Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Alan Moore


Alan Moore’s  graphic novel “ Light of Thy Countenance” brings up the question of how we define literature.   Moore’s comic book is considered to be non-literature for many people mostly because they believe it is to simple or elementary. I feel that Moore’s comic is considered literature.   In the beginning of the course, we gave certain characteristics that may help us define literature.   I feel that most of these characteristics pertain and are evident in Moore’s comic book.  
Similar to any other form of literature whether it is a novel or a short story, Moore’s comic book is read with the same process of noticing, questioning, and formulation of a hypothesis.   It can be said that we question who Maureen Cooper really is, notice the elements of the supernatural, and formulate that Cooper is indeed a spirit of the TV.  This process is the same process that would be used to analyze any other novel.  Like any other novel, there are four components in the comic book that signify that it is literature. They are text/context and reader/context comparisons. It can be said that the comic book style text relates to the context in which it was written as well as the reader’s experience (religion, race, culture) in context to our current time period.  
In my opinion, the definition of literature as becomes too narrow-minded.   Many scholarly authors say that literature has to have a deeper meaning or that it must use certain literary techniques that enhance the style of writing.   I believe that what defines literature ultimately depends on the reader.    On the first day of class we toke notes on how literature has the ability to enrich life, serve as an escape from reality, and relieve stress.  I feel that as long as the piece of work that is being read serves one of these purposes it can be defined as literature.    I believe that we should be broadening our minds with more unique styles and forms of literature such as Moore’s comic book.  I think many people who believe Moore’s comic book is not literature are simply too narrow-minded in the way they perceive and analyze text.   

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