For a class I took this semester, for my masters in library science, I had to write a paper on an information technology and its impact on society. I chose the comic book. I thought I would share it with all of you, since we are comic book readers and the recent talk about guns in the Sonic comic made me think of it. Plus, I feel comfortable sharing it because it did get a good grade on it(as long as nobody steels it). My opinion is that it is possible that overly violent comic books can have a negative influence on people, though how much is debatable. Also, it is possible that people that are attracted to really violent comic books already have problems. Here is my paper, sorry for the long post:

One of the earliest forms of information technology was pictures, used to keep a record of information like business transactions. In modern times, cartoons are used for entertainment, and reflect the values and ideas of the culture. Cartoons or comic books have been a part of the American culture since colonial times. According to Eric C. Caren, in his article "The American Comic Book: 1500s-1828," (which is in the 2005 Edition of "The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide,") illustrations were used in colonial newspapers to communicate political ideas. One of the first political cartoons in America was Benjamin Franklin's "Join or Die" cartoon in the Pennsylvania Gazette, which urged the colonist to unite against the French near the outbreak of the French and Indian War (Caren, 2005, p. 318). By the 1930's according to the World Book Encyclopedia (2008), the first comic books, as they are known today, started appearing. Among the first was "Famous Funnies." Today, the comic book industry has grown generating "$32 million in ad sales" and is expected to increase reported Brain Steinberg in his article issued on December 10, 2007 of Advertising Age, titled "Can Comics Save the Day For Brands?" Overstreet (2005) reports that in 2005 about 80, 000 fans attended the San Diego Comic Book Convention to meet their favorite comic book writers and artists, and buy or trade comic books. There have been debates over the years on the impact of comic books on the American culture and society, whether it has been good or bad. . This paper will touch on some of the research that has been done.

First, this paper will discuss the debate about the influence of comic books and its culture especially as it relates to children. The main argument for the negative impact of comic books is that comic books lead to children becoming violent. Walter Goodman in a New York Times (Oct. 8, 2000) article, "Seducing the Innocent: the Sequel" talks about a famous book by Dr. Frederic Wertham in which a study was done in the 1950's. In this study, children who had committed violent crimes were interviewed and given psychological test. One of the interview/test subjects was a ten year old boy who apparently drowned another boy by pushing him into the water. It was determined by Dr. Wertham that "our patient would not have been pushed to the murder if his mind had not been imbued with readiness for violence and murder by his continuous comic book reading." Other psychologists challenged Dr. Wertham's findings saying how he interpreted what his interviewee's said left "reasonable doubt." In the introduction to their study "Does Exposure to Comic Book, Violence Lead to Aggression in Children?," Alexis S. Tan and Kermit Joseph Scruggs (1990, p.579) noticed the research of Wolf and Fiske who found that children and teenagers who were considered "neurotic" read more action/violent comic book than those who did not. However, it was possible that the subjects already were violent or anti-social even before the young person started to read comic books. In Tan and Scruggs' (1990, pp.581-583) own research, children were "randomly" given a violent or non-violent comic book to read. Afterward, they filled out a questionnaire but this didn't find much of a connection between comic books and aggression in children. However, Tan and Scruggs (1990) noted the flaws of their study, certain elements in the violent comics, like having superheroes, may have been able to help the children see the story as "fantasy" and thus they did not feel inspired to act out violently. Also, the study didn't show what the long term affects of reading comic books could be. According to the "World Book Encyclopedia in response to Wertham's study and book "Seducing the Innocent" and concerned parents, the comic book industry created the "Comic Code Authority." The Comic Code Authority would review comic books and remove material that would be found to be "objectionable" (vol 4, p. 870). Recently, there are some that have used comics as a way to try to combat violence. In an article in the Evening Times, "East End Kids Send Out a Safety Message: comic book crusaders take on thugs". (Evening Times, Glasgow, Scotland, May 25, 2001), tells about a group of teenagers in Scotland who created a comic book in order to educate and warn others about gangs.

