All about Webtoons: Korean Comics, Global Context
Cross-listings: KOREAN 365 A, C LIT 322 A, GLITS 314 A
This course will cover the rise of webtoons (a specialized term for webcomics) as an artform and industry. It will explore how technology transformed manhwa using vertical scrolling layouts that altered the way comics are aesthetically designed, read, and distributed not just in Korea but throughout the world. It will also look at how those webtoons are adapted into other forms like dramas and video games, further contributing to the spread of Korean culture. Finally, we will analyze several popular webtoons and themes and how they reflect Korean society and culture as well as global influences.
Instructor: Dr. Emily Marie Anderson Hall
Time: MW 3:30-5:20 PM
Place: SAV 132
Required Readings:
- JIN, Dal Young, Understanding Korean Webtoon Culture: Transmedia Storytelling, Digital Platforms, and Genres, Boston: Harvard East Asian Monographs, 2022.
- Webtoons from Line WEBTOON (TBA)
- Webtoons from Tapas (TBA)
- Webtoons from Tappytoon (TBA)
- All other readings will be available on Canvas
ALL readings will be in English. No Korean language knowledge required.