The Comic Book Literacy movement believes graphic novels and comic books are an important educational resource. They could be part of a solution for at risk schools with higher dropout rates and lower test scores. Filmmaker Todd Kent's award-winning documentary Comic Book Literacy, provides insight into using comic books and graphic novels for improving literacy. Hoping to encourage reading, dedicated educators are viewing Kent's film to learn more. With major education funding cutbacks resulting in teacher layoffs, many school districts and parents are worried about further erosion in the system. Educators struggle for solutions and wonder if reading comic books could be part of the answer.
The film Comic Book Literacy spells out the history of comic books. By interviewing top writers and illustrators in the comic book world, the story of the misunderstood medium unfolds. The film erases many of the negatives as legends in the business share their experiences with comic books. With humor, creativity and imagination comic books engage children and young adults in reading and vocabulary building. In the film one renowned writer-illustrator after another describes falling in love with the medium during their childhood.
The most interesting conversation is with Art Spiegelman, the Pulitzer Prize winning creator of the graphic novel Maus. It became very apparent he was knowledgeable about history, art, religion, science, psychology, education, politics, mythology and great works of literature. With Hollywood making blockbuster films from comic book heroes and 126,000 fans at the recent Comic-Con San Diego, it is evident that there is a huge interest in this medium, movies and in science fiction.
As educators look into graphic novels in classrooms, studies continue to reveal the importance of art in schools. There is a strong connection between art and reading. A Stanford University study (2005) by James S. Catterall states:
- Visual art training helps with sophisticated reading skills and interpretation of text.
- Instruction in visual arts helps with reading readiness.
- Drawing builds cognitive capacities in content of organization of writing.
It makes sense that pictures and good storytelling enhance learning.
Todd Kent features Dallas educators in his film responsible for the graphic novel Echoes of the Lost Boys of Sudan and Human Rights and Art Workshops. Echoes is on Kuffler’s list of suggested Academic Graphic Novels for grades 1-5. Combining art and reading with an important human rights message helps cognitive and emotional development. This first-hand account of genocide tells the story of Darfur and four boys who survived by escaping to the woods while facing unimaginable dangers.
Echoes of the Lost Boys of Sudan is part of the legacy of famed tennis pro and human rights activist Arthur Ashe. His National Junior Tennis League now the National Junior Tennis and Learning Network (NJTLN) helps over 250,000 students nationwide. Bert Cole, Director of Junior Recreation for the Dallas Tennis Association, and other dedicated visionaries, have a dream of an academy where students learn tennis, study human rights and the arts.
Part of this mission is developing human rights themed graphic novels.
Texas Visual Arts Association presents
Echoes of the Lost Boys of Sudan
Art As Story curator Zane Steadman
Plaza of the Americas • 701 N. Pearl, Suite G-207
972.951.7879
The show runs from June 1—30, 2011.
The reception is June 5 at 2—4 pm.
Todd Kent's documentary will run throughout the event.
For more information about graphic novels and Echoes of the Lost Boys of Sudan contact James Disco at jamesdisco@msn.com.
The next screening of Comic Book Literacy is May 28, 2011 at Comicpalooza, in Houston, Texas.
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