The Other Kind of Funnies: Comics in Technical Communication

This webinar proposes the exciting idea of developing comics-style technical communication. It refutes the stigma that comics have little to do with technical communication—that the former is entertaining (in a low-brow sense) and juvenile, whereas the latter is practical and serious (to the point of stuffiness). The webinar argues that comics are a medium first and foremost, not a static form of content and thus do not equate to subpar comic works. As a medium, comics are comparable to conventional media forms such as verbal discourses and illustrations that technical communicators use daily in their work. In fact, comics can offer advantages over conventional media forms when they are used in suitable contexts and with suitable execution.

This webinar will:

• Define (though not in any narrow, prescriptive sense) comics in/for technical communication
• Discuss the rhetorical appeals of comics-style technical communication
• Discuss the rhetorical limitations and challenges of comics-style technical communication
• Demonstrate examples of comics-style technical communication in various communication contexts (including instructive, educational, and outreach materials from across cultures and times)
• Explore heuristics for developing successful comics-style technical communication