Alexandru Oprescu : "The Graphic Novel" (2)

The ultimate metamorphosis of the visual-textual dimension

1. Defining the Comic

Although the modern medium through which the graphic novel is conveyed has over 100 years, the graphic novel is a form of art that still hasn’t been exactly defined. Deriving from the much more popular—or rather wider spread—comic (comic strip), the graphic novel is loosely explained by the Encyclopedia Britannica as “a type of text combining words and images—essentially a comic, although the term most commonly refers to a complete story presented as a book rather than a periodical.” (Encyclopedia Britannica) This very definition ultimately shows the arguable nature of the term, which sets very loose bounds, if any.

In defense of the evasiveness, which can be encountered in any attempt of creating an eloquent definition, the academic study of comics has yet to beget an all‑encompassing terminology that will give the comic definition[1] a proper weight.

Alexandru Oprescu : "The Graphic Novel" (1)

The ultimate metamorphosis of the visual-textual dimension

Introduction

It is a very rare thing, if not unique in the history of universal culture, that an art with such a great mass that accedes to it has such a small mass of academical research. As a comparison, Don Quixote is said to have a sales number of over 500 million copies over a span of 400 years, being the best-selling book in the history of literature. Garfield, on the other hand, has 263 million readers a day. Keeping the proportions and obvious differences between the two mediums, it is safe to say that for an art form that has been around, in its most polished form, for around one hundred years, it is an extraordinary achievement.

Considered the father of comics, the creator of what he called “stories in etchings,”Genevan Rodolphe Töpffer (1799–1846), this visionary artist and writer recognized the value of this art form in his 1845 work Essai de physiognomonie, inadvertently making his significant contribution to shaping the imagination of future generations.

Zobb – un E.T. dans Bucarest

cronique par François Montier

« Si Bucarest fut appelée « La petite Paris » au début du XXème siècle, elle en garde aujourd’hui quelques traces. Curieusement Parisiens et Bucarestois sont affublés des mêmes clichés de la part des provinciaux et ces derniers reçoivent en retour une flopée de préjugés peu réjouissants. Mais les lumières de la capitale restent toujours aussi attractives que ce soit en France ou en Roumanie. Pour se moquer de tous les petits travers de la vie quotidienne, Octav Ungureanu a créé Zobb, un extraterrestre aux grands yeux noirs dotés de 4 bras qui débarque de sa planète pour mieux observer les habitants de Bucarest et tous leurs défauts. »

A lire  sur BDencre.com 

Budapesta: Întâlnire la vârf

În cursul lunii august s-au întâlnit la Budapesta, în cadrul unui eveniment unic şi irepetabil, maeştrii benzii desenate româneşti Puiu Manu şi Livia Rusz.

Galeria „Chuck Jones” din San Diego

 

Cred că toată lumea îşi aminteşte cu plăcere de celebrul strigăt  „Beep! Beep!”  al ultra-rapidului  Road Runner,  urmărit (urmărit ?) de coiotul Wile.

Sau de Bugs Bunny.... Sau de Duffy Duck....Sau de Tom şi Jerry.