The Development and Influence of Comic Books on the Contrary Society - Essay Example

? Research Case Studies By 12th, December, Contents Research Case Studies 2 By 2 2 2 Institution 2 12th, December, 2011 2 Contents 3 Introduction 4 The Identified Research Case Studies on Comic Books 6 When the Case Studies Were Conducted And By Who 7 Methodology Used In the Case Studies and the Target Audience 8 Research Objectives, Target Audience and Implementation 9 Contribution and Application of the Case Studies 10 Conclusion 11 Works Cited 12 Introduction Comic books are unquestionably one of the leading global entertainment media that have significantly contributed towards producing a number of the widely recognizable fictional characters. Comic books can be viewed as a booklet of a combination of pictures and words, which are integrated into a well-presented, flexible, and powerful printed form (Krensky, 2008). Therefore, comic books are presently a format that utilizes both unique art form as well as literary mechanism to highlight various cultural and everyday issues. At its simplest definition, comic books are usually a series of pictures and words that are actually presented in a manner that is sequential in order to create a narrative. However, comic books are currently mass-produced quickly and inexpensively (Wright, 2001; Lent, 1995; Wright, 2001; Sassiene, 1994; Schodt, 1996). Comic books can therefore be regarded as a visual piece of art in a sequential illustration presented in its own artistic vocabulary whereby they usually combine both art and writing. Therefore, according to (McCloud 2000), comic literacy is actually needed by the reader to understand the incidences that transpire between the panels (Ferraro, 2004). This paper makes use of two case studies to discuss the development and influence of comic books in the contemporary society. Despite the international popularity of the comic books, and reasonable profits attained at times, this medium of artistic presentation of ideas has experienced very little systematic review on aspects pertaining to its practices. There is also very little international comparative analysis of the comic books sector (Schodt, 1996). Therefore, despite the wide recognition of the comic books globally they remain poorly understood meaning that the comparative analysis of various case studies will be intensely critical in providing some key information on comic books (Krensky, 2008). This is mainly because they have a lengthy history, very popular among the young populations globally as well as their contribution towards producing some of the most recognizable cultural icons (McCloud, 2000). However, comic books are generally generational experiences as they tend to be a domain of the young people who eventually outgrows them, remember them fondly, as well as reflect on them with a combination of bewilderment and, at times concern. Therefore, each generation tends to produce its own stories and read its own comic books that primarily address issues that prevail at that particular time (Krensky, 2008). Most of the comic books usually emerge from the shifts that are related to interactions between culture, politics, and audience tastes, thereby helping in framing a worldview and defining a sense of identity among the generations that have grown up with such books (Wright, 2001). Thus, they have undoubtedly played a very critical role in the lives of millions of young people around the world (Medioni, 1991; Solo, 1989) For definitional purposes, there is need for categorizing the comic books separately from the comic strips. This is mainly because despite the two of these entertainment media sharing a lot of creative similarities and historical roots, there is a markedly big difference in how they are produced, packaged, distributed, as well as how the business practices are usually conducted. For instance, the production of the comic books is usually done in a magazine format and they are usually sold as standalone products whereas the comic’s trips are printed within other publications and they always target diverse audiences (Krensky, 2008). Generally, comic books have become very popular because they usually employ everyday language in dialogue balloons aimed at communicating a point in a more precise and expeditious manner (Wright, 2001). Therefore, by using a string or series of pictures, together with a matrix of diverse characters that the audience is capable of relating to, in combination with lots of text and debate within the pictures, the comic books creators manage to engage their readers to their creation. Therefore, the illustrators and writers commonly use basic characters stereotypes as well as cliches express their ideas and opinions adequately (Ferraro, 2004; Lent, 1995; Sassiene, 1994; Solo, 1989). Furthermore, even though the pictures presented within the comic books emphasize mainly on the words and dialogues of the book characters, however, the link that is created between the pictures and the words says so much more. Therefore, often the writers will tend to use puns, idioms, as well as slang to communicate easily with ordinary individuals. Therefore, the comic books always utilizes a narrative fiction which implies that they usually have a plot, characters, dialogue, setting, as well as symbolism (Krensky, 2008). The presentation of the pictures within a comic book usually plays a great role in controlling the interpretation of the words by the reader. This is because the presented pictures usually make the reader to see what the author’s intended as well as suggested meaning (Ferraro, 2004; Lent, 1995; Sassiene, 1994; Solo, 1989). The dialogue balloons and action lines therefore allows the reader to clearly understand the messages being put across by the writer, thereby explicitly getting a clear understanding of overall view of the comic books (Wright, 2001). The