Blog Post 11~ Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter & Russ Kick's Graphic Cannon: Vol. 1-3
Making Connections
with Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter and the Graphic Cannon by Russ Kick
for classroom use is stretching language into visual representation. The
Graphic Cannon offers a short teasing paragraph on the work that is primarily intended
to inspire readers to seek more or encourage them to actually reading the full
work; along with this paragraph comes a visual representation of Hester. Here,
she is displayed boldly with her Scarlet A emblazoned on her dress’ chest for
the world to see, as she glares out of saddened eyes that also hold a glare as
she defies the dictates of those that would ask her to conform. They say a
picture speaks a thousand words, in the case of the Graphic Cannon, Hester’s
picture represents the stories entirety. Kick has chosen one image to represent
so much and yet it inspires the reader to seek out and find more. An article
from the NY times on Kick’s Cannons speaks on how he chooses images from
various artists to visually represent literary works because we see not only
with our eyes but through our imaginations, which is what literature often captures
most powerfully. Kick helps readers discover that literature can be hilarious, and
what might have once put someone to sleep will leave them simply awestruck
after reading his Cannons. Anything that encourages our students to engage in reading
literature in any manner should be encouraged. You never know, these Cannons
may be the inspiration the next Shakespeare, Walt Wittman, Sylvia Plath, or Zitkala-Ša needs to
get inspired to learn and study all that English literature is offering,
stranger things have happened.
Making Connections
with Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter and the Graphic Cannon by Russ Kick
for classroom use is stretching language into visual representation. The
Graphic Cannon offers a short teasing paragraph on the work that is primarily intended
to inspire readers to seek more or encourage them to actually reading the full
work; along with this paragraph comes a visual representation of Hester. Here,
she is displayed boldly with her Scarlet A emblazoned on her dress’ chest for
the world to see, as she glares out of saddened eyes that also hold a glare as
she defies the dictates of those that would ask her to conform. They say a
picture speaks a thousand words, in the case of the Graphic Cannon, Hester’s
picture represents the stories entirety. Kick has chosen one image to represent
so much and yet it inspires the reader to seek out and find more. An article
from the NY times on Kick’s Cannons speaks on how he chooses images from
various artists to visually represent literary works because we see not only
with our eyes but through our imaginations, which is what literature often captures
most powerfully. Kick helps readers discover that literature can be hilarious, and
what might have once put someone to sleep will leave them simply awestruck
after reading his Cannons. Anything that encourages our students to engage in reading
literature in any manner should be encouraged. You never know, these Cannons
may be the inspiration the next Shakespeare, Walt Wittman, Sylvia Plath, or Zitkala-Ša needs to
get inspired to learn and study all that English literature is offering,
stranger things have happened.
Works Cited:
Kick, Russell. The
Graphic Canon: Vol. 1-3. Box ed. New York: Seven Stories, 2013. Print.
Weatherwax, Annie. “Graphic
Lit: ‘The Graphic Canon’ Edited by
Russ Kick.” The New York Times. Sunday Book Review. The New York Times Company, 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/books/review/the-graphic-canon-edited-by-russ-kick.html
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