ENG4414 – The Auto-Graphic Novel
Course content
The graphic novel is a relatively recent phenomenon, a genre that draws simultaneously on contemporary visual culture and narrative methods. Some of the most critically acclaimed graphic novels of recent memory are also autobiographical, telling a personal story of survival in the face of personal and/ or collective trauma.
The graphic novels in this course are all autobiographical, personal expressions of the artist confronting death, revolution, and/ or war, and they all depict the ways that the individual both shapes and is shaped by history.
With this as background, in this course we will study the graphic novel as a unique literary form, and discuss questions such as:
- What does the graphic novel do that other genres cannot?
- In what ways it is a useful vehicle for autobiography?
- How do these text construct an ethics of encountering "the other"?
Learning outcome
After completing this course you have:
- developed a vocabulary for discussing the relationship between texts and images
- learned how to analyze graphic novels as a way to think about current events and debates
- learned how to understand some of the ways that artists and writers use their lives and work to transform both personal and collective memory
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Teaching
Seminars, 2 hours per week for 10 weeks. 20 hours in all.
It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend 6 of 10 seminars. The requirement is absolute.
The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.
If the course has in-person teaching, and you are signed up for an in-person seminar group, you are to attend the teaching in the location found in the schedule.
If the course has digital teaching, and you are signed up for a digital seminar group, you must attend via Zoom with your camera on.
In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for?special needs accomodations.
Fulfilled course requirements are only valid the semester you attend the course.
Examination
The form of assessment is a term paper of 10 standard pages (a standard page consists of 2,300 characters).
You will be offered individual term paper supervision.
You are supposed to work on the assignment throughout the whole semester.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.