The Ohio State University

Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel

February 22nd, 2008

OSU Libraries repeated the Jewish Literature Series Modern Marvels Spring quarter 2008.

We were pleased to offer the community a five-part reading and discussion series called “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination,” which explores Jewish literature and culture though scholar-led discussions of contemporary and classic books on a common theme. The library’s series explored the theme Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel, and was facilitated by Steven Fink, professor of English at the Ohio State University.

The book discussions were held on Monday evenings from 7-8:30pm in the seminar room adjacent to the Cartoon Research Library in the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. Registration was required for the free reading and discussion series, and was open to interested adults in the community were able to participate in all 5 discussions. Books for the Modern Marvels program were provided to series participants; dates and titles for discussion included:

March 31, 2008 - A Contract with God by Will Eisner. Set among 1930s Bronx tenements, four stories capture the brutal yet tender world of working-class Jews. The first “graphic novel.”

April 14, 2008 - The Complete Maus I&II by Art Spiegelman. The story of Speigelman’s parents—Jews reaching maturity in Europe on the verge of Nazism and their survival in a concentration camp. A 1992 Pulitzer Prize winner.

April 28, 2008 - Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer:Stories by Ben Katchor. A photographer documents a rapidly vanishing urban netherworld.

May 5, 2008 - The Quitter by Harvey Pekar
The author discusses the ways in his life that he quit before he could fail. The story ends with a hopeful message that it is possible to find one’s way. Explores the navy, mid-century race relations, and jazz.

May 19, 2008 - The Rabbi’s Cat by Joann Sfar. A rabbi engages his talking pet—who wants to become Jewish and have a bar mitzvah—in a debate, including topics such as spelling, parental love, and the very nature of Jewish identity.

“Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature” was made possible through a grant from Nextbook and the American Library Association with local support generously provided by Paul Watkins, OSU Friends of the Library Board member. Promotional support was provided by our local partners: Cartoon Research Library, the Melton Center for Jewish Studies and Friends of the OSU Libraries.

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