Abstract:
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The term “comic” is used to refer to a strip or sequence
of cartoons/vignettes with or without text that tell a
story (however short it might be) in which at least one
character appears in more than one vignette. The comic
is recognised as the ninth art form, and there are a great
variety of types and names, depending on the source
and the format: historieta, tebeo, manga, bande dessinée,
banda desenhado, fumetti or comic-book,
amongst others. Virtually every country has its own
characters and collections, and those that deal with universal
subject matter or historical questions transcend
frontiers and gradually become known the world over,
the following being such examples: Tintin, Asterix, Mortadelo
and Filemón, Corto Maltés, Superman, Spiderman
or Flash Gordon, which have now become real classics.
Comics undoubtedly have the ability to convey knowledge
and feelings. Their educational value enables children
and adults alike to gain insight into different
areas of reality, in the past and present, dealing with
almost every aspect of life: nature, mankind, technology,
legends, cultures, history, adventures, etc., allowing
the reader to explore the boundaries between fiction
and reality, even heralding a future that can prove to
be most unexpected and surprising. Comics make
learning easier and stimulate the imagination, and
they are an excellent resource for developing creative
thinking and artistic sensitivity, while at the same time
encouraging the reader to adopt a critical stance. They
can be suitable instruments for creatively and intelligently
explaining the world of ports and the sea, and
to make this accessible to all types of potential reader.
This is particularly the case where the port landscape is
concerned, because of the nature of the artistic discipline
that is deeply rooted in the way cartoons or
vignettes are illustrated. |