This course is predicated on deep student focus on social engagement and the societal benefits attached to their studio work. Students will investigate and critique methodologies of contemporary, socially engaged artists to develop their own progressive work in order to question and shift traditionally narrow and restrictive paradigms in Illustration that preference and reward the hegemonic at the expense of the progressive, dissident, and critical work needed to advocate for the historically underrepresented. Collaborative projects with local artists, individuals and community organizations will be encouraged and supported to directly connect students with local communities. Students will be required to present self-driven work periodically in response to selected topics, readings, and community discussion.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $0.00 - $150.00

Major Requirement | MFA Illustration

In this class, we will explore multiple forms of graphic storytelling. Though the primary lens of this class is comics/graphic novel storytelling, we will range outside of that as well. We will work with multiple forms of sequential narrative, and we will also experiment with scale and medium. Can you make a graphic narrative that is tiny and fits in the palm of a child's hand? Can you make one so large you need to walk through it, be immersed in it, stand inside of it? Can you make a visual story out of jewelry, or clay? Can a room be a graphic narrative? We will hone both writing and visual skills to create narratives in all mediums. The class will also include readings in graphic narrative, and some exploration of film, from both a writing and cinematography standpoint.

The goal is to create multiple short visual narratives over the course of the semester, culminating in a larger project.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $0.00 - $150.00

Elective