Last Thursday, renowned graphic novelists Harvey Pekar and Phoebe Gloeckner visited Penn State. Local resident, Jerry Zolten, hosted a public conversation with them at Pattee Library.
Pekar is best known for the portrayal of him by Paul Giamatti in the movie American Splendor.
The program was held in conjunction with an exhibit, “Graphic Novels: Comics as Art, History, and Literature,” which included selections from the University Libraries\\\’ collection.
Individuals can view the exhibit in the Diversity Reading Room, 109 Pattee Library, through this Friday, March 2.
For those who were unable to attend the public conversation hosted by Zolten, a public radio program was recorded with Pekar which will be aired sometime in the spring.
Pekar is the creator of the critically acclaimed comic book series “American Splendor”.
Cartoonist, illustrator, and novelist Phoebe Gloeckner is author of “A Child’s Life and Other Stories” and “Diary of a Teenage Girl”.
Last week’s discussion included history and current status of graphic novels; the work of Pekar and Gloeckner, as well as other artists and writers in the field; and the future of the graphic novel as an emerging genre.
Pekar, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, created and began self-publishing the autobiographical slice-of-life comic book series American Splendor in 1976. The stories are captivating first person accounts of his life as a clerk in a Veteran’s Administration hospital, where he worked for 35 years.
In 1986 Doubleday published an anthology of American Splendor stories, calling it the first literary comic book, featuring “stories that are both funny and touching, showing the delicate balance of personal relationships and the frustrations of the workaday world.”
In 1987 Pekar was honored with the American Book Award for the series.
A film adaptation of American Splendor was released in 2003 to critical acclaim, and it featured Paul Giamatti as Pekar, as well as appearances by Pekar himself.
Gloeckner’s comics and stories depict childhood trauma and the dark side of growing up female. Before pursuing a career in cartooning, she studied medical illustration and her training is evident in her art, which often prominently feature the human body.
In 1998 a collection of Gloeckner\\\’s stories “A Child’s Life and Other Stories” was published.
Zolten, who hosted last week’s event, is a Warriors Mark resident and has been teaching at Penn State since the mid-1980s. He is currently an Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences and American Studies.
In addition to communication skills course, he also teaches courses on the cultural roots of rock ‘n’ roll, a social history of stand-up comedy, and the impact of TV on 1950s America.
Besides teaching, Zolten is an author, record producer and co-host with R. Crumb of Chimpin\\\’ the Blues, a syndicated public radio program on the history of blues.
