ImageWord:Arab Graphic Novel

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

In this course, students will explore the emerging genre of the adult graphic novel in the Middle East and trace its development over the past two decades. They will examine the history of comics in the Arab world and the growing popularity of the graphic novel as a dynamic and engaging medium for storytelling that appeals to diverse audiences. Throughout the course, students will learn the core vocabulary and formal conventions associated with the graphic novel format. They will also analyze how Arab artists have used these conventions to engage with various sociopolitical conditions. The course will feature a range of notable graphic novels from different genres, including Metro: A Story of Cairo (2008) by Magdy El Shafee, A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return (2007) by Zeina Abirached, The Arab of the Future (2015) by Riad Sattouf, and Baddawi (2015) by Leila Abdelrazaq, among others. In studying each work, students will consider how visual symbolism and artistic rendering (alongside text) can offer unique approaches to addressing complex themes such as war, exile, identity, gender, and personal and collective trauma. Class discussions will focus on important elements such as graphic design, drawing style, artistic framing, narrative techniques, and key themes in each work. Supplemental readings, including theoretical essays on comic studies and historical writings on the Middle East, will enrich students’ understanding of the medium and contextualize each text in its temporal/geographical moment. Additionally, students will critically assess the subversive potential of the graphic novel and its role in political and social resistance. By the end of the course, students will have developed a deeper understanding of the genre and a greater appreciation for its growing cultural significance in the Arab world as a powerful medium for artistic expression and social critique.