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Comics have long been regarded as no suitable subjects for scholarly pursuit. The notion that they trigger aggressive behaviour in young teenagers has largely barred them from the language classroom. Although, admittedly, the reputation of graphic fiction has improved since the advent of the graphic novel in the 1970s - Spiegelman's being awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his Maus is a case in point -- teachers are still reluctant to make use of comics, most of all because they undervalue the potential of the genre. This seminar aims to show comics can be put to use in the foreign language classroom, especially for cultural learning and the acquisition of ICC. By analyzing recent underground comics we will not only show that comics are a worthwhile subject matter in their own right, but also that they can sensibly be employed for classroom teaching and the specification of practical learning objectives. They present a hybrid form of discourse that combines pictures with oral and written language. By providing access to authentic language they connect the classroom with the outside world. Apart from being culturally loaded in terms of content they also represent a significant part of the material expression of culture. Active participation will be required of all students. A reader with all relevant texts will be available at the copy shop Reckhammerweg before the beginning of term. |
