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FR451N: COMICS IN CONTEXT B (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:08


Course Overview

The course will examine the medium of Franco-Belgian comics, also known as bande dessinée. 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.  

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Fransiska Louwagie

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

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. Students will first look at the historical development of the medium 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 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

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 70
Assessment Weeks 40 Feedback Weeks 43

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Feedback

Individual written feedback provided on coursework.

Word Count 3000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseYou 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.
FactualAnalyseYou will demonstrate an ability to synthesise material from disparate sources and to take account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration
ProceduralApplyYou will apply critical reading skills to various cultural, literary, filmic, sociological and anthropological texts
ProceduralApplyYou will acquire habits for autonomous learning, independently applying insights gained on the course to unfamiliar material
ProceduralApplyYou will conduct independent investigations using basic research methodology
ProceduralCreateYou will articulate your views in speech and writing using the appropriate discourse for the subject
ProceduralEvaluateYou will select, evaluate and organise primary and secondary material

Sequence analysis

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 31 Feedback Weeks 34

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Feedback

Oral presentation (recorded) on a selected bande dessinée sequence

Written feedback provided on coursework.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyYou will acquire a knowledge and understanding of key analytical concepts in the field of bande dessinée and their application to selected case studies.
FactualAnalyseYou will demonstrate an ability to synthesise material from disparate sources and to take account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration
ProceduralApplyYou will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the specificity of the medium of bande dessinée and its intermediality.
ProceduralApplyYou will apply critical reading skills to various cultural, literary, filmic, sociological and anthropological texts
ProceduralApplyYou will acquire habits for autonomous learning, independently applying insights gained on the course to unfamiliar material
ProceduralApplyYou will conduct independent investigations using basic research methodology
ProceduralCreateYou will articulate your views in speech and writing using the appropriate discourse for the subject
ProceduralEvaluateYou will select, evaluate and organise primary and secondary material

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Take Home Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

1 x take-home exam (2 hours, 2 questions)

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseYou will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the representation of social realities in bande dessinée, with their underlying ideologies and challenges.
ConceptualAnalyseYou 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.
ProceduralApplyYou will conduct independent investigations using basic research methodology
ConceptualApplyYou will acquire a knowledge and understanding of key analytical concepts in the field of bande dessinée and their application to selected case studies.
ProceduralApplyYou will apply critical reading skills to various cultural, literary, filmic, sociological and anthropological texts
ProceduralEvaluateYou will select, evaluate and organise primary and secondary material
ProceduralApplyYou will acquire habits for autonomous learning, independently applying insights gained on the course to unfamiliar material
FactualAnalyseYou will demonstrate an ability to synthesise material from disparate sources and to take account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration
ProceduralApplyYou will acquire a knowledge and understanding of the specificity of the medium of bande dessinée and its intermediality.
ProceduralCreateYou will articulate your views in speech and writing using the appropriate discourse for the subject

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