Comic Books and Graphic Novels
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Provided by:
Course Details
Cost
FREE
Upcoming Schedule
- On demand
Course Provider
Coursera online courses
Coursera's online classes are designed to help students achieve mastery over
course material. Some of the best professors in the world - like neurobiology
professor and author Peggy Mason from the University of Chicago, and computer
science professor and Folding@Home director Vijay Pande - will supplement your
knowledge through video lectures. They will also provide challenging
assessments, interactive exercises during each lesson, and the opportunity to
use a mobile app to keep up with yo...
Coursera's online classes are designed to help students achieve mastery over
course material. Some of the best professors in the world - like neurobiology
professor and author Peggy Mason from the University of Chicago, and computer
science professor and Folding@Home director Vijay Pande - will supplement your
knowledge through video lectures. They will also provide challenging
assessments, interactive exercises during each lesson, and the opportunity to
use a mobile app to keep up with your coursework. Coursera also partners with
the US State Department to create “learning hubs” around the world. Students
can get internet access, take courses, and participate in weekly in-person
study groups to make learning even more collaborative. Begin your journey into
the mysteries of the human brain by taking courses in neuroscience. Learn how
to navigate the data infrastructures that multinational corporations use when
you discover the world of data analysis. Follow one of Coursera’s “Skill
Tracks”. Or try any one of its more than 560 available courses to help you
achieve your academic and professional goals.
Provider Subject Specialization
Humanities
Sciences & Technology
Course Description
Comic books have arrived! "Comic Books and Graphic Novels" presents a survey of the Anglo-American comic book canon and of the major graphic novels in circulation in the United States today. Its governing question is simple: by what terms can we discuss comic books as literary art? In pursuit of that question it develops a theory of literary reading and time itself.
Visit us at www.facebook.com/UCBComics or bit.ly/project10-4 to see some student-created comics from 2013!
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Student
10/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
I was not very familiar with comic books before taking this course, but
figured it would be interesting to learn more about them. Professor Kuskin's
enthusiasm is infectious and the trailer for the course convinced me to pick
it up. I have since learned to appreciate comics as a literary form and now
read comics regularly. The course was a bit more academic than I expected but
it was easy to follow. You will have to put in the work, take notes during the
lectures, do the two essays and the comic book project but this course is a
lot of fun!
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
This course really proof my knowledge in comics and open my mind to new
interpretation on the media Ilove. It was a tough course, I spend lot of time
to do the two essays in english, to study all teh videos and esplecially to do
the minicomic, but I'm very happy to have completed this course. I hope this
will have more sessions in future; so other students around the world could
enroll it and enjoy it as I did.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
I had minimal experience with this subject prior to the course, and the course
really helped to expand my knowledge of the deep history and overall subject
matter. This course was fun and enjoyable to take, there was a great community
interaction on the boards and a lot of support, both technical and otherwise,
provided in a very prompt manner. Compared to other courses I have taken I
would say the course load was at times heavier, but not harder. If it was ever
offered as a longer, even more in-depth course, I would be the first to sign
up. The assignments definitely were a challenge, which was part of the fun. I
think the videos were well done and the instructor's (Prof. Kuskin) narrative
style made them all the more fun to watch.
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
I had no prior experience of the subject. I haven't taken any other coursera
courses - but having come from a design school - this was an amazing course. I
loved the academic nature of it - it really allowed me to accomplish what i
had set out to accomplish when i joint! I got started on a pet idea because of
this course and was and will be more aware of the different decisions in comic
creation because of it!
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
Form only having read a few graphic novels and comics in the past, I took this
course to learn more. After completing this course, I have a whole new
appreciation for Graphic Novels, Comics and Art. I am looking forward to
buying my next graphic novel and interpreting it with my new learnings from
Prof Kuskin and his team. The course design was perfect for me. I am currently
deployed in South Lebanon with the UN and do not have a lot of spare time,
materiels or good internet connections, but all of this did not matter,
because the course was laid out in such a way that making up time was not an
issue. There was plenty of scope to miss a lecture (or 5) in a week and blitz
them to catch up. As for the comic project.... WOW, what an eye-opener. So
much work goes into a comic/graphic novel and I now have a whole new
appreciation for the authors, artists, inkers and colourers work. In all, I;d
like to thank Prof Kuskin and his team for a ...
