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8. Comic Strip for Language Teaching
As stated before, in this research, learning materials which are based on comic strips are developed by the researcher. Therefore, the researcher starts this
section with the explanation of comic strip. Before the discussion of the comic strip for language learning, it is better to present the definition of comic since
comic strip is derived from comic.
d. Definition of comic
Basically, the definition of a comic is still debated by a great number of scholars. Some scholars argue that comic is merely pictures put together with a
text or even they merely argue that comic is just a sequence of pictures and neglecting the concept of telling story. In Meskin 2007 Eisner and Mc Cloud
have similar definition toward a comic. Eisner 2007 states that comic is just “sequential art. It means that the definition does not touch the use of comic which
is conveying a story. In the same tendency McCloud states that comics are images that put together in purposeful sequence to produce an aesthetic response
of the viewer. According to this theory, it could be seen that comic is just a picture compilation informing message in an aesthetic way. However, the definition of a
comic is not limited with the definitions above. A Comic also can be defined as a picture compilation attached with texts. Somehow, comic also conveys a story not
only just a sequence of picture. Because of that disparity, a number of theories mentioned before, are objected by some theorists.
In Pimenta et al 2010, Harvey offers an opposing definition in reference to McClouds. The definition is that comics consist of story embedded with
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pictures or expositions in which words often lettered into the picture area within speech balloons usually give the meaning of the pictures and vice versa. This
theory as well provokes the other experts to make the other theorists opposing McCloud theory. Groensteen in Cohn 2007:1-2 argues that a comic cannot be
guided by a single essence which is text or image interactions. He criticizes a definition of comics as episodic narratives. However, he identifies comics as a
language system combining from a fancy term of several images. Similar with Groensteen 2007, Hayman and Pratt in Meskin 2007 propose a definition of
comic which is a sequence of images that comprise narrative combined with text. Similar to the experts above, Mahamood in Muniran 2008 asserts that comics
are illustrations that enclose story telling texts and pictures in boxes or panels. Those are theories which argue differently from Eisner and Mc. Cloud.
Those theories oppose all theories proposed before. Basically, the differences of view in defining a comic are put in the term of story conveying. In
this case, the researcher‟s stand is that a comic is a sequential of pictures inserted by text which convey a story or narrative in an aesthetic way. After the discussion
about definitions of a comic is presented above, the discussion of the differences between comic book and comic strip explanation will be described next..
According to Fabregas 2013, there are several differences of comic strip and comic book. The first difference is that comic strip merely has limited panels
while comic book has any number of panels. Secondly, in terms of theme, comic strip usually is humorous or satirical while comic book has any kinds of plot.
Third, the story of a comic strip could stand alone which differs from a comic
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book that needs continuity. Considering those characteristics, it is important to look deeper at the use of comic strip in the classroom.
e. Comic Strip in Language Classroom
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