Jewish Comics and Graphic Narratives: A Critical Guide

Description

The most-up-date critical guide mapping the history, impact, key critical issues and seminal texts of the genre, Jewish Comics and Graphic Narratives interrogates what makes a work a ‘Jewish graphic novel’, and explores the form’s diverse facets to orient readers to the richness and complexity of Jewish graphic narratives. Accessible but comprehensive and in an easy-to-navigate format, the book covers such topics as: - The history of the genre in the US and Israel - and its relationship to superheroes, Underground Comix, and Jewish literature - Social and cultural discussions surrounding the legitimization of graphic representation as sites of trauma, understandings of gender, mixed-media in Jewish graphic novels, and the study of these works in the classroom - Critical explorations of graphic narratives about the Holocaust, Israel, the diasporic experience, Judaism, and autobiography and memoir - The works of Will Eisner, Ilana Zeffren, James Sturm, Joann Sfar, JT Waldman, Michel Kichka, Sarah Glidden, Rutu Modan, and Art Spiegelman and such narratives as X Men, Anne Frank’s Diary, and Maus Jewish Comics and Graphic Novels includes an appendix of relevant works sorted by genre, a glossary of crucial critical terms, and close readings of key texts to help students and readers develop their understanding of the genre and pursue independent study. Cover Contents List of Figures Acknowledgments 1 Introduction Jewish Literature Graphic Novels and Comic Books Jewish Graphic Narratives 2 Historical Overview Jewish Comic Books Jewish Graphic Novels 3 Social and Cultural Impact Holocaust Graphic Narratives Israel-Focused Jewish Graphic Narratives Diaspora Experience Religious Graphic Narratives 4 Critical Questions What Is the Place of Graphic Memoir in the Jewish Graphic Narrative Tradition? Why Are Photographs so Prevalent in Jewish Graphic Narratives? How Are Gender Constructs Engaged with in Jewish Graphic Narratives? How Are Jewish Religious Leaders Depicted in Jewish Graphic Narratives? How Are Educators Employing Jewish Graphic Narratives in Their Classrooms? 5 Key Texts Holocaust X-Men: Magneto Testament Anne Frank’s Diary Israel Sipur Varod The Property The Jewish Diaspora Market Day A Bintel Brief: Love and Longing in Old New York Religious Graphic Narratives Megillat Esther Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword Graphic Memoir Second Generation: Things I Didn’t Tell My Father How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less Appendix Glossary Notes Works Cited Index