6 Comic-Related Lesson Ideas
Aaron Thacker
Option 1: Comics and Textbooks
What is the relationship between the narrative of a typical comic book and the historical narrative of a textbook? What about the pseudo-historical narrative of a meta-comic book like The Watchmen?
Potential Assignment
Choose a “superhero” comic book from the library, and compare the depiction of the villain in that narrative to a “villain” in your textbook.
Option 2: Fiction-informed History
Evil is often portrayed in fiction narratives in a manner that parallels evil in historical narratives—e.g., “HYDRA” in the Marvel universe (esp. Captain America) is a Nazi organization with a Hitler-esque leader, “Red Skull”—so are there examples of the opposite process occurring (historical narratives mimicking fiction)?
Potential Assignment
Consider the characteristics of the villain in your favourite Marvel film, and compare those characteristics to a negative depiction—in an article, blog, series of tweets, vlog, etc.—of a prominent, contemporary figure (e.g., Trump, Trudeau, Notley, etc.). Identify the similarities between these two constructions of “villains.”
(Created by Aaron Thacker, 2018)
