Graphic Novels: Literature or no?

[Gnomes-san]

This is something I always took for granted. Growing up on a steady diet of Calvin and Hobbes and Bloom County, I simply took it for granted that the quality of something determined its literary merit. Now taking a Graphic Novels course, I am running into a couple very contrary views. One: that graphic novels are an entirely seperate thing from "literature"; they can be equally artistic, but are just a different medium. The other, prevailing view seems to be that not only are Graphic novels not literature, but are inherently lower in quality and artistic merit when compared to traditional print literature, i.e., that any book is better than any graphic novel, simply because it sticks to one form. I'm sorry, but I can't see how anyone would say Eragon is superior to Persepolis or Fun Home.
What are all your views on this?  

[Emperor Angelo XXV]

In my own opinion, the graphic novel is part of literature. True, it has illustrations, but it still has the goodness of a non-graphic novel.  

[Exarielle BlackLaw]

In my opinion, a graphic novel can have just as much merit as any regular novel. Heck, there are several graphic novel series that are much higher quality than half of the junk one can find in a bookstore nowadays.  

[SuchSweetSadism]

Persepolis was touching. Satrapi is excellent.

I don't really consider graphic novels apart of literature, but this is in the same way that I don't consdier journalism literature. But this isn't to say that neither have great writing, nor is one medium superior to the other.

I loved god Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens and JTHM for the writing and commentary, and consider that great parts of my life. Reading Stephen Chbosky's Perks of Wall Flower didn't have the same impact and that's taught in some curriculum's as it's considered good literature. Although I find it's not even comparable.

And dude, as far as a healthy diet goes;
.
Want to guess what that kitty's name is in the background?

What medicine should I take?

 

[Gnomes-san]

Hey, I have that same stack in my book closet smile  

[SuchSweetSadism]

It makes for a staple diet and a strong foundation for appreciation of substance.

^___^  

[handsanitizer1]

I love Calvin and Hobbes xd
And I do agree that graphic novels count as literature. They're just like regular books, only the story is told in illustrations.  

[SuchSweetSadism]

Yay "Calvin and Hobbes" seems to be getting a nice nod of approval.  

[handsanitizer1]

SuchSweetSadism

Yay "Calvin and Hobbes" seems to be getting a nice nod of approval.

It's bloody amazing.
slightly related, and made me lol:
 

[Gnomes-san]

SuchSweetSadism

Yay "Calvin and Hobbes" seems to be getting a nice nod of approval.

It would depress me if 'twer not the case.  

[SuchSweetSadism]

Evelyn the Night Hawk

SuchSweetSadism

Yay "Calvin and Hobbes" seems to be getting a nice nod of approval.

It's bloody amazing.
slightly related, and made me lol:

Hah! That delights a wonderful side of me. Thank you for sharing.

Gnomes-san

SuchSweetSadism

Yay "Calvin and Hobbes" seems to be getting a nice nod of approval.

It would depress me if 'twer not the case.

Yes, I would rather disheartened. I remember when they removed the cartoons from a school, due to Calvin entertaining the idea of blowing one up.

As if that idea is foreign from any childs mind.  

[Gnomes-san]

...I remember Watterson talking about that in the Tenth Anniversary collection. I'm against censorship of anything in libraries but that was especially ludicrous.  

[SuchSweetSadism]

Gnomes-san

...I remember Watterson talking about that in the Tenth Anniversary collection. I'm against censorship of anything in libraries but that was especially ludicrous.

Yes it was very silly censorship. As most is.


He is so brilliant. I loved how he'd be against the materialization of Hobbes, he never liked how they'd be sold or anything.  

[Gnomes-san]

when I was younger that made me mad because I really wanted a hobbes stuffed animal. Makes sense now, though.