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Why Comics are Great | Flavia Scuderi | TEDxHUBerlin


good evening my name is Flair spaghetti

good evening my name is Flair spaghetti and I’m a comic artist so now I think

and I’m a comic artist so now I think

and I’m a comic artist so now I think many of you are thinking oh what a

many of you are thinking oh what a

many of you are thinking oh what a lovely job you must have fun all of the

lovely job you must have fun all of the

lovely job you must have fun all of the time

time

time and some other of you are thinking

and some other of you are thinking

and some other of you are thinking uh-huh and which is exactly your real

uh-huh and which is exactly your real

uh-huh and which is exactly your real job well it is a real job really it is

job well it is a real job really it is

job well it is a real job really it is and therefore no it’s not fun all of the

and therefore no it’s not fun all of the

and therefore no it’s not fun all of the time but it’s my passion so for me of

time but it’s my passion so for me of

time but it’s my passion so for me of course is a great job because comics are

course is a great job because comics are

course is a great job because comics are great they are a great form of

great they are a great form of

great they are a great form of communication a great form of art

communication a great form of art

communication a great form of art expression and a great form of

expression and a great form of

expression and a great form of entertainment so it’s a lot of work to

entertainment so it’s a lot of work to

entertainment so it’s a lot of work to do comics and it’s a lot of learning to

do comics and it’s a lot of learning to

do comics and it’s a lot of learning to become a comic artist you can imagine

become a comic artist you can imagine

become a comic artist you can imagine that sometimes it’s a little bit

that sometimes it’s a little bit

that sometimes it’s a little bit frustrating to still have the feeling

frustrating to still have the feeling

frustrating to still have the feeling that comics are treated like the

that comics are treated like the

that comics are treated like the Cinderella of the Arts many years ago I

Cinderella of the Arts many years ago I

Cinderella of the Arts many years ago I had burglars coming at my apartment so I

had burglars coming at my apartment so I

had burglars coming at my apartment so I called the police and two officers show

called the police and two officers show

called the police and two officers show that my door they asked for my

that my door they asked for my

that my door they asked for my formalities and when I talked about my

formalities and when I talked about my

formalities and when I talked about my work field they were kind of surprised

work field they were kind of surprised

work field they were kind of surprised and puzzled and they asked me what did I

and puzzled and they asked me what did I

and puzzled and they asked me what did I meant by being a comic artist well I

meant by being a comic artist well I

meant by being a comic artist well I could just answer that I write and draw

could just answer that I write and draw

could just answer that I write and draw comics this Hansard didn’t seem to help

comics this Hansard didn’t seem to help

comics this Hansard didn’t seem to help either

either

either so the first officer said how do you

so the first officer said how do you

so the first officer said how do you mean you draw comics I thought that they

mean you draw comics I thought that they

mean you draw comics I thought that they were just printed took me a moment and I

were just printed took me a moment and I

were just printed took me a moment and I realized well of course I didn’t mean I

realized well of course I didn’t mean I

realized well of course I didn’t mean I draw every single ER copy you can find

draw every single ER copy you can find

draw every single ER copy you can find in the stores but what do you print if

in the stores but what do you print if

in the stores but what do you print if you don’t have something to print in the

you don’t have something to print in the

you don’t have something to print in the first place then the second officer

first place then the second officer

first place then the second officer really honestly told me what I never

really honestly told me what I never

really honestly told me what I never thought about it I always gave for

thought about it I always gave for

thought about it I always gave for granted that comics are maybe made with

granted that comics are maybe made with

granted that comics are maybe made with computers or maybe in the past with many

computers or maybe in the past with many

computers or maybe in the past with many many different kinds of stamps well

many different kinds of stamps well

many different kinds of stamps well imagine my surprise in realizing how

imagine my surprise in realizing how

imagine my surprise in realizing how many more people out there probably

many more people out there probably

many more people out there probably never stop and give a thought of the

never stop and give a thought of the

never stop and give a thought of the acted behind comics there are real

acted behind comics there are real

acted behind comics there are real people real professionals making them so

people real professionals making them so

people real professionals making them so today I am here to talk about comics and

