Comic Studies and Television

In the current age of technology, it is difficult for most people to not come into contact with television. The same can be said of comics, as they are in the paper, on the internet, and sometimes referenced on television itself. The study of comics however, is not as simple to find. One must search for research on comic studies as opposed to television research or talk of television shows. It is far more prevalent to speak about a recent television show than a recent comic book. This leads me to believe that comic studies are less documented than television and its study. In the United States, Comic Studies and Television are close parallels of each other, but television receives more respect and recognition in both academic societies and publicly for now.

The history of television is a long one, but shows how it has been widely accepted into our everyday lives. Television has had a huge effect on the United States, shaping multiple facets of everyday life such as politics, news, and sports. In an article titled “History of Television” written by Mitchell Stephens, a professor of journalism and mass communications at NYU, he states that, “Few inventions have had as much effect on contemporary American society as television. Before 1947 the number of U.S. homes with television sets could be measured in the thousands. By the late 1990s, 98 percent of U.S. homes had at least one television set, and those sets were on for an average of more than seven hours a day” (Stephens 1). It is clear that television has had a huge impact on our everyday lives. In addition, television generally consumes a large portion of each day of our lives. It is unrealistic to assume that television has not taken a serious and large position in the everyd...

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...are both very similar, but comic studies have yet to reach the level of respect and perception that television has achieved. This is due to multiple factors, including the fact that the awards show for comics is not nearly as recognized as the show for television. Additionally, comics have not been integrated into the everyday life of Americans nearly as much as television has. However, both comics and television share many parallels. One of these parallels is how comics and television use multiple methods of communications to reach their readers or viewers. Additionally, some comic books have burst onto the television screen, such as the very popular show on AMC, “The Walking Dead”. In conclusion, both comic studies and television share similarities, but currently in the United States comic books are viewed as lesser than television in academics and the public eye.