with rich explorations of the human condition that are worthy of academic study. 

I've had to read Maus twice during school as a required reading in both eighth grade (2007), and sophmore year (2009).  Also I have seen and read several comic book versions of many books that are considered quality literature.  Some examples of these are:  "The Portrait of Dorian Gray" and several of Edgar Allen Poe's poems and stories including "The Raven" which I read just last week. 

"As a published writer and current educator, this sort of press release always has me a bit weary.   I'll explain why: I'm currently finishing up my PhD and teaching a classical literature course at a university for the second straight semester.  I actively encourage students to make connections between classical heroes and myths and those they see in modern comic books and video games.  I'm consistently pleased to see how often students draw fantastic parallels and think critically about how these mediums (comics and games) explore the human condition.    This is why this sort of press release always has me a bit weary.  Sure, it's Cambridge trying to draw attention to itself while trying to maintain its status as a major player in the academic world, but as so many here have already pointed out, the critical study of comics and graphic novels in universities around the world is nothing new.  Cambridge is certainly trying to add legitimacy to its endeavor by claiming that their research is all about the impact of comics on children.  This is always the calling card of those trying to grab media attention: just make everything seem that it's for the benefit of children and understanding kids.   But in doing so, these studies sometimes pigeonhole the medium they study as simply "kids stuff."   A similar thing has been happening for years as video games try to shake off the stigma of being "murder simulators" as academics worldwide (most of who know nothing about the medium) analyze games and their impact on children.  We see far less attention being paid to college programs and courses that study games in critical ways via litarary, social, political, or psychological perspectives.    Currently, in addition to my course on classical literature, I was able to convince the department to approve a class in which I use the Final Fantasy series as the basis for studying the creation of  modern myth and how the reverence paid to the series by the fan community mirrors that of classical civilizations in the development of their respective pantheons and mythological traditions.  Meanwhile, a fellow professor in my literature department teaches two courses on comics and graphic novels while another teaches literary theory and uses the Green Lantern and the symbolism in the series as the core material for the study of Semiology.  Years ago, yet another professor in our department had to bust their butt just to get a course on science fiction approved.  It was a major success that helped pave the way for courses on comics and video games that our department is so open to offer today.    More important than what Cambridge is doing in terms of comics and their impact on youth would be to get some recognition for programs at other universities that legitimize mediums of science fiction, comic books, and video games as serious mediums packed with rich explorations of the human condition that are worthy of academic study.  "

"@MysterioMaximus: Ah. Okay I do see error in my statement there. That is definitely  true, MM. Shoulda known that. I'm actually barely 20 years old, but been reading the funny pages since the age of 3. But to be honest, though i did love some of them, the movies and the video games have never given me the feeling I that when I read an issue.  But can I ask you this, do you think that comic books and thier related materials are a bit more socially acceptible than they were in the 60's. As in the kid who reads them is not neccessarily afraid to admit that he enjoys superheroes? Though I don't know for certain, I do know that before Spider-Man came out in theaters, my twin brother and I were the only ones in my entire class to read comic books. Now it seems that if I were in grade school now, that ratio would be changed a fair amount. "

Oh no, it's okay! I don’t mean to sounds like some snobbish know-it-all trying to show you up or anything. It's something not a lot of people do know. In fact, I don't know why I know this (usually) pointless old-timey comic book trivia. Hah! It's all my dad’s doing. He raised me on books twice my age, far before my time. So when kids were gaga over Venom and Carnage on my playground, I was that budding little eccentric obsessed over the guy with the freaking fishbowl head. I’m one diehard Silver Age Marvel fan, pretty big on Golden Age DC too. And for Bronze…while most people consider that ancient these days, in my world it’s new by comparison. Comic Book sales wise it does feel like a boom, but that’s only comparatively. Considering the humongous comic oversaturation of the 90’s that nearly (literally) finished the industry for good, Marvel even filed for bankruptcy at one point, we’re doing much better. But truly that’s as much the film and video game properties faults (if not more so) as it’s the comics themselves.

As for socially accepted, totally! What we lost is comic sales, we gained in respect. And while I think we’ll always encounter some pulp prejudice, as I call it, it’s not nearly as common today. See you have to remember that these characters are so universally beloved and recognizable, but that’s not necessarily due to the comic books, though that may be their main medium. I cannot lie; I get somewhat annoyed with those “Batman” or “X-men” fans that haven’t read a single issue. To me that’s just what we call a poser, but the sad truth is that the audiences are filled with them, so in turn they’re directly responsible for the comic book revere. They buy tickets, big numbers creates mass appeal, mass appeal will (eventually) garner analysis and simply put, there’s been a lot to comic books since inception, it just wasn’t usually overtly noticeable.    

