Visualizing Poe: Graphic Novels, Extraordinary Tales, and The Simpsons.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Visualizing Poe: Graphic Novels, Extraordinary Tales, and The Simpsons.
Authors:	Burger, Alissa¹
Source:	Teaching American Literature. Fall2020, Vol. 11 Issue 2, p32-45. 14p.
Subject Terms:	Graphic novels, Horror tales, Anthology films, Animated films, Popular culture, Poetry collections
Reviews & Products:	Simpsons, The (TV program)
People:	Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849
Abstract:	Edgar Allan Poe is a literary staple, from high school English to the university Gothic classroom. While Poe's work is timeless, with his themes of melancholy and madness continuing to move contemporary readers, the 21st century offers a variety of new, visually dynamic approaches in engaging students with Poe's tales and poems, which are explored here. The first of these is the multiple graphic novel adaptations of Poe's work, including Benjamin Harper and Dennis Calero's take on The Tell-Tale Heart, Duncan Long's version of The Raven, and a collection of Stories and Poems adapted by Garth Hinds. Another excellent opportunity for incorporating striking visual and audio representation in discussion of Poe is Raul Garcia's animated anthology film Extraordinary Tales (2013). Finally, there are also multiple references to Poe in The Simpsons, from the 'Treehouse of Horror' re-telling of "The Raven" (Season 2, Episode 3) to more nuanced engagement such as repeated echoes of "The Tell-Tale Heart" in "The Telltale Head" (Season 1, Episode 8) and "Lisa's Rival" (Season 6, Episode 2). Each of these options offer a variety of opportunities for engaging with Poe's work: while the graphic novel versions add a visual component and engage students as more active readers and interpreters of the text, Extraordinary Tales combines striking visual designs unique to each tale with voiceovers by such horror icons as Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee, and The Simpsons provides an opportunity to address shifts of genre and the impact of Poe on contemporary popular culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Education Research Complete

Description
Abstract:	Edgar Allan Poe is a literary staple, from high school English to the university Gothic classroom. While Poe's work is timeless, with his themes of melancholy and madness continuing to move contemporary readers, the 21st century offers a variety of new, visually dynamic approaches in engaging students with Poe's tales and poems, which are explored here. The first of these is the multiple graphic novel adaptations of Poe's work, including Benjamin Harper and Dennis Calero's take on The Tell-Tale Heart, Duncan Long's version of The Raven, and a collection of Stories and Poems adapted by Garth Hinds. Another excellent opportunity for incorporating striking visual and audio representation in discussion of Poe is Raul Garcia's animated anthology film Extraordinary Tales (2013). Finally, there are also multiple references to Poe in The Simpsons, from the 'Treehouse of Horror' re-telling of "The Raven" (Season 2, Episode 3) to more nuanced engagement such as repeated echoes of "The Tell-Tale Heart" in "The Telltale Head" (Season 1, Episode 8) and "Lisa's Rival" (Season 6, Episode 2). Each of these options offer a variety of opportunities for engaging with Poe's work: while the graphic novel versions add a visual component and engage students as more active readers and interpreters of the text, Extraordinary Tales combines striking visual designs unique to each tale with voiceovers by such horror icons as Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee, and The Simpsons provides an opportunity to address shifts of genre and the impact of Poe on contemporary popular culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	21503974