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London Zoo: [Closed] Why are we still calling them "comics"?

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  1.  (8764.1)
    I know this argument has been debated before and will again, but seriously are we all ok with calling our beloved and complex form of art and story "comcs"? Or "comic book"?

    I mean 95% of comics published today are not comedic in anyway, why then do we still call em "comics"?

    But if not comics, what do we call them?

    What's your opinion?
  2.  (8764.2)
    What else are we going to call them?

    The name works, and while there have been attempts to call them "graphic novels", or other euphemisms, all arguments about what to call comics just end up confusing people.
  3.  (8764.3)
    Why are long-form prose narratives called "novels"? They've been doing them for ages, they're hardly new and surprising anymore. And "opera"? Latin for "works". Why should that be the name of a musical drama form?

    Names are arbitrary. Once one's stuck, it's stuck.
  4.  (8764.4)
    Not this again. Nothing wrong with calling them Comics.
    • CommentAuthorepalicki
    • CommentTimeAug 17th 2010
     (8764.5)
    "Comics" is the least pretentious option at this point. Everyone know what it means and you're not intentionally talking over anyone's head by calling them "sequential art documents" or whatever other option you're gonna try to use.

    The only thing I try to do consciously is that I never call a singular comic book a 'comic.' It's always 'comic book.' Without 'book,' it's always comics, with an 's.' This is because I once told my boss I needed to use vacation time to go to the New York Comic Convention and he thought I was really into stand-up.

    Additionally, while we're arguing semantics, why are long-form sequential works always graphic novels, regardless of whether they're actually fiction?
  6.  (8764.6)
    oh dear god

    you can set your fucking clock by this conversation
    •  
      CommentAuthorjoe.distort
    • CommentTimeAug 17th 2010 edited
     (8764.7)
    WE CALL THEM COMICS BECAUSE THEY ARE COMICS

    i also call my cats 'cats' instead of 'night murderers' and my space fiction 'space fiction' instead of 'spacepunk' or some other dumb shit. things have names. we use them to describe things. changing the name of something makes no sense as you then have to explain what you are talking about instead of just using the right name.
    •  
      CommentAuthorcosta_k
    • CommentTimeAug 17th 2010
     (8764.8)
    WE CALL THEM COMICS BECAUSE THEY ARE COMICS

    i also call my cats 'cats' instead of 'night murderers' and my space fiction 'space fiction' instead of 'spacepunk' or some other dumb shit. things have names. we use them to describe things. changing the name of something makes no sense as you then have to explain what you are talking about instead of just using the right name.


    This. Except I don't have any night murderers, though I will soon for a short while.
    •  
      CommentAuthorinfomancer
    • CommentTimeAug 17th 2010
     (8764.9)
    I think this has pretty much been covered by the posters above, but I'd like to add that attempting to change the appellation to "Graphic Novels" or what have you smacks of a certain vanity, as if we need to make it sound more adult and acceptable. I sort of like the fact that I'm pushing 30 and reading comics. It's a kind of geek pride, maybe. I enjoy the secret club sort of vibe that you get when you meet someone else who's unafraid to own up to comics readership. Same thing with meeting another metalhead. I dig that "Fuck it, this is me" attitude.
  10.  (8764.10)
    i also call my cats 'cats' instead of 'night murderers'

    but i do call my cats night murderers
  11.  (8764.11)
    whereas i just try to delude myself that they are as adorable as i think...even though i find their victims in the hall.
  12.  (8764.12)
    @joe.distort
    -They aren't victims. They are HORRIBLE THINGS the kitties were SAVING YOU from. And you'd better appreciate it. haha. The joys of kitty love.
  13.  (8764.13)
    haha, true. thats why i spoil them. i keep trying to tell them to get jobs but thats the most they will do to cover their part of our rent.
  14.  (8764.14)
    I like how this thread changed into a conversation about cats. Clearly cats are more worthwhile to discuss.
  15.  (8764.15)
    i have successfully destroyed the thread without using violence or abuse

    I AM SUAVE
  16.  (8764.16)
    Clearly cats are more worthwhile to discuss.


    DUH scroll over my name
    •  
      CommentAuthorm3t4lfi3nd
    • CommentTimeAug 17th 2010
     (8764.17)
    My grandmother calls them "funny-books". I assume it's something from decades past that was used to some degree. Just be glad that name didn't stick!
  18.  (8764.18)
    Can a cat that doesn't go 'night murderer' on its owner at least once a week really be said to be fulfilling its essential 'catness'?
    •  
      CommentAuthorcelan
    • CommentTimeAug 17th 2010
     (8764.19)
    i have successfully destroyed the thread without using violence or abuse
    I AM SUAVE

    We should employ this maneuver in one of the US's "pesky" foreign wars.
  20.  (8764.20)
    I'm with all the people groaning "For fuck's sake" and shaking there heads.

    You come up with a better, non-wanky name for them, and I'll consider adopting it. But I have yet to see someone suggest one.

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