Ch 2 Finished - Odyssey Final Sequence

Chapter two is complete! This thing kept growing on me somewhat outward and frequently inward. The sequence here concludes the chapter. It's a journey with a few references to the Odyssey (from cyclops, to Ithaka, and more), a lot of triangles and tetrahedrons, and a weaving together of a number of diverse philosophical perspectives (as is the entire chapter) from pragmatism to fractals to parallax. Furthermore, it reflects on and draws on earlier elements of the rest of the chapter and the interlude (see for example Rhizomes and Flatland and the previously discussed Joyce/faucet page here.) I'm planning to post the entire chapter in order plus the title page at the end of the week ... so stay tuned! thanks - Nick

Did it flow? Connectedness in Joyce

While I still have one more page to draw to finish Chapter two, I wanted to share a single page from the final sequence of the chapter. This page plays off the faucet passage in James Joyce's Ulysses from the Ithaca episode. I first read this in high school (twice forward and once backward at the suggestion of my just-returned-from-college brother as a way to really find things in the text - I'm still not sure if he was just messing with me) and what I took from a single passage detailing all that went on in turning on a faucet had a profound influence on me. So I've been waiting a long, long time to put this in comics form! (I tackled it in a tiny single panel on the third page of the piece "Bi(bli)ography") It picks up the idea of parallax (from earlier in the chapter) in visual form and connects that to ecosystems theory - which i'm drawing on my mom's writing (she teaches environmental studies) and others, as well as Deleuze and Guattari's notion of rhizomes (from this page). There's also a mention of Flatland - which i brought to life here and closes with a nod to Heraclitus' on not being able to step into the same stream twice. Ok, there's a lot more - and i'm pretty excited to be able to share this - but I should just let the page speak for itself. The finale of chapter two will be posted next week! thanks - Nick 

(As always, these are lower res for the web...)

Comics class & Conversations

I'm pleased to announce that the comics course for educators i developed at Teachers College will once again be offered in the Spring term. It's under a new name and department, but a similar focus on understanding, making, and exploring ways to incorporate comics into the classroom. More info below and on my comics classroom wiki.

Also, following up on the podcast discussing my work from professors at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, UAF prof. Brooke Sheridan and I share reflections on rethinking the form of scholarship on the HASTAC blog here. We welcome your thoughts in this ongoing conversation. - Nick 

A&HE 5151.2 Popular Texts: Focus on Comics in Teaching and Learning 

Curious about comics? Interested in using them in your classroom? By embarking on a journey of study and practice, making and application, participants will expand their appreciation for comics and their understanding of the possibilities within this medium and its various genres. Ultimately, this will lead to the development of ways to enrich our classrooms and our students.   Open to all majors.

Spring 2013 A&HE 5151.2 Popular Texts: Focus on Comics in Teaching and Learning (CRN 52070) 
Mondays: 5:10-6:50pm, 3 credits, Instructor: Nick (aka Walter) Sousanis
Questions: nsousanis @ gmail.com, comics site: http://www.spinweaveandcut.com. Check out the syllabus and resources on comics and education here: http://comicsclassroom.wikispaces.com/