Non-Fiction Comics
The Adventures in Electricity is a short non-fiction comic series that was published by the General Electric Company in the 40’s. This series explains the mechanism by which electricity is delivered to peoples homes in addition to the importance of electricity in the average person’s daily life. The comic series invents certain characters or instances however, the science behind the use and creation of electricity is real, in addition to the creators that first understood how to utilize electricity. Since the comic is from the 40’s the illustrations are very flat in color, however they use images in the comic to portray diagrams of calculating voltage as well as towers that distribute and transform energy into electricity.
I think depicting this theme in a comic which could have easily been portrayed in a brochure, a manual, or a non-fiction novel was a brilliant way to bring science into a more creative realm. There is a popular sentiment, one that especially existed in the 40’s and 50’s, that comics are a rather low brow form of art that only depict fiction meant for kids. By bringing the scientific realm, especially a rather crucial aspect of it both economically and practically to the world of comics gives them a better sense of truth. All of a sudden comics are being used by the General Electric Company as a way to teach children about their company and the beneficial and widespread uses of electricity.
By including images and a story line, comics produce a more immersive way for people to learn about history and true events. While this specific title does incorporate some fictional characters, it brings a very prominent and real aspect of human life into an art form that is more enticing than a black and white novel. When the company decided to publish these comics I think they brought a new light to the use of the art form. Comics can be used for educational purposes and they are quite effective at depicting historical and present events that cannot always be described easily by words.