Form only having read a few graphic novels and comics in the past, I took this
course to learn more. After completing this course, I have a whole new
appreciation for Graphic Novels, Comics and Art. I am looking forward to
buying my next graphic novel and interpreting it with my new learnings from
Prof Kuskin and his team. The course design was perfect for me. I am currently
deployed in South Lebanon with the UN and do not have a lot of spare time,
materiels or good internet connections, but all of this did not matter,
because the course was laid out in such a way that making up time was not an
issue. There was plenty of scope to miss a lecture (or 5) in a week and blitz
them to catch up. As for the comic project.... WOW, what an eye-opener. So
much work goes into a comic/graphic novel and I now have a whole new
appreciation for the authors, artists, inkers and colourers work. In all, I;d
like to thank Prof Kuskin and his team for a very enjoyable course and for
really opening my eyes to the world of graphic novels and comics!! As he'd say
himself... Onward!
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
Bravo! This course far exceeded my expectations. The lectures were well
thought out and developed. The assignments were challenging and useful. And
most important, I was inspired! Excellent course.
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
With tremendous passion combined with profound knowledge Prof. Kuskin invites
his students into the world of American comic books and graphic novels. It's
up to you if you want to challenge yourself and do exams, projects and essay
assignments etc., or just enjoy the videos and lectures. If you dig into it, I
promise that you will learn a great deal, and challenge yourself. Onwards!
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
I really enjoyed the class , I was unable to do the essays and a lot of then
extra work due to my work schedule and taking three other Coursera classes. I
highly recommend the class.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
I have never taken an online course before. This one, my first was terrific. I
learnt alot of a topic I love teaching to my students. I would love to have
the oportunity of taking second part of graphic novels
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
Kuskin is a master. Engaging, passionate, knowledgeable. Lectures are highly
enjoyable and full of good information. The projects and essays stretched me
and engaged me to a high level. I've been an on again off again reader of
comics over many years. This course connected me to my early reading, reframed
it for me and opened the door on a whole other universe of reading. I loved
the connection to art and literature. There was nothing I didn't like about
this course. I've only done 2 Coursera courses (History of Rock was the other
- also great) so can't do a huge comparison. Needless to say I highly
recommend this course. Onward!
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
Mentally stimulating and creatively challenging there aren't enough words to
describe how thoroughly I enjoyed this course. The passion and dedication that
went into its creation is inspiring and the content exceptionally interesting
and enjoyable.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
Wonderful beginning effort! I loved the overarching thesis. I have recommended
the class to many local comic book citizens. Democratization is the byword!
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
This course really helped me to see what I could do. I am homeschooled, and
I've not done an online course before, so being able to write a comic book and
have essays evaluated has boosted my confidence. I really liked this course
because it was exciting to create a comic and share my work with others, and
to learn about the history of comics. I haven't been on anything other courses
before. I would like to thank everyone in Team Zero for their brilliant work
on this course, it has helped me a lot and it's made me very confident, and it
has been an exciting adventure and a great experience. Thank you! :D J.A
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
Other than some exposure to comic books as a kid, I knew little about this
subject. My undergraduate background is in art and filmmaking, so I saw this
as an allied filed I knew little about. This was my first MOOC, but I have
taken other online course before. Prof. Kuskin is a dynamic and engaging
speaker. I purchased several of the non-required books referenced in the
course. I found that Kuskin introduces his own interesting perspective on the
the topic, not just taking ideas directly from other sources. I enjoyed making
the four-page comic book, but waited until the last week. I wish that he
encouraged students to actually get started on it during week three.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
This was a very interesting course without a lot of hassle. I would recommend
it to anyone with a passion for comics who is interesting in developing a
deeper appreciation for the medium.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
This was my first MOOC and I started it with little experience and knowledge
of the subject matter. I chose it because it looked interesting, I wanted to
return to learning and MOOC's seemed to be an obvious way to do that. Prof.
Kuskin's enthusiasm is infectious and inspired me throughout. I never once
considered giving-up. I was learning, interacting with others (mainly on the
FB group) and generally enjoying the workload. I think that some of the videos
and presentations were a little on the long side but it is difficult to say
what could be edited out. I would like to offer a heartfelt "Thank You" to
Prof. Kuskin, Team Zero and Coursera for producing this course. Good luck to
you all in your future endeavours. Onwards! KSC
- 2 reviews
- 2 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
I didn't know much about comics going in to this class. I learned a lot about
them, and Kuskin was a very energetic and dynamic speaker. I think this class
would have benefited by using some of the panel format that Al Filreis' Modern
Poetry class used. It's really fun to see multiple faces on the screen
discussing a poem, and I think it would work even better for comics. The
assignment of creating your own comic book was fun, and gave me a new respect
for how much time/effort go into comics. I would definitely take another
Kuskin class in the future.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
My first time in comic-related class and it was fun doing historical
literature review. People in the courses evaluate each other's works, and
though it may cause uneven standard, I can feel their love for the subject.
