Seeing Comics through Art History: Alternative Approaches to the Form

This book explores the methodologies of Art History to offer Comics Studies, addressing overlooked aspects of aesthetics, form, materiality, perception, and visual style. It also assesses what comics and Comics Studies afford and ask of Art History, drawing together the work of international scholars applying art-historical methodologies to the study of various comic strips, books, cartoons, graphic novels, and manga.

Format: Hardback
Length: 348 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into the potential of art history methodologies to enrich comics studies, offering a fresh perspective on overlooked aspects of aesthetics, form, materiality, perception, and visual style. It explores the reciprocal relationship between art history and comics scholarship, challenging established categories and procedures while assessing the contributions and challenges that comics and comics studies can bring to art history.

Drawing from the expertise of international scholars who employ art-historical approaches to analyze a diverse range of comic strips, books, cartoons, graphic novels, and manga, this book showcases a diverse range of perspectives and backgrounds. These scholars, who are not only researchers but also educators, artists, designers, curators, producers, librarians, editors, and writers, bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their work. Some of them engage in practice-based research, further enhancing the interdisciplinary nature of this exploration.

While many of the scholars in this book have backgrounds in art history, others come from, have migrated into, or straddle other disciplines such as comparative literature, American literature, cultural studies, visual studies, and various subjects within art and design practice. This interdisciplinary approach fosters a rich exchange of ideas and methodologies, contributing to a deeper understanding of comics and their historical context.

The book is organized into several chapters, each dedicated to exploring different aspects of the relationship between art history and comics studies. The chapters cover topics such as the historical development of comics, the aesthetics of comics, the materiality of comics, the perception of comics, and the visual style of comics. Each chapter is filled with insightful analysis, case studies, and examples, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the potential of art history methodologies in comics studies.

In conclusion, this book offers a groundbreaking exploration of the possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration between art history and comics studies. By leveraging the unique insights and methodologies of each discipline, it provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of comics as a cultural phenomenon. It is a valuable resource for scholars, educators, artists, and enthusiasts alike, as it opens up new avenues for research, interpretation, and appreciation of this dynamic medium.

Weight: 717g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030935061
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022