Syllabus Subtitled with my name - Aileen

As I was sitting in class allowing my mind to casually think about what it Is that I Want, the conclusion was very clear : I want to know what to read.

I have tried on a few occasions to read comics but when I would read the issue I would realize I was halfway through the series or that it was simply not as interesting as the cover. Where and how do I find what I would enjoy? I have read several manga simply because they are easy to browse through but I want to see what kind of stuff do we make? What's superman's story? I love Superman, always have, but which series would I not be angry with the portrayal of my hero? And which one would not be too corny and dull? (A very delicate balance is needed here.) So how do I judge one comic from another? That's the main question I think.

Also, I want to learn the processes of making a comic. Are there teams or do people usually work alone? What's the job aspect like? (Now after I have written this we learned a little from Jack Wyatt - very cool.) Does it have to be ink?

Let's not forget history, I really enjoy learning about the evolution of genres, styles and characters.

To top all of that off I would also like little homework. >_< I'm just so tired all of the time now...

Syllabus - Character and Story

Well when I heard about the class I was so excited. I could hardly believe that I could really take a class like this. I have always had a true passion for comic books and graphic novels but I haven't read tons of issues or trades though. I mostly love the characters, their daily struggles with life, their back-stories, how they fit into their universes, and the stories that they each have to tell. I hope to learn more about everything I can in this class. I want to be exposed to new genres and experiences. I want to discuss them and how they effect the world we live in. Comic book characters influenced me a lot when I was a kid, and I believe that they are a powerful tools we can use to help people want to be better people and live better lives. I believe it could and can be a major influence for good in the media of today. A good character and story can make an impact and change lives forever. That is the power of character and story. I want to learn how to harness that power more successfully so I can be a better influence to those around me.

Syllabus--To have hoards of screaming fans.

Kidding. Well, mostly.

I want to start out in story in the industry. From there, I'd like to work my way up to an elite creative role, eventually direct. I'd like to be the sort of movie maker that geeks and nerds are fans of (a la Peter Jackson and Joss Whedon). I feel that when you create a story for the sake of telling a really good story instead of following an industry moneymaking blueprint that the emotional reaction from the audience will be much greater. (And when you can manipulate people's emotions, you can encourage them to spend more money anyway. Just saying)

Out of the top twenty box office grossing films for the US (unadjusted for inflation) 9 are based off of books or graphic novels (I'm counting Passion of the Christ, since it's based off the Bible and makes my stats look more impressive) That's nearly half. If you keep reading down the list, you'll find the Harry Potter films, assorted sequels to superhero films, and (sorry, but it goes on the list) The Twilight "Saga". (rolls eyes)

I want to have a thorough understanding of the comic book industry. I've had my finger on the pulse of prose book-to-film adaptions for years. I've developed a great appreciation for the screenwriters and movie makers who try to stay faithful to the already famous stories while still trying to compensate for the large portion of the audience with no previous emotional attachments.

If I want to be the film maker who adapts these well known stories, with scads of material dating back decades, then my grasp of how to tell stories needs to be top notch. Since comic books are basically "pure story" (everything HAS to contribute) I feel this class will make me up my game.

(p.s. Also, whatever job I have in the industry, I wanna do a webcomic on the side. Just saying.)

Syllabus-How to successfully tell stories in comics

What I hope to gain from this class would simply be this:

I want to learn about and hopefully obtain the skills that are needed to eventually creating successful comics myself.

(Whether it be through broadening my knowledge of comics and its history, whether it be improving the story development and story telling skills, whether it be familiarizing myself with all the mediums and tools that are available to enhance the story telling, I want to learn them).

As of now, from the class discussions, course description, and having read few pages from Making Comics, I feel that practice coming up with stories and applying the story telling tips shown in the text by actually drawing comics, and then finding examples of certain skills and tips we are learning in an already published work, might be the best way to achieve the goal. But that is only my current idea of how I, an amateur student, think this could be best done.

Syllabus-Oppenlander

I don't know much about anything when it comes to comics. I'm more interested about studying comic artists and storytelling styles from different parts of the world.

I'd like a lesson or two to be on how to make comics, but I feel I'll learn more studying and reading comics.

Syllabus - Paul Petty

I really like some of the directions available for discussion in class. The reading list looks extremely intriguing. The syllabus should follow those readings with the textbook.

Writing and drawing out comics should be a must(maybe with a focus on the style of the current graphic novel we are studying).

Grades should be heaviest on class participation.

The Final should be a finished collaborative, or individual--depending on what everyone agrees on--story by the deadline of the day the Final is scheduled. It should be something worthy to be made into a senior film.

Syllabus (where did this word even come from?)

I enrolled in this course because Richard Hull told our class we should. And I knew I needed to carry 6 credits for the Spring term to qualify for my scholarship. And I knew Jared was teaching it, so those three things added up to me, well, adding the class.

I definitely want to improve my knowledge of comic books and graphic novels, but that is just so broad itself I almost don't know where to start... I don't know if I would ever get to the point where I'm an avid collector (it takes a lot of thinking and effort for me to commit to new hobbies and projects), but I figure that becoming familiar with this form of media is a far more interesting and entertaining way of being connected to current trends in society, politics and psychology.

What interests me the most about comics is probably what interests me the most in movies, television and books:
- What does it take to make a great story? How "original" to you have to be to be original?
- What's the best way to tell a story (verbally and visually)?
- What place do editing and censorship have in the storytelling process--how can I tell a powerful story without sacrificing standards?
- How do we reinforce certain standards and ideals to the masses?

