Bande dessine the 9th Art, a brief explanation.

Comics, Manga, pictorial narratives.

BD “bande dessine”, not to be confused with “BD Blue-ray Disc”, along with manga, Japan, and comics, USA, is one of the three great traditions of pictorial narrative.

You have seen it around, really you have you may just not know that you have. Astérix, Lucky Luke, Marsupilami, The Smurfs, Tintin and Heavy Metal magazine, a translated spin off of the French Métal Hurlant, are examples of Bande Dessinée.

What’s in a name, you ask? Well the Italians call comics “Fumetto” little puffs of smoke. The Japanese call it manga the literal meaning translates to Whimsical pictures. And in Australia, America and other Anglo countries they are diminished as the funnies or comics. But in France and Belgium they are called “bande dessine” literally drawn strip and as part of the regions cultural and social fabric are respected forms of artist expression elevated to the position of “le neuvième art”, the ninth art.

BD, bande dessine the art form was added to Ricciotto Canudo’s “The Art Manifesto 1923” after film and television by Claude Beylie in 1964.

Claude Beylie’s The Art Manifesto 1964

1. Architecture,
2. Sculpture,
3. Painting,
4. Music,
5. Dance,
6. Poetry,
7. Film,
8. Television,
9. Bande Dessinée.

Ricciotto Canudo’s The Art Manifesto 1911

1. Architecture,
2. Sculpture,
3. Painting,
4. Music,
5. Dance,
6. Poetry
Ricciotto Canudo’s The Art Manifesto 1923
7. Film

They take their art seriously in Europe and the term “bande dessine” (pronounced “bayday”); unlike our comics or funnies gives no indication of subject matter, which imply a frivolous or asinine art form.

“BD” subject matter is vast though if you are searching for a francophone superhero you may be disappointed, with only a handful created in the whole history of Bande dessine. Captain Biceps and Superdupont(1972) superhero parodies, Fantax, 1946 a violent character with a foot in both camps of good and evil, amongst some of them. Narratives for children, teenagers and adults range from adventure, crime, fantasy, history, science fiction, romance, politics and adult drama; including erotica. SF, mystery, action and fantasy themes are also dominant.

The medium known as Bande Dessinée has been nurtured by a culturally progressive France and Belgium and has become recognised as an art in its own right and influential on other art forms.

There are a plethora of works, the majority of which are ordinary but with out such a prolific output there wouldn’t be a place for ideas to germinate and grow.

Larger than the traditional American or Manga comic book, hard covered and coloured they are generally owned by the artist not a publishing company including long running series with the exception of Spirou which is owned by Dupuis. The artist’s ownership of the titles contributes to the strength of the ongoing story line. Imagine what seven different writers would have done to Harry Potter.

The majority of BD series are limited short runs of four to six parts released as hard cover books up to 64pages. The auteur allowed time to develop in other words, it’s finished when it’s finished. There isn’t a monthly industry in the same way that we know it, fans can wait any where from six months to two years to get the latest instalment.

But what ever process or nom de plume, pictorial narrative takes, it is the Rock and Roll of story telling risky, some times dark, funny or experimental but always a rich and fascinating oeuvre.