1. VISUAL NARRATIVE &
THE FUTURE OF ENTERTAINMENT
MCDM COM 597
Instructor: Rob Salkowitz
Session 1
April 6, 2013

2. This class
we’ve
signed up
for…
It’s (Choke)
comics!
This class is about:
• History and anatomy of
sequential art as a medium
• Role of comics in 21st century
pop culture, entertainment
and media
• How to use visual narrative as
a communications tools
• How to incorporate sequential
art into transmedia storytelling
Welcome!

3. Rob Salkowitz
rob@robsalkowitz.com
@robsalk
206-860-9847 (h/o)
206-669-2471 (m/txt)
Let’s get acquainted

4. Who are you?
What’s your story

5. • Class meets 5 times:
4/6, 4/20, 5/4, 5/18, 6/1
• Class starts at 9am
• Class ends at 5pm
• 3 breaks: mid-
morning, lunch, afternoon
• Guest speakers
• Workshops
• Screenings
• Team project
Housekeeping

6. • Be here, be on time, stick
around, be prepared:
participation = 25%
• Class presentations = 15%
• 1 written paper = 20%
• Team project = 40%
Expectations
We shall speak of this
no further. Do not
disappoint me.

7. Primary texts
McCloud, Scott. Understanding
Comics: The Invisible Art. (1994)
Cheng, Kevin. See What I Mean:
How to Use Comics to
Communicate Ideas. (2012)
Salkowitz, Rob. Comic-Con and
the Business of Pop Culture.
(2012)
Philips, Andrea. A Creator’s
Guide to Transmedia
Storytelling (2012)

8. Additional materials

9. Guest Speakers
Ellen Forney
Marbles
Calvin Reid
Publishers Weekly
Erin Polgreen
Symboilia
Liam Sharp
Madefire
Andrea Philips
Transmedia author
John Roberts
comiXology
Jim Demonakos
Emerald City Comic-Con

10. Team Project
Create an
original transmedia work
that includes graphic narrative as one of
the primary storytelling platforms.

11. http://www.stanford.edu/group/cwstudents/shakegirl/
for exampLe…

12. • Class 1: Comics as a Medium
• Class 2: Visual Storytelling – Expanding Contexts
• Class 3: Comics, Entertainment and Pop Culture
• Class 4: Comics as a Transmedia Platform
• Class 5:Toward the Future of Entertainment
Course overview

13. Why comics?

14. Peak geek!

15. Comics as Transmedia

16. New Platforms

17. New Storytelling Modes
“Bottom of the Ninth”
Ryan Woodward

18. New Storytelling Modes

19. New Storytelling Modes
“XKCD” by
Randall Munroe

20. New contexts
Visual journalism
Literature & memoir
Education & Training
Storyboard/movie pitch
Social engagement

21. Expanding Multiverse!Creativity without
borders

22. Why are you here?
What’s your story

23. Break time