Jae-Hwan Jung, [Comics/TinTin]

Do you think comics are a children's or adult genre/media?

When people write essay, we starts with defining. Then ‘What is comics?’

Normally, we define comics as the combination of continuous pictures and text with story.

The definition is simple but comics can be expressed in a variety of format and contents, the role and function. It also has intersection with painting, cinema and literature.

Comics already influence many areas such as education, politics and culture. It is not only for children anymore. This blog post will discuss about ‘Do you think comics are a children’s or adult genre/media?’

Caricature is one of the good evidence that comics is not only for children. Caricature means that any imitation or copy distorted or inferior as to be ludicrous. Rothstein (2008) said that “It is impossible to imagine contemporary politics without caricature. It has come to seem almost necessary, providing a form of shorthand. Candidates provide the caricatures; pundits turn them into arguments”. It shows how important comics is to politics.

However, comics still has huge influence for young children. Young children do not like to read text only book. It is hard to concentrate for them. Arizpe and Styles (2003) have research about reading visual text. The children "read colours, borders, body language, framing devices, covers, endpapers, visual metaphors and visual jokes". They are more concentrate on visual. That is the reason that many people use comics for education. It is easy to read and children have more interest in visual stuff rather than only text.

Herge (2005) said Tintin was aimed at “all young people aged from seven to seventy-seven.” It means that comic can be affect all age. It is not only for children or adults. The point of view of comic will be changed by their age. Each finds their own level of understanding and appreciation. (Farr, 2005)

In conclusion, comics influence on both children and adult. Caricature affects to adult. Visual text helps children education. Tintin shows that every ages can enjoy comics. Comics is both children’s and adult’s genre.

Reference

Farr, Michael. (1991). Introduction. In Tintin: the complete companion (pp.8-9). London: John Murray.

Hergé. (2005; 1935). The Adventures of Tintin: The Blues Lotus. London: Egmont.

Styles, Morag, & Arizpe, Evelyn. (2001). A gorilla with "grandpa's eyes": How children interpret visual texts-a case study of Anthony Browne's. Zoo. Children's Literature in Education, 32(4), 261-281. EJ 638 955.

Rothstein, E. (2008, October 12). The Power of Political Pratfalls. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/arts/13conn.html?_r=0