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Class Notes for Thursday, September 24

Page history last edited by Moriah J 15 years, 4 months ago

Overview

 

We started Thursday’s class with a recap of Tuesday’s discussion with Adam Besenyodi.  It seems that some of us thought the book was too comprehensive and others felt that it wasn’t comprehensive enough because the focus on Marvel seemed too pointed.  It was also suggested that the discussion would have been far more effective if we had actually read the book beforehand. Overall, we had a great turnout and if anybody is interested in a signed copy of the book, please contact Professor Sample.

 

We had two presentations to finish off Watchmen:  Ben Fleser and Shannon Pennell

Ben focussed mostly on Rorschach's role in Watchmen, and how meaning and nuance can be conveyed in a single panel.  For instance, on page four of chapter six, Rorschach's childhood discovery of his mother's prostitution is very dramatic, not just subjectively but aesthetically as well.  The background of the panel is yellow, while his mother is dark and looming over Rorschach.  This contrast of light versus dark conveys the evil nature of Rorschach's mother and his own terror as a child.  Ben also talked about how the pace of the comic is influenced by the sequencing of the panels.  Time is also effected by the dialogue included in - or taken out of - a panel.

 

 

 

  

 

He was also able to make some very compelling points about closure. Showing how as the reader we can draw several conclusions about what he is seeing when he sees his landlady's little boy. Rorschach for the first time is able to exercise mercy and compassion and not just revenge and judgement on behalf of someone that has been wronged.

 

Class discussion on Watchmen:

Part of our discussion centered around signs, such as those seen in the final two chapters.  For instance, the carnage in Chapter 12 is depicted as a series of static images that nonetheless offer many visual cues.  Examples include the Madison Square Garden showing of Pale Horse, a nod to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, from the Biblical book of Revelations (Pale Horse is ridden by Death).  Also, Krystalnacht is seen on the same marquee, an apparent reference to Kristallnacht, an anti-Jewish pogrom in Nazi Germany and Austria.  On the next page, we see The Day the Earth Stood Still, a movie that originally came out in 1951, about how people across the world come together to fight an alien.  This, of course, parallels Adrian Veidt’s attempts to bring the world together against a common enemy.  

 

Another example of Moore's bleak statement on Humankind's fate is symbolized on page three of chapter twelve, when the curled and damaged "one way" sign points to the gruesome sight of dead bodies, destroyed buildings, and a "Utopia" sign minus a 't'.  Even Veidt seems insecure (12:27) when Jon mocks Veidt's optimism: " 'in the end?' Nothing ends, Adrian.  Nothing ever ends." Veidt's incredulous tone when he questions Jon's meaning, and the look he throws over his shoulder, is hardly confident.  Moore's final comment on the possibility of peace on Earth is given on the last page, where the reporter refers to the current peace with Russia as an "ass-kissing accord," and mocks the seemingly flighty comaraderie between the US and Russia.  Watchmen was published in 1986, about a year into the Cold War period (1985-1991).  The last page of chapter 12 offers a clever allusion (or example of intertextuality, if you will) to this period.  In the Watchmen universe Seymour the intern mentions that Robert Redford has announced he will run for president in '88. His boss/editor Hector Godfrey refers to Redford as a "cowboy actor".  This is of course a reference to Ronald Reagan (note the same initials R.R.), 40th President of the US and famous actor who appeared in many westerns.  In real life, Reagan was President when the Cold War began almost until the end while in Watchmen's universe, Nixon is still President.  

All that sarcasm, and then the panel where Seymour uncovers Rorschach's journal in which the truth is written points to a pretty grisly future for the world.

 

Professor Sample introduced a new (and complicated) term:  intercompositional intermediality (see key terms), which is somewhat like intertexting, but focused more exclusively on media.  Therefore, media images are used to shape meaning within a text, such as Batman’s use of television.  In Watchman, Kennedy’s assassination and music (e.g. Bob Dylan lyrics and Billie Holiday singing) are two examples of this device. 

