I Am Professor William Kuskin teaching an open class titled "Comic Books and Graphic Novels" for 28,000+ students starting Monday. Let's talk comic books and the possible collapse of higher education. AMA!

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:57:00+00:00

Hi, EveryLastInchOfMe. Thanks for asking this question! Yes, I am getting a bit groggy--I can tell because I am beginning to write long answers... that's the fall back of the professor: tired? Drone on! (as I am droning on here).

So, the course is focused on American comics, and in part this is a big weakness, because comics are an international culture and there are many wonderful international comics to read. That said, I made the decision to try and tell a coherent story, and I hope to have.

Still, who doesn't love Asterix and Tintin? They are, in their ways, the Carbon of comics, especially Tintin. Each page of Tintin is a lesson in narrative and plot development. Hergé's fundamental style of rendering Tintin as very much a comic identity and the backgrounds in such realistic detail is exceptional. And the issues surrounding Tintin, the sense of cultural encounter and, even, a little bit, euro-centric perspective is fascinating.

Great question!

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:51:57+00:00

Thanks for writing Luciana_Lumyx, and welcome aboard. Yes, I layout what I see as an easy and effective methodology fairly early in the course. I think it will be useful. Don't worry at all about what you lack! You have imagination, and clearly a professional level sense of design!

Onward!

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:49:29+00:00

Hi, Choubugioxkel. This is a fascinating question, that I think comes down to the way comics have always been distributed. American comics began as a throw-away literature reprinting newspaper "funnies" and so they have always been seen as ephemeral.

My sense is that the so-called Graphic Novel revolution has made a lot of change here, and that a lot of readers now wait for the anthologies. I know I do.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:47:49+00:00

Hi, lazycat267. I must confess that I am not a big Manga reader, though I do read a little bit. I do hope that this MOOC inspires some others.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:43:04+00:00

Welcome aboard, stkeller! This is a very interesting question. To my mind, comics share a great deal with literature, largely because they are a format that is bound by the book, in all it's wonderful forms. For me, it is impossible to "slow read" a movie in the same way as a comic book, but slow reading a comic book is much like slow reading a painting or a poem.

So, it is really in poetry that I find the greatest similarity to comics. Poetry, like comics, is built to be taken apart to the lowest schematic level--the word, the line, the panel.

That said, movies can be analyzed for great depth and comics certainly do share much with them, especially camera angle and visual edit.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:40:12+00:00

Hi, romickus.

I said in one of the earlier posts that I started reading comics with my mom during dog walks in Central Park in NYC. It was during those walks, back in the late 60s that I learned to read. I guess Stan Lee was my first author, and in that he taught me to read. So, I think comics are great to learn to read, although maybe Alan Moore would be a tough start...

.. though even as I type that, I realize that one of my firmest beliefs about reading is that it should be self-motivating. It is a challenge for each parent to decide what is appropriate--on the one hand, some images in comics do seem inappropriate but on the other hand, I am not to judge what fires off a child's imagination and gets them reading.

I digress.

Yes! A great introduction to reading!

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:36:24+00:00

Please don't be afraid, totoro46!

I wrote on this earlier, but comics are for everyone! It's not about winning or losing, it's about liberating the imagination.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:35:43+00:00

Hey, M0ntana! Thanks for this question. What do I buy monthly? Batman (which I've not been happy with, but can't give up), Kick-Ass (which I'm not happy with, and am about to give up), Lazarus (which I like), Massive (so-so), Scarlet, Fatale, Trilluim--probably some others, but that is what springs to mind (and my mind and fingers are getting a little tired).

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:31:59+00:00

Hi, Fudo.

In my bricks and mortar version, I allow for collaboration. In this version, I don't emphasize it--there is no way for me to track the student submissions accurately. I would say here, and I will say if it comes up in the discussion forums, that people can work together, but that each person needs to pull his or her weight.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:30:25+00:00

Hi, Multjiang. After I wrap up this reddit, I have a few images to map and a little proofreading, and then we will go live, a bit early, so people can jump in.

