Masters of the ninth art : bandes dessinées and Franco-Belgian identity / Matthew Screech.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Screech, Matthew.

Series:

Contemporary French and francophone cultures ; 3.

Contemporary French and Francophone cultures ; 3

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Uderzo.

Goscinny, 1926-1977.

Hergé, 1907-1983.

Comic books, strips, etc--France--History and criticism.

Comic books, strips, etc.

Comic books, strips, etc--Social aspects.

Criticism and interpretation.

France.

Comic books, strips, etc--Belgium--History and criticism.

Hergé.

Goscinny.

Uderzo--Criticism and interpretation.

Hergé, 1907-1983--Appreciation.

Goscinny, 1926-1977--Appreciation.

Uderzo--Appreciation.

Comic books, strips, etc--Social aspects--France.

Comic books, strips, etc--Social aspects--Belgium.

National characteristics, Belgian, in literature.

National characteristics, French, in literature.

Belgium.

Physical Description:

vii, 252 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Liverpool : Liverpool University Press, 2005.

Summary:

Although virtually unknown in the US and the UK, the bande dessinee is a vitally important aspect of popular culture in France and Belgium, where it is known as 'the ninth art'. Masters of the Ninth Art offers an introduction to bandes dessinees for English readers, considering examples of the genre from Herge's Adventures of Tintin (1929) up to the late twentieth century. The strips are considered in terms of plot, style, influences and the wider context of Franco-Belgian culture, and they range from literary parody, gag-humour, westerns and realism to science fiction and historical drama. Screech analyses the work of a variety of artists, some well known to English-speakers such as Goscinny, some less well known such as Jacques Tardi and Marcel Gotlib. Where possible the artists have been interviewed to obtain first-hand reflections on their ideas, methods and influences.

Taking national identity to be forged by a nation's language, history, myths, cultural artefacts and traditions, Masters of the Ninth Art shows how BD artists have established a distinct Franco-Belgian identity, which differs from that of American comics as exemplified by superheroes and the Underground. The bandes dessinees follow traditions put in place by French-speaking writers and artists, they make cultural references which would be impossible in the English-speaking world and they are inspired by Franco-Belgian history and current affairs. As a result, the ninth art has become one of Franco-Belgian culture's unique distinguishing characteristics.

Contents:

Part I The Bande dessinee Classics

1 Constructing the Franco-Belgian Hero: Herge's Aventures de Tintin 17

2 Creating Ambiguity: Andre Franquin's Humorous Strips 52

3 A Hero for Everyone: Rene Goscinny's and Albert Uderzo's Asterix the Gaul 75

Part II Innovation and Renewal

4 A Challenge to Convention: Jean Giraud/Gir/Moebius 95

5 New Visions of the Past: Jacques Tardi 128

6 Laughing Together: Humour and Shared Identity 154

7 Reconstructing the Narrative and After 182.

ISBN:

085323938X

OCLC:

57166693