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DSkogstad Stranger
Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Minnesota/Wisconsin
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 9:27 am Post subject: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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This semester I have a Philosophy class on existentialism. For the class I have to write a paper on something with existential themes in modern culture. I was thinking about writing my paper about comics. What comics would people here suggest writing about to go along with this topic? I am mostly looking for superhero comic examples, but any suggestions would be helpful.
Dan |
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Cormorant Stranger
Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Posts: 26
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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DSkogstad wrote: | This semester I have a Philosophy class on existentialism. For the class I have to write a paper on something with existential themes in modern culture. I was thinking about writing my paper about comics. What comics would people here suggest writing about to go along with this topic? I am mostly looking for superhero comic examples, but any suggestions would be helpful.
Dan |
WATCHMEN (especially the Doc Manhatten stuff)
CONCRETE (check out THE COMPLETE CONCRETE and COMPLETE CONCRETE SHORT STORIES 1986-1989)
SANDMAN
Classic SILVER SURFER stuff
Certain issues of ASTRO CITY (maybe the opener, featuring Samaritan?)
Oh yeah, and I have no idea what collection it's reprinted in, but there was this one Madman story where Madman contemplate life in the middle of the longest slugfest since Roddy Piper fought that guy in THEY LIVE. Might've delved into some existential stuff.
-Cormorant |
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Jabberwocky Stranger
Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 15
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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The Metamorphosis by Peter Kuper. It is a comic adaptation of Kafka's short story "The Metamorphosis". |
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DSkogstad Stranger
Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Minnesota/Wisconsin
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to try and write about a few 80s comics such as Watchmen and then a few 90s/current comics as well. I've got a few ideas for 80s comics, but if anyone has some more recent suggestions as well that would be helpful.
Dan |
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GODDARD Enthusiast
Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 610
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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daredevil's born again
it was dripping existentialism |
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Ben Senior Member

Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Posts: 1691 Location: Hollywood, USA
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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Can you define existentialism? _________________ Ben
3rd Funniest
Brevity is ... wit.
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DSkogstad Stranger
Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Minnesota/Wisconsin
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 11:50 pm Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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Existentialism involves things like trying to find meaning in a world that seems to be meaningless, the meaning of life, morality/creating morality, and stuff like that. Its kinda hard to define, but those are some things that are discussed by a lot of existentialist writers.
Dan |
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BillRyan Veteran

Joined: 27 Aug 2003 Posts: 3156 Location: Hobbiton
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 11:56 pm Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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Ben wrote: | Can you define existentialism? |
Existentialism is a philosophical movement harking back to Kierkegaard and most notably in the work of Sartre and Heidegger in the mid twentieth century. It maintains, roughly, that the thinking subjects existence precedes its essence, and that our subjective existence, as thinkers, consequently is radically free, cannot be objectively construed, and is consequently incapable of any objective scientific characterization. Broadly, existentialism is the philosophy of existence or experience. More specifically, existentialism is the philosophical cult of nihilism, that is that each man exists as an individual in a purposeless universe, and that he must oppose this hostile environment through the exercise of his free will. stressing individual responsibility for creating one's ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. _________________
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BillRyan Veteran

Joined: 27 Aug 2003 Posts: 3156 Location: Hobbiton
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 11:58 pm Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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oh, and read astro city and powers.. _________________
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DSkogstad Stranger
Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Minnesota/Wisconsin
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Posted: Feb 23, 2004 11:59 pm Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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BillRyan wrote: | Ben wrote: | Can you define existentialism? |
Existentialism is a philosophical movement harking back to Kierkegaard and most notably in the work of Sartre and Heidegger in the mid twentieth century. It maintains, roughly, that the thinking subjects existence precedes its essence, and that our subjective existence, as thinkers, consequently is radically free, cannot be objectively construed, and is consequently incapable of any objective scientific characterization. Broadly, existentialism is the philosophy of existence or experience. More specifically, existentialism is the philosophical cult of nihilism, that is that each man exists as an individual in a purposeless universe, and that he must oppose this hostile environment through the exercise of his free will. stressing individual responsibility for creating one's ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. |
Yeah he said it way better than I did.
Dan |
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Mikie Senior Member

Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 2049 Location: Tracy, ca
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Posted: Feb 24, 2004 5:28 am Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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Check out Invisibles. _________________ http://www.flightcomics.com/
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Ben Senior Member

Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Posts: 1691 Location: Hollywood, USA
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Posted: Feb 24, 2004 5:31 am Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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BillRyan wrote: | Ben wrote: | Can you define existentialism? |
Existentialism is a philosophical movement harking back to Kierkegaard and most notably in the work of Sartre and Heidegger in the mid twentieth century. It maintains, roughly, that the thinking subjects existence precedes its essence, and that our subjective existence, as thinkers, consequently is radically free, cannot be objectively construed, and is consequently incapable of any objective scientific characterization. Broadly, existentialism is the philosophy of existence or experience. More specifically, existentialism is the philosophical cult of nihilism, that is that each man exists as an individual in a purposeless universe, and that he must oppose this hostile environment through the exercise of his free will. stressing individual responsibility for creating one's ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. |
Can you define it again without using so much philosophy jargin? _________________ Ben
3rd Funniest
Brevity is ... wit.
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MACK! Junior Member
Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 175
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Posted: Feb 24, 2004 6:13 am Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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Read Kabuki: Metamorphosis
It actually has the meaning of life in it. |
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wookiewombat Veteran

Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 3904 Location: Rochester, NY
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Posted: Feb 24, 2004 6:14 am Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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MACK! wrote: | Read Kabuki: Metamorphosis
It actually has the meaning of life in it. |
and this is why David Mack is the man! _________________ Mark
Blog
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Liquid Junior Member

Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Posts: 203 Location: Montreal, Canada
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Posted: Feb 24, 2004 6:17 am Post subject: Re: Examples of Existentialism in comic books |
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Grant Morrison's Animal Man. The most existential comic ever created. It goes far beyond characters being existential... it involves the creators of the comic and you, the reader, and gives you an existential mind-fuck. You'll see what I mean when you read it.  _________________ "You miss too much these days if you stop to think" -Bono |
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