The Invisible Art

After reading Understanding Comics and Comic Book Nation, I realize how appropriately the term “invisible art” can be applied to the medium. Obviously, the term can be used for the reason that not many people, especially adults, look at comic books as a legitimate art form. Even though comic books are essentially books full of art, they are dismissed because they are looked at as childish. One of the most intriguing aspects of the invisibility of this art form can be seen on the level of consumption. Since most comics are aimed at youth, they often don’t realize that what they are consuming is a legitimate art form with depth and meaning. As an artist myself, I know that a primary goal when practicing art is to provoke some kind of emotional response or thought in the audience. These comic book artists have the best audience, because young people can be easily influenced and they can be quick to question established truths. Their art is not falling on deaf ears and blind eyes, but it is influencing the most important demographic of all, the youth.

At the end of the Comic Book Nation reading, the reaction to the rise of comics was addressed. Man people called comics a menace and a poison to the youth. Comics encouraged kids to read and more importantly stimulated imaginations. The people who said that comics painted America as “tottering and overrun by criminals” are people who could not see that change was something desirable among youth.