741.5 or graphic novels in the DDC

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741.5 or graphic novels in the DDC

• Julianne Beall
• Assistant Editor, DDC
• 7 April 2006
• Colloque International sur la Médiation de la
  Bande Dessinée en Bibliothèque

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Outline

• Discussions leading to new 741.5
• 741.5 vs. subject in 001-999
• Why the 700s (instead of the 800s)?
• Comic books, graphic novels, fotonovelas vs.
  Cartoons, caricatures, comic strips

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Outline (continued)

• Geographic notation for individual works
• History, biography, critical appraisal
• Techniques

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http//www.oclc.org/dewey/discussion/

• Graphic Novels in DDC Discussion Paper (2004-06)
• Supplement to Graphic Novels in DDC (2004-07)
• Draft schedule 741.5 Cartoons, caricatures,
  comics, graphic novels, fotonovelas available for
  testing (2004-11)

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http//www.oclc.org/dewey/discussion/

• Supplement to Draft schedule 741.5 (2005-03)
• Graphic Novels an Update (2005-06)

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New 741.5 implemented 2006-02

• February 2006 PDF Word
• http//www.oclc.org/dewey/updates/new/
• Sample Title/DDC List 741.5 Comic books, graphic
  novels, fotonovelas, cartoons, caricatures, comic
  strips
• http//www.oclc.org/dewey/discussion/

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741.5 vs. subject in 001-999

• Use 741.5 and its subdivisions for works of the
  imagination in comic book, graphic novel,
  fotonovela, cartoon, caricature, or comic strip
  forms that are primarily intended to delight
• Use 001999 . . . for works in these forms that
  are primarily intended to inform or persuade

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001-999 examples

• The Picture Bible (script by Iva Hoth
  illustrations by Andre Le Blanc) 220.9505
• The Cartoon Guide to Physics by Larry Gonick
  530.0207
• Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi 955.0542092

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Why the 700s for fictional graphic novels?

• Why are fictional graphic novels classed in the
  700s instead of the 800s?
• General DDC rule
• When fictional narrative is presented primarily
  visually, or when graphics and text are equally
  important, prefer 700 over 800

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Why the 700s? (continued)

• First of two rule The rule instructing that
  works dealing equally with two subjects that are
  not used to introduce or explain one another are
  classed in the number coming first in the
  schedules or tables
• 700 The arts Fine and decorative arts
• . . . for literature, see 800

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Why the 700s? (continued)

• The same preference for 700 holds for a
  combination of
• acting and literature
• music and literature
• cinematography and literature
• dancing and literature

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700s 800s examples

• Shakespeare, Othello 822.33
• Stage production 792.92
• Verdi, Otello 782.1
• Stage production 792.542
• Orson Welless film, The Tragedy of Othello, the
  Moor of Venice (adaptation of Shakespeares
  Othello) 791.4372

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741.5 741.59 vs. 741.56

• Use 741.5 and 741.59 for comic books, graphic
  novels, fotonovelas
• Multi-panel works written to be read in
  relatively long segments, like short stories or
  novels
• Also use 741.5 741.59 for comprehensive works

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741.5 741.59 vs. 741.56 (continued)

• Use 741.56 and 741.569 for cartoons, caricatures,
  comic strips
• A single panel, or a few panels issued daily or
  weekly online or in a newspaper
• Written to be read in brief segments, like jokes
  or anecdotes

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741.59 examples

• Astérix by Goscinny Uderzo 741.5944
• Dead End by Thomas Ott 741.59494
• Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka 741.5952
• Paul a un travail d'été by Michel Rabagliati
  741.5971
• It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken by Seth
  741.5971

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741.569 examples

• For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston
  741.56971
• Garfield by Jim Davis 741.56973
• Peanuts by Charles Schulz 741.56973
• Mafalda by Quino 741.56982

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Comic book comic strip characters

• Avoid separating works about the same characters
  between 741.569 and 741.59 use the number for
  the form in which the characters most commonly
  appear, regardless of whether the content of the
  work in hand was originally issued as comic
  strips or comic books

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Comic book comic strip characters examples

• Dick Tracy by Chester Gould Dick Locher
  Michael Kilian 741.56973
• The Amazing Spider-Man by Stan Lee Steve Ditko
  741.5973

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Geographic notation for individual works at
741.593.599 and 741.5693.5699

• Use notation for the country of the artist or
  writer for a work . . . that features a
  particular artist or writer
• Use notation for the country where first
  published for a work or . . . where multiple
  hands have contributed and no one artist or
  writer is featured

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Geographic notation for individual works
(continued)

• If in doubt, try to determine what areas
  cultural tradition the work primarily reflects or
  was originally aimed at, and use the notation for
  that area
• If still in doubt, prefer notation for the area
  that comes later in Table 2
• Do not add anything beyond notation for country

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Geographic notation for individual works examples

• Astérix by Goscinny Uderzo 741.5944
• Tintin by Hergé 741.59493
• Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka 741.5952
• Cerebus by Dave Sim 741.5971
• Wonder Woman 741.5973

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Geographic notation for individual works
examples (continued)

• For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston
  741.56971
• Garfield by Jim Davis 741.56973
• Garfield prend du poids / Jim Davis traduction
  Jeannine Daubannay 741.56973

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Biographies and critical appraisal of individual
artists or writers

• Use the same number as for individual works
• Do not add notation from Table 1
• Examples
• Biography of Charles Schulz 741.56973
• Critical appraisal of Hergé 741.59493

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History, biography, and critical appraisal of
multiple artists or writers

• You may add notation from Table 1
• Examples
• General history of U.S. comic strips 741.5697309
• Collected biography of Japanese manga artists
  741.59520922

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741.51 Techniques . . . .

• Class here comprehensive works on . . . drawing
  and writing comic books, graphic novels,
  fotonovelas, cartoons, caricatures, comic strips
• Class techniques, procedures . . . used for
  special aspects in 741.53

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741.53 Special aspects . . .

• Class here critical appraisal and description of
  genres, techniques for creating works in specific
  genres
• Class single works and collections . . .
  regardless of genre in 741.569 or 741.59

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741.532.539 Works dealing with specific themes
and subjects

• Add notation from Table 3-C
• Examples
• History critical appraisal of superhero graphic
  novels 741.5352
• Drawing cartoon animals 741.5362

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Do you have suggestions for the Sample Title/DDC
List 741.5?

• http//www.oclc.org/dewey/discussion/
• The list is not intended to be exhaustive, but we
  do welcome suggestions for additional titles
• Please send suggestions to
• Julianne Bealljbea_at_loc.gov