This little graphic art book is about the teaching
of a course in graphic art, and is mainly aimed for use as a teaching tool in
such courses.  The artwork is in black and white, created by eight different
artists, who get a chapter each.  Each chapter has "samples" of
student artwork, actually done by Bob Pendarvis, and the chapter includes
constructive criticism by the course teachers.  The students in the class each
have their own styles and preoccupations, and through the different chapters,
we get to know them.  Some are interested in action and superheroes, while
others like to depict everyday life.  The class doesn’t make judgments about
which kinds of comics are best, but it does emphasize the importance of
traditional story telling and the clarity of expression of ideas in the
artwork.  This is a fun and unusual book that could be useful to anyone
interested in the medium of the comic book and the graphic novel.

Link: Publisher’s web
page.

© 2004 Christian Perring. All
rights reserved.

Christian
Perring, Ph.D., is Academic Chair of the Arts & Humanities Division
and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dowling College, Long Island. He is
also editor of Metapsychology Online Review.  His main research is
on philosophical issues in medicine, psychiatry and psychology.

Categories: ArtAndPhotography