Neha, Grade 10
Graphic novels have been shoved in the spotlight a lot in the past few years. At least in North America, the most popular genres of fiction have consistently been general fiction, followed by romance for as long as most of us can remember. And although graphic novels have been around for decades as well, they didn’t get much attention… until recently. Starting in 2019, North America saw a huge spike in graphic novel sales, and in 2022, graphic novels accounted for the third-highest selling fiction genre, with 35 million copies sold in that year alone. Naturally, following such a huge shift, there is controversy surrounding this genre. While some argue that graphic novels should be seen as “brain candy” instead of real literature, others say that graphic novels should undoubtedly be considered literature because they teach similar skills to other genres and tell stories as well, just with a different ratio of images to words. Personally, I think that graphic novels are definitely a form of literature, because they convey stories, fill the same role societally as novels, and teach important literary skills.
When we examine what graphic novels are at their core, they’re just stories, with plots, characters, and conflicts–just like traditional print novels are. At the very deepest level of understanding, graphic novels essentially provide the same type of entertainment to the reader as print books- they tell a story, brought to life on paper in the form of a book. So why on Earth would people doubt that graphic novels are literature? Well, the main argument regarding this sector is that graphic novels are “easier to read” than traditional books. This is not true at all. Although it could be valid that some graphic novels may be more simple than traditional books, it’s also true the other way around- for example, picture books. Picture books are widely considered literature, even though they’re especially simple, since they’re made for very young kids to consume. In the way that there are age and complexity ranges for traditional books, graphic novels follow that same concept. If you find yourself reading a graphic novel that’s way too simple, it may be because that book isn’t well-suited for you–it doesn’t mean that the genre as a whole is “brain candy”. It is very clear that graphic novels convey stories just like traditional literature does, and although it’s true that graphic novels can have very simple plots, they have a large range of complexity just like other genres, and it’s not fair to discount their legitimacy because of a double standard.
Aside from having the same basic structure as traditional books, graphic novels also fit the same societal role as other books. Throughout all of history, books have shaped lives in a way that we may not consciously realize. For example, by shaping culture. When we look at classic examples like “1984” or “Little Women” we can clearly see that books have the ability to progress societal ideals but they can also act as a time capsule, capturing snippets of whatever period they were written in. Books themselves can also become symbols of their time- for example, when we think of the biggest events of 1997, we may remember Harry Potter being published for the first time. Graphic novels have that functionality. They have the same ability as books to point out societal flaws and norms, and act as activism in the same way that traditional books do. They are also part of that time capsule, since graphic novel authors and illustrators are influenced by their surroundings just like authors of other genres.
Lastly and perhaps most importantly, graphic novels teach readers valuable knowledge and skills about life. Traditional books are seen as an amazing resource to use to help with learning. For example, my high school had us read and analyze the book “The House on Mango Street” this year, which completely opened my eyes up to society in a way I’d never seen it before. But these kinds of eye-opening moments aren’t exclusive to traditional literature–graphic novels have led to the same kind of reform. One example is the graphic novel “Maus”, about the Holocaust. In fact, this book was so thought-provoking that it was banned several times. Aside from teaching actual information to the reader, graphic novels and traditional books both help with comprehension skills as well. Traditional books are widely appreciated for helping the reader develop imagination skills. Despite this, many people believe that graphic novels don’t do the same because they give the reader pictures to help them follow the story. However, personally, I found myself avoiding graphic novels when I was younger–I only learned to appreciate them recently. I avoided them because I felt like with traditional literature, I had a much easier time imagining the story. If an author told me that someone was walking to school, all I had to do was imagine someone walking. But with graphic novels, I actually had a harder time because I had to imagine the other way around. If I saw a picture of someone walking, I had to gather from context and the limited words available what was happening. Where were they walking to? Where were they coming from? What time of day was it? In that manner, although graphic novels may teach critical thinking in a slightly different way than other genres, it’s equally important to be able to do it both ways, and graphic novels are a useful way to teach those skills.
Ultimately, I strongly believe that graphic novels should be considered literature. They have the same basic structure and function as traditional books, they fit the same role as other genres in historical and activism contexts, and they can teach the readers skills like imagination and critical thinking using the same methods as other genres of books. Even though some people may say that they’re pure entertainment with no actual purpose, it’s very clear that even though there may be some graphic novels fitting that description, there are far more that are useful and educational.
Sources:
https://writersaresuperstars.substack.com/p/how-culture-pushed-us-to-graphic
https://medium.cm/@usmangondal351/the-impact-of-literature-how-books-shape-society-bcb159f09f3c
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