today I am here to talk about comics and

today I am here to talk about comics and their creators and hopefully instill in

their creators and hopefully instill in

their creators and hopefully instill in you the wish of reading more of them or

you the wish of reading more of them or

you the wish of reading more of them or to start to read them in the very first

to start to read them in the very first

to start to read them in the very first place why should you well because comics

place why should you well because comics

place why should you well because comics are a great form of communication a

are a great form of communication a

are a great form of communication a great form of art expression and a great

great form of art expression and a great

great form of art expression and a great form of entertainment I grew up reading

form of entertainment I grew up reading

form of entertainment I grew up reading a lot of comics and I’ve always been

a lot of comics and I’ve always been

a lot of comics and I’ve always been interested in visual art but to be

interested in visual art but to be

interested in visual art but to be honest who doesn’t

honest who doesn’t

honest who doesn’t the first nonverbal way of transmitting

the first nonverbal way of transmitting

the first nonverbal way of transmitting knowledge was true graffiti and what

knowledge was true graffiti and what

knowledge was true graffiti and what about your ugly fix and let’s take a

about your ugly fix and let’s take a

about your ugly fix and let’s take a look at this fantastical example of

look at this fantastical example of

look at this fantastical example of visual storytelling which is the Tryon

visual storytelling which is the Tryon

visual storytelling which is the Tryon column in Rome and of course with time

column in Rome and of course with time

column in Rome and of course with time we had the writing putting words under

we had the writing putting words under

we had the writing putting words under the pictures and then the invention of

the pictures and then the invention of

the pictures and then the invention of print but took quite a long time mostly

print but took quite a long time mostly

print but took quite a long time mostly around the end of the 19th century

around the end of the 19th century

around the end of the 19th century before someone had the brilliant idea of

before someone had the brilliant idea of

before someone had the brilliant idea of heading a speech bubble next to the

heading a speech bubble next to the

heading a speech bubble next to the characters to make them talk and that’s

characters to make them talk and that’s

characters to make them talk and that’s the birth of comics so let’s see what

the birth of comics so let’s see what

the birth of comics so let’s see what can be done adding some bubbles to this

can be done adding some bubbles to this

can be done adding some bubbles to this picture I will read the text with a

picture I will read the text with a

picture I will read the text with a slightly Roman accent since I’m from

slightly Roman accent since I’m from

slightly Roman accent since I’m from Rome tryin tryin tryin try a typical way

Rome tryin tryin tryin try a typical way

Rome tryin tryin tryin try a typical way of Roman to cut short a name

of Roman to cut short a name

of Roman to cut short a name TRAI you are the best oh I know it I am

TRAI you are the best oh I know it I am

TRAI you are the best oh I know it I am the Emperor so slowly the comic language

the Emperor so slowly the comic language

the Emperor so slowly the comic language developed introducing panels different

developed introducing panels different

developed introducing panels different kind of shots

kind of shots

kind of shots sound effects speed lines so let’s move

sound effects speed lines so let’s move

sound effects speed lines so let’s move forward and see what can I do with that

forward and see what can I do with that

forward and see what can I do with that join the Flavian fleet of militia she

join the Flavian fleet of militia she

join the Flavian fleet of militia she says you’re gonna see Emperor try and

says you’re gonna see Emperor try and

says you’re gonna see Emperor try and she says

she says

she says oh I only see a lot of heavy bags and a

oh I only see a lot of heavy bags and a

oh I only see a lot of heavy bags and a lot of stinky men so as you see comics

lot of stinky men so as you see comics

lot of stinky men so as you see comics are very direct a powerful tool of

are very direct a powerful tool of

are very direct a powerful tool of communication which makes them very

communication which makes them very

communication which makes them very useful in educational purposes well not

useful in educational purposes well not

useful in educational purposes well not a silly as I’ve just done but you can

a silly as I’ve just done but you can

a silly as I’ve just done but you can get my point especially for people that

get my point especially for people that

get my point especially for people that have maybe problems in concentrating on

have maybe problems in concentrating on

have maybe problems in concentrating on learning

learning

learning imagine how much stronger easier and

imagine how much stronger easier and

imagine how much stronger easier and memorable would be to learn any kind of

memorable would be to learn any kind of

