How Comic Books Can Make Kids (and Adults) Smarter | Gene Luen Yang | Big Think

TL;DR

Comics provide a permanent and controlled rate of information flow, making them a powerful educational tool that allows readers to control their own learning experience.

Transcript

Out of all of the visual storytelling media that are out there – film, animation, television – comics is really the only one that is not time-bound. That’s what I call permanent. Which means, you know, when you’re watching a movie or when you’re watching an animated television series, the rate of information flow is actually determined by the creat... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎮 Comics offer a permanent and controlled rate of information flow, giving readers the ability to control their own learning experience.
• 🔨 Comics can be a powerful educational tool, particularly for subjects like math, where visual representation is helpful.
• 🧑‍🏫 The perception of comics has shifted, with more parents and teachers recognizing the sophistication and effectiveness of pictures as a means of communication.
• 💁 The relationship between words and pictures in comics has become more complex, with skilled creators leveraging each form of communication for its strengths.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the rate of information flow in comics differ from other visual storytelling media like film or animation?

In comics, the rate of information flow is determined by the reader, unlike in film or animation where it is controlled by the creator. Readers can slow down or reread passages, allowing for a personalized learning experience.

Q: Why did the author create comics lessons for their Algebra II students?

The author created comics lessons for absent students to ensure they could still learn the material visually. The feedback received highlighted the advantages of comics, such as visual engagement and the ability to control reading pace.

Q: How has the perception of comics changed over time?

In the past, comics were often seen as less sophisticated than pure prose novels or even picture books. However, there is a growing recognition that pictures can effectively communicate information, and comics are now viewed as a sophisticated medium in their own right.

Q: How have the relationships between words and pictures evolved in comics?

Top comic book creators now utilize a more complex relationship between words and pictures. Narrative responsibility is often passed back and forth between the two, with each form of communication leveraged for its strengths. In some cases, the words and pictures may even contradict each other to engage readers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Comics offer a unique advantage as a visual storytelling medium because they are not time-bound like film or animation. This allows readers to control the rate of information flow, making comics a powerful educational tool.

• The author, who taught Algebra II, created comics lessons for absent students. The visual nature of comics engaged students, and they appreciated the ability to control their reading pace, unlike traditional lectures.

• The perception of comics has changed over time, with parents and teachers realizing that comics and pictures can effectively communicate sophisticated information, just as text can.