Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:08
The course will examine the medium of Franco-Belgian comics, also known as bande dessinée, and analyse their formal features and contexts. After providing an insight into the historical development of the field, it will consider the popular and academic reception of the medium and cover contemporary case studies.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Comics and bande dessinée are an important form of cultural expression, which tends to be a favourite with children and adults alike. Often referred to as le neuvième art (Ninth Art), the medium has also received increasing cultural and academic attention. In this module, the focus will be on la bande dessinée franco-belge, which is generally considered to be the “cradle” of this popular and artistic medium. Reference will also be made to American comics, manga and film adaptation. Students will first look at the historical development of the medium of bande dessinée and will explore relevant analytical concepts. These will then be applied to a diverse range of contemporary case studies, via group discussions. Through the course students will develop their knowledge and understanding of the medium’s specificity and contexts, and will gain insight into issues of ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture.
The course will cover the following topics through a combination of lectures and seminars:
- Definitions of bande dessinée
- History and development of bande dessinée
- Cultural status of bande dessinée
- Bande dessinée in Belgium, France and beyond
- Links with the graphic novel, comics, manga, cartooning and other media
- Concepts for studying bande dessinée
- Traditional and innovative genres in bande dessinée
- Social and gendered representations in bande dessinée
- Film adaptations of comics
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 40 | Feedback Weeks | 43 | |
| Feedback |
Word Count: 1,000
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the organisation and evolutions of the field of Bande Dessinée and production and reception mechanisms within the field. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the representation of social realities in Bande Dessinée, with their underlying ideologies and challenges. |
| Conceptual | Apply | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of key analytical concepts in the field of comics studies and their application to selected case studies |
| Conceptual | Understand | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the specificity of the medium of Bande Dessinée and its intermediality |
| Factual | Analyse | You will demonstrate an ability to synthesise material from disparate sources and to take account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration |
| Procedural | Apply | You will acquire habits for autonomous learning, independently applying insights gained on the course to unfamiliar material |
| Procedural | Apply | You will apply critical reading skills to a range of comics case-studies and relevant background materials |
| Procedural | Create | You will articulate your views in speech and writing using the appropriate discourse for the subject |
| Procedural | Evaluate | You will select, evaluate and organise primary and secondary material |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 31,32 | Feedback Weeks | 34,35 | |
| Feedback |
Word Count: 1,000 Individual written analysis of a selected bande dessinée sequence, building on formative group presentation Individual and group written feedback provided on coursework. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the organisation and evolutions of the field of Bande Dessinée and production and reception mechanisms within the field. |
| Conceptual | Apply | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of key analytical concepts in the field of comics studies and their application to selected case studies |
| Conceptual | Understand | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the specificity of the medium of Bande Dessinée and its intermediality |
| Factual | Analyse | You will demonstrate an ability to synthesise material from disparate sources and to take account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration |
| Procedural | Apply | You will apply critical reading skills to a range of comics case-studies and relevant background materials |
| Procedural | Apply | You will acquire habits for autonomous learning, independently applying insights gained on the course to unfamiliar material |
| Procedural | Create | You will articulate your views in speech and writing using the appropriate discourse for the subject |
| Procedural | Evaluate | You will select, evaluate and organise primary and secondary material |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 40 | Feedback Weeks | 43 | |
| Feedback |
Individual written feedback provided on coursework. |
Word Count | 2000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the representation of social realities in Bande Dessinée, with their underlying ideologies and challenges. |
| Conceptual | Understand | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the specificity of the medium of Bande Dessinée and its intermediality |
| Factual | Analyse | You will demonstrate an ability to synthesise material from disparate sources and to take account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration |
| Procedural | Apply | You will apply critical reading skills to a range of comics case-studies and relevant background materials |
| Procedural | Apply | You will acquire habits for autonomous learning, independently applying insights gained on the course to unfamiliar material |
| Procedural | Create | You will articulate your views in speech and writing using the appropriate discourse for the subject |
| Procedural | Evaluate | You will select, evaluate and organise primary and secondary material |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 49 | Feedback Weeks | 52 | |
| Feedback |
Word Count: 2,000 |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | You will apply critical reading skills to a range of comics case-studies and relevant background materials |
| Procedural | Evaluate | You will select, evaluate and organise primary and secondary material |
| Factual | Analyse | You will demonstrate an ability to synthesise material from disparate sources and to take account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration |
| Procedural | Create | You will articulate your views in speech and writing using the appropriate discourse for the subject |
| Procedural | Apply | You will acquire habits for autonomous learning, independently applying insights gained on the course to unfamiliar material |
| Conceptual | Understand | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the specificity of the medium of Bande Dessinée and its intermediality |
| Conceptual | Apply | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of key analytical concepts in the field of comics studies and their application to selected case studies |
| Conceptual | Analyse | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the organisation and evolutions of the field of Bande Dessinée and production and reception mechanisms within the field. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | You will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the representation of social realities in Bande Dessinée, with their underlying ideologies and challenges. |
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