This course is passionate. It feels much better learning something with people
who share the same interest with you. It is something that is hard to obtain
when you have graduated from college.
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
Other than reading comics for entertainment, I never truly appreciation how
much greater this art form is. This course was informative, enlightening and
intellectually stimulating. The essays really broadened by viewing of each
page of a comic as a poem, with its distinct theme. While the exams had too
many details I didn't remember and I ran out of time to finish the comic
project, I really felt enriched by this course and gained a lot of knowledge.
I would thoroughly recommend this and any other courses by Prof Kuskin.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
This was my first Coursera experience, and I'm pretty certain I couldn't have
picked a better one. The material covered is extensive, and provides
information about developing a literary approach to comics as well as a
history of comics. There's also some interesting insights into the comic book
community, too. Professor Kuskin is engaging and clearly loves his subject,
which is a joy for anyone who has ever sat through a lecture from a bored,
disinterested academic who wants to be anywhere but the lecture hall. He
brings the comics to life and provides valuable insights into why comics are
more than just superhero stories for nerds. The workload isn't light; it is a
rigorous course with two essays and two lecture tests, and a draw-your-own-
comic task towards the end. They are all worth completing, but be aware that
this isn't a course that will require minimal effort. It's a great course that
will give you a good mental workout. Th...
This was my first Coursera experience, and I'm pretty certain I couldn't have
picked a better one. The material covered is extensive, and provides
information about developing a literary approach to comics as well as a
history of comics. There's also some interesting insights into the comic book
community, too. Professor Kuskin is engaging and clearly loves his subject,
which is a joy for anyone who has ever sat through a lecture from a bored,
disinterested academic who wants to be anywhere but the lecture hall. He
brings the comics to life and provides valuable insights into why comics are
more than just superhero stories for nerds. The workload isn't light; it is a
rigorous course with two essays and two lecture tests, and a draw-your-own-
comic task towards the end. They are all worth completing, but be aware that
this isn't a course that will require minimal effort. It's a great course that
will give you a good mental workout. Thoroughly recommended.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
Comic Books and Graphic Novels was a far more challenging and rewarding course
than I expected. The workload is as hard as you want to make it - I'm still
working on revisions to my comic. The Professor's enthusiasm is contagious and
the forums are/were fantastic. Not the easiest course but I do believe it will
change the way you look at comics and much more.
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
This was a very positive experience for me. I've been reading comics for over
50 years, this course has given me new ways of reading and understanding
comics and also other art. Even creating a comic was good - I say even because
I am terrible at drawing! But doing this made me think of what I wanted on the
page. Even if the real world comic was not so good the one in my head is
brilliant! This was my first MOOC and will not be my last.
Student
9/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
I enjoyed comics purely as recreational reading, and was very excited to find
a course that would teach em more about them. As an art student it was
gratifying to showcase my work to others as part of the mini-comic project,
and to get feedback on that work. The theory was interesting and engaging; the
essays thought-provoking and even peer-assessment was beneficial to me. Thank
you for this course.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
I am a lifelong reader of all types and genre of literature but particularly
Comic Books and this course met all of my needs and expectations.It taught me
to focus my opinions and analysis of the Comic Books I love and introduced me
to a wider and more varied range of material in the milieu. I loved it and
would welcome a follow up course.
Student
8/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
I thought this course was a lot of fun. I was exposed to some new comics,
although I would have liked the course to include more reading (there is no
required reading aside from two pages for the essays). I understand the
limitations for this due to access to books, though. The peer review process
almost ruined my opinion of this course toward the end, but I can't hold the
creators of the course responsible for that.
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
I was very impressed with the layout of the course and especially professor
Kuskin's enthusiasm and wonderfully illustrative was of introducing concepts.
I would highly recommend this course and seek out other courses o this
quality.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
This was a great course: I enjoyed it, and I learned quite a bit. I now have a
better understanding and appreciation of the structure and content of the page
when I look at comics, and better appreciate how difficult it is to create a
good comic. However, this course was more difficult than I expected,
especially the requirement to create our own four page comic. Professor Kuskin
was correct when he predicted that we would be proud of ourselves when we
completed this.
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
7 years, 5 months ago
Professor Kuskin's videos were enthusiastically informative. Even for an avid
comic book reader, there is always something to learn from these lectures. I
will highly recommend this class to anyone interested in the arts.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 5 months ago
As a not english native speaker, the main afraid from me was... would my poor
english grammar skills affect the final grade of the essays? When I saw the
grammar didn't take too much importance, I was very happy. I am the kind of
students that think the content is more important than the forms. Thanks a
lot!