Analysis of Non-Traditional Texts of Prints and Non-Prints

The meaning of non-traditional means that anything which does not belongs to tradition and is different from the customs and usual (Vocabulary.com). Within the area of the content, the concept of text must be taken on a broader spectrum that includes all the resources in order to negotiate its meaning. Many Historians have used both texts of prints and non-prints to give meaning and understanding of the past. The Non-traditional texts of prints includes the symbols that are non-alphabetical such as the graphs, images, charts and other printed material whereas the texts of non-prints include the sculptures, body, sound and other materials that are in non-printed form (Roni Jo Draper).

2. Analysis

The form of non-traditional text that will be discussed here will be about the comics and graphic textbooks that are specifically targeted for students and for their learning (Burger). An example of graphic textbooks such as manga series (The Manga guide to Physics, The Manga Guide to Calculus etc.) has been able to made an impact and reflects the learning of children as a tool for their guide to get a better understanding of the complicated ideas. One of the recent publication of Unflattening by Nick Sousanis, a dissertation of the University of Columbia written in the form of as a graphical novel, has depicted and knitted the words with every possible element such as words with literature, knowledge and pictures and the perception that is made through the knowledge holds immense importance. Both the graphics and comics are thought to be as a form of simple versions of text only and as a matter of fact, not much recognition have been given to both the form of texts. Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud argues about comics that they are a form of significant art and literature that needs and deserves much respect. Those comics which are studied are similar to the field of film that was studied years back that were focused and mediated for the college students and used for the value as a form of entertainment. Similar to that of film, comics are an important form of literary that consists of topics such as moral lessons, development which is usually personal and the difference between the good and evil (Burger).  

2.1 Production

In order to produce a comic, the reproduction of the templates through a mechanism is usually required. Comics which are produced on the typical standard can be on an autobiography or they contain the chunks of already typeset texts such as Watchmen of Alan Moore and The Wolf in the bed that was published in the fables of Bill Willingham (Aaron Meskin).

2.2 Distribution

The comic art, whose main objective is telling stories through the form and in combination of texts, dialogues and pictures, surpass the geographical barriers in order to communicate a message for the sake of cultural norms, social issues as well as the political messages on the mass level as well. (Greenberg).

2.3 Consumption

The consumption that is done by the college students is to meet various teaching objectives within a classroom. Teaching comics and Graphic Narratives: Essay on theories… by Land Dong provides examples for the college students by imparting knowledge in various disciplines such as American studies, Studies related to culture, studies related to gender, communication and even studies that are related to rhetoric as well. The practice of bringing the comics within the environment of the classroom is to read the content and to come up with a critical analysis of it. Compositions that are included in the comics teach the students multimodal literacy that can help them in their jobs after they are done with their studies (Burger).

3. Conclusion

Comics can definitely help college students to gain knowledge through the non-traditional form of text that is more attractive, easy to understand and even easy to consume as well. They can also make it as a way and mode of communication to communicate their thoughts, ideas and views.  

Works Cited

Aaron Meskin, Roy T. Cook. The Art of Comics: A Philosophical Approach. John Wiley & Sons, 2012. .

Burger, Alissa. Teaching Graphic Novels in the English Classroom: Pedagogical Possibilities of Multimodal Literacy Engagement. Springer, 2017. .

Greenberg, Marc H. Comic Art, Creativity and the Law. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2014. .

Roni Jo Draper, Gordon Paul Broomhead. (Re)imagining Content-area Literacy Instruction. Teachers College Press, 2010. .

Vocabulary.com. n.d. .