A critical examination of the development and popularity of the comic book and graphic novel, the course will focus on the history, interpretation, collection, and consumption of these texts within a particular focus on: 1) library collection and acquisition and 2) textual and visual literacy. Through an investigation of the existing research, this seminar explores: how different audiences interpret the medium, the implications for how we read a text, how these materials redefine current attitudes towards youth and adult literacy, and how these attitudes affect collections development policies.

We will also examine the current state of the comics industry and how new digital applications increase access to these materials. As a result, the way readers interact with this highly visual medium changes. In the final week, we focus in-depth on a particular comic book genre and examine its role in the library setting and its popularity with North American readers.