Mondays, September 9 - October 14 | 6 weeks | 1 - 3 pm | $65

Instructor: Jim Vacca

Jewish writers, artists, and publishers, ostracized from mainline publishing houses, lent their talents where they could, playing a significant role in launching comic books. American comics were ferried across the seas during World War II to a larger cultural audience. They’ve continued to be reimagined. In American popular culture, comic books not only reflect historical moments but shape them as well. Selling millions at 10 cents an issue, they were the most popular entertainment media in the US. These cheaply produced magazines gave voice to the immigrant’s American Dream, modeled patriotism for a generation, and were condemned in the 1950s as the reason for post-war juvenile delinquency. A new creative American art form exploded across global landscapes challenging the very idea of 'high art' and 'low art' and was lauded by such luminaries as Andy Warhol, John Updike, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. In this 6-week class, we learn about what’s behind the mythmaking of renowned companies like Marvel and DC. Bring your memories and critical insights as you take in Vacca’s collection of comic books, letters, and original art. Lively discussions take participants on a fascinating journey through the American imagination, which, no doubt, many of us have shared.

Jim Vacca is a retired teacher from Boulder Valley Schools, University of Colorado; and a well-seasoned lecturer at Comic-Con. Vacca is a local collector including an Atomic-era Philco Predicta television set. His collection includes vintage comics, original cartoon art, and wonderful ephemera ranging from a ’60s-era Batman school writing pad to an old embossed-leather pencil case featuring a flying Superman.

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