It could be said of most cultural products that their socio-historical context goes a long way towards shaping what they become, and it is especially applicable to comics, which have long reflected the technological, scientific, political and social contexts of the contemporary world in ways other mediums havent quite explored. Perhaps this vibrant strand of commentary is down to the fact that comics arent as financially restricted as cinema, or that they are inextricably linked to the idealism, and positivity of youth? Young people have long been at the vanguard of social and cultural change, and the extrapolating of real life issues into cultural output, is a key aspect, of any youth movement. That is not to say comics are strictly the reserve of youth, but they are an art-form connected to young people in a way that is only comparable to popular music. Whatever the reason, laying comic history, over our own Real-World timeline, draws interesting parallels, and illustrates the extent to which reality has long inspired the fantastical. What follows are twelve examples of real life incidents that have had a direct impact on the evolution of comics, directly shaping storlines and ideas and helping to shape the comic book into the challenging and innovative medium it continues to be.
As well as the odd article, I apply my "special mind" to scriptwriting for Comics, Films and Games... Oh and I cut down trees, I skip and jump, I like to press wild flow'rs, I put on women's clothing, and hang around in bars.
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