Drawing it Properly: An Examination of Smoking Portrayals in Texts on How to Draw in the Noir Graphic Novel/Comic Book Style

Abstract

Smoking remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Therefore attention must be paid to the manner is which pro-smoking materials may serve to reflect, reinforce and ultimately reproduce smoking behaviours. Prior examinations have identified high levels of smoking imagery in graphic novels/ comics. This pattern was replicated in a specific examination of the noir crime genre of graphic novels/ comics. In order to explore this in further depth this research identified and analysed two art texts that specifically address how to draw in the noir graphic novel/ comic genre. This analysis revealed a substantial volume of smoking imagery, often positioned prominently and of a large size . Smoking was clearly integral to the characters from the initial scene setting and conception of the image. This analysis also identified portrayals of smoking associated with stereotypical images, such as those of macho males and seductive women, including the classic femme fatale trope. Recommendations to combat the potential impacts of such imagery are made.