Democrats Reaching Out: The Comic Book Method

[Sporadicus]

Listening to NPR last week on the way home from work, I heard the story of an engineer who collaborated with an artist to create comic-book stories that explain scientific principles - a counterstrike against fundies who publish their own bible-tract comics ridiculing evolutionary theory. It got me to thinking...then I got home, ate, got busy & forgot about it...until today!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4495248

It occurred to me that comic tracts could be a way to reach those whose senses have been dulled by overexposure to the MSM, fundies, neocon apologists and * cultists. Imagine tracts highlighting FDR's accomplishments in leading the US out of the Great Depression, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, black-box voting, etc. Despite notions that comic books are 'kid stuff,' keep in mind that the human brain reserves plenty of space for processing visual information - especially human faces. These comics could connect on a level that the printed word could never hope to attain.

I'd be interested in pitching this idea to MoveOn and other progressive groups to provide financing for this endeavor. I welcome any input other DUers would have - regardless of experience or expertise. After a comprehensive plan is conceived, I advocate sending a proposal to Howard Dean; after all, this is about as 'grass-roots' as you can get.

[Old and In the Way]

1. Sad that we've degenerated to the point of comic books to educate,

but if that is what it takes to get people to have their blubs turned on, it's not a bad. It scares me to think what was common knowledge and understanding 30 years ago, is suddenly disputable. Only in Bushworld.

[Sporadicus]

2. Consider the Audience

I don't mean to disparage, but many in the intended audience have limited education. If this is the only way to reach some people, so be it!

[tinanator]

4. who doesnt have limited education?

There are many excellent examples of this already in print. The cartoon guides to American History are great! There are cartoon guides to lots of subjects. The historical accomplishments of comic books as literature and art are not to be dismissed. They are not for dummies by any means.

[0007]

8. Limited education = Moran +

A person regarded as very stupid. A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or vocational education.

.....and these mindless morans let CNN, FAUX and MSNBC do their thinking, because they are incapable of having an original thought of their own.


Here is a photo of the original moran...

[tinanator]

6. It is not we that have degenerated

Its the fascist media. Pick up ANY newspaper from the 60's or 70's and you will see a level of professionalism and intelligence long gone. It will make you angry and upset. I dare ya, find some really old newspapers from anywhere in the country and see what we have lost.

[Old and In the Way]

13. Well, I grew up in the 60's.

I'm so old, I can remember when the Boston Globe was a real liberal/progressive newspaper. They used to have a weekly "Spotlight" series that exposed political corruption. Something only blogs seem to be doing today.

[tinanator]

3. Addicted to War

Sequential Graphic Storytelling Art is to me what Oxycontin is to Rush Limbaugh.
I dont really do the books, but the artform is as important and American as jazz. Youre absolutely right, and if I ever had the time and technical ability, I would be doing it myself.

[tinanator]

5. uh, no

Let's keep Howard Dean out of this. Stan Lee has done enough damage.

[Johnny Noshoes]

7. This is a great idea.

A bunch of comic books designed to educate people on the accomplisments of the Democratic party and how America would be a very different place today if not for Democrats and liberals. You could drop them in laundromats and barber shops and all sorts of places. I live in a neightborhood with loads of Eastern European immigrants. They might not be citizens YET but what a great way to maybe get some of them to think of becoming Democrats when they do become citizens. The Democratic party USED to be great at this in the past maybe everything old CAN be new again.

[tinanator]

10. thats just propaganda very easily turned on its head

Better to diminish the Bush fascist cabal with historical tragedies they are responsible for than to try to whitewash the Democratic Party which has plenty of blood on its hands and failures and scandals and complicity, all of which could be used in the same way against it. The comic book version of Bush dynasty glories has already been published as assassination manuals in the SOA. That lovely institution that still gets support from local posters when mentioned.

[Johnny Noshoes]

15. Propaganda - maybe so

Yes both sides have been gulity of having done some nasty things;however, if you are trying to bring in new people of course you show your best face. Yes anything either side does can be turned against it but what does that mean - you don't make the effort. Yes the Bush cabal is beyond redemption but you can attract more new people with a positive vision of your side rather than simply trashing the bad guys. You can go after them too of course but you should also use positive means that is telling people what you stand for and what you can bring to the table and what you as a party can do for them and the country. Cut the Bush bastards down of course but give people a reason to be for our side and not just against the GOP.

[AZCat]

9. We need a progressive Jack Chick

I am a long-time sequential art fan. One of my first contacts was the comic version of "Uncle Tom", and I read Shakespeare's plays in comic form when I was young - both examples were great at introducing literature to young children in a digestible form.

For those of you who don't know, Jack Chick is the writer/artist behind the religious tracts that are passed out or dropped off. He has a simple style and a pointed message that has gained him fans even from those whose views are antithetical to Jack's views.

I envision someone with Jack's punch producing progressive tracts that we can download, print, and distribute in a similar manner. Anyone else think this idea could fly?

[Sporadicus]

11. Shameless Kick

I had to leave for awhile, but I want to hear more ideas!

[Lone_Wolf]

12. It's a good idea

It might be helpful to put together a sample comic book and a study on a focus group (of undecideds)to see how they respond to it.

[OnionPatch]

14. I think it's a good idea

If comic books are the form of literature that more people will read and understand, then comic books are what we need. (Although I do think it's a sad commentary on American intellect.)

Thom Hartmann has already published a comic book that lays out the whole conservative/corporate agenda. It's called "We The People--A Call to Take Back America" but it's bit large, novel size. I think smaller comic books focusing on single issues would be good too. The question is where and how would you distribute them?

[Democrat Dragon]

16. good idea

I think it also provides simpler way of explaining things without filling 20 pages to explain one concept or event. There are lot of "educational" graphic books out there. I have seen one about U.S history, one about world history, one about cryptozoology, and one about how the media is biased and gets twisted and spinned to fit one's agenda.