Big Think Interview With Francoise Mouly | Big Think | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Comics were once seen as low-brow entertainment but have now gained recognition as a legitimate medium for serious art and literature.

Key Insights

• 🫵 Comics were once viewed as lowbrow entertainment with no respectability, but their perception has changed over time.
• 🥋 Underground comics, like those in the Raw magazine, aimed to break taboos surrounding sex and drugs, while Raw aimed to elevate comics as an art form.
• 🥺 The success of iconic comics like Art Spiegelman's "Maus" helped change the perception of comics, leading to more serious and mature works being recognized.
• ✋ There is now a need for more high-quality comics for children, as comics have gained acceptance among adults but are not widely available for young readers.
• 💍 Comics serve as a gateway to literature and provide a visual narrative that engages readers of all ages.
• 🧑‍🎨 The role of art editors in comics is crucial in working with artists to create meaningful and impactful visuals.
• 🧑‍🎨 The cover of the New Yorker magazine retains its autonomy and is created by an artist, making it distinct from other publications.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Françoise Mouly start Raw magazine?

Françoise Mouly started Raw magazine to challenge society's perception of comics and elevate them as a respected art form.

Q: How did Raw magazine differ from the underground comics movement?

Raw magazine focused on publishing comics with artistic and literary merit, distancing itself from the taboo-breaking nature of the underground comics movement.

Q: Why did Françoise Mouly start creating comics for children?

Françoise Mouly wanted to create comics for children because she recognized their ability to engage young readers and saw the lack of quality children's comics in the market.

Q: How have comics evolved over time?

Comics have gone from being seen as a form of lowbrow entertainment to being accepted as a medium for serious art and literature, with recognition in museums and bookstores.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In 1980, the art editor of the New Yorker, Françoise Mouly, started Raw magazine to change society's perception of comics as lowbrow entertainment.

• Raw magazine aimed to elevate comics as an art form by distributing them in legitimate bookstores and using high-quality printing.

• Comics have evolved from being seen as solely for adults to now being accepted in museums and bookstores, but there is a lack of widely available comics for children.