I really want to see how these kind of things are addressed and ignored in the comics of today. I also want to see how someone who may be unfamiliar with the world of "traditional" comics handles the stories and treatments of a project (i.e. Neil Gaiman and Orson Scott Card). I'm always coming up with scenes and stories and ideas, but I never seem to get them fully realized. I need to learn how before my brain explodes.

I want to be informed. And then, if I am able, I want to make a difference.

(P.S. I was there with Chad at the comic book store, and the two of us two of us definitely were out of our element. I wonder how, and if, that will change over the course of the term.)

Syllabus - Story!!!

I’m most interested in learning about the story aspect of comics.

More specifically a couple of things I came up with:

What have/are people doing to tell stories well?

-from panel to panel, page to page, cover to cover, etc.

-with style of art and style of page layout

-some of the more creative /unconventional (yet still effective) methods

I haven’t been exposed to many comics, so I feel like there’s a bunch of story devices going on in the panel itself to a more global scale of the entire comic book itself being used that I’m not aware of… I would like to become more aware of what’s going on with this story thing, so that I can use these concepts and perhaps even make innovations on my own comics.

I actually VERY excited for this class. I’m planning on doing a 10 page comic for my Illustration BFA project next year, and I’d like to get as much development and application from this class into my BFA project as possible.

Syllabus - It's Art for Story's Sake!

I signed up for this class for the assumption that I drew from the name of the class.  I want to learn to appreciate comics.  I have always appreciated the artists that create them, but never the art form itself.  I don't even know where to start.  I went to a comic book shop just last Friday and it was so foreign that I didn't even want to pick them up.

With that, there are three things that I would like to get from this class.

1. Where to start and how to approach comics.
2. General instruction on sequential art.
3. Fundamentals of story telling.

I have never considered myself an artist.  I have only been drawing for 2 years and my skills are somewhat behind in skill level, but I really think learning to draw a good story will help guide me in finding my own style and fluidity in my artwork.

I'm excited to share my stories and get feedback and to listen to others stories as well.  I love collaborative environments and am looking forward to the class!  I think you definitely succeeded in letting us know that the sky is the limit.

Syllabus - Exposure

After answering the questionnaire I realized I am not as well-read, when it comes to comics, graphic novels in particular, as I would like to be. I tend to stick to American superhero stories rather than branching out, I want to get out of my comfort zone and into new material.

Syllabus

The reason I signed up for this class is because I know NOTHING about comics. I've never even read an american comic book, just some mangas. I've noticed more and more in my animation classes that comic books and specific artists come up in conversation, and I really feel like I need a basic foundation of comic book knowledge for this industry. Also, there have been times that I've wanted to read comics (like Batman) but there seem to be so many different series that I really have no idea where to start. So one thing I want to get out of this class is a LOT of good recommendations for comics to read, and a basic knowledge of where to start. Also, I'd like to know what comic artists (and series) have been the most influential and groundbreaking. Basically, who is worth looking up.

After our class discussion I realized that there will be a lot more to this class than just comic book history. I would like to get some practical knowledge for myself out of this class, like how to be a better visual storyteller. I also really liked the idea of this class being a place where we can share story ideas and have them critiqued and made better. I think that would be incredibly beneficial.

Syllabus - Success Stories (Writers/Artists)

Currently my interests are the success stories of the industry's writer's and artists. When does someone "make it" in the industry? what does it take? Talent? Timing? Sacrificial lambs? A few things I found out of interest:

•Average unknown independent comic sells about 2200 nation-wide, those issues die out and we never see for very long.

•To keep a COLOR comic book afloat you need at least 12,000 sold a month.

•Sale numbers always go down; example: if you sell 12,000 your 1st issue, you'll probably only sell 10,000 by the 2nd issue, and then you'll usually average out at 8,000 - which means you're a goner.

•Sale numbers for comics is the opposite for regular magazines. If a magazine sells out at 200,000, then it usually will double by the next issue, so retailers double the orders. for comics its half and half.

I got this info from reading a Bryan Michael Bendis interview, and because of it I'm motivated to worked towards condensed 2-issue stories - even though my ideas go beyond that. If people are behind you, you can always expand your story; if not, no one will be opposed to a nice piece of short entertainment.

Syllabus - Story

When I first entered the class I wasn’t sure what to expect but after the class discussion and after reading the first chapter in Making Comics I feel like the aspect I am most interested in learning about comics is the story aspect. I am probably most interested in this aspect because it is one that I struggle with myself. I am also curious about how stories in a comic differ from stories in other media like a novel or film. What more is required and what isn’t? I am also interested in learning how the story is told in a comic book in order for it to be understood. How much experimenting can one do before the story is no longer clear? There’s so much I’m interested in learning but story is probably what I am most interested in right now.

Assignment 1 & 2 (once) - Syllabus & Best Coolest

1. Become an author of this blog.

2. Answer the questionnaire I handed out in class, and post a link to your answers with the title "Best Coolest + (your name)". Label this post = Best Coolest

3. Read at least up to page 23 of Making Comics by Scott McCloud.

4. Read the Course Description that I posted on this blog, and review your notes.

5. For the "Syllabus + (subtitle)" response, let's keep it simple: Tell me one aspect about comics that you are most interested in learning. I will use this info to prioritize the specifics in class content. The depth and means by which you choose to respond is up to you. Don't forget to label this post = Syllabus

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Bring drawing tools of your choosing for Monday's class, as we will be getting into our first creative application project.