A Pathfinder on the Work of Alan Moore:
Its Influences on and from Western Popular Culture
A pathfinder is a bibliographic guide created to introduce readers and researchers to literature on a specific subject area (Canfield 1972).
Introduction
Born and raised in Northampton, England, graphic novelist Alan Moore has been described as "one of the most prolific comic book authors of our age" (Di Liddo 162). Moore began his work with the comic form as a cartoonist in the late 1970s, but he quickly declared himself a poor artist and switched his attention to the authorial aspect of graphic novels (Camper 2006). Some of his best known titles include From Hell, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, all of which been produced as major motion pictures in the last decade.
Alan Moore is also a highly political artist. Many of his works are extremely critical of Cold War era prejudices and phobias, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan's axis of power, racism, and homophobia. His self-produced booklet AARGH! (Artists Against Rampant Government Homophobia) and long poem "The Mirror of Love" are direct political criticisms, however political commentary is intrinsic to most of his novels.
Scope
This pathfinder is designed to provide both scholarly and popular sources for interested parties on the comics and graphic novels of author Alan Moore, the works that influenced his own creativity, and his influence on current popular entertainment culture as a whole. It contains material appropriate for high school or undergraduate research projects as well as information useful to any fan who would like to know more about Alan Moore and his influence on popular culture.
Information on film adaptations of Moore's work has not been included. Moore has mixed feelings on the film versions of many of his films, so in order to focus primarily on his original written work the film adaptations have been left out (except in one article that compares the film version to the original comic with interesting perspectives on the comic.)
Please note, many of these sources contain “spoilers”, details about story lines that give away plot points, so those who read this pathfinder before reading Alan Moore's actual work should be wary. Sources that give away plot details will be marked as such. (Additionally, please also note that although Alan Moore is a comic writer, most of his work thus far is not appropriate for children, and in fact some of it can be considered very inappropriate.)
Camper, S., 2006. Alan Moore Fan Site. Retrieved from http://www.alanmoorefansite.com
Canfield, M. (1972). "Library Pathfinders," Drexel Library Quarterly8(3), 287-300
Di Liddo, A., (2009). Alan Moore : Comics as performance, fiction as scalpel. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.
Introduction
Born and raised in Northampton, England, graphic novelist Alan Moore has been described as "one of the most prolific comic book authors of our age" (Di Liddo 162). Moore began his work with the comic form as a cartoonist in the late 1970s, but he quickly declared himself a poor artist and switched his attention to the authorial aspect of graphic novels (Camper 2006). Some of his best known titles include From Hell, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, all of which been produced as major motion pictures in the last decade.
Alan Moore is also a highly political artist. Many of his works are extremely critical of Cold War era prejudices and phobias, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan's axis of power, racism, and homophobia. His self-produced booklet AARGH! (Artists Against Rampant Government Homophobia) and long poem "The Mirror of Love" are direct political criticisms, however political commentary is intrinsic to most of his novels.
Scope
This pathfinder is designed to provide both scholarly and popular sources for interested parties on the comics and graphic novels of author Alan Moore, the works that influenced his own creativity, and his influence on current popular entertainment culture as a whole. It contains material appropriate for high school or undergraduate research projects as well as information useful to any fan who would like to know more about Alan Moore and his influence on popular culture.
Information on film adaptations of Moore's work has not been included. Moore has mixed feelings on the film versions of many of his films, so in order to focus primarily on his original written work the film adaptations have been left out (except in one article that compares the film version to the original comic with interesting perspectives on the comic.)
Please note, many of these sources contain “spoilers”, details about story lines that give away plot points, so those who read this pathfinder before reading Alan Moore's actual work should be wary. Sources that give away plot details will be marked as such. (Additionally, please also note that although Alan Moore is a comic writer, most of his work thus far is not appropriate for children, and in fact some of it can be considered very inappropriate.)
Camper, S., 2006. Alan Moore Fan Site. Retrieved from http://www.alanmoorefansite.com
Canfield, M. (1972). "Library Pathfinders," Drexel Library Quarterly8(3), 287-300
Di Liddo, A., (2009). Alan Moore : Comics as performance, fiction as scalpel. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.
