SECTION 1:
1.2) Genre analysis: Consider the role of genre in understanding comics and manga. Compare comics from two different genres and discuss your results. You might find the reading by Coogan (posted on the course readings page on Desire2learn) useful in your answer. The genre analysis handout, which you might find helpful, is posted to the Desire2Learn exam materials page.
Comics are considered as a genre of reading materials accompanied by distinct imagery that is presented in a form of conversation between the characters through the use of conversation balloons. Emotions and presentation of distinct human element in each comic arrangement is most often than not interpreted through the use of changing balloons. The way the characters are placed within the story could be assumed to have an impact on how the readers are likely to relate to the narration being presented to them by the creators.
On the other hand, Manga creations are most often than not resorted from already established narrations from story writers who have already created their own books. Most likely Manga comics are produced to provide visual imagery to already established story lines. Unlike regular comic strips which are most often than not revolving around the script of the characters, Manga comics are more dependent on the narrative stories. True, there are also some distinct conversational presentations in Manga comics, but it is more focused on helping the readers relate to the presentation through mandating the way they interpret the images formed in each reading setup.
The storylines and story plots are most distinctively dwelling behind the background that redefines the overall being of the characters therefore adding depth to the course by which the audiences are able to relate themselves to the distinct manner that insists on the being of each individual in the comic-story being defined alongside the work being refined. Manga comics are often regarded for the depth of the story; most presentations are handled through insisting on how one story is established upon another story that creates the whole form of value of the narrative being considered.
Another particular difference that the reading materials have against each other is the fact that most comic-stories produced in print and distributed through online or offline publications are made to cater to the people’s demands. Specifically concentrated on the business-side of the publication, the comics-genre is more often than not following the trend of interest of the public rather than showcasing the thoughts of the writers or the animators as a whole. On the contrary, manga magazines and comics are most often than not focused on the worth of the stories based on the understanding of the creators and the desire of the writers to send out a meaningful setup of presentation of facts and fiction altogether as the response of the audience is being measured through the thinking pattern that the writers themselves want to establish among their readers. Manga comics are more concerned about the worth of readability that their stories are mostly noted for. Identifying the definite capacity of the society to respond to the ideas presented through manga comic stories helps out in maintaining a better sense of what is meant by valuable readability.
Most comic reading materials showcase generally popular characters; it is much less often that comic creators and producers deal with presenting less-popular characters. This is why most comic stories are a repeat of the past story lines; most are determined to have a definite impact on how the current generation realizes the worth of what past characters impose on their being and their personal connection with the comic industry. Manga, on the other hand, is rooted in creating new characters every now and then. The introduction of new characters and new stories to the present generation mandates a sense of improvement on how the manga readers are able to relate to new situations that define the Japanese culture as it evolves through time. True to its sense, instead of simply presenting a story, manga comics cater mostly towards the desire of promoting the Japanese culture to the world to whom the said material is being presented to. It is for this reason that the primary Japanese culture presented in each written material is transcended to other parts of the world including Europe, America and even in the Canadian region. Most often than not, it is the supremacy of the Japanese culture that makes manga comics more interesting to most readers coming from the different regions of the world.
SECTION 2:
2.1) Briefly outline one (1) consequence of distributing manga and comics in mass market bookstores?
As mentioned in section 1, one of the primary results of manga being distributed to other parts of the world is the fact that it is able to promote Japanese culture among the residents of the different parts of the world. It could be understood that presenting interesting stories and notable characters in each manga comic makes it easier for the general public to appreciate what this Japanese literature has to offer them with. Through the mass distribution of manga comics around the globe, it could be realized how the world is generally becoming more familiar about the Japanese culture and traditions; a reason for the world to be more interested to what else could be contributed by the said culture to their own national and personal development. At some point, manga comics make it easier for other nations to learn more and love the Japanese culture better.
Mass media has so much to do with how the society develops accordingly through time. As the Japanese culture gets introduced to the world, there is a big chance that the world would embrace the general aspects of the Japanese lifestyle. At present, such effect is already being seen to affect the living system of the world today. One of the said effects could be noted to be strongly defined through the emergence of the development and the establishment of the cosplay celebration which features people who dress up like particular Japanese anime characters [usually coming from particular Japanese stories that are usually featured in both animated cartoons and manga comics. Japanese fashion has also largely been introduced to the world, and it cannot be denied that it has been largely accepted as well. The evolution of the Japanese fashion as it becomes entangled and mixed with other cultures provides a definite insistence on how the Japanese culture is becoming highly acceptable to the world. Practically, this allows people to become more open into accepting what the Japanese culture has to offer. 2.3) Discuss some of the ways that gender structures the manga industry, how does that compare with North American comics?
Women are given lesser power than the male characters in most manga comics. Relatively, this comes from the fact that the Japanese culture does provide less recognition of the women due to the idea that they are the weaker gender in the society. Most of the time, when women are presented at a much stronger stance, it is most often than not that modern ideas about women power is being adapted from western ideas. This adjustment has been observed to have been imposed as part of the ways by which the manga comics representation has been considered effective in providing the world a sense of realization on how the Japanese lifestyle defines modernity and how the country intends to embrace developmental options as well.
On the other hand, North American comic creations usually feature women with their own powers, their own capacity to fight evil and become more effective in making things happen. Instead of simply putting them behind a hero’s capacity to save lives and make heroic moves, heroines in the North American industry is seen to be doing more than simply supporting others. Having their own character and their own identity, most heroines in the North American comic industry are given their own limelight, a chance to shine and empower the female members of the society accordingly.