memorable would be to learn any kind of subject in form of comics a good example

subject in form of comics a good example

subject in form of comics a good example for instance are a growing number of

for instance are a growing number of

for instance are a growing number of historical biography made in the form of

historical biography made in the form of

historical biography made in the form of graphic novel here you can see an

graphic novel here you can see an

graphic novel here you can see an example from my work about Richard

example from my work about Richard

example from my work about Richard Wagner written by andreas Foellinger and

Wagner written by andreas Foellinger and

Wagner written by andreas Foellinger and some example of my next work about the

some example of my next work about the

some example of my next work about the life of Marlena Dietrich written by

life of Marlena Dietrich written by

life of Marlena Dietrich written by alessandra Ferrari but out there there

alessandra Ferrari but out there there

alessandra Ferrari but out there there are a number of other historical figures

are a number of other historical figures

are a number of other historical figures from politician philosophers scientists

from politician philosophers scientists

from politician philosophers scientists artists you name it but not only that

artists you name it but not only that

artists you name it but not only that comics can be used also to transmit

comics can be used also to transmit

comics can be used also to transmit knowledge about political and social

knowledge about political and social

knowledge about political and social issues and on the web I’ve seen more and

issues and on the web I’ve seen more and

issues and on the web I’ve seen more and more web comics treating about

more web comics treating about

more web comics treating about loneliness depression and emotional

loneliness depression and emotional

loneliness depression and emotional distress and I must say that I am much

distress and I must say that I am much

distress and I must say that I am much more keen to stop and read about this

more keen to stop and read about this

more keen to stop and read about this kind of subject if they are treated in a

kind of subject if they are treated in a

kind of subject if they are treated in a form of comics and judging from how they

form of comics and judging from how they

form of comics and judging from how they go viral on the social media I am not

go viral on the social media I am not

go viral on the social media I am not the only one right so let’s move to my

the only one right so let’s move to my

the only one right so let’s move to my second point comics are a great form of

second point comics are a great form of

second point comics are a great form of art expression putting together pictures

art expression putting together pictures

art expression putting together pictures and words , can reach high level of

and words , can reach high level of

and words , can reach high level of literature and visual art at the same

literature and visual art at the same

literature and visual art at the same time until the end of the 70s in the USA

time until the end of the 70s in the USA

time until the end of the 70s in the USA the country that gave birth to comics

the country that gave birth to comics

the country that gave birth to comics the media was still used mostly for

the media was still used mostly for

the media was still used mostly for young generations and for easygoing kind

young generations and for easygoing kind

young generations and for easygoing kind of entertainment what

of entertainment what

of entertainment what question was quite different in other

question was quite different in other

question was quite different in other big comic countries as Japan France

big comic countries as Japan France

big comic countries as Japan France Belgium and Italy but I will come back

Belgium and Italy but I will come back

Belgium and Italy but I will come back to this later so what changed toward the

to this later so what changed toward the

to this later so what changed toward the ends of the 70s in America well will

ends of the 70s in America well will

ends of the 70s in America well will Eisner one of the greatest comic artists

Eisner one of the greatest comic artists

Eisner one of the greatest comic artists of our times was profoundly convinced

of our times was profoundly convinced

of our times was profoundly convinced that the comic media could do much more

that the comic media could do much more

that the comic media could do much more it could be used for a much deeper and

it could be used for a much deeper and

it could be used for a much deeper and complex storytelling so in 1978 he

complex storytelling so in 1978 he

complex storytelling so in 1978 he managed to get published its very first

managed to get published its very first

managed to get published its very first graphic novel a contract with God is a

graphic novel a contract with God is a

graphic novel a contract with God is a collection of short stories revolving

collection of short stories revolving

collection of short stories revolving around a group of poor Jewish living in

around a group of poor Jewish living in

around a group of poor Jewish living in attainment in New York until that moment

attainment in New York until that moment

attainment in New York until that moment the term graphic novel was used here and

