TENSION #3
Sequence vs. Surface
Brain vs. Eyes
We experience the third tension when some graphic detail on the page grabs our attention and pulls our eyes away from the top-left panel.
Our brain wants to read the panels in a linear fashion, as a sequence, starting from the top-left panel, but our eyes see the page as a surface, one complete image, and are naturally drawn to the most eye-catching detail.
WEEK 2 (due Feb. 4-5)
NEXT CLASS: Thursday, Feb. 5
In-class test on comic book elements & tensions: Feb. 12
1) VIDEO: WHILE TAKING DETAILED NOTES, WATCH SHORT VIDEO INTRODUCING THE 2ND TENSION:
>>>>>> TENSION 2 <<<<<<
2) READING: IN CONNECTION WITH THE 2ND TENSION, READ AND TAKE DETAILED NOTES ON THE SIX TRANSITIONS PRESENTED BY SCOTT McCLOUD (pp. 6-16 in course pack) (pdf).
Make sure to understand each transition (presented on page 13 and explained on pages 14-16) (p.14 in pdf).
Keep in mind that in the upcoming test, in two weeks, you may be required to create your own panel transitions.
3) MOODLE ACTIVITY: PRACTICE YOUR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY TRANSITIONS BY TAKING THE MOODLE EXERCISE QUIZ ON TRANSITIONS IN 'ACTIVITIES."
Retake the test as many times as needed to reach at least 80%.
4) MOODLE FORUM (one post / one reply): READ INSTRUCTIONS ON WEEK-2 MOODLE FORUM CLOSELY.
24 HOURS BEFORE OUR NEXT CLASS, ADD ONE MAIN POST, including your own two transitions with explanations.
ANY TIME BEFORE OUR NEXT CLASS, REPLY TO ONE PEER IN AT LEAST FOUR THOUGHTFUL & FULLY DEVELOPED SENTENCES.
5) READING: READ CLOSELY, WHILE TAKING DETAILED NOTES, CHRIS VOSTERS' SHORT GRAPHIC ESSAY "NAVIGATING COMICS" (pdf) ON THE 5 EXPLICIT & 3 IMPLICIT WAYS TO GUIDE THE READER'S GAZE (pp. 36-42 in course pack).
6) VIDEO: WATCH, WHILE TAKING DETAILED NOTES, THE FOLLOWING VIDEO:
>>>>>> TENSION 3 <<<<<<
7) ORAL PRESENTATION: FIND A PARTNER IN THE CLASS.
Students who do not have a partner need to email the teacher by MIO before next class.
8) < due in two weeks: Feb. 12 > READING: READ THE 1ST VOLUME OF SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE.
As you read:
LOOK FOR FOUR SPECIFIC SCENES THAT PROMOTE TRADITIONAL HEROIC BEHAVIOURS OR WAYS OF THINKING.
LOOK FOR FOUR SPECIFIC SCENES THAT PROMOTE ANTI-HEROIC BEHAVIOURS OR WAYS OF THINKING. The fourth must relate to the scene where Clark present his interview with Superman to Perry White, the chief editor of the Daily Planet.
THE SCENES CAN RELATE TO ANY CHARACTER, INCLUDING THE VILLAINS.
9) < due in two weeks: Feb. 12 > WORKSHEET / SUBMISSION: FULL UP AND SUBMIT TO LEA THIS WORKSHEET ON SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE.
This submission is the first completion task in the process of developing your first essay. Keep in mind that process tasks will account for 33.33% of your final grade for the first essay.
Take care.
HOW TO READ 'BLOCKADES'
BLOCKADES : VERTICAL PANELS
READ ALL THE PANELS THAT ARE
TO THE LEFT OF THE BLOCKADE FIRST
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BLOCKADES & PANEL LAYOUT:
Making Comics by Salgood Sam
Making Comics by Salgood Sam
WEEK 1 (due Jan. 28-29)
REGARDING THE TWO FORUM ASSIGNMENTS (#6 & 7 below):
YOUR TWO MAIN FORUM CONTRIBUTIONS MUST BE POSTED
24 HOURS BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, NEXT WEEK.
YOUR FORUM REPLIES CAN BE POSTED
24 HOURS BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, NEXT WEEK.
YOUR FORUM REPLIES CAN BE POSTED
ANY TIME BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS.
