The Long,Strange Trip of Barbara Gordon |
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| Abstract: | Summary Historically, the medium of comic books and the profession of librarianship have both suffered image problems. The former is deemed unrespectable; the latter lacks the same level of prestige afforded many other professions. Does having this in common result in comic books offering images of librarians and librarianship more informed (and, therefore, more positive) than are generally to be found in other media? Or do they employ the same cliches about librarians that are the bane of so many in the profession? To examine these questions, some of the more prominent depictions of librarians in mainstream American comic books and graphic novels were reviewed. with mixed results. Recent depictions of librarians do seem to be more informed and more sympathetic than in the past, but even today, comic book writers still employ some of the more negative stereotypes about librarians as a way to provide their relationship with some quick and easy laughs. |
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| Keywords: | Comic books librarians stereotypes social prestige occupational status media depiction |
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