ART 19 — The Art of the Graphic Novel
Quarter: Winter
Instructor(s): Mark Fearing
Date(s): Jan 25—Mar 8
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Mondays
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 7:00—8:50 pm (PT)
Please Note: No class on February 15
Tuition: $410
Refund Deadline: Jan 27
Unit(s): 1
Enrollment Limit: 30
Status: Registration opens Nov 30, 8:30 am (PT)
Quarter: Winter
Day: Mondays
Duration: 6 weeks
Time: 7:00—8:50 pm (PT)
Date(s): Jan 25—Mar 8
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $410
Refund Deadline: Jan 27
Instructor(s): Mark Fearing
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Enrollment Limit: 30
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Registration opens Nov 30, 8:30 am (PT)
Please Note: No class on February 15
Since the term graphic novel was coined in 1964, the form has exploded into a vibrant global art, embracing memoir, investigative journalism, historical epic, and boundary-pushing fiction. This course invites you into that universe—learning its history, exploring its creative process, and drafting a story of your own.
We’ll examine the medium’s lineage, from ancient visual narratives to the international traditions—European bandes dessinées, Japanese manga, American comics, and Chinese manhua—that define today’s marketplace. From there, we’ll step inside the creative process: how stories are envisioned, scripted, and brought to life; how writers and illustrators collaborate; and how the industry, from indie presses to major publishers, discovers and nurtures talent. We’ll also consider how new tools like AI are transforming production, offering opportunities alongside ethical challenges. Through lectures, short creative exercises, and conversations with editors, writers, and artists, students will gain an appreciation of the form’s narrative power and leave with the beginnings of their own mock-up.
We’ll examine the medium’s lineage, from ancient visual narratives to the international traditions—European bandes dessinées, Japanese manga, American comics, and Chinese manhua—that define today’s marketplace. From there, we’ll step inside the creative process: how stories are envisioned, scripted, and brought to life; how writers and illustrators collaborate; and how the industry, from indie presses to major publishers, discovers and nurtures talent. We’ll also consider how new tools like AI are transforming production, offering opportunities alongside ethical challenges. Through lectures, short creative exercises, and conversations with editors, writers, and artists, students will gain an appreciation of the form’s narrative power and leave with the beginnings of their own mock-up.
This course is designed for anyone interested in visual storytelling. If you previously took this course, there will be an advanced path to encourage the completion of a larger project.