One way comic books can be a positive impact on children and society is the potential to help students learn to read. There is discussion and studies in the educational community on whether comic books should be used to teach reading, and if so, how. Since some students are having trouble learning to read teachers are searching for new and creative ways to help students who are challenged. In an editorial in the New York Times, "Comic Books in the Classroom" (Jan 3, 2008) tells of a program for "struggling readers" called Comic Book Project. Under this project students not only read comic books, but also work together with other students to write, draw, and even publish their own comic books. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, "Making Literature Come to Life In Class: Graphic Novels Are Giving Teachers A New Tool to Teach Literature" (Jan 12, 2008) graphic novels which are similar to comic books with pictures in the panels, are starting to be used in classes. The main difference being the comic books have "episodes" (often the story continues in the next issue) where graphic novels have a beginning, middle, and end. Because of this structure, educators have found that graphic novels, like "Maus: A Survivor Tale" (a graphic novel about the Holocaust) are great for teaching things such as "plot, setting, place, character, and story-telling." There are a number of reasons found why comic books and graphic novels can be a useful tool in teaching literacy. One being that comics can be, as Bonny Norton (Oct 2003) pointed out in her study, "The motivating power of comic books: Insights from Archie comic readers," a "pleasure" to read. That in turn helps children to feel like they "own" the "text," so they can better analyze and talk about the text in a meaningful way. Another factor is the visuals in comic books. In Elissa Gootman's article, in the New York Times, "Superman Finds New Fans Among Reading Instructors" (Dec 26, 2007) Michael Bitz states that "for kids who may be struggling and for kids who may be new to the English language that visual sequence is a very powerful tool."

However, there are those in education, and parents too, that do have concerns about using comics in the classroom. The major concern seems to be that comic books are at a reading level that is not 'challenging" enough, and that the comic books in the classroom will not encourage students to read books that are at a higher reading level (Norton, 2003). Gootman (2007) quotes Diane Ravitch, who is an education professor at New York University as saying "If you're going to use comics in the classroom at all, which I have serious doubts about, it should be only as a motivation tool. What teachers have to recognize is that this is only a first step." The writer of this paper believes that comic books can be useful to teach reading a literature, and can find a way to motivate students to read more but it shouldn't be the only reading materials used or the critics will be right in that it can potentially dumb down lessons. Students should be encouraged to increase their reading level and go on to something higher than just studying comic books.Reading or literature classes will not accomplish that for those students that are not motivated. Research needs to be done. However, very little research (if any) has been done at this point on the effectiveness of reading programs that use comic books or graphic novels.

In conclusion, there is much more to say that can't be covered in this paper about how comic books have influenced our society and culture, for good or bad, and expand on the subject further and to talk about how comics have been influenced by the culture and the issues.Wherever comics have had a negative or positive affect, or any other form of information technology for that matter, will likely always be a matter of debate. In the opinion of this writer, the answer to this question seems to be that it depends; comic books probably can encourage violence in kids that are prone to violence or who are overexposed to the violence in comic books. However, comic books can also be used to give positive messages, like the students in Scotland who created a comic book to spread an anti-gang message, or can be used to teach and learn. It all depends on the message of the comic book and how the comic books are used.

References:

1. Eric C. Caren and Robert M. Overstreet. (editor). "Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide." The Pioneer Age: the American Comic Book: 1500s-1828.,(pp. 316-344)

2. Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (New York: House of Collectibles, 2005. 35), 316-344.

3. Walter Goodman, "Seducing the Innocent, the Sequel: History of Social Hysteria Related to Sex and Violence in Comic Books", New York Times, Oct. 8, 2000, pWK2(N) pWK2(L) col 5(11col), http://findgalegroup.com/intx. (accessed on January 22, 2008).

4. Elissa Gootman, "Superman Finds Fans Among Reading Instructors. (Metropolitan Desk) (comics use in reading instruction.)." The New York Times, 157.54170 (Dec 26. 2007,: B1(L). Custom Newspapers. Gale. Memphis Shelby County Public Library. 17, (January 2008, http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=SPN.SP06

5. Bonny Norton, "The Motivating Power of Comic Books: Insights from Archie Comic Readers." The Reading Teacher. Vol. 57. no.2. pp. 140-147(October 2003). EBSCO. (accessed on January 22, 2008).

6. Brian Steinberg, "Can Comic Save the Day For Brands?: Honda, Others Head to Previously Uncool Ad Space to Reach Legions of Young-Male Readers." Advertising Age. Vol. 78. 49. (10 December 2007). http://global.factiva.com.proxy.lib.utk.edu:90/ha/defalult.aspx.

7. Alexis S. Tan, Kermit Joseph Scrugges, "Does Exposure to Comic Book Violence Lead to Aggression in Children." Journalism Quarterly: Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Texas Tech. University. (1990). pp. 579-583.

8. "Comic Books in the Classroom." (Editorial). The New York Times. 157.54178 (Jan 3, 2008): A22(L).Custom Newspapers. Gale. Memphis. http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=SPN, SPO6.

9. "East End Kids Send Out a Safety Message; Comic Book Crusaders Take on Thugs." Evening Time, (Glasgow, Scotland). May 25, 2001. 33. Custom Newspapers. Gale Memphis Shelby County Public Library. http://findgalegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=SPN.SP06 . (accessed on January 22, 2008).