" @MysterioMaximus: Mass esteem? What does that have to do with it? Just because a school with lots of money and prestige is studying comics it makes it more newsworthy? I'm as big a proponent as anyone of comics and graphic novels as a serious artform as anyone, but the fact that fancy-schmancy school is jumping on the bandwagon isn't a landmark victory. Not to go on a rant, but I really hate how places like Harvard and Yale and held up as these glistening paragons of education. How intelligent someone is isn't determined by what school they go to, but by their own willingness to learn. A harvard grad can be outsmarted by someone from a "lower" school. They're only considered "prestigious" because they have insane amounts of money, have alot of famous graduates, and its really hard to get in.  I don't really see how that makes it "better" "

And I don’t disagree, I’ve even literally spoken aloud what you’re saying for years, but speaking from a sociological perspective, face fact…people consider universities of different caliber. And honestly some are, that doesn’t mean Harvard U. Harry is technically brighter than Community College Colin. I graduated third in my class of over some thousand at my High School. I won writing awards granted to me from some writer’s organization run by the state of Pennsylvania, some uppity mumbo-jumbo something like that, but because I came out of a relatively poor community, thus it’s assumed I’m just a top dog of an inferior breed. It doesn’t amount to much of any accomplishment in the eyes of the holier-than-thou board of education officials at someplace like Harvard or Yale.  
 
There’s somewhat a social misconception that goes along with college just in general. I absolutely agree. A degree doesn’t truly prove anything but that you spent money for an education. It doesn’t dilute to superior intelligence compared to those that didn’t go to a university at all. You can educate yourself, you just need an authentic interest in learning, which (in my experience) most people don't have. To learn, they need forced to learn. In fact, I’ve argued that in this day and age, you can learn everything you gain from college textbooks in theory for free on the internet, college merely provides the practice and proof that you did. Those that put their effort into "higher education" will always deem this a controversial statement, but that's only because they interpret it as you downgrading their effort.  
 
The sad truth is that the reason you’re encouraged to pursue further education outside of High School isn’t because you can’t be of college level intellect on your own, it means that you’ll just have your intellect on paper, which is what jobs desire - factual evidence of your intelligence. Again this doesn't mean you can't be of college or higher level intellect without it. The sad irony is that some of the world’s most intellectual people might not go further than senior year of their public school system and not be able to hold anything but a janitorial job down, whereas George W. Bush becomes president. College is entirely stoked by a social stigma, but that’s just it…if you don’t go and you are indeed smart, you have to expect to eventually defend your intellect. There will always be those that will try to prove superiority. It’s human nature, biologically speaking. You can hate the stigma all you want, I certainly know I do, but you have to conform (if you most likely want to be successful) and accept that it is what it is. So ultimately, as far as I’m concerned, how isn’t a “college of esteem” giving a possible nod in the direction of comics newsworthy?   

" I think the Cambridge lady is actually trying to insult comic books in her quote. Read this section closely:  "we can offer something that addresses the same needs but also deals with the themes in a critical and ethical way"  She's essentially saying that comics are generally unethical and that the main reason to study them is so they can work out why kids read them and then take out the bits they don't like. "

" Too bad I just started at a different uni :( "

Why the focus on children? You can see the snobbery shine though

i may have to watch V for Vendetta in my class for a job

" Good to see comic books coming forward. Comics books after all a popular culture medium. Why shouldn't they be taken seriously, like any other movie or novel? "

I could not be happier.  This completely validates my own viewpoint about comics and graphic novels as a critical medium, as well as others on this site.  Well done Cambridge!  How I'd love to study there on Maus or Watchmen

  @mimschkin said:

" Too bad I just started at a different uni :( "

"Too bad you wouldn't get in. BOOM. "

I've been into comic books since I was six years old, with my love for them undying right up until today as I type this; a 24 year old man.
 
You can call me bitter and elitist all you want for saying this, but I'm gonna say it because it needs saying. The very fact that the kind of people who bullied the shit out of me for reading comic books are now taking their girls out on dates to the movies to see Iron Man, is sickening to me. The fact that girls who wouldn't have looked the way of ANY geek, are now speaking of their love for "geek chic" and "nerds are the new cool", is sickening to me.
 
This is a major plus for comics, this kind of credible backing, but why are we acting like comics need it? Comics don't need the support from people who wouldn't have otherwise gave a shit. So what, now we're gonna get people saying: "We accept comics as credible.". Thanks, we've known that.