the term graphic novel was used here and

the term graphic novel was used here and there but from this moment on is really

there but from this moment on is really

there but from this moment on is really started to be connected to more adult

started to be connected to more adult

started to be connected to more adult comics non periodical comic books but

comics non periodical comic books but

comics non periodical comic books but it’s in 1986 where the term graphic

it’s in 1986 where the term graphic

it’s in 1986 where the term graphic novel really reached the audience the

novel really reached the audience the

novel really reached the audience the big audience and this is thanks to the

big audience and this is thanks to the

big audience and this is thanks to the great success of Mouse from Art

great success of Mouse from Art

great success of Mouse from Art Spiegelman here the author is telling

Spiegelman here the author is telling

Spiegelman here the author is telling about his relationship with his father a

about his relationship with his father a

about his relationship with his father a survival of Auschwitz camp and he

survival of Auschwitz camp and he

survival of Auschwitz camp and he decided to do so utilizing

decided to do so utilizing

decided to do so utilizing anthropomorphic animal instead of the

anthropomorphic animal instead of the

anthropomorphic animal instead of the human for the characters the result is

human for the characters the result is

human for the characters the result is astonishing and it’s punching you in

astonishing and it’s punching you in

astonishing and it’s punching you in your guts so often giving you perfectly

your guts so often giving you perfectly

your guts so often giving you perfectly the feeling of the humanizing aspect of

the feeling of the humanizing aspect of

the feeling of the humanizing aspect of a concentration camp pretty powerful

a concentration camp pretty powerful

a concentration camp pretty powerful right it’s not a coincidence that is

right it’s not a coincidence that is

right it’s not a coincidence that is 1992 mouse has been the first graphic

1992 mouse has been the first graphic

1992 mouse has been the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize so thanks

novel to win a Pulitzer Prize so thanks

novel to win a Pulitzer Prize so thanks to the graphic novels comics has reached

to the graphic novels comics has reached

to the graphic novels comics has reached the book stars and them and their

the book stars and them and their

the book stars and them and their creators have gained more respect and

creators have gained more respect and

creators have gained more respect and credibility but this is what I would say

credibility but this is what I would say

credibility but this is what I would say this is in America but actually the

this is in America but actually the

this is in America but actually the first comic market in the world is Japan

first comic market in the world is Japan

first comic market in the world is Japan there the mangas from the beginning have