Identified Research Case Studies on Comic Books In the recent past, there have been several case studies on the issues concerning the comic books sector. This move is greatly attributable to the increased magnitude and popularity of the comic books, especially among the young generations (Wright, 2001; Schodt, 1996). Therefore, comic books have been converted into inherent part of the young people lifestyles on every part of the globe. This great importance accorded to comics has contributed to an improvement in the printing technology, which has tremendously boosted mass printing increasing the rate of production while at the same time reducing the cost of production. In this comparative analysis, two research case studies will be considered and they are: X-Men Ethics: Using comic books to teach business ethics which is authored by both Gerde and Foster (2008) and Mayfield, Mayfield and Genestre (2001) research case study. The comparison of the two case studies provide strategic insights on the study of the comic books industry between key countries such as Italy, France, Mexico, Japan and the USA. These two case studies provides critical insights to a better understanding of the comic books business and some of the ways in which they are likely to be effectively used to ensure there is an emphasis or criticism of some of the business and social issues (Wright, 2001; Ferraro, 2004; Lent, 1995; Sassiene, 1994; Solo, 1989). Therefore, the two studies were keenly identified for selection mainly because both provides insightful information on the issues concerning the usefulness of comic books in teaching business ethics as well as providing succinct comparative data on the issues involved in the comic books business preferably among the leading five countries globally (Krensky, 2008; Solo, 1989). When the Case Studies Were Conducted And By Who Individual researchers from the academia conducted both both case studies that have been identified for consideration. This is mainly because person who conducted the case studies were within the institutions of higher learning. For instance, the first case study was conducted by Gerde and Foster (2008) who are both lecturers of sociology even though at different institutions of higher learning while the second case study was conducted by Mayfield, Mayfield and Genestre (2001) who are lectures of management and marketing at motley institutions of higher learning. In addition, the two studies were conducted within the last ten years whereby one of them was actually conducted at the beginning of the last decade in the year 2001 while the second one was essentially conducted towards the end of the last decade in the year 2008. There is therefore no significant difference in the time and generations both case studies were conducted. Alternatively, the two case studies covered two separate but related issues that are very critical towards an explicit understanding of the comic books industry. For instance, the study by Gerde and Foster (2008) provides a comprehensive overview of the usefulness of the comic books in conducting teachings on business ethics, which is currently an issue of great concern to many people globally. However, the second case study helps in providing insights about the international comparative of the leading comic books industries around the globe (Ferraro, 2004). Methodology Used In the Case Studies and the Target Audience Both studies greatly contribute towards providing information that is essential in the understanding of the comic books industry. In addition, both of them used a qualitative methodology of study, which greatly helped in ensuring that adequate collection of qualitative data. In effect, this was very critical in providing useful information, which has a probability of greatly contributing to an explicit understanding of the comic books. The choice of methodology in both case studies was also descriptive in most of its aspects mainly because it mainly provided detailed information on the diverse issues involved in the comic books making, marketing, and reading. For instance, the case study by Gerde and Foster (2008) provides an overall description of how the comic books are currently used in teaching business ethics by describing varied aspects of the teaching of business ethics using comic books. This research covered almost every aspect of business ethics and expounded on how comic books have been applied in them. Additionally, the case study by Mayfield, Mayfield and Genestre (2001) also took a qualitative methodology approach towards providing useful information in the comparison of the comic books industry between the five countries that were considered. This is mainly because the data collected was purely qualitative since it considered describing and comparing the operations of the comic book industry among the five countries. This also implies that there is an aspect of description approach of the study since the research case study has greatly provided details of the strategic insights utilized by the considered countries in the marketing, management, and operations of the comic book industry (Ferraro, 2004; Sassiene, 1994; Solo, 1989). Research Objectives, Target Audience and Implementation The research objectives of the two studies were obviously different whereby the objectives of the case study conducted by Gerde and Foster (2008) were to determine the usefulness of the comic books in teaching business ethics as well as analyzing the extent to which the comic books have been used in teaching business ethics. On the other side, the second case study by Mayfield, Mayfield and Genestre (2001) main objectives were to provide succinct comparative information on the selected five countries and determine insightful information of the operations of the comic book industry in such countries. Both studies seem to have varied audiences whereby the case