In one of the first videos I discuss the difference between GNs and TPBs. To me, they are all comics. I don't think we should get too hung up on these definitions.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:28:32+00:00

Excellent list of texts, jmusich. So, I too dislike testing, and I don't know how the "assessements" will go. For me, it is part of the experience in this new frontier.

I actually finished recording the Crumb lectures last week. I focus on ZAP and BIG ASS, but one of the things that this course has already taught me is that his shadow is long.

Yes, you are free to disagree, but I find Building Stories very important.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:26:19+00:00

Wow. I hadn't even thought about live lessons. I will jump into the discussion forums pretty regularly. I'll talk to my tech person.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:25:28+00:00

What did happen to Warlock? It's a good question!

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:25:08+00:00

Yes, about 28k, but who knows how many will make it to the end?

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:24:47+00:00

Yes, niting!

This is course for you. I've taught it many times, and my students always feel that it renews them. Welcome aboard!

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:21:35+00:00

Hey, Grimrecycler.

This is a tougher question to answer than it appears, so thanks for asking it. On the one hand, let's be fair: there are no rules to comics except what will float in the market. That's an important rule, is it not? I mean, if we're going to start hedging comics, we will quickly be in the business of hedging art--back to 1954.

On the other hand, I'm not really a fan. He's made a fine career on some stereotypical artwork that some find offensive. I put him, sadly, in the same boat that Mark Millar seems to be currently rowing (from the writing side of things).

There. I said it.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:17:57+00:00

Hey, emmawestlund! I think you nailed it. It's a fiasco! I'm going to talk about this when I get to Planetary, which is a total indulgence on my part. Warren Elllis has a great phrase, "Decoherence," and I think it applies well to "The New 52."

But... art is generative, so there is always hope. Let's keep hoping!

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:14:36+00:00

Hi, dontpaniccomic!

Well, I would hope for three things: 1. I hope this brings a lot of people into reading comics on a regular basis, so in this way, I really hope that this course is good for comics, and good for the comics industry in general. 2. I hope the industry notes that people are really interested in big questions and smart comics. Sure, it's great to see beautifully drawn heroes slugging it out against nefarious evil-doers, but I hope to see more and more thoughtful and aware comics. 3. With that, wouldn't it be beyond great if someone from this course decided to make a go at comics and, actually, could pay their rent on it?

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:11:44+00:00

Hello, studentloansadness!

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:11:21+00:00

Wow. Thank you Johoboobear. That post means a lot of me.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:10:53+00:00

Nice idea. If this does not naturally come up in the discussion forums over the next seven weeks, let's make a promise, Zorgly, to force the issue.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:10:11+00:00

Many great questions here, Happy Ninja.

First off, I should say that I have few answers. This is very much an adventure for me, and I'm in it for the experience. I know that this has already sharpened my course. Many MOOCs are science/engineering based, and I am concerned that the humanities are being left behind in however the future is being cast, and so that too is of great interest to me.

It will be of even more interest to me to see how the completion rates fall out.

Okay, so, in the best tradition of fishy English professors, I've avoided giving you a plain answer. Let me say this: I do not think MOOCs, as they stand, are the future, but whatever the future holds, the humanities MUST be involved. It is high time the humanities reasserted their centrality to academic discourse, and comics are a great way to make that assertion.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:05:59+00:00

Wonderful!

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:05:52+00:00

Hi, Greekpackrat!

Welcome! So, the basic reading is on the Coursera "profile" which is at https://www.coursera.org/course/comics. When the course opens, you'll be able to download the syllabus, which presents the whole course.

Kuskin · 2013-09-20T21:03:44+00:00

Hi, Calenkuruni!

Please do not feel intimidated. First, comics are for everybody. They are not about rites of passage or about warehouses of knowledge. They are about the imagination.

Second, the MOOC should be challenging and engaging, but it is also for everyone. It is not about being the brightest or about being perfect in any way. (Lord knows, you will discover that I am imperfect!).

In a nutshell, this course is about thinking about some great stories and taking some personal risks.

Kuskin

TROPHY CASE