CHL 428A Graphic Novels & the Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz books, written between 1900 and 1920 by L. Frank Baum, remain one of the most successful and influential series in American Children's Literature. Wildly sought after for over half of the twentieth century, the series came under fire from critics and librarians beginning in the 1950's and its popularity eventually began to wane. The world of Oz, however, has never left public consciousness thanks in large part to the 1939 techni-color film starring Judy Garland, and more recent adaptations such as Gregory Maguire's book Wicked, and the Broadway musical it inspired. Beginning in 2009, however, the book series itself staged a comeback of sorts, as artist/writer Eric Shanower began adapting Baum's original 14 works into graphic novels at the behest of Marvel Comics. This course will employ three of Baum's original books and Shanower's corresponding adaptations to explore the graphic novel's usefulness as a tool through which we can further our understanding and appreciation of literature. We will examine the ways in which Shanower's adaptations elucidate and change Baum's original stories and discuss the ways in which graphic novels broaden the appeal and audience for traditional literature