Graphic Novels in Context

People of all ages are intuitively drawn to the power of comics as a medium for communicating stories and information. In this course we’ll take a deeper dive into the literary and visual theory behind graphic novels and works of graphic non-fiction to enhance our appreciation as readers and learn more about how comics shed light on larger questions of storytelling, communication, and media. We will learn about the medium of comics in historical, cultural, and political context and learn from scholars of comics who break down what makes this medium so distinctly powerful to readers around the world.

Together we will look at excerpts from multiple works of graphic fiction and non-fiction in a variety of genres, and students will have the opportunity to select a full book of their choice to analyze with ideas from the course.

We will have at least one guest speaker.

Prerequisites: None

Instructor: Anna Mudd

Details:

Suggested age range: 13+

Outside work: Students will complete 1 to 3 hours of weekly asynchronous course content on canvas outside of class, including short readings and videos. Discussion boards on canvas provide opportunities for students to respond to course content, ask questions, and test understanding. Course work assessment, for those who elect to take the course for a grade, is based on the total number of discussion boards completed, as well as a final integration project.

When & where: Tuesdays on Zoom from 12:00-1:00 Eastern Time, Jan. 6 - Mar. 24, 2026.

Fee: $300 ungraded/$350 graded; this includes a non-refundable registration fee of $10. We offer discounts for groups, siblings, and students who enroll in multiple classes. (Discount information.) Payments plans available. Fees waived for families with financial need.  (Waivers and payment plan information.) Questions about how classes work? Read our course FAQ.