there the mangas from the beginning have

there the mangas from the beginning have always been directed to any

always been directed to any

always been directed to any kind of target group and have treated

kind of target group and have treated

kind of target group and have treated any kind of subject the same can be said

any kind of subject the same can be said

any kind of subject the same can be said for the France and Belgium market which

for the France and Belgium market which

for the France and Belgium market which is the third market in the world and

is the third market in the world and

is the third market in the world and also here same thing various target

also here same thing various target

also here same thing various target group any kind of topics so is

group any kind of topics so is

group any kind of topics so is understandable how in this country’s

understandable how in this country’s

understandable how in this country’s comics are part of people all day life

comics are part of people all day life

comics are part of people all day life and they are definitely not considered

and they are definitely not considered

and they are definitely not considered to be a minor media in Italy we also

to be a minor media in Italy we also

to be a minor media in Italy we also have a strong tradition of foaming tea

have a strong tradition of foaming tea

have a strong tradition of foaming tea and a great amount of gay a great author

and a great amount of gay a great author

and a great amount of gay a great author we are the fourth market in the world

we are the fourth market in the world

we are the fourth market in the world and in the past few years I’ve seen also

and in the past few years I’ve seen also

and in the past few years I’ve seen also in Italy growing and more interesting

in Italy growing and more interesting

in Italy growing and more interesting more attention to comics thanks to the

more attention to comics thanks to the

more attention to comics thanks to the graphic novels in fact in 2014 and 2015

graphic novels in fact in 2014 and 2015

graphic novels in fact in 2014 and 2015 the works of GP and iruka’s Kari have

the works of GP and iruka’s Kari have

the works of GP and iruka’s Kari have been the first two Italian graphic novel

been the first two Italian graphic novel

been the first two Italian graphic novel to be nominated to the very prestigious

to be nominated to the very prestigious

to be nominated to the very prestigious literature award

literature award

literature award premise Liga this has been a great step

premise Liga this has been a great step

premise Liga this has been a great step forward but now I think that we should

forward but now I think that we should

forward but now I think that we should move a little before again because

move a little before again because

move a little before again because internationally I think that should be

internationally I think that should be

internationally I think that should be given the right attention to the real

given the right attention to the real

given the right attention to the real comics Awards

comics Awards

comics Awards like for instance the Eisner Award do

like for instance the Eisner Award do

like for instance the Eisner Award do you remember Will Eisner the father of

you remember Will Eisner the father of

you remember Will Eisner the father of graphic novels so in this case the

graphic novels so in this case the

graphic novels so in this case the juries are formed by expert of this

juries are formed by expert of this

juries are formed by expert of this media and they have all the instrument

media and they have all the instrument

media and they have all the instrument to judge all the qualities of these

to judge all the qualities of these

to judge all the qualities of these creations that are both literature and

creations that are both literature and

creations that are both literature and visual art so moving to my next point

visual art so moving to my next point

visual art so moving to my next point comics are a great form of entertainment

comics are a great form of entertainment

comics are a great form of entertainment and not to mention they are quite cheap

and not to mention they are quite cheap

and not to mention they are quite cheap to be produced

to be produced

to be produced Torretta CLE with a blank surface a tool

Torretta CLE with a blank surface a tool

Torretta CLE with a blank surface a tool to leave a mark and a person who does

to leave a mark and a person who does

to leave a mark and a person who does know how to do so you can illustrate any

know how to do so you can illustrate any

know how to do so you can illustrate any kind of story from the most personal and

kind of story from the most personal and

kind of story from the most personal and intimate to the more psychological and

intimate to the more psychological and

intimate to the more psychological and bizarre to the very beautifully

bizarre to the very beautifully

bizarre to the very beautifully astonishing and compelling visually

astonishing and compelling visually

astonishing and compelling visually fantasy and science fiction one

let me repeat myself to do a comic takes

let me repeat myself to do a comic takes a lot of work and to become a comic

a lot of work and to become a comic

a lot of work and to become a comic artist takes a lot of Education and

artist takes a lot of Education and

artist takes a lot of Education and learning personally I don’t remember two

learning personally I don’t remember two

learning personally I don’t remember two years of my life these are the first two

