OCLC Online Computer Library Center Graphic Novels Julianne Beall Assistant Editor, DDC Library of Congress Saturday, January 15, 2005 ALA MW Boston

OCLC Online Computer Library Center

Graphic Novels

Julianne Beall

Assistant Editor, DDC

Library of Congress

Saturday, January 15, 2005

ALA MW Boston


http://www.oclc.org/dewey/discussion/

Graphic Novels in DDC: Discussion Paper

Supplement to Graphic Novels in DDC

Draft schedule 741.5 Cartoons, caricatures, comics, graphic novels, fotonovelas available for testing

Comments and suggestions by March 31, 2005


Previous Discussion and Advice

Oral discussion and advice from librarians and members of publishing community

20 written responses to written discussion papers (some individual responses, some group responses)

Unfortunately, people disagree about important issues


741.5 vs. 800

For 741.5: 8

For 800: 7

Mixed response: 2

No response: 3


741.5 vs. 800 (continued)

“The obvious ‘tension of intent' with graphic novels, i.e., their intent is both literary and artistic”

When narrative is presented primarily visually, or when graphics and text are equally important, prefer 700 over 800


700 vs. 800

The same preference for 700 holds for a combination of

music and literature

acting and literature

dancing and literature


700 vs. 800 (continued)

First of two rule

700 The arts Fine and decorative arts

. . . for literature, see 800


700 vs. 800 Examples

Shakespeare, Othello 822.33

Stage production 792.92

Verdi, Otello 782.1

Stage production 792.542

Orson Welles’s film, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice (adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello) 791.4372


All Kinds Together vs. Separate Categories

For all kinds together: 6

“Impossible to make workable distinctions”

For separate categories: 5

No response: 9


Suggestions from Respondents: Suggestion A: 2 Categories

Cartoons & comics that form a narrative

Cartoons & comics that do not form a narrative


Suggestion B: 3 Categories

“Single panel cartoons/caricatures”

“Comic strips that are the graphic equivalent of brief prose anecdotes”

“Graphic stories, including those originally published serially in comic strip or comic book form, those originally published in a single volume, and those originally published serially as a series of volumes"


Suggestion C: 4 Categories

“Single-moment representations (caricatures)”

“Comics (serials publications in which neither the beginning nor the end point of the story informs the current episode in hand)”


Suggestion C: 4 Categories (continued)

“Comic strips (single-movement—joke, thought—expositions that may be republished in a collection but which collection forms no overarching arc of development of characters or plot)”

“All formal narratives—be they traditional prose-only novels, graphic novels, or verse novels”


741.5 Cartoons, caricatures, comics, graphic novels, fotonovelas

Standard subdivisions are added for any or all topics in heading

Class here comic strips, comic books

But: notation 741.54-.57 left open for possible future development of specific categories


Fiction and Nonfiction Graphic Novels: Manual Note

Work presented as essay, textbook, journalistic, biographical, or autobiographical account of nonfiction topic: if in doubt, prefer the number for the topic in 001-999

Work that uses techniques of fiction writing to tell story of actual people and events: if in doubt, prefer 741.5


741.51 Techniques . . . .

Class here comprehensive works

Class techniques, procedures, apparatus, equipment, materials used for special aspects in 741.53


741.53 Special aspects . . .

Class here genres

Class single works and collections of works

regardless of genre in 741.59


741.59 Historical, geographic, persons treatment [formerly 741.509]

Class here single works and collections of works; development, description, critical appraisal

Class works of description and critical appraisal that focus on a specific aspect and are not limited to an individual artist or writer with the aspect in 741.53, e.g., critical appraisal of superhero comics 741.5352


741.59 Subarrangement by Country: Manual Note

Use notation for country where first published for individual works where multiple hands (e.g., writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists, letterers) have contributed to the final work

Use notation for country of the artist or writer for collections that feature the work of a particular artist or writer


741.59 Subarrangement by Country: Manual Note (continued)

If in doubt, try to determine which country's cultural tradition the work was originally aimed at, and use the notation for that country

If still in doubt, prefer notation for the country that comes later in Table 2


Special Collections: Outside DDC

Fic or F [Fiction]

TEEN GN

GN [for adult readers]

No consistent pattern; local experimentation

Documents

OCLC Online Computer Library Center Graphic Novels Julianne Beall Assistant Editor, DDC Library of Congress Saturday, January 15, 2005 ALA MW Boston