Closing the Gap

Abstract

This chapter has a two-fold purpose. It first serves to introduce debates about the disciplinary status of comic studies in academia. It acknowledges the value that comics play by supporting the work of various disciplines and argues there are distinct benefits for establishing a proprietary disciplinary home for the study and practice of comics. The chapter highlights the relevancy of comics by enumerating four key ways the medium is employed: as a subject matter to be studied, for creative expression, as a means of disseminating information, and as a research methodology. The chapter then aims to encourage and guide educators in exploring the medium as a pedagogical device by recounting the author's experiences and lessons learned about using comics in the university classroom.