“Comics in World History & Cultures” Source Links

<< “Comics in World History & Cultures” Program

External links to more information:

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Comics Theory:

• Understanding Comics (Scott McCloud)
• “Inventing Comics: Scott McCloud’s Definition of Comics.” (Dylan Horrocks)

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PREHISTORIC:

• General Cave Paintings
• Chauvet Cave
• “World’s oldest hunting scene shows half-human, half-animal figures—and a sophisticated imagination” (Science Magazine, 2019)
• …

ANCIENT WORLD:

• Trajan’s Column (on Wikipedia)
  • Read @ National Geographic
  • Read in “cartoon” form
  • Scene-by-scene descriptions

MEDIEVAL EUROPE:

• Bayeux Tapestry (on Wikipedia)
  • English translation
• Chartres Cathedral
  •  The Charlemagne Window
  • More windows…
• …

Ancient Mayan Codices

• Dresden Codex
• …

Chinese Landscape Painting

• Twin Pines, Level Distance (Zhao Mengfu, c.1310)
• The Colors of Mount Taihang (Wang Hui, 1669)

Icons (Russian & Eastern European)

• “Drawing Family Stories (& more) from Russian Icon Traditions” (COMICS WORKSHOP)
  • Beheading of John the Baptist  (c.1580)
  • Beheading of John the Baptist (early 1800s) 
  • John the Baptist (2005) 
• …

19th Century (Pre-“Comics”)

• “Course of Empire” [wikipedia] by Thomas Cole

20th Century Newspaper Comics

• Hogan’s Alley (Outcault)
• Krazy Kat (George Herriman)

Manga (+ Roots in Japanese Culture)

• Ukiyo-e = “floating world” woodblock prints
• Kibyoshi= 18th-century Japanese storybooks, a.k.a. “Yellow-Covers” [on wikipedia]
• Kamishibai = 12th-20th century “storycard theatre”
• …

WWII & the “Golden Age” of Comic Books

• Action Comics #1 (June, 1938 = The first episode of Superman.)
• Nazi Propaganda Posters
• Maus by Art Spiegelman

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