Komiks: Comic Art in Russia (Studies in Popular Culture)

José Alaniz explores the problematic publication history of komiks—an art form much-maligned as “bourgeois” mass diversion before, during, and after the collapse of the USSR—with an emphasis on the last twenty years. This digital download provides instant access to a comprehensive study of the rich yet often overlooked comics heritage in Russia. The book is available in PDF format, ensuring compatibility with various devices for your reading convenience.

Using archival research, interviews with major artists and publishers, and close readings of several works, Komiks: Comic Art in Russia provides previously unavailable insights into the country’s comics scene. The study examines the dizzying experimental comics of the late Czarist and early revolutionary era, caricature from the satirical journal Krokodil, and the postwar series Petia Ryzhik (the “Russian Tintin”).

Book Overview

This volume covers the art form’s origins in religious icon-making and book illustration, and later the immensely popular lubok or woodblock print. Alaniz reveals comics’ vilification and marginalization under the Communists, the art form’s economic struggles, and its eventual internet “migration” in the post-Soviet era. This book shows that Russian comics, as with the people who made them, never had a “normal life.”

What You’ll Discover Inside

• Detailed case studies of the Perestroika-era KOM studio, the first devoted to comics in the Soviet Union.
• Insights into post-Soviet comics in contemporary art.
• Exploration of autobiography and the work of Nikolai Maslov.
• Analysis of women’s comics by artists such as Lena Uzhinova, Namida, and Re-I.
• Discussion of anti-Americanism, censorship, and the rise of consumerism in Russian comics.
• Examination of globalization, including the influence of Russian manga.
• Impact of the internet on the establishment of a comics subculture in Russia.

Why This Book Matters

This book is significant for understanding the evolution of comic art in Russia, highlighting the cultural and historical contexts that shaped its development. Readers will gain valuable insights into the challenges faced by comic artists and the resilience of the medium in the face of ideological change.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This digital download is compatible with various devices, including Kindle, tablets, desktops, and mobile reading apps, ensuring you can enjoy the content wherever you are.

FAQ

• Is this an instant download? Yes, you will have instant access after purchase.
• Is there a physical copy available? No, this is a digital download only.
• What formats are compatible? This book is available in PDF format.

Explore the fascinating world of komiks and discover the rich history of comic art in Russia with this insightful study.