These differences on how women are treated based on the concept of development that female members of the community are given the chance to develop alongside the progress that the nation is dealing with. The Japanese culture remains rooted on the traditional aspects of seeing the real worth of women as the supporting factor that introduces male-heroism at a much higher state. The submission of women among their men is an important aspect of the Japanese culture. Not to mention the fact that there are instances when women are usually objectified by the different members of the Japanese society; considering them as mere objects of desire that men use to identify well with the hope of defining the gender supremacy they have against the women.
The manner by which the adjustment of treatment of women in the Japanese manga has been encountered by writers and creators through time could be accounted against the fact that Japanese culture has also been affected by the emerging thoughts and ideas that identify well with what the world considers acceptable norms at present. This includes the concept of liberalization and how well it is able to mandate the thinking of people towards women and the way they freely respond to the challenges that are presented to them through time. This is where the distinction of good effect on how cultural evolution takes place in the world and among its subjects become effective enough in defining how modern literary culture could define the insistence of good development on how people are able to recognize global culture.
2.5) Discuss one (1) of the challenges to having more digital distribution of comics.
Living in a digital era makes it possible for literary creations to be largely distributed online. Most of the time, it could be observed that it is because of this development that copyright issues become a huge problem for most creators, writers and producers of the said literary pieces. Practically the world became more prone to realizing the need to respect copyright issues at a much less distinct insistence of what should be noted as important. More individuals are going online to get access to newly produced comics instead of going to valid websites that actually sell the said creations at a much legal process.
As a result, writers and producers gain lesser rate of resources they need to be able to support the need to create newer sets of reading materials, may it be for distributing printed pieces apart from those that are made available for download for those who would rather have a digital copy of the said comics released online. Digital versions of produced comics make it easier for the works to be distributed and gain immediate popularity from the target market; nevertheless, it does make it harder for the producers to be able to gain profit from most of the working efforts they put forth for the creation of such materials.
Digital applications that are flooding the market [which are usually freely downloadable for hopeful users] are able to cater to the needs and expectations of most mobile users. Among the said programs are applications that make it easier for users to download reading materials such as comic-creations produced by different cultures coming from different nations. The Japanese culture seems to be among the top performers in the said literary industry and this could be largely observed through the emergence of a good sense of insistence on how digital media helps in the promotion of such recognition that the nation receives from the world as the pieces representing their culture are produced ad distributed through the internet.
2.6) How have women been represented in superhero comics? Has this changed in more recent comics?
Comics, being one of the most sought after materials for reading entertainment among individuals from different age-ranges, continue to impose a huge impact on how these factors of general reading actually affect the being of each reader, thus creating a new sense of perception that the readers have towards a more extensive system of viewing even the most controversial issues in the society at present. Gender-definition and identification are among the most controversial issues that the world has to deal with. Relatively, these issues are expected to make a distinct impact on how issues of imbalance are being presented in literary pieces that are distributed around the globe today.
Comics are among the most circulated reading materials around the globe. Definitely, it could be observed that somehow, these materials provide a distinct indication of ideas that are largely analyzed by academic experts. Most likely, it could be observed that somehow, modern ways of living has allowed for transformations to occur especially when it comes to finding a better way of determining the most efficient form of culture that could improve the ways by which issues of discrimination and inequality in the society could be better dealt with.
Then again, as seen from the distinction of how comic stories are created in the past, it could be realized that gender balance is being imposed much strongly at present that it has ever been before. The way the writers create stories now specifically gives intentional recognition of what womanhood is about. Largely defining the real meaning of being a woman, the writers often highlight the capacity of individuals to become more effective in defining their identity amidst being considered as minorities in the community. Women, being the more vulnerable gender are slowly becoming transformed in most comic presentations. Heroines from the North American comic creators are most often than not given a good sense of what womanhood is about and how the masculinity of the other characters being cross-references to the being of each individual involved in the story creates a sense of balance.
While back in the days, the women are presented at a much lesser value that their male counterparts, current comic selections already recognize the worth of womanhood and how well it is able to bring in higher value to every story being used to represent social issues that are being discussed in the comic-narratives. Different genres of written works have a distinct impact on how the audience or the readers are going to change their perception about matters that are discussed in each piece of reading material. Noticeably, it could be noted that somehow, gender equality is now being fully recognized by comic creators both coming from the Asian, Western and European regions. Most often than not, the emergence of liberalization and the promotion of equality among all genders largely affect the thinking of the society towards distinct issues of balance especially when it comes to identifying the determination of good gender representation in each reading material. While each culture has a definite sense of determining what good gender-balance is about, it could not be denied that such diversity of belief affects the perception of the whole world as well.
References
1. https://www.comixology.com/free-comics. (Retrieved on 12-17-14)
2. http://www.vizmanga.com/. (Retrieved on 12-17-14)
3. http://www.comicbooksarchive.com/catalog_1.php. (Retrieved on 12-17-14)
4. http://comicbookplus.com/index.php. (Retrieved on 12-17-14)
5. http://www.comicsresearch.org/CAC/cite.html. (Retrieved on 12-17-14)
6. http://dailyfreeware.net/457/cdisplay-comic-reader-18. (Retrieved on 12-17-14)
McCloud. Understanding Comics.
