Comics in the Classroom

Comics in the Classroom

Many people dismiss graphic novels or comic books being used within the classroom because their first thoughts; Spiderman, Phantom and Batman etc.  Comics are in fact a genre that can explore a wide range of styles and subject matter.   For example comics can look at history and political aspects. For example a well known comic by Art Spiegelman, "Maus".  The comic won the Pulitzer Prize and is acclaimed as “the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust” (The Wall Street Journal). Maus tells the story of Spiegelman’s father, a concentration camp survivor.  He depicts the Jews as mice, the Nazis as cats and the Police as pigs. 

There are many things students could look at and discuss. Such as the representation of humans as mice and cats, personification, speech bubbles, world history (the before and after affects).  If you'd like to read more on Spiegelman here is a link to a site detailing information of this comic book -  Art Spiegelman

 I think the paragraph below sums up the use of comic books in the class room perfectly.

Versaci (2001) points out that "Aside from engagement, comic books also help to develop much needed analytical and critical thinking skills. A common goal, regardless of the level we teach, is to help students read beyond the page in order to ask and answer deeper questions that the given work suggests about art, life, and the intersection of the two. Comic books facilitate this . . ."