 

The man in the Black Freighter becomes so consumed by the idea of pirates attacking his hometown that he becomes deranged and turns into the very thing he fears, by confusing the people in his town and his wife to be pirates. Veidt is consumed by the thought of nuclear war and death and attempts to advert it by killing millions.

 

There was an interesting discussion on the marketing of Veidt’s colognes – Nostalgia and Millenium.  Shannon insightfully noted that these cologne names represent either the past or the future – is Veidt trying to make sure the populace does not focus on the present?  Prof. Sample brought up the fact that the book was written in 1986 when the millennium seemed so distant to many.  He said that the “fact that we’re reading this book now offers us an interesting perspective” – very true!

 

Next week we begin Maus, which will complete our 1986 series of graphic novels

 

Class Highlights 

 

Twitter Battle: Movie ending vs Novel ending

 

 kitlerc Just finished watchmen for #eng493. I don't see why they changed the ending in the movie. Too many thoughts for one tweet. 3 days ago from web

 TheHedgeKnight @kitlerc call me blasphemer but I prefer the film ending, at least in theory, though really does little to change it. #eng493 3 days ago from Seesmic

ellebeeloved watched movie. mildly impressed w/accuracy until dr manhattan appeared. movie changed him and the ending. why was it necessary? #eng493 2 days ago from web

 Aly_J @kitlerc the movie ending makes more sense since bombs hit all the big cities in the world.. helps world join together as victims. #eng493 2 days ago from web    

 

Aly_J my fiance maintains that if it had really just been NY that was hit, the rest of the world would just finish us off -- alien or no #eng493 2 days ago from web

TheHedgeKnight @Aly_J bombs "from god" they are unstoppable, the world already fears Manhattan as godlike. aliens may be resisted, but not god. #eng493 2 days ago from Seesmic

sardoniceyeroll Maybe the best idea would have been to drop squids on several major cities...#eng493 2 days ago from web

vaeyn I'm not liking the whole fake alien thing. It made more sense for people to fear something they knew about (Dr. M)than ET #eng493 1 day ago from web

kitlerc @vaeyn I disagree, the unknown is always scarier. #eng493 1 day ago from web

vaeyn @kitlerc I don't know, I think I would fear the near infinite godlike being more than the suicidal hentai monster #eng493 1 day ago from web

sameoldjostie The tentacled monster is such a weak ending. Boo Ozy. #eng493 1 day ago from txt

Results: 7

Why change/ leave the same: 2

Tentacles are weak/ movie ending makes more sense: 4

Fusion ending (many tentacles on diff cities): 1

 

The ending was a popular topic via Twitter. From those who commented and comparing that to thoughts expressed in class I would have to say that a lot of people thought the ending too “comic booky” It was mentioned though that Moore could have done this on purpose. Others say that it didn’t really fit.

 

The Veidt/Black Freighter Parallel:

 

This parallel is made obvious by Veidt admitting a dream ("I dream about swimming towards a hideous...") and by similar text used in the Black Freight and the main text ("backs of murdered...").

 

 

 

Key Terms

 

 

 

Comments (3)

Jeanine Wavelet said

at 11:43 am on Sep 25, 2009

I sent out my portion, but I'm getting some emails kicked back. So, I will post what I have on the wiki - please add and amend as needed. I will not be around to post the final version, so will someone please review and post it by Saturday night? Thanks...Jeanine

Moriah J said

at 1:41 am on Sep 26, 2009

Hey guys, I'm thinking about adding in some stuff from Twitter. There are some things that match up with diff aspects of class discussion. I'll format that and put it under highlights. If yall have any tweets you think should make it let me know!

Mark Sample said

at 8:32 pm on Sep 28, 2009

I like this idea of using Twitter as a kind of archive that captures some of the out-of-class discussion. It's a good reminder that what makes it into our conversation in class represents only a fraction of what people think and say about the graphic novels.

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