Comics Are Books, Too!

6001 Germantown Avenue,Philadelphia PA 19144

06 May, 2023

Description

Children are introduced to technology at a younger and younger age. It’s more likely that their first experiences reading may be from a screen than a page. A tablet or phone screen is more likely to have images attached or juxtaposed next to text to further illustrate a point. The elements of sequential art, like comics, are similar in that they provide a visually structured order to reading. Speech bubbles, panels, narrative boxes, and gutters all aid reluctant and struggling readers to comprehend on their own based on the visual context clues provided. The experience of comprehending on your own is integral to confidence building and a stronger desire to learn. In recent years, the medium of "sequential art" — aka comic books, cartoons and graphic novels — has been taken more seriously than ever. From the graphic novel "Maus" winning a Pulitzer Prize to the founding of the degree-granting Institute of Cartoon Studies, the academic and literary regard for this unique medium has grown alongside its outsized influence on pop culture and moviemaking. Black cartoonists, illustrators and writers have an especially impressive legacy when it comes to creating sequential art that's not only fun, but serves as an important tool for representation, literacy and empowerment. At this event, our panelists will share their experiences of discovering literacy through comic books and highlight the art form’s tradition of representing Black and brown lives. Parents, comic book lovers of all ages and even the skeptical are welcome to join us! This Mighty Writers event is in partnership with Uncle Bobbies Coffee & Books and the First United Methodist Church of Germantown.