Graphic Narratives

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Total expected time commitment is 170 hours across the semester, including class time.

Admission to the postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, or fourth year honours in creative writing; or the Master of Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students will read graphic fiction and non-fiction with a focus on 20th century writers such as Robert Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, Marjane Satrapi, Charles Burns, Bruce Mutard and Shaun Tan. Students will also read into comics theory, cultural theory, and contemporary criticism of the medium, and discuss the history and innovations of this emerging field of writing practice. Students will work to produce their own original graphic narrative: this can be fictional, autobiographical, biographical or journalistic. Guest tutors will present intensive masterclasses on drawing and storyboarding; no prior artistic experience is required.

Students who complete this subject will be able to:

• apply advanced theoretical, aesthetic and analytic skills to interpreting critical and creative texts;
• tackle new problems in the production of graphic narratives with confidence and openness to contemporary artistic directions;
• have a sound working knowledge of the history and contemporary directions of the emerging genre of the graphic narrative;
• participate effectively in group discussions and collaborative learning; and
• demonstrate an understanding of the wider public significance of their knowledge and skills.

An oral presentation on one of the weekly topics equivalent to 500 words 10% (due during the semester); an essay on a topic relating to comics theory, cultural theory, or graphic fiction criticism 2000 words 40% (due mid-semester); a short piece of original graphic narrative of 10-15 pages equivalent to 2500 words 50% (due in the examination period). Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% (or 10 out of 12) classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Any student who fails to meet this hurdle without valid reason will not be eligible to pass the subject. All required written work must be submitted in order to pass the subject. Essays submitted after the due date without an extension will be penalised 2% per day. Essays submitted after two weeks of the assessment due date without a formally approved application for special consideration or an extension will only be marked on a pass/fail basis if accepted.

An electronic booklet of graphic narratives; and a subject reader will be available from the Unviersity Bookshop.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will acquire skills in:

• critical thinking and analysis;
• thinking creatively;
• openness to new ideas;
• communicating thoughts and knowledge;
• written communication;
• time management and planning; and
• practices and ethics in the field of creative writing.