In high school (only a few years ago), I remember that my Theory of Knowledge teacher had a book of comic strips about epistemology that I really enjoyed. The character in the strips was a bespectacled fellow who IIRC, tended to give monologues to the reader while his surroundings changed to display examples of what he was talking about.
I’d ask the teacher, but I can’t seem to find contact information for him anywhere. I believe he is no longer a teacher at the school I attended
Sorry I can’t be more descriptive. Anyone know what this book is?
From the description in the OP, I am inclined to think that the book is something different - more like a guide to philosophy in comics form - but I sure am glad you mentioned Understanding Comics, Fenris - it looks really interesting and I just ordered it.
You’d think that, wouldn’t you? But Understanding Comics is as much about epistemology as it is about comics. It’s also about the nature of art, and it has become a college text in classes as diverse as film appreciation and business administration. I envy you if you’re about to read it for the first time.
And I’m quite sure it’s the book the OP is describing.
One warning: the second book, Reinventing Comics, isn’t nearly as good. The first (Understanding Comics was a wonderful work with a fresh spontanious feel.
The sequel Reinventing felt like McCloud was trying to produce AN EPIC if you know what I mean. All the lightness and chatty-ness from the first book vanished to be replaced with a pompous sort of pretentiousness.
I’m overstating what’s wrong with the sequel; it’s not as dreadful as I’m making it sound, but it’s not nearly as good.
On the other hand, if you like his stuff, you might want to get back-issues of his first comic Zot! which was a masterpiece (as was his deconstruction of the Jack Kirby fight scene: DESTROY!…which was a hysterical dead-on parody)
