Beyond Pop: Narrative, Censorship and Self Expression in Contemporary American Comic Art

Murra Mac Rory
Trinity College Dublin
Department of History of Art and Architecture
2001
BA

Subject: Painting / Graphics
Country: America
Period: 20th and 21st Century

10,000 words

This dissertation examines contemporary American comic art concentrating "on the comic book as a narrative medium, and the possibility within that medium for self expression". The first chapter sets the background for the study by discussing comic books before and during what the author calls " the reigning years of the code"[of censorship]. In this chapter the reasons why comics were originally censored and the resulting effects of that censorship are discussed. The following chapters examine the 'renaissance' of comic art in the 1990's, the styles of contemporary comics and the artists that introduced those styles. In the final chapter the author focuses in on one particular comic artist, Chris Bachalo, and analyses his work in relation to the translation of a comic script to a visual narrative. Interviews with comic artists Pete Woods (of Batman and Robin), Chris Bachalo (of the X-Men) and Jeff Smith, are included in the appendices.

Irish Georgian Society

Education Theses Register

Beyond Pop: Narrative, Censorship and Self Expression in Contemporary American Comic Art