study by Gerde and Foster (2008) seems to target mostly on the scholars and institutions of learning from the elementary ones up to those of higher learning. This is mainly because the case study evaluates the impact of the comic books in teaching business ethics whereby the results of this case study are also applicable into other areas of learning. However, the study by Mayfield, Mayfield and Genestre (2001) seems to target the commercial stakeholders in the comic book industry as well as the policy makers by proving insightful information of how business is carried out among the five countries that had been identified. Additionally, both case studies seem to be of crucial importance to individuals concerned in the issues regarding to comic books in overall (McCloud, 2000; Solo, 1989). The implementation of the outcomes of these two case studies would undoubtedly result to a greater understanding of how effectively the comic books would be used in teaching as well as how adequately the industry can be managed (Krensky, 2008; Lent, 1995; Medioni, 1991). Contribution and Application of the Case Studies The identified case studies have had significant contributions to their fields of study. For instance, the initial study by Gerde and Foster (2008) specifically deals with the contributions of the comic books to the education system. This is mainly because the research provided a comprehensive description of the ways in which the comic books can be effectively used in teaching business ethics. Therefore, the findings of this case study are also applicable to all other fields of study and levels ranging from elementary to the highest levels of learning (Ferraro, 2004; Medioni, 1991). As a result, the case study is used by those involved in policy formulation in the institutions of higher learning to find the ways in which comic books can be effectively integrated in the learning process thereby providing adequate benefits to the students (Krensky, 2008). However, the findings of the second case study by Mayfield Mayfield and Genestre (2001) provides very crucial contributions to the national comic book industry in the countries that were considered in the comparative study. This greatly helped in revealing the marketing strengths and weaknesses in those countries on issues concerned with comic books. Based on each country’s market and environmental characteristics the comic book industry in such countries are likely to gain valuable insights from the marketing and management practices of the other counterparts in the business globally (Wright, 2001; Sassiene, 1994; Schodt, 1996). Hence, identification of a key framework for the marketing framework strategy benchmarking is crucial and can be drawn from preliminary comparisons. Therefore, this comparative case study would be greatly beneficial in suggesting strategic questions on which all the players within the comic books business can evaluate their progress in the maximization of the market potential. In addition, the formulated checklist could also be used as a framework for an ongoing self-audit scheme beneficial to any comic book company seeking to undertake a continuous improvement as a result of the evaluation of the feasibility of the strategic practices application within environments that are dynamic (Krensky, 2008; Medioni, 1991; Sassiene, 1994). Conclusion Comic books are undoubtedly becoming extremely popular throughout the world and especially among the young generation. This is mainly because they tend to produce a harmonious correlation of ideas and points of view that are concerned with the issues at stake. Therefore, the comic industry has experienced one of the most rigorous growths globally due to increased importance of comic books to the lives on most young people around the world. Hence, the two case studies that have been considered in the report explain how important the comic books have become to the teaching systems whereby they are used to communicate critical information. In addition, the comparative study of the comic book industry has also been considered among the five countries leading in the production, marketing, and management of the comic books industry. Therefore, the comic books forms a vital part of man’s daily operations while at the same time greatly contributing to the transformation of how the industry is managed in different countries. Works Cited Ferraro, J. 2004. Profile: All-Star Comics & Games, Pair Shuns Corporate Life For Comic Books. Tribune Business Weekly, 14(46), 3-3. Gerde, V.W. and Foster, R.S. 2008. X-Men Ethics: Using Comic Books to Teach Business Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 77, no. 3, pp. 246-258. Krensky, S. 2008. Comic Book Century: The History of American Comic Books. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books. Lent, J. A. (1995). Comics in East Asian Countries: A Contemporary Survey. Journal of Popular Culture, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 185-198. Mayfield, M., Mayfield, J. and Genestre, A.D. 2001. Strategic Insights from the International Comic Book Industry: A Comparison of France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, And the U.S.A. American Business Review, vol. 19, no. 2. pp. 82-92. McCloud, S. 2000. Reinventing Comics. New York, NY: DC Comics. Medioni, G. 1991. Cartoonists Abroad Are 'Stirring Things Up. World Press Review, vol. 38, October, pp. 26-27. Sassiene, P. 1994. The Comic Book. Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books. Schodt, F.L. 1996. Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga. Berkely, CA: Stone Bridge Press. Solo, S. 1989. Japanese Comics Are All Business. Fortune, vol. 120, no. 8, pp. 143-149. Wright, B.W. 2001. Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America. Baltimore, MA: The John Hopkins University Press. Read More

 

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