SCHTICK: Reading and Creating Jewish Graphic Novels

We are delighted to offer this course on reading and creating Jewish storytelling in graphic form. It is different in its goals and format than our other courses. Please read the course description and details carefully.

Graphic novels are currently the dominant form of print storytelling media for tweens and younger teens in North America. In this course, students read seminal works from Jewish artists that have shaped both the popular genre of graphic novels and the Jewish storytelling culture of our time. Students develop their own unique visual and narrative storytelling voice - their own schtick - as we work through the great Will Eisner’s guides for young creators. You do not need to be a confident visual artist or have any previous experience drawing comics to enroll in this course.

Course dates: First SCHTICK cohort begins soon - sign up at the bottom of the page to get an email when registration begins.

Tuition: $45/month.

Class size: 20 students max. Sign up early to avoid disappointment.

Admissions Guidelines: This course is open to students 12+ who understand themselves to be Jewish.

Instructors: Darren and Suzanne Alexander. Read about our qualifications and experience here.

Course Requirements: SCHTICK students will need to log-on to our course forum on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays (time of day is up to you). All course discussion is text-based (no Zoom calls); for this course, students will also need to be able to photograph art work and post the photos on the course forum 2-3x/week. Total weekly time commitment: ~3 hours/week.

All students will need:

1) access to a computer,

2) pencils, erasers, plain unlined paper (white printer paper is good; for students who tend to erase a great deal, buy slightly heavier-weight printer paper), a simple set of colored pencils (24 colors is usually more than enough). *NB: do NOT invest in fancy art supplies for this course or a beautiful sketchbook etc; it is counter-productive.

3) a device they can use to photograph their artwork and upload it to the course forum,

4) copies of the books listed below,

to participate in this course.

Course Texts: Some titles for this course are only widely available as Ebooks. This is noted in the course text list, below. You may be able to find paper copies on Thrift books, Amazon.com used listings, Ebay or other sellers.

To the Heart of the Storm, Will Eisner (1991)

The Rabbi's Cat, Joann Sfar (2002) - EBOOK

Picture Stories from the Bible: The Old Testament in Full-Color Comic-Strip Form, M. C. Gaines (editor) (original 1942; collected edition 1979)

A Bunch of Jews (and other stuff), Trina Robbins (2017) - EBOOK

The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Will Eisner (2005)

But I Live, Charlotte Schallié (editor) (2022)

The Property, Rutu Modan (2013) - EBOOK

The Writer, Ben Berkowitz, Max Berkowitz, and Josh Gad (2024)

Course Details: Our primary goals in creating and delivering SCHTICK: 1) teach students to read and create visual storytelling in print using the visual narrative framework developed by Will Eisner; 2) introduce students to the outsized impacts of Jewish artists on contemporary graphic novel and comics genres; 3) create a supportive, inspiring creative community within the cohort.

Admission Guidelines: This course is open to students age 12+ who understand themselves to be Jewish. Our students come from every corner of Jewish life: Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, secular, patrilineal, and beyond.

Code of Conduct: Derech Eretz

Derech eretz means "the way of the land"—the basic decency and respect we owe to one another. In our online community, these values guide everything we do. We go over these expectations at the beginning of each course; we ask that parents also review this code of conduct with each student.

1) Be respectful. Be curious. Be kind.

2) Assume good faith. Disagree thoughtfully.

3) Show up. Read. Participate.

4) Co-create community: cheer on your classmates, share your thoughts, ask questions!

5) Our students come from every corner of Jewish life: Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, secular, patrilineal, and beyond. We honor the many ways of being Jewish. In our community, we never question the Jewishness of another student.

Scholarships: No student is turned away due to lack of funds. We are proud to offer the Almagor Scholarship to students who need financial assistance to access our courses. Please email us at yidlitclub@gmail.com and we will send you the scholarship application.

The Almagor Scholarship is offered in memory of Horace Myers "Mike" Alexander, z"l, and Rina Rachel Alexander nee Almagor, z"l, with immense love and gratitude.