Incorrect use of the term graphic novel.

Question

Novel = un roman.'Graphic' in English means very clear and powerful, vivid, explicit.Therefore a graphic novel = un roman graphique or un roman illustré.une BD = a comic strip.

Aurélie Drouard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour à tous !
I must admit I was surprised at your many comments on the term "graphic novel".My English husband and I are avid readers of comics (mostly him) and graphic novels (us both), which are simply defined as "longer" forms of comic-style books. That's also how they're referred to in book shops, or even on Amazon.
Here are dictionary entries confirming this definition:  
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graphic%20novel#:~:text=%3A%20a%20story%20that%20is%20presented,and%20published%20as%20a%20book
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/graphic-novel
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/graphic-novel
 
The term "graphic" here simply refers to the visual aspect of the medium, as in graphic design for example.
Graphic novels being a format of books, their target audience can be children as well as adults. Thus, "Astérix" and "Tintin" are graphic novels, and so is "Jules", the French graphic novel mentioned in the exercise and destined to a preteen audience.
 
"Roman illustré" would be a completely different genre of books, i.e. a written novel with illustrations.
 
In this context, the term "comics" would be incorrect, as it refers, as Chris stated, to a shorter, periodical form, not a hard-cover longer one.
 
In French, we don't have two distinct terms as in English, so in both cases (comics and graphic novels), we usually use the generic term of "une bande-dessinée / une BD", fans going for the English term "un comics" for comics.
 
 
I hope that's helpful! 
Bonne journée à tous !

Chris Wirt · Answer

The English term "graphic novel" refers to a comic strip, i.e., a novel drawn in sequential images. The term "grahic" does not mean "explicit" in this context.

Maarten Kamp · Answer

Whatever wordreference or any other reference may say, the overwhelming majority of people in my part of the English speaking world would be aghast at the suggestion of a ‘graphic novel’ for a child ! Do you mean a ‘picture book’, an ‘illustrated novel’, or a ‘comic strip’ ?

Chris Wirt · Answer

Here is what Wikipedia has on this:A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term graphic novel is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics scholars and industry professionals. It is, at least in the United States, typically distinct from the term comic book, which is generally used for comics periodicals and trade paperbacks (see American comic book).[1][2]

Maarten Kamp · Answer

That is a technical description of ‘graphic novel, ’ but if parents were sent a school notice that their child was about to study a ‘graphic novel’, there would be a lot of consternation and complaint, at least in some English-speaking parts of the world.

There are many fields and situations in which technical language has a quite different connotation to the everyday understanding of the same terms.

Frank Cooke · Answer

I agree with the rest of the native English speakers.  The term graphic novel would never connote any sort of illustrated book, particularly for a child.  Instead it connotes a text laden with descriptions of violence,  difficult visual scenes, and perhaps even sexual matter.  As a parent, I would be shocked if someone gave a nine-year old a "graphic novel."

Perina Amini · Answer

I agree that the usage of the term 'Graphic Novel' is not done in everyday language. It surprised me when I read it too and I would just say a 'Comic Strip'.

Brian Earl · Answer

To me, a “graphic novel” refers to a long form comic, normally aimed at the teen to adult age range. The word “graphic” only refers to the fact that the story is drawn out in a storyboard format. If you’re not familiar with these books, then you could easily think that the “graphic” in “graphic novel” referred to the presence of sex/violence/etc in the story. To complicate matters, graphic novels often deal with darker storylines that can be, well… graphic!

Bert Kolick · Answer

I was surprised to see Maarten and Frank's responses that a "graphic novel" refers to a novel with graphic content, as opposed essentially a long-form comic. In the U.S. it definitely refers to the latter, and I understand that's also the case in the UK (although I'm less sure on this as I am not British nor have I lived in the UK, but I remember seeing the term graphic novel in bookstores in London). Perhaps in other English-speaking countries this isn't the case, but the U.S. and UK are the two largest predominantly English-speaking countries in the world.