The comics medium – intermedial and multimodal aspects

In this course, students will engage deeply with the multifaceted world of comics and graphic novels, examining how this visual medium interacts with literature, film, fine arts, and digital media. Through critical analysis and thoughtful discussion, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how the comics medium negotiates and redefines storytelling across various cultural and artistic landscapes. A particular focus of the course is placed on adaptations, exploring how graphic narratives are transformed when they move between different media. By studying adaptations of novels into graphic novels, comics into films, and vice versa, students will gain insights into the creative processes and challenges involved in transmedial storytelling. This analysis will provide a deeper appreciation for how narrative structures, visual styles, and thematic elements are reinterpreted and reimagined across media boundaries. The course also explores the theoretical frameworks of intermediality and multimodality, offering tools to critically evaluate the interactions between text, image, and other forms of expression. By understanding these frameworks, students will be equipped to analyse the unique storytelling techniques of comics and how they contribute to broader media ecologies. Students will explore a diverse range of graphic narratives, developing the skills to critically analyse the aesthetic and narrative strategies employed within the comics medium. The course combines academic inquiry with hands-on analytical practice, enabling students to not only interpret but also actively engage with the evolving field of comics studies and its various adaptations, contributing to a deeper understanding of this dynamic and influential art form.