years of my life these are the first two

years of my life these are the first two years I started to work as a comic

years I started to work as a comic

years I started to work as a comic artist I was so keen to get better to

artist I was so keen to get better to

artist I was so keen to get better to get into the business to get contact to

get into the business to get contact to

get into the business to get contact to get work to get paid from the works that

get work to get paid from the works that

get work to get paid from the works that I was spending all of my time at the

I was spending all of my time at the

I was spending all of my time at the table leaving very little time for

table leaving very little time for

table leaving very little time for anything else what I do remember is my

anything else what I do remember is my

anything else what I do remember is my friends coming over at my place at any

friends coming over at my place at any

friends coming over at my place at any time of day and night because they knew

time of day and night because they knew

time of day and night because they knew that I would be up I have to sleep more

that I would be up I have to sleep more

that I would be up I have to sleep more and they would just hang out there and

and they would just hang out there and

and they would just hang out there and have fun behind my back while I was

have fun behind my back while I was

have fun behind my back while I was still working on the table which

still working on the table which

still working on the table which eventually caused me a lot of back

eventually caused me a lot of back

eventually caused me a lot of back problems so here comes a word of advice

problems so here comes a word of advice

problems so here comes a word of advice for all the aspiring comic artists out

for all the aspiring comic artists out

for all the aspiring comic artists out there do sports you will thank me later

there do sports you will thank me later

there do sports you will thank me later so storytelling writing composition

so storytelling writing composition

so storytelling writing composition drawing inking coloring researching

drawing inking coloring researching

drawing inking coloring researching costume design prop design graphical

costume design prop design graphical

costume design prop design graphical design these are all tools that a

design these are all tools that a

design these are all tools that a professional comic artist needs to have

professional comic artist needs to have

professional comic artist needs to have in his bag to make a good comic and a

in his bag to make a good comic and a

in his bag to make a good comic and a certain amount of culture is definitely

certain amount of culture is definitely

certain amount of culture is definitely welcome I must say that I don’t know any

welcome I must say that I don’t know any

welcome I must say that I don’t know any very successful comic artists that is

very successful comic artists that is

very successful comic artists that is not also a person of great culture and

not also a person of great culture and

not also a person of great culture and the crazy collector of toys

the crazy collector of toys

the crazy collector of toys well no I’m joking we comic artists we

well no I’m joking we comic artists we

well no I’m joking we comic artists we collect any kind of stuff but so going

collect any kind of stuff but so going

collect any kind of stuff but so going back to the entertainment part if you

back to the entertainment part if you

back to the entertainment part if you compare a comic to a book a comic can

compare a comic to a book a comic can

compare a comic to a book a comic can give you a very strong vision of the

give you a very strong vision of the

give you a very strong vision of the characters and the words they are moving

characters and the words they are moving

characters and the words they are moving in plus can tickle your aesthetical

in plus can tickle your aesthetical

in plus can tickle your aesthetical sense if you compare a comic with a

sense if you compare a comic with a

sense if you compare a comic with a movie as I said you could create any

movie as I said you could create any

movie as I said you could create any kind of things from historical recruits

kind of things from historical recruits

kind of things from historical recruits construction to fantasy world without

construction to fantasy world without

construction to fantasy world without the need of spending millions of coins

the need of spending millions of coins

the need of spending millions of coins in doing so it’s not a surprise that the

in doing so it’s not a surprise that the

in doing so it’s not a surprise that the movie and TV industry are fishing more

movie and TV industry are fishing more

movie and TV industry are fishing more and more often into the successful comic

and more often into the successful comic

and more often into the successful comic titles let’s take a look at this

titles let’s take a look at this

titles let’s take a look at this familiar one for instance and of course

familiar one for instance and of course

familiar one for instance and of course nowaday with the new technology is

nowaday with the new technology is

nowaday with the new technology is getting easier to reproduce those

getting easier to reproduce those

getting easier to reproduce those fantastic words in live-action or at

fantastic words in live-action or at

fantastic words in live-action or at least they can try to do so in my

least they can try to do so in my

least they can try to do so in my opinion the comics are still better

opinion the comics are still better

opinion the comics are still better so in conclusion for the future I would

so in conclusion for the future I would

so in conclusion for the future I would like to see a larger use of comics for

like to see a larger use of comics for

like to see a larger use of comics for educational purposes and a larger amount

educational purposes and a larger amount

educational purposes and a larger amount of them in schools universities and

of them in schools universities and

of them in schools universities and libraries I wish to see an International

libraries I wish to see an International

libraries I wish to see an International and knowledge mint of comics and their

and knowledge mint of comics and their

and knowledge mint of comics and their creators from the critics the media and

creators from the critics the media and

creators from the critics the media and institutions lastly I wish to see a

institutions lastly I wish to see a

institutions lastly I wish to see a growing number of readers that will have

growing number of readers that will have

growing number of readers that will have a better freshen and distribution of

a better freshen and distribution of

a better freshen and distribution of comic in this matter I strongly believe

comic in this matter I strongly believe

comic in this matter I strongly believe in the potential of a digital comic

in the potential of a digital comic

in the potential of a digital comic portal not so different from what

portal not so different from what

portal not so different from what Netflix has been for TV and movies a

Netflix has been for TV and movies a

Netflix has been for TV and movies a nice good example a good start is

nice good example a good start is

nice good example a good start is comixology which I hope is going to grow

comixology which I hope is going to grow

comixology which I hope is going to grow and be present in more and more country

and be present in more and more country

and be present in more and more country with more languages available and a

with more languages available and a

with more languages available and a bigger vaster international portfolio of

bigger vaster international portfolio of

bigger vaster international portfolio of titles and especially with the fixed

titles and especially with the fixed

titles and especially with the fixed amount of feed monthly fee which i think

amount of feed monthly fee which i think

amount of feed monthly fee which i think would make the difference to attract new

would make the difference to attract new

would make the difference to attract new reader eventually the portal itself

reader eventually the portal itself

reader eventually the portal itself could create new content so what do you

could create new content so what do you

could create new content so what do you say did I manage to give you the wish to

say did I manage to give you the wish to

say did I manage to give you the wish to go out and read a good comic I surely

go out and read a good comic I surely

go out and read a good comic I surely hope so I will continue to make them

hope so I will continue to make them

hope so I will continue to make them well I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to

well I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to

well I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to thank you for listening

thank you for listening

thank you for listening you

”

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