Shell Bongares - (Comics: Tintin)

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

I believe comics were specifically targetted towards children when the medium was first introduced to the world. Much like cartoons and picture books, comics are an extension of this visual medium; utilising imagery, vivid colours, and bold commentary that attract the eyes. Technically speaking, one would assume that possessing these qualities would immediately lump this as children's genre. However, I do not think there should be a label for comics to be a "children's" or "adult's" genre to begin with. If we apply to this to other genres, like romance or action, are these genres primarily just for one specific audience when many people enjoy these genres? Would this not be a form of stereotyping at some level? In conclusion, though comics may have initially been a children's genre, many comics today, including but not limited to Marvel and DC, apply adult themes that are arguably inappropriate for children.


2) How does Farr (1991) justify Tintin's appeal to adults?

In Farr’s article on Tintin’s appeal to adults, he stated that this specific population would “find political satire and parody, puns and prescience”. As children alternatively appreciate the adventures of this baby-faced ambiguously-aged hero with his trusty canine sidekick, so do adults with the deeper and subliminal messages hidden within the story. Many Tintin comics utilised political propaganda and sometimes highlighted social justice issues occurring in that period of time. Additionally, as Farr described, older audiences can also “discover something new with every re-read”. Just like when re-watching classic Disney films now from when we were younger, finding the innuendos and jokes embedded between the lines which we never would have picked up as children.

6) How and why are comics becoming more accepted as an art form? Can/should they be regarded as a literary genre?

On a superficial level, comics are a visual medium, and, historically speaking, art is something to be seen and viscerally experienced. Evidently, comics would naturally be accepted as an art form as they directly engage the audience on a visual level, for example, Marvel and DC comics which have also been adapted to cartoons and films respectively. Comics can be regarded as a literary genre because they utilise both graphics and a written narrative structure. They might not necessarily be the primary medium that comes to mind when thinking of traditional literary genres, but comics have evolved enough through art and in story, to be considered as such.

References

Farr, Michael. (1991). Tintin: The complete companion. London: John Murray.