Small Homework Assignments Grading Policy: Short assignments like forum contributions are not difficult and require only time, preparation, and engagement.
These assignments are graded on an ALL-OR-NOTHING basis. Students receive full credit if they submit the assignment on time and meet all requirements. The goal is NOT necessarily to have the correct or best answer but to engage with the material thoroughly and honestly, demonstrating thoughtful participation.
For a forum assignment specifically, to earn full credit:
- Both your main post and any required replies must be posted on time.
- All posts must follow the instructions closely, including requirements for content, word count, or number of sentences. Vague, simplistic, and short sentences that don’t demonstrate a clear engagement with the specifics won’t count.
- Students who fail to meet these requirements (e.g., late submissions, incomplete or vague posts, missing replies, or failure to reach the minimum word-count by one single word) will receive a zero.
Please contact your teacher before our 2nd class, by MIO, if you wish to address specific elements of the course outline and requirements.
2) COURSE REGISTRATION: DECIDE WHETHER YOU WISH TO OFFICIALLY ENROLL IN THIS COURSE.
If you do, welcome! Order the course pack (titled Graphic Novels (F21)(CUSTOM)) and Maus II at the college online bookstore today! And buy and download the digital copies of Superman: Earth One Vol. 1 & 2 (at the Kindle store, for instance).
If you do not wish to take this course, I wish you all the best!
3) MOODLE: IN MOODLE, ADD A USER PICTURE TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
Log in with your student id (ex: 2018362) and password found on your student schedule under 'Personal Data."
In Moodle, click on your name in the upper-right corner, click on 'Preferences' and, then, on 'Edit profile.'
Upload a user picture: a close-up photograph or, even more fun, an image of an object you relate to, a famous person, an animal, a sport team, etc.
THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF COMIC BOOK STORYTELLING:
4) VIDEOS: WATCH CLOSELY THE FOLLOWING VIDEOS WHILE TAKING DETAILED NOTES.
>>> COMIC BOOK ELEMENTS & TERMS (5min) & PAGE 2 in the course pack
>>> TENSION #1 : WORDS vs. IMAGE (7min)
Keep in mind that 55% of your final grade this semester will be directly determined by your understanding of the comic book terms, elements and tensions. Take very clear and detailed notes. For the upcoming test on the theoretical concepts, you will be permitted to use one sheet on notes (handwritten & double-sided).
5) READING: READ CLOSELY THE SHORT GRAPHIC STORY "HYPOTHETICAL QUANDARY" (pdf) BY HARVEY PEKAR (PP. 122-124 IN COURSE PACK), A KEY FIGURE OF THE ALTERNATIVE COMIC BOOK MOVEMENT, AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE SEEMINGLY UNRELATED COMBINATION OF WORDS AND IMAGES.
6) 1st MOODLE FORUM (one post / one reply): USING THE MOODLE FORUM THAT CORRESPONDS TO YOUR LAST NAME, PARTICIPATE IN THE MOODLE FORUM ON "HYPOTHETICAL QUANDARY."
You will find detailed information about this forum, including its requirements and deadlines, in my first post at the top of the forum, on Moodle.
24 HOURS BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, ADD ONE MAIN POST.
ANY TIME BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, REPLY TO ONE PEER.
7) 2nd MOODLE FORUM (one post / two replies): READ CLOSELY THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE MOODLE FORUM TITLED "CREATE YOUR OWN WORD/IMAGE COMBINATIONS."
You will find detailed information about this forum, including its requirements and deadlines, in my first post at the top of the forum, on Moodle.
24 HOURS BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, ADD ONE MAIN POST.
ANY TIME BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, REPLY TO ONE PEER.
Remember: Your teacher's support is only one MIO away!
REQUIRED BOOKS & WEBSITES
Paper copies of Maus II and the course pack are available on the College bookstore website during the first week of the semester. Note that during the in-class writing of the 2nd essay, students will be permitted to use a paper (not digital) copy of Maus II.
The two Superman comic books are available in digital format. Digital copies are available on most ebook stores such as the Amazon Kindle store (Kindle editions of volume 1 & volume 2). For ebooks purchased on the Kindle store, download and read your digital comic books using the Kindle reader app (available on Windows PC, Mac, Android, or iPad). After logging in with your Amazon account, simply open the app and start reading!
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