Graphic Novels: Evolution of the American Comic Book

INFORUM and The Commonwealth Club present

Wednesday, August 22

GRAPHIC NOVELS: EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN COMIC BOOK

Scott McCloud, Author and Artist, Making Comics
Rory Root, Owner, Comic Relief
Others TBD

Comics and graphic novels have seen a meteoric rise in popularity in the last few years. For decades, “comics” were not taken seriously by readers or critics; however, with the popularity of the work of R. Crumb and Harvey Pekar and the success of books and comics like Maus, Ghost World, Sin City and Optic Nerve, comics and graphic novels have leapt from the world of American sub-culture squarely into the world of popular and even high culture. What accounts for this change? How are graphic novels shaping American and literary culture? Come hear the industry’s leaders talk about these issues and more.

6:00 p.m., Check-in | 6:30 p.m., Program | 7:30 p.m., Reception/Book signing | Club office, 595 Market St., 2nd Floor, San Francisco | $12 for Members, $20 for Non-Members, $7 for Students | Reservations: 415-597-6705 (students) or http://www.commonwealthclub.org/inforum

Commonwealth Club Office, 595 Market Street (at Second), 2nd floor, San Francisco
Directly outside of the Montgomery Bart Station

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INFORUM is a division of The Commonwealth Club by and for people in their 20s and 30s, with a mission to inspire debate around civic issues. We are a connector between ideas, individuals and communities.

Founded in 1903, the Commonwealth Club has played host to a diverse and distinctive array of speakers, from Teddy Roosevelt in 1924 to Erin Brockovich in 2001. Along the way, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Bill Gates have all given landmark speeches at the Club.