Grassroots comics
Encyclopedia
Grassroots Comics are different from the mainstream comic
s, these comics are made by common people themselves. Most of the time they are linked to some organization activity or the [social campaign]. These comics are photocopied and distributed to a limited area, which encourage local debate in the society.
Grassroots Comics are inexpensive and method is not complicated, you just required a pen, paper and access to a copying machine
to produce one.
What makes these comics different from professional material is the ownership of the content as well as. The comics are pasted up in all possible locations i.e. village’s meeting place, bus stop
s, shops, offices, schools, on notice-boards and electricity poles or even on trees. One more important thing in these comics are the proximity of source of the communication and the readers.
The campaign comics made by artists are not as close to reality as Grassroots Comics are. The local people understand their culture better.
So the people are interested in what produced by their local activists or organizations locally.
The use of Grassroots Comics as a campaign
ing tool for organizations and people’s movement is a relatively new phenomenon and has been tested so far only in India (especially with World Comics India, founded by Sharad Sharma
), some other South Asia
n countries, in a few countries
in Africa, Latin America
, the Middle East
and Europe.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s, these comics are made by common people themselves. Most of the time they are linked to some organization activity or the [social campaign]. These comics are photocopied and distributed to a limited area, which encourage local debate in the society.
Grassroots Comics are inexpensive and method is not complicated, you just required a pen, paper and access to a copying machine
Photocopier
A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual images quickly and cheaply. Most current photocopiers use a technology called xerography, a dry process using heat...
to produce one.
What makes these comics different from professional material is the ownership of the content as well as. The comics are pasted up in all possible locations i.e. village’s meeting place, bus stop
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
s, shops, offices, schools, on notice-boards and electricity poles or even on trees. One more important thing in these comics are the proximity of source of the communication and the readers.
The campaign comics made by artists are not as close to reality as Grassroots Comics are. The local people understand their culture better.
So the people are interested in what produced by their local activists or organizations locally.
The use of Grassroots Comics as a campaign
Civil society campaign
A civil society campaign is one that is intended to mobilize public support and use democratic tools such as lobbying in order to instigate social change. Civil society campaigns can seek local, national or international objectives...
ing tool for organizations and people’s movement is a relatively new phenomenon and has been tested so far only in India (especially with World Comics India, founded by Sharad Sharma
Sharad Sharma
Sharad Sharma is an Indian cartoonist based in New Delhi, India. He was associated with many newspapers and magazines before he switched to electronic media and introduced political animation to Indian TV news channels. In late nineties he formed an organisation World Comics India to introduce the...
), some other South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n countries, in a few countries
in Africa, Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Europe.
External links
- World Comics Global
- World Comics India
- World Comics Network-Pakistan
- Grassroots comics at Message in-a-Box
- Grassroots comics at Comminit
- In ‘toon with nature, Gobar TimesGobar TimesGobar Times is a monthly environmental education magazine for the young adult, published by the Centre for Science and Environment. It is published along with Down to Earth as a supplement. The magazine was first published in May, 1998 and has widespread circulation across India and abroad...
- In ‘Girl Child Right Campaign, Half World
- In "Corporal Punishment Campaign, Chaddi